Muay Thai history is deeply entwined with the history of Thailand itself. Because of perpetual invasions from neighboring countries when Thailand was in the process of forming, Thai people depended on their ability to defend themselves. In these early times only short-range weapons such as spears, pikes and clubs would have been available for use in battle. During this kind of hand-to-hand combat, fighting methods can quickly change and the body’s natural weapons such as the head, fists, elbows and feet would necessarily also have been utilized. Undoubtedly, it is the systemized use of these natural weapons, developed as a practical fighting skill for the battlefield that came to be Muay Thai boxing.
After WWII Muay Thai boxers headed to the capital for fame and fortune, and the glory is still to be found at Rajadamnoen or Lumpinee boxing stadiums in Bangkok. Today in the villages in the provinces people can be seen clustered around available TV sets to see televised matches. All professional fighters have official ring names. The first part of the name is generally their own, while the second is the name of the training camp to which they belong. Today many men and women of all ages enjoy regular training sessions. There is now a World Championship for Muay Thai and it has become an accepted amateur sport in many countries. Muay Thai boxing is an essential part of Thai culture. Thais have a fiery belief in the lethal effectiveness of their fighting art and have proved it time and again.
