MUAY THAI
Muay Thai is a hard martial art from Thailand. It is similar to other Indochinese styles of kickboxing, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and Muay Lao from Laos. Muay Thai is referred to as the "Art of Eight Limbs" or "Science of Eight Limbs". Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport. Today, I am going to talk about the origins of Muay Thai, the popular folklore and the modernization of Muay Thai.

origins.
--traced back to 400 years ago in the former capital of Thailand known as Ayuthaya.
--(i) Muay Thai evolved from muay boran created from the weapon-based art of krabi krabong. (ii) they merely developed alongside each other.
--Muay Thai='toi muay', 'muay'
--besides actual warfare, muay was used for entertainment for spectators, kings.
--muay learned by staff of royal household, soldiers and others. This 'royal muay' called 'muay lang'.
--some time during Ayuthaya period, royal guards(Krom Nak Muay) were established to protect king and the country.
--This royal patronage of kick-muay continued through the reigns Rama V and VII.

popular folklore.
--most popular folklore regarding muay boran.
--1767, time of the fall of the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya.
--thousands of Thais which most of them are Thai kickboxers caught to Burma as prisoners.
--1774, Burmese king(King Hsinbyushin/King Mangra) organized a religious festival and wanted to see how muay boran would compared to the Burmese and Nai Khanomtom was selected to fight with the Burmese champion.
--he proved himself by foughting the Burmese champion and other 9 champions.
--(i) Nai Khanomtom was granted with freedom and Burmese wives. (ii) He won the release of his fellow Thai prisoners.
--March 17: Boxer's Day / National Muay Boran Day

modernization of Muay Thai.
--ascension of King Chulalongkom(Rama V) to the throne in 1868 ushered in a golden age.
--muay progressed greatly as a direct result of the king's personal interest in the art.
--the country was in peace, muay functioned as physical exercise, self defence, recreation and others.
--1921, Thailand's 1st boxing ring was built at Suan Kularp.
--rope-binding changed to gloves and cotton coverlets wearing after occurrence of death in the ring.
--western practitioners incorporated techniques from it although some Thai purists accuse them from diluting the art.