The history of Muay Thai is rich and closely tied to Thailand, its birthplace. Its beginnings go back centuries to ancient kingdoms, legendary warriors, age-old traditions, and powerful monarchs. Muay Thai is both a battlefield combat technique and a spectator sport. It is undoubtedly a cultural cornerstone for the Thai people. It has also been heavily influenced by Buddhist philosophy and is the national sport of Thailand.
Any Muay Thai practitioners of today that wish to learn about the origins of their favorite combat sport, listen up. We’re going to look at Muay Thai history and some of the legends that have sprung up over the years. You’ll also learn how it slowly transitioned into a modern combat sport. In the end, you’ll come away with a newfound appreciation for this martial art, and understand why it plays such an important role in the Thai tradition.
What Is Muay Thai Or Thai Boxing?
‘Muay Thai’ means ‘Thai boxing’ and is a modern combat sport widely practiced and studied in Thailand. While it is similar to methods found in other Asian countries such as India, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, Muay Thai has evolved to become uniquely Thai. Today, it is a form of close-quarters stand-up striking sport, where two fighters compete against each other using a combination of striking techniques like punching, kicking, knee strikes, and elbows, along with grappling maneuvers. This makes Muay Thai one of the most versatile and effective martial arts in the world. Muay Thai is also known as ‘The Art of Eight Limbs’ for its use of eight different contact points on the human body to strike.
While the exact origins of Muay Thai are somewhat shrouded in mystery, we do know that the combat sport has a long and rich history in Thailand or Siam as it was known in the past. For many centuries, it was an important part of military training, and Thai warriors practiced it alongside their armed combat techniques like Krabi-Krabong. It was mostly used on the battlefield, although it eventually made its way to the royal palace and the village temple grounds, where spectators gathered to watch.
With patronage from the Thai monarchy and ordinary people discovering it as a form of entertainment, Muay Thai became the national pastime, and eventually the country’s national sport. In the 20th century following World War II, the more brutal aspects, no doubt useful on the battlefield, were removed, and modern safety equipment like boxing gloves, as well as formal rules, was introduced.
The sport eventually moved into the boxing ring, played in big stadiums in Bangkok, packed with thousands of fans, with Muay Thai fights being broadcasted live on television. Foreign Muay Thai fighters known as Muay Farangs eventually entered the ring as well, getting the attention of western media. These changes helped make the combat sport seem vastly more accessible to new audiences, helping it spread over the entire world.
Muay Thai fighters are still revered by the Thai people, and its champions are considered national heroes. However, Muay Thai today is no longer limited to the borders of Thailand. It has practitioners all over the globe, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters have even adopted some of its techniques as their own. It is now officially an Olympic sport and will be featured at the Olympics in 2024 for the first time. The purer and more traditional forms of the fighting style are now referred to as ‘Muay Boran’ and are still being practiced for display.
If you want to learn about Muay Thai history, then keep reading!
How And When Did Muay Thai Originate?
The exact origins are debated by historians because much of the ancient records of Thai boxing were lost when the Burmese invaded the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Siam’s capital city during the 14th century. During this time, the temples and other places that maintained written records were pillaged, and much that was once known was lost. However, two competing theories attempt to explain the murky beginnings of how Muay Thai developed.
The first theory goes like this. Thai tribes that were migrating from China to settle in the region we now know as Thailand encountered many challenges such as rival tribes that already occupied some of the northern and central parts of the country. To survive their journey south and claim territory, they had to come up with a hand-to-hand fighting style.
The second theory says that the Siamese people were already settled in the region, and had to develop a form of martial arts to defend their territory from foreign invaders. The many kingdoms of Siam were constantly at war with their neighbors and Thai soldiers need a way to fight them off, especially the Burmese warriors that were always at their doorstep.
Soldiers of the Thai military were taught hand-to-hand combat techniques and how to use the entire body as a weapon alongside their weapon-based martial arts like Krabi-Krabong. Whether Thai boxing was invented during the migration or afterward, we do know that it survived many invasions, even after its written history before the 14th century was destroyed.
The ‘Chupasart’ which was sort of a manual for Muay Thai was established, although it is unclear when this actually happened. This manual laid down all the different striking points that fighters use to this day, and served as a guide for learning the ancient martial art.
