Thursday, July 26, 2007

Basic Numbers 1 through 10

  • Nueng = One
  • Sorng = Two
  • Sarm = Three
  • Se e = Four
  • Ha = Five
  • Hok = Six
  • Ched = Seven
  • Paed = Eight
  • Kao = Nine
  • Sib =Ten

Commonly Used Phrases

  • Sa wadee = Hello
  • La kon = Goodbye
  • Aroon sa wadee =Good morning
  • Sayan sa wadee =Good evening
  • Ra tree sa wadee = Good night
  • Chan shue =My name is
  • Khob chai mark =Thanks, very much
  • Khob ton rub tharn =You are welcome
  • Tharn sa bi dee rhuee =You are welcome
  • Chan mai khao chai =I don't understand
  • Shuay chan noi doi ma? =Can you help me?
  • Chan ma chark saha rat =I am from the U.S.
  • Tharn wa yarng rai? =How do you say?
  • We la tao r ai? =What time is it?
  • Chan ma chark saha rat =I can't speak Thai
  • Chan pood dai tae pasa Anglish =I speak English
  • Prode pood hai sah kwa nee =Please speak more slowly

Vocabulary For Thai Boxing (Muay Thai)

It is impossible to give the correct pronunciation of Thai words by using the Roman alphabet without auxiliary signs. However, by observing the following pronunciation guide, the words will be understood if used in context.


Pronounce"a"like the "u" in cup

aa a spa
ae a man
ai i fight
aw aw law
e e set
eh ea bear
i i fit
ee ee feet
o oa board
u u put
oo oo food
ue ui French
is a consonant

dt somewhat between
a "d" and "t".

Muay Thai Terminology

  • Aenken :Anklet, protecting instep and shin
  • Andap :Ratings
  • Baak :Mouth
  • Bangkok :Capital of Thailand
  • Bat :Block
  • Chaikrong :Floating ribs
  • Champ :Champion
  • Chiang Mai :Provincial capital in the North. Seond largest city in Thailand
  • Chok :Fight
  • Choraked faad haang :Turn kick, literally 'crocodile thrashes its tail'
  • Dadsin :To judge, to decide
  • Daihuachai: Region under the heart, a vital point.
  • Dermpan : A form of betting.
  • Dontree Muay: The music played during a match
  • Dtaa : Eyes
  • Dtaai : To die
  • Dtae : To kick
  • Dtae Kao : Knee kick
  • Dtae Tao : Kick with foot
  • Dtae Wiang: Round kick
  • Dtai : Kidneys, a vital point.
  • Dtai Kao : Knee kick from side
  • Dtee : To hit
  • Dtee Mat : To hit with the fist
  • Dtee Sawk: To hit with the elbow
  • Dtoi : To box, boxing
  • Dtoi Lom : Shadow boxing, literally to box with the wind or air.
  • Faad : To thrash, wipe, swipe
  • Faidaeng : The red corner
  • Fainamnerng: The blue corner
  • Gamagan : Referee
  • Gaan Dadsin: Judging
  • Gangkeng Muay: Boxer's trunks
  • Gawn Welaa: Literally before time. "Gawn welaa" bouts, reserved for novices, are held before the program starts.
  • Grajab : Groin guard
  • Grammon Srisa: Top of head, a vital point
  • Grasawb : Bag, punching bag
  • Hua : Head
  • Huajai : Heart
  • Hook : Hook, word borrowed from English.
  • Jad : Promote
  • Jamook : Nose
  • Kaa : Leg
  • Kaen : Arm
  • Kai : Camp
  • Kai Muay : Boxing camp
  • Kagangai : Jawbone, a vital point
  • Kamab : Temples, vital points.
  • Kao : Knee
  • Kao Kong : Over-arm knee kick
  • Kao Loy : Jumping knee kick
  • Kao Drong : Frontal knee kick
  • Khuen Kroo : The ceremony during which a teacher accepts a new student.
  • Koo Ek : Main bout on a card, literally the "number one pair".
  • Kradot : Jump
  • Dradot Dtae: Jump kick
  • Druang Rang: Bands worn around biceps
  • Kroo Muay: Boxing teacher
  • Kwaa: Right, to the right
  • Lang Tao: Instep
  • Limpee: Solar Plexus, a vital point
  • Mat: Fist
  • Mat At: Uppercut
  • Mat Drong: Straight punch
  • Mao Mat: "Punch drunk"
  • Mongkon: The headband worn during pre-fight ceremony
  • Muay Acheep: Professional boxing
  • Muay Thai: Thai-style boxing
  • Muay Sakon: International-style boxing
  • Na Kaeng: Shin
  • Nak Muay: Boer
  • Namnak: Weight
  • Na Paang: Forehead
  • Nuam: Gloves
  • Pang-nga: To dodge, evade
  • Paa Pan Mue: Bandages worn under gloves
  • Pee Liang: Seconds
  • Raigaan Muay: Boxing program
  • Ram Muay: Boxing dance, part of the pre-fight ritual
  • Run: Weight category
  • Saai: Left, to the left
  • Sanam Muay: Boxing stadium
  • Sawing: Swing, the word comes from the English "swing"
  • Sawk: Elbow
  • Sangwien :Ring Ropes
  • Sawk Chieng :Diagonal Elbow
  • Sawk Hug: Levering Elbow
  • Sawk Klab: Reverse Elbow
  • Sawk Ku :Double Elbow
  • Sawk Sob :Chopping Elbow
  • Sawk Tad: Jab Elbow
  • Sawk Tong :Smashing Down Elbow
  • Taitai: Nap, a vital point
  • Tao : Foot
  • Teep: Push or thrust with the underside of the foot
  • Teep Dan Lang: Foot thrust to the rear
  • Teep Duen Son: Heel push
  • Teep Drong: Straight forward foot push
  • Ting: Throw
  • Tong: Stomach
  • Tong Noi: Lower stomach, a vital point
  • Uppercut: Uppercut, borrowed from English
  • Wai Kroo: Obeisance to the teacher, part of the pre-fight ritual.
  • Wehtee: The ring, a stage
  • Wong: Band
  • Wong Muay: The orchestra that plays during matches
  • Yaeb: Jab, borrowed from English
  • Yaek: Break, used by referee in the ring to separate fighters.
  • Yang gan fan: Mouth guard
  • Yang Sam Kung: Three step dance, part of the Ram Muay
  • Yok: Round
  • Yud: Stop, used by referee

