Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from August, 2021

Muay Boran Styles

Originally Muay Boran Styles were not differentiated, they were all under the names;  Muay ,  Dtoi Muay,  or  Chok Muay.  In 1909 King Chulalongkorn requested the governor of Chaiya,  Kham Sryiyapai , and the governor of Korat,  Phra Mesamahan , to bring skilled fighters to compete at the funeral of his son. Three fighters that dominated the bouts received the title of  Muen ; a fighter from  Korat  became known as  Muen Changatchoengchok  (effective tactic of punching), a fighter from  Chaiya  became known as  Muen Muaymichue  (elegant boxing style), and a fighter from  Lopburi  became known as  Muen Maemahd  (skillful and precise punches). These titles gave the 3 boxers the duty of maintaining Muay camps in their hometowns to train and bring fighters for future fights in front of the throne. A Muay Boran bout at the funeral of the son of King Chulalongkorn (1909) After this event a sayi...

What is Muay Boran? The History and Traits of Ancient Muay Thai

Muay Boran (Thai: มวยโบราณ, literally " Ancient Boxing" ) is an umbrella term for the unarmed martial arts of Thailand before the introduction of modern equipment and rules in 1928 which led to the birth of  Muay Thai  (Thai: มวยไทย, literally " Thai Boxing "). While Muay Thai has the title of Art of 8 Limbs, Muay Boran is known as Gaai Awuth   (Thai: กายอาวุธ, " The Whole Body as a Weapon "). The traditional nine weapons of Muay Boran (Thai:  นวอาวุธ,  Nawatawut ) are; 2 Punches (หมัด,  Mahd ), 2 Elbows (ศอก Sok ), 2 Legs (เท้า, Thao ), 2 Knees (เข่า, Kao ) The head (หัว,  Hua ). The main difference between Muay Thai and Muay Boran is the approach to combat ; while Muay Thai follows a sporting approach, with rules and scores, Muay Boran follows an unregulated approach in which each shot is valid, and whose goal is to defeat the opponent in the shortest possible time.  In the Muay Boran repertoire, there are strikes, holds, throws, sweeps...