The Sukhothai Era
The Sukhothai Kingdom which lasted from the 13th to early 14th centuries was traditionally considered by many to be the first kingdom of Siam, although modern historians now agree that the history of Thailand dates back even further. It is said that the first Thai army was created during this time, and Buddhist temples were traditionally the places of learning where soldiers went to gain knowledge of martial arts.
The Sukhothai kingdom’s first ruler Si Inthrathit was known to have sent his sons to learn the ancient boxing ways, a trend we will see repeated by many in the ruling dynasties of Siam in the following centuries.
The Era Of King Naresuan (1590-1605)
Sanophet II, more popularly known as King Naresuan is considered by many to be the greatest king in Thai history. He reigned during a time of great turmoil, leading his troops to victory against the invading Burmese forces. He was also a skilled warrior, renowned for his horseback riding and swordsmanship. Often romanticized was the Battle of Nong Sarai, where it is said Naresuan defeated the crown prince of Burma, Mingyi Swa while the two fought on elephants.
King Naresuan was also responsible for popularizing the sport of Muay Thai beyond its practical application as a battlefield fighting method. This was due in part to the fact that more people were exposed to it through military service, with the king going to great lengths to provide weapons and boxing training. The local village temples were the usual venue where crowds gathered to watch a Muay Thai fight.
The Era Of King Narai (1656-1688)
During this time, Thai warriors would begin to wear a bandana around their heads and armbands they believed would grant them protection during battle. These are still worn by professional fighters today. The Mongkon is the headdress a modern Muay Thai fighter wears during the Wai Kru pre-fight ritual and the Prajioud armbands are worn during a match.
While there were no proper boxing rings yet, Muay Thai fights would take place inside a rope laid out on the ground to mark a circle or square. Muay Thai fighters also started wrapping their hands and forearms with hemp rope, introducing some of the first protective gear worn in this combat sport. There were no weight classes, and the rules were simple. Muay Thai fights would go on till there was a winner, which usually meant a knockout, or one fighter accepting defeat.
Muay Thai was observed by the French diplomat Simon de la Loubère during his visit to Siam during this period and described in his reports.
The Era Of The Tiger King (1703-1709)
In the early 18th century, Ayutthaya was ruled by Sanphet VIII also known as King Suriyenthrathibodi. The king was infamous for his cruelty and quickly gained the moniker ‘Prachao Sua’ or ‘Tiger King’, given to him by his own citizens who feared him. He was known for more than just being cruel like a tiger.
King Prachao Sua was also a practitioner of Thai martial arts and was known to disguise himself as a commoner to compete in village-level tournaments. It is said that he defeated many champions of Muay Thai, known by their nicknames like ‘Killing Fists’ Nai Klan Madthai, ‘Fists of Iron’ Nai Yai Madlek, and ‘Hard Fists’ Nai Lek Madnak.
During the Tiger King’s time, the royal guards that were recruited had multiple responsibilities. Firstly, they were skilled Muay Thai fighters who had to safeguard the royal family and had to perform in matches held in front of the palace for the king’s entertainment. The very best of them were masters who had to teach Muay Thai to the princes as well as Thai soldiers of the army.
The Fall Of The Ayutthaya Kingdom And Nai Khanom To
Following the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767), the kingdom of Ayutthaya which had lasted for centuries finally came to an end. The Burmese who were victorious took many prisoners of war. Among them was a Nak Muay (Muay Thai fighter) called Nai Khanom Tom. Little did Nai realize that his fighting skills would bring much renown to his people.
The Burmese King Hyinbyushin wished to celebrate a newly constructed Buddhist pagoda and ordered a festival. As part of the celebrations, a series of duels was organized, where Burmese fighters trained in Lethwei were pitted against the Siamese prisoners with Muay Thai training. The Burmese king may have expected their home-grown martial art to come out on top, but what happened was in fact the complete opposite.
Nai Khanom Tom who was chosen to represent Siam started performing the Wai Kru Ram Muay in the Thai style, baffling the Burmese spectators and their chosen fighters. This pre-fight ritual is still performed today and is partly to show respect to the fighter’s Muay Thai teacher as well as showcase their Muay Thai fighting style.
Unfamiliar with these customs, the Burmese fighter that faced Nai Khanom Tom was confused and distracted, being easily defeated. Some spectators even believed that Nai had used some form of black magic to stun their champion. However, Nai Khanom Tom showed that this was no fluke as he went on to defeat nine more Burmese fighters before the festivities were over.