Saturday, July 14, 2007


















Techniques of Thai Boxing



The basic offensive techniques in Muay Thai use fists, elbows, shins, feet, and knees to strike the opponent. To bind the opponent for both offensive and defensive purposes, small amounts of stand-up grappling are used: the clinch. Muay Thai is often a fighting art of attrition, where opponents exchange blows with one another. This is certainly the case with traditional stylists in Thailand, but is a less popular form of fighting in the contemporary world fighting circuit. With the success of Muay Thai in mixed martial arts fighting, it has become the de facto martial art of choice for competitive stand-up fighters. As a result, it has evolved and incorporated much more powerful hand striking techniques used in western style boxing and the Thai style of exchanging blow for blow is no longer favorable. Note: when Muay Thai fighters compete against fighters of other styles (and if the rules permit it), they almost invariably emphasize elbow (sok) and knee (kao) techniques to gain a distinct advantage in fighting. Almost all techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, and block. The rotation of the hips in Muay Thai techniques, and intensive focus on "core muscles" (such as abdominal muscles and surrounding muscles) is very distinctive and is what sets Muay Thai apart from other styles of martial arts.


The Clinch


In Western Boxing, the two fighters are separated when they clinch, in Muay Thai however, they are not. It is often in the clinch where knee techniques are used. The clinch should be performed with the palm of one hand on the back of the other and not as shown in the picture.There are three reasons why the fingers must not be intertwined.


1) In the ring fighters are wearing boxing gloves and cannot intertwine their fingers.

2) The Thai clinch involves pressing the head of the opponent downwards, which is easier if the hands are locked behind the back of the head instead of behind the neck. Furthermore the arms should be putting as much pressure on the neck as possible.

3) You can injure your fingers if they are intertwined, and it is harder to release the grip if you want to elbow your opponent's head quickly


A correct clinch also involves your forearms pressing against the other fighter's collar bone while your hands are around the opponent's head rather than his neck. The general way to get out of a clinch (not the one pictured) is to push the opponents head backwards, as the clinch requires both participants to be very close to one another.


