HISTORY OF MUAYTHAI

Muaythai has been a part of Thai history and heritage for hundreds of years as with most traditions from ancient times.  There exist many different versions of the history of Muaythai but all sources agree that Muaythai was the primary and most effective method of self defense used by Thai warriors in the battlefields of conflicts and wars that occurred countless times throughout the history of the nation now known as Thailand.  During this time, a warfare manual named “Chupasart” was written.  This manual emphasised the martial uses of each body part.  The underlying philosophy of this manual implied that fighting is more than the use of weapons but importantly to engage total commitment from mind, body and soul.

The first known practice of Muaythai as a “sport”, off and away from the heat and chaos of the battlefield occurred during the reign of King Prachao Sua (1697-1709 A.D.), with the love for the sport he often fought incognito in village contests, beating the local champions.  When the nation was at peace, to keep the army busy he often ordered them to train Muaythai and loosely organised competitions started sprouting up and around the country. 

In 1774, the legendary Nai Khanom Dtom made Muaythai famous for his battle against a group of Burmese while he was a prisoner of war in Burma.  He was captured when the Burmese ransacked and burnt Thailand’s ancient capital Ayuddhaya.  He defeated ten of Burma’s best boxers, without pause, he took them on one by one through a battering and bruising contest.  He illustrated the favorable elements in Muaythai, the indomitable will to win for an honor and the willingness to face any odds.  This can be summarised as “nothing can stand against you except yourself”.

The army fostered Muaythai.  Soldiers have trained and used the techniques for as long as there has been an army in Thailand.  For the military it has always been the close combat fighting skills, the martial art of the battlefield.  When a Thai soldier fights hand to hand he uses Muaythai.  But then so does every Thai person, male or female.  Watching it, learning it, copying it is a part of Thai childhood.  Muaythai soon became the favorite pastime sport of people from all walks of life, with training camps being established all over the country.

It was in the early 1930s that Muaythai was officially codified, with rules and regulations being created and introduced into the sporting world to make Muaythai an international sport of the early 20th century and as one of the safe ring sports.  Round contests were introduced along with eight divisions based on international boxing.  Queensbury rules boxing gloves replaced the ropes binding on the hands.

With a proud history, Muaythai has progressed and is recognised in many countries worldwide, creating a new era of a proud world history.  In recent years Muaythai, both amateur and profession, has swept the world like a wild fire and developed into the premier ring sport – fighting art with no equal in terms of unarmed combat and spectator appeal as well as a form of self defence and fitness program.