Impressed by the fighting skills displayed by the Muay Thai fighter, King Hyinbyushin granted freedom to Nai Khanom Tom, who returned home to his people, a champion and defender of Muay Thai’s reputation. Whether he received prize money, wives, or freedom for his fellow prisoners is still up for debate, although there are various different accounts of what exactly happened.
Nai Khanom Tom is known in Muay Thai history as ‘The Father of Muay Thai’ and March 17th is still celebrated by many Thai fighters who remember his adventures to this day. Nai Khanom Tom is a Muay Thai legend, and his adventures helped further popularize this martial art as a spectator sport for regular citizens.
The Rattanakosin Era (1782–1932)
The Rattanakosin Era is the name given to the period of Thai history from the establishment of Bangkok as the capital city in 1782 by King Rama I, to the revolution of 1932 when the absolute monarchy transitioned into a constitutional monarchy. Muay Thai, which had now become a national pastime, would not only receive royal patronage but also modernized heavily during the reign of the Rama line of kings of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. During this period Muay Thai officially became the national sport of Siam.
Some of the first Muay Thai rules were introduced around this time. One of the earliest methods of timekeeping to mark the length of a round was to have a punctured coconut shell being floated in a water tank. The round would end when the shell sank, and a drum would be sounded.
Reign Of King Rama V (1868-1910)
The reign of Chulalongkorn or King Rama V was unquestionably a period of prosperity in Muay Thai history. He was one of the staunchest supporters of Muay Thai, regularly attending tournaments and even learning the martial art himself. When one of his sons died, the king wished to have the best Muay Thai fighters from all over his kingdom come and fight at the funeral ceremony.
The three best fighters that fought in these funeral events were gifted with high titles called ‘Muen’. They were from three different regions of Thailand, and their fighting styles were unique to each province from which they came. The three styles were called Muay Lopburi, Muay Korat, and Muay Chaiya after the respective parts of the kingdom they originated in. Other fighting styles would come in later, but these three are the first to be formalized under the term ‘Muay Boran’ which means ‘ancient boxing’. Muay Boran describes Thai boxing styles that existed before more western influences like boxing gloves and standard rules entered to modernize the sport.
King Rama V also established the Department of Education, where he made Muay Thai part of the curriculum for physical education teachers, and at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Apart from organizing Muay Thai tournaments, the king also established training camps to further progress the sport.
Reign Of King Rama VI (1910 – 1925)
Vajiravudh or King Rama VI was next in line and continued his father’s plans to modernize Siam. It was during this period that World War I broke out, and it is reported that the Thai army which was stationed in France took part in exhibition matches of Muay Thai, helping generate interest in the sport among their European allies.
The first ever permanent boxing ring to be used for Muay Thai was established at the Suankularb College under the patronage of the king. It was a simple construction compared to modern boxing rings with a raised platform made of wood. The surface was covered on top using bamboo mats and a rope surrounded the platform. Both western boxing and Muay Thai were practiced and the term ‘Muay Thai’ entered the vocabulary during this time to distinguish it from western boxing.
There was now a timekeeper with a watch to keep track of the time, and a match would go on for 11 rounds, with each lasting three minutes. A drum was still used to signal the start or end of a round. A referee was also there to command the fighters, and an orchestra provided live music. Biting and striking a downed opponent were forbidden now. Fighters began using a protective cup beneath their shorts for groin protection.
Reign Of King Rama VII (1925 – 1935)
Prajadhipok was the last absolute monarch of Siam, and while it was a turbulent time for the country in terms of socio-political issues that led to the revolution of 1932, it was nevertheless a period where Muay Thai flourished. The Lak Muang stadium was already established with regular Muay Thai matches being played there. Queensbury Rules seen in British boxing would be adopted by Muay Thai during this time.
Muay Thai master Chua Chaksurak was requested to wear boxing gloves during a demonstration in Australia. It was he and a Philippine boxer who is known to have introduced and advocated for the use of gloves in Muay Thai. In 1928, fighter Chia Khaek Khamen died during a match with Phae Liangprasoet. This prompted the royal Thai government to pass a new regulation making gloves mandatory, replacing the old rope bindings that were used for centuries.
Weight divisions were also introduced to ensure no fighter would have a serious weight advantage over the other, and metal groin guards entered usage as well. Suan Sanuk Stadium, the first arena built to international standards, was opened near Lumpinee Park. It had a canvas floor, three ropes surrounding the ring, as well as padded red and blue corners.