Defense against punches and kicks


Defensively, the concept of "wall of defense" is used, in which shoulders, arms and legs are used to hinder the attacker from successfully executing his techniques. Blocking is a critical element in Muay Thai and compounds the level of conditioning a successful practitioner must possess. Low and mid body roundhouse kicks are normally blocked with the upper portion of a raised shin. High body strikes are blocked with the forearm/glove, elbow/shin. Mid section roundhouse kicks can also be caught/trapped, allowing for a sweep or counter attack to the remaining leg of the opponent. Punches are blocked with an ordinary boxing guard and techniques similar if not idenitical to basic boxing technique. A common means of blocking a punch is using the hand on the same side as the oncoming punch. For example, if an orthodox fighter throws a jab (being his left hand), the defender will make a slight tap to redirect the punches angle with his right hand. The deflection is always as small and precise as possible to avoid unnecessary energy expendature and return the hand to the guard as quickly as possible. Hooks are most often blocked with a motion most often described as "combing your hair," raising the elbow forward and effectively shielding the head with the forearm, flexed bicep, and shoulder. More advanced Muay Thai blocks are usually counters, used to damage your opponent before he can attack again.

Elbow techniques



The elbow can be used in seven ways: horizontal, diagonal-upwards, diagonal-downwards, uppercut, downward, backward-spinning and flying. From the side it can be used as either a finishing move or as a way to cut the opponent's eyebrow so that blood might block his vision. The blood also raises the opponent's awareness of being hurt which could affect his performance. This is the most common way of using the elbow. The diagonal elbows are faster than the other forms, but are less powerful. The uppercut and flying elbows are the most powerful, but are slower and easier to avoid or block. The downward elbow is usually used as a finishing move.
There is also a distinct difference between a single elbow and a follow-up elbow. The single elbow is an elbow move independent from any other move, whereas a follow-up elbow is the second strike from the same arm, being a hook first with an elbow follow-up. Such elbows, and most other elbows, are used when the distance between fighters becomes too small and there is too little space to throw a hook at the opponent's head.


Kicking techniques


The teep (literally "foot jab," similar to a front kick) and Cutting the tree (kicking upwards in the shape of a triangle cutting under the arm and ribs) are the two most common kicks in Muay Thai. The Muay Thai roundhouse kick has been widely adopted by fighters from other martial arts. The roundhouse kick uses a rotational movement of the entire body. A Thai fighter uses this to his advantage, and if a round house kick is attempted by the opponent the fighter will block with his shin. Thai boxers are trained to always connect with the shin. While sensitive in an unconditioned practitioner, the shin is the strongest part of the leg for experienced Muay Thai fighters. The foot contains many fine bones and is much weaker. A fighter may end up hurting himself if he tries to attack with his foot.
Muay Thai also includes other varieties of kicking, such as the axe kick, side kick or spinning back kick etc. These kicks, depending on the fighter are utilized as to the preference of the fighter. It is worth noting that a side kick is performed differently in Muay Thai than the traditional side kick of other martial arts. In Muay Thai, a side kick is executed by first raising the knee of the leg that is going to kick in order to convince the opponent that the executor is going to perform a teep or front kick. The hips are then shifted to the side to the more traditional side kick position for the kick itself. The "fake-out" always precedes the kick in Muay Thai technique.


Knee techniques


Some knee techniques ("kao")
- Kao Dode (Jumping knee strike) - the Thai boxer jumps up on one leg and strikes with that leg's knee.


- Kao Loi (Flying knee strike) - the Thai boxer takes step(s), jumps forward and off one leg and strikes with that leg's knee. A quite spectacular sight when it connects.

- Kao Tone (Straight knee strike) - the Thai boxer simply thrusts it forward (not upwards, unless he is holding an oppenents head down in a clinch and intend to knee upwards into the face). According to one written source, this technique is somewhat more recent than Kao Dode or Kao Loi. Supposedly, when the Thai boxers fought with rope-bound hands rather than the modern boxing gloves, this particular technique was subject to potentially vicious cutting, slicing and sawing by an alert opponent who would block it or deflect it with the sharp "rope-glove" edges or sometimes by the glass glued onto the "rope-gloves". This explanation also holds true for some of the following knee strikes below as well.

- Kao Noi (Small knee strike) - the Thai boxer hits the inside upper thigh (above the knee) of the opponent when clinching. This technique is used to wear down the opponent or to counter the opponent's knee strike or kick.


