OneSongchai MuaythaiConservation; Thai and World Heritage
- Special thanks go out to Nirut Onesongchai (www.muaythai.co.th) for the following info:
Conservation: Thai and World heritage Author: Dr. Sawaeng Vittayapitaks Translation: Siraphop Ratanasuban and Nirut OneSongchai Raja Bhat Mu Ban Chombung University
One of the most famous and outstanding martial art in Thailand is Muaythai. Muaythai was invented when Thai people started building their country. At first, the purpose of this martial art was for war. When the nation was at peace, Thai people did not stop learning or practicing Muaythai but the purpose no longer involved war. It has become the national sport - competitions taking place constantly.
In the history of Muaythai, there were two most legendary figures that people always talk about - These two are Prachao Sue (The Tiger King) and Nai Kanomtom. Prachao Sue was keen on Muaythai. He disguised himself and used fake names to join street fights around his palace. As for Nai Kanomtom, he was a prisoner of war taken to Burma in the Ayutthaya period. He fought Burma’s and beat ten of them with his bare hand. The Burma king was impressed and said that “Muaythai is very useful; one man can beat his ten opponents with his bare hand”. Besides using fists, feet, and knees as weapons, there are ways to increase the degree of pain to the opponent using calico or powdered rope wrapping around one’s fist creating sharp knots. This adapted martial art is called “Muay Kad Chieak”. The slightest touch can easily draw blood from an opponent. Yet, there are a lot of mixtures in this type of martial art using fists, feet and knees called “Mae Mai Muay Thai ”. Nothing is written in stone for Muaythai.
There are at least a hundred of combinations created so far. Mostly, one who comes up with the combination will title it with a name that relates to the famous epic “Ramayana” or the surroundings such as Mon Toe Nung Taen , Kwang Leaw Lung, etc. There has been a ritual that stood with Muaythai from the beginning called “ Karn Vai Kru” which is a ritual that students show gratitude and pay respect to their master. The ritual is believed to be holy and helps the boxer to concentrate. It also scientifically helps the boxers to warm up their body and reduces the stress before the fight.
Learning the history of Muaythai enables us to know the foundation of it, hence we can help improve it properly. We can also use it as a case study to find new solutions by using new methods, generate new ideas, and come up with new approaches to determine the objectives of the preservation and improvement of Muaythai creatively. All these are to make Muaythai fit our present ways of life properly according to her royal words of Somdej Prathep Ratna Raj Suda Siam Borom Raj Kumari…. The most important thing in studying history is we need to know the progress, success and obstacles of each period. Success or obstacles happening in the past will help us do well in studying this type of subject….The past will teach us how to solve the problem in the future (Somdej Prathep Ratna Raj Suda Siam Borom Raj Kumari 2003).
Muaythai has become culture, national sport and knowledge that make it both Thai and world heritage. The whole world admires Muaythai as “The national science and the art of fighter” which invented by Thai ancestors and kings during the ancient war to protect their homeland keeping their nation free till today. Muaythai, the science of fighting and martial art, is considered to be a national treasure. The whole world is interested in it and loves to see Thai people conserve it in all aspects; as cultural heritage, as a sport, as self-defense and as a career. All these aspects are the foundation of Thai society which based on generosity, sympathy, courage, patience, bonding Thai people together.
Since Muaythai is the foundation of Thai society, it bonds Thai people together as one giant family enabling them to live in the nature that becomes a tradition. There are sacred rituals in Muaythai including, offering one’s services, indoctrinating the art pupils, respecting each other, depending on one another, mercy, kindness, kindliness and detachment. All these initialize strong relationship among Thai people. Besides all these, Muaythai has initialized two important prospects in Thai society; firstly, it gives Thai people the qualifications of being grateful, diligent and merciful and also teaches them how to live in harmony. Secondly, Muaythai academically gives Thai people the values of Self-Defense; individually it gives Thai people the value of being Thai and patriotic; societal it gives Thai people discipline and scarification. In order to make all these happen, teaching is required.
In the old days, Teaching Muaythai to “Thai Youth” was included in both national curriculum and extracurricular activity. Such teaching is a method to make Thai youth stronger physically and mentally and make then grateful and be proud of one's own nation. Presently, Thai youths are less interested in Muaythai. In school, Muaythai has become only an extracurricular activity. Muaythai is a national heritage and should stay included in national curriculum. Thai youths should be encouraged to learn Muaythai. In order to make this happen, the former famous Muaythai boxers, who have succeeded in this field, should step up and be a role model. There for, youths of the nation get encouraged and have Muaythai running in their veins from one generation the next.
Thank you. Sincerely yours, Nirut Onesongchai http://www.s1worldchampionship.com
- From muaythai.co.th with a little editing from us (color, etc...)
(11/10/08) |