Friday, January 6, 2012

Brief Kickboxing History


While Muay Thai's earliest origins remain a mystery, due largely to the Burmese army's sacking and razing of Ayuddhaya, Thailand's 14th-century capital, Muy Thai is accepted as having begun as a close-combat art intended for use on the battlefield. While no longer used in battlefield applications, Muay Thai matches are wildly popular televised events in Thailand, drawing challengers and practitioners from all over the world.
Significance
Even though Muay Thai is no longer practiced on the battlefield, it remains more than just a sport. A strong element of Thai culture, Muay Thai includes noncombat traditions like the Wai Kroo, a ritual dance done to honor a fighter's teacher, country, and sport, and the Ram Muay, a ritual dance that is unique to each master teacher.
History
According to Muaythai-Fighting.com, Muay Thai flourished as not just a battlefield skill but a sport, too, during the reign of King Naresuan, beginning in 1584, and the later eras of the Tiger King and King Rama V. The kings themselves often trained in Muay Thai; the Tiger King is reputed to have loved Muay Thai so much that he fought incognito in village contests.
Equipment
Muay Thai equipment has evolved along with the sport throughout the centuries. Originally, Muay Thai equipment was designed to both protect the user and inflict harm on the opponent. In some extreme cases, fighters would dip their protective hand and forearm wraps in sticky resin, then ground glass, in order to inflinct the most damage possible on the opponent. Hand and forearm wraps were abandoned in favor of gloves in the 1930s. Groin guards underwent a similar metamorphosis, from tied-on tree bark or seashells to triangular-shaped pillows and, finally, the groin box.
Function
Despite the minimal protective equipment involved in a Muay Thai match, Thai kickboxing remains a person-to-person, body-against-body combat sport. Instead of swords or staffs, the nine principal weapons in Muay Thai training are the head, both fists, both elbows, both knees and both feet. Even the shoulders, arms and ankles can be used as weapons.
Critical Moment
A critical moment in Muay Thai's shift to the modern sporting form took place after World War II, when the first formal rules, including timed rounds, were introduced. After the war, stadiums for Muay Thai fighting were constructed in large cities like Bangkok. These stadiums continue to draw large numbers of fighters, both Thai- and foreign-born.

 
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