Thailand Boxing (Muay Thai)

Wall Picture "Scene from the court life" Prince Ransit palace (17th century),shows a Muay Thai match, accompanied by the music orchestra (right)
History


Muay Thai started way back in the medieval ages when wars were fought with bows and arrows, swords, and pikes. And in hand-to-hand combat arms, legs, knees, and elbows were also used as weapons. This sport which was included in military training was made famous by King Nareusan 1560 A.D. During one of the many battles between Burma and Siam he was captured. The Burmese knew of his prowess as the best unarmed fighter in the realm and gave him a chance to fight with their best for his freedom. Upon his return to Siam he was hailed as a hero and Siamese-style boxing, as it was called then, was soon recognized as a national sport. Boxing in this style reached its zenith of popularity about two hundred years ago, i.e., in the reign of Prachao Sua (King Tiger), when it was indulged in by all classes of the population.


From those days up until the early part of this century, the fighters, particularly those in provinces, used horsehide strips and later help in lieu of gloves. It was also a practice at one time to grind pieces of glass into the help if both contestants agreed. Since these practices were obviously dangerous to the fighters' health, regular boxing gloves were introduced about 50 years ago and have been used ever since.


To the Thais, Muay Thai is regarded as a prestigious national sport. Thai boys will in one or another way, intentionally or unintentionally, learn how to box Thai style. Even Thai girls will know enough of the basic principles and to be able to use it for self-defense when necessary.


Muay Thai, called Thai Boxing by foreigners, is our national sport and is now getting more popular in many countries, especially in Japan where a large numer of young Japanese are now being trained to fight professionally. But in Japan this fighting is called "Kick Boxing." At present "Kick Boxing" is internationally known as a Japanese martial art. Surely the true name, "Muay Thai" should be retained internationally as the Japanese terms Kendo, Judo, or Karate have been.


There is no [clear] evidence to show the time of origin of Thai-Style boxing. It can only be assumed that Thai boxing existed since the Thai emigrated from the South of China. [Further archaeological work needs to be done in this area, both in the Thai and English languages.]


The [Tai tribe] immigrants had to hide from attackers and met with resistance from local people. In short, they had to fight endlessly for their survival. By the time they managed to settle in the "Gold Promontory", the Thais had gone through to countless battles and many lives had been lost. The ancient weapons consisted only of spears, swords, pikes or bows and arrows. But in hand-to-hand combat weapons become clumsy, and elbows, knees, feet and fists became more practical. This must have been extremely successful, as it was then developed into a form of martial arts used in battle, and this was the origin of Muay Thai.


When the Thais finally settled down and built a city, and extended their territory to become a large country, there was a need for an army to defend the country. Soldiers in those days had to learn Muay Thai along with the use of traditional weapons. Thus there was also the need for Kru Muay, or teacher of Thai boxing. Various tactics for attack and defense were developed, called "boxing tactics". Later, laymen began to take up this form of fighting, as a form of self-defense, and as a handy qualification to become a soldier, which would also lead to further advancement depending on their ability and talent.


During the Ayudhya period, which was a period of consecutive fighting against the neighboring countries of Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam, history records state that King Sri San Petch or Khun Luang Sorasak known as Phra Chao Sua (The Tiger King) often boxed incognito in various up-country temple fairs. He is said to have been a skilled boxer, and enjoyed the sport so much that he often disguised himself thus in order to test his skill against villagers and thus became quite a legend in his own time.


When Ayudhya fell in 1767 A.D. many Thais became prisoners of War. In 1774 the King of Burma held a festival to celebrate the Chedi containing the Bhuddha's relics in Rangoon, with various forms of entertainment and festivities. This included a boxing display for the King by a Boxer named "Nai Khanom Tom" a prisoner of war from Ayudhya. Pit against Burmese boxers, Nai Khanom Tom defeated 10 Burmese opponents in a row, and also became quite a legend.


During the reign of King Tak Sin the Great, the King had a close aid-de-amp named "Phraya Pihai Dab Hak" who had studied the art of Muay Thai with many famous teachers and displayed his talent for the King. As a result, he was chosen to become a soldier, and was later promoted to the position of Chao Muang (governor) with his name recorded in history.


In the Ratanakosin Period, Muay Thai was still a national art form, with competitions in annual national festivities. Time-keeping was done by floating a pierced coconut shell. When the coconut sank, a drum would be beaten to signal the end of a round.