Reign Of King Rama VIII (1935 – 1946)
It was in 1937 that formal rules of Muay Thai were first established by the Department of Education involving the use of boxing shorts, gloves, groin protectors, and the traditional Mongkon headdress by Thai boxers. A match would last for five three-minute rounds, with two-minute rest periods between rounds. A proper scoring system was also established.
The Rajadamnern Stadium was officially opened in 1945, and all matches held there would follow the formal rules introduced by the Education department. A few years later, a ranking system with formal weight divisions that were in line with international standards was introduced, with the concept of a champion being selected for each division.
Finally, after going through many changes over many centuries, and being a key part of Thai culture, this period of Muay Thai history came to a close. Muay Thai’s evolution into a modern combat sport was complete.
The Golden Era Of Muay Thai
In 1955, Rajadamnern stadium had its first Muay Thai fight that was broadcasted on live television. Lumpinee stadium opened in 1956 and would go on to become the most prestigious venue for the combat sport during the golden era of Muay Thai. The golden era is widely considered to be the peak of the sport’s popularity from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s.
This period saw some of the best fighters in Muay Thai history like Samart Payakaroon, Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn, Boonlai Sor Thanikul, Sagat Petchyindee, and Somrak Khamsing enter the ring. There were massive crowds, ludicrously large fight purses, and heavy promotion in the media with many fighters becoming household names. Iconic matches took place within Thailand, and also between Thai boxers and foreign martial artists.
The golden era highs definitely ensured the continued spread of Muay Thai all over the world and inspired the next generation of fighters that continue to practice the sport to this day. Muay Thai was so popular during this time, and it spawned some of the best fighters of the sport, and the incredible matches they took part in are still talked about today.
Modern Muay Thai Boxing
The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) is the governing body that regulates both amateur and professional aspects of the sport. Muay Thai is now truly global, with 130 member countries being part of the IFMA. In 2021, Muay Thai was officially recognized as an Olympic sport and will be featured in the 2024 summer Olympics. Muay Thai was also successfully integrated into mixed martial arts, with many practitioners around the world adding its techniques into their own MMA fighting styles.
Modern practitioners of Muay Thai are stars like Buakaw Banchamek and the legendary Suphachai ‘Saenchai’ Saepong dominating in fight promotions like K-1 Kickboxing and Thai Fight respectively. Furthermore, they have even appeared in martial arts action films, cementing their celebrity status. Rodtang Jitmuangnon who is currently dominating the ONE Championship tournaments is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter in the world.
Muay Thai History Is Not Forgotten
Muay Thai began as an ancient and deadly battlefield combat technique. While it has evolved into an accessible and modern combat sport, the modern practitioners or ‘Nak Muays’ of Muay Thai still continue to abide by its customs and traditions. The ‘Wai Kru’ is still done before a match to pay respects to the teachers and ancestors. This is followed by the ‘Ram Muay’ or ‘boxing dance’ to showcase the style of fighting unique to each practitioner or gym they represent.
Other aspects of Thai culture are intact as well, with fighters wearing the Mongkon during the Wai Kru and Ram Muay. A live band still plays traditional music during matches held in Thailand’s modern stadiums. Some fighters even get Sak Yant tattoos which they believe would grant them protection and luck during fights. While the deadlier techniques of Muay Thai have been left behind, its rich heritage has not been forgotten.
Are You Interested in Learning More About Muay Thai?
There are many reasons why you should be learning Muay Thai even if you’re not interested in competing professionally. For one, Muay Thai is great for self-defense. Secondly, it can give you a workout like no other form of martial arts, making it ideal for fitness, and getting in shape. Finally, it’s a lot of fun and a great way to immerse yourself in Thai culture.
If you’re ready for some Muay Thai training, visit Ushup, the place for everyone that loves this sport. You can learn handy tips about training techniques, the best gyms to train at, great deals on protective gear, and the latest happenings in the world of Muay Thai.
FAQs
There is no single founder of Muay Thai. But Nai Khanom Tom is called ‘The Father of Muay Thai’ for one of the earliest known public displays of Muay Thai being used as a combat sport.
Muay Thai was originally created centuries ago as a form of close-quarters combat style to be used in battle by the Siamese army.
Formal rules were introduced to Muay Thai in 1937 which standardized the use of protective gear, the number of rounds for a match, and the scoring system. Weight divisions were added a few years later.