In 1788, during the reign of King Rama I, two french brothers arrived in Thailand by boat, having defeated many boxers across the Indo-China Penninsula. King Rama I consulted the Crown Prince, his brother, who offered to find boxers to fight against the Frenchmen. Phraya Phra Klang would accept the challenge, settling the bet at 50 chang (4,000 bhat). The Crown Prince chose a boxer named Muen Plan of the Royal Guards. The match was held in the grounds of the Grand Palace. Muen Plan wore full battle regalia--bare-chested, seeped in magic charms, cabalistic writing and oils to ensure invulnerability. When the fight began, the large French fighter tried to attack, aiming for the neck and collar-bone. Muen Plan defended himself with Muay Thai. The other Frenchman, seeing his brother making no progress became frustrated, and pushed Muen Plan's back to stop him from backing away. Members of the Royal Guards saw this break of boxing etiquette and proceeded to help Muen Plan tackle the two Frenchmen until they had to be carried back to the boat. They set sail the next day, with no thought of ever challenging a Thai Boxer again.


During the reign of King Rama V, Thai boxing matches were widely popular, boxing matches were held for the King's pleasure, ad skilled boxers received titles from the King, for example Muen Muay Mee Chue from Chaiya, Muen Muay Man Mudh from Lopburi, Muen Cha-ngad Cherng Chok from Korat. Also in this period boxing camps were established. Members of the royal family sent out talent scouts to recruit potential boxers from up-country and arranged matches between camps. Winners would receive money and valuable prizes. This period could be called the Golden Age of Muay Thai.

During the reign of King Rama VI, Thai boxing matches became more widespread. Matches that used to be held in make-shift rings in any available courtyard became a standard raised ring surrounded by ropes. The first ring was built in 1921 at Suan Kularp field. Although standard rings were available, boxers still bound their hands with rope. Foreign boxers came to take on Thai boxers. An important free-style match took place between Young Harntalay and Chin Chang from China which attracted a huge crowd of spectators. The result was that Young Harntalay floored Ching Chang with a beautiful kick. In this period, they also had referees in the ring, and kept time by the clock. These innovations were probably adopted from abroad.

Rope binding was needed until 1929 when boxing gloves took its place. Earlier at the Lumpini Park Ring, a Filipino boxer gave an international style boxing exhibition with boxing gloves. Later, gloves were also used in student boxing matches called "Muay Farang", and in professional international boxing between Thai and foreign boxers. This led the organizers of Thai-Style boxing to see that gloves are less dangerous than rope-binding, and decided that gloves should be adopted in Muay Thai, but fighting with elbows, knees, feet and fists would still be allowed.

Although many improvements or changes were applied from the type of ring, breaking each bout into rounds, using the minute-system of time-keeping, and using gloves, one aspect of Thai-style boxing remained the same--the jock strap. Originally, the jock-strap consisted of a triangular-shaped pillow tied to the waist, with a strap tied behind from between the legs. The pillows were red or blue color according to the boxer's corner. These pillows were used until one boxer went to Malaysia and saw foreign boxers use jock-straps. He brought the idea back to Thailand, and since then jock-straps have replaced the triangular pillows.

During the reign of King Rama VII, in the revolutionary period, permanent boxing stadiums were established both in Bangkok and in the provinces. They gradually disappeared in 1942 during World War II. After the war, boxing stadiums sprang up like mushrooms overnight. Skilled boxers from up-country flocked to Bangkok to take part in tournaments. Finally the first standard boxing stadium was established--the Rajdamnern Stadium, in 1945. Rules were set, and later on regular bouts were set at 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, with a two-minute interval between rounds. The weight was taken down in stones like race-horses, and later converted into kilograms.

In the early days, the match-maker system was used; the stadium officials would organize matches providing cup or talent jackets as prizes. Matches were not classified into weight groups until many years later when the pound system replaced stones and kilograms. International names were given for each weight group, such as flyweight and bantamweight. Matches were arranged to select a champion for each class, following the international style.

Muay Thai is still developing, but what remains unchanged is the use of the pipe and drums as musical accompaniments for the matches, and is considered a unique characteristic of Muay Thai. Muay Thai has been initiated under many names, which have not received prolonged interest because the original has already became known world-wide.

Many additions have been made to the regulations of Muay Thai. It is forbidden now to hit the private parts since this technique has become quite infamous as a form of attack and is considered debasing for the fine art of Thai boxing. Muay Thai remains a national art form. If all parties concerned help to uplift and conserve this form of martial arts, and pass it onto following generations, it will remain a valuable possession of the Thai nation.