Muay Thai The Art of Fighting Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad and James Cartmell Muay Thai The Art of Fighting by Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad and James Cartmell This DRAFT should not be sold, rented and etc. All reprinting and citation of text in part or whole is prohibited. 2 Table of Contents Preface………………………………………………………6 Chapter 1. History and Traditions of Muay Thai Muay Thai Chronology……………………………………………7 Thai Musical Instruments for Boxing……………………………15 Beginner Initiation Ritual………………………………………..18 Pre-fight Ritual…………………………………………………….20 Wai Kru…………………………………………………………….23 Muay Thai Terminology…………………………………………..37 Chapter 1. Cherng Muay (Traditional Basics) Cherng Mad 15 Cherng (15 punches)…………………………..44 Cherng Sok 24 Cherng (24 elbow strikes)………………………58 Cherng Khao 11 Cherng (11 knee strikes)………………….…..79 Cherng Thao 15 Cherng (15 kicks)………………………………89 Chapter 2. Kon Muay Thai (Traditional Techniques) Kae Mad 29 Kon…………………………………………………...115 Kae Thao 23 Kon ………………………………………………….133 Kae Khao 3 Kon …………………………………………………..145 Kae Sok 4 Kon……………………………………………………..147 JuJom 23 Kon………………………………………………………149 3 Chapter 3. The Master Tricks and The Complimentary Tricks 15 Mae Mai…………………………………………………………164 Control of Breath…………………………………………………...174 Stance and Footwork in Detail…………………………………….177 Defensive Head Movements………………………………………..180 Kicking When It Is Too Close To Kick……………………………181 Going "Dirty"……………………………………………………….183 Muay Thai: Throws and Takedowns………………………………185 Clinch (Prumb)…………………………………………………...…187 Chapter 3. Movements of Using Muay Thai Art 15 Look Mai…………………………………………………………201 Basic Combinations…………………………………………………212 More Combinations…………………………………………………215 Chapter 4. Training Drills, Conditioning and etc. Training Drills………………………………………………………216 Improving Punching Power………………………………………..218 Favorite Drills………………………………………………………221 Medicine Ball Drills………………………………….……………..222 Neck Wrestling Drills………………………………………………224 Thai Pad Drills………………………………………………….…..225 4 Build Explosiveness……………………….……………………..…228 Kicking Speed………………………….…….………………….….238 Training to Fight!…………………………………………….…….240 How not to Flinch, Blink or Turn Away……………………..……243 Beginner Muay Thai Training Schedule…………………….……246 Conditioning the Shins……………………………………….…….247 Common Muay Thai Injuries………………………………….….250 Dealing with Psychological Problem of "Getting Hit"…….…….252 Basic Technique in Meditation Practice………………………….255 Chapter 5. Hand Wrapping Muay Thai Hand Wrapping …………………………………..…..256 Pro-Boxing Hand Wrapping…………………………………….. ..260 Hand Wrapping for Heavy Bag Training ………...………………272 5 Preface Words from Authors. First and Foremost. Techniques described in this book are meant to damage and even kill your opponent, though being properly executed are very damaging and some are potentially lethal. Practice and use them with caution – it’s your and own responsibility. Second. There are lots of gyms, schools and training camps where Muay Thai is taught. Cause Muay Thai is living art there are myriads of variations of how to call this or that technique, how to execute this or that strike or training drill. So if you find out that there are some differences between what you are taught and what you read in this book – don’t worry. Use your common sense, try both ways, chose what suits you more. This book isn’t meant to show the only way, it is meant to help to choose YOUR OWN WAY. Third. There are three authors of this book, but in order to make reading easier, all advices are given as from one author. Fourth. Many of you can ask why so few pictures and where are all these fancy diagrams and stepping patterns? This book lacks them on purpose. We found out that lots off beginners try to imitate what they see (in the gym or in the book) without understanding. And it becomes even worse if someone decides that he can do it after only reading about it. We want you, our reader, to benefit from this book. As so – try all you read in it at your gym, with your partner, ask your trainer about it, discuss it with your friends. In other words – try to fill, try to catch the essence of techniques and drills. Understanding technique is simple, correct execution is much more difficult – but that’s the goal. And remember PRACTICE IS THE ONLY WAY. 6 History and Traditions of Muay Thai Muay Thai Chronology MuayThai in the Sukhothai Era Thailand’s capital was situated at Sukhothai from around the Buddhist years 1781-1951 (1238-1408 CE). Inscriptions in stone columns at Sukhothai indicate that Sukhothai fought with its neighbors quite often. Consequently, the city had to instill in her soldiers knowledge and skills concerning the use of weapons such as swords and spears, and also how to use the body as a weapon in situations of close person-to-person combat. Skills such as kicking, kneeing, punching, and elbowing were thus developed. During peacetime, young men in Sukhothai practiced MuayThai to build character and their self-defense skills. These skills would serve them well during their time in the military and thus the practice of MuayThai became a good custom. MuayThai training centers arose around the city, for example, the Samakorn Training Center in Lopburi. Some were in temple areas where monks doubled as instructors. During this period, MuayThai was considered a higher art and was a part of the royal curriculum. It was intended to develop good and brave warriors with great physical fitness into great and brave rulers. The first King of Sukhothai, Phokhun Sri In Tharatit, believed in the benefits of MuayThai so much that he sent his two sons to train MuayThai at the Samakorn Training Center to prepare them to take the throne. In B.E. 1818-1860 (1275-1317 CE) Phokhun Ram Khamhaeng 7 wrote a war text that included the teachings of MuayThai as well as instruction in other fighting skills. MuayThai in the Krungsri Ayutthaya Era The Ayutthaya Era lasted from B.E. 1988-2310 (1445-1767 CE). This period was characterized by frequent wars between Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia. Therefore, young men had to prepare themselves by developing self-defense skills. These skills were taught by experienced masters. The training spread from the Royal Palace out to the public. The Phudaisawan Sword Training Center was very famous in that era, and it had many pupils. They were trained with wicker swords in the arts of sword and pole fighting. They were also trained to fight barehanded and thus learned MuayThai skills. In addition to fighting, such training centers also gave education in everyday matters. King Naresuan The Great Era (B.E. 2133-2147, 1590-1604 CE) King Naresuan would call for young men of his age to train with him. They were trained to be brave, self-confident warriors. They had to be skilful with all weapons and in boxing. King Naresuan set up the Scouting Corps to fight in guerrilla warfare. It was this Corps of soldiers that were able to free Thailand from Burma during this time. King Narai The Great Era (B.E. 2147-2233, 1604-1690 CE) During this period Thailand was very much at peace and there were many developments in the Kingdom. King Narai supported and promoted sports, especially MuayThai, which became a professional sport. At this time there were many boxing training centers. The boxing ring was set up in regular playgrounds where a rope would be laid out in a square shape to indicate the fighting area. Boxers wrapped their hands with threads that were dipped in thick starch or tar. This technique was called Kad-Chuck (wrapped with threads) or Muay Kad-Chuck (boxing with thread-wrapped hands). Boxers wore a head band, called the mongkon, and an amulet, or pa-pra-jiat, wrapped around their upper arms when they fought. Boxers did not fight according to weight, height, or age. The rules were simple: Fights lasted until there was a clear winner. Gambling accompanied the bouts. Villages would often challenge each other to boxing matches and boxing became an activity central to folk plays and festivals. King Prachao Sua Era (B.E. 2240-2252, 1697-1709 CE) King Prachao Sua, also known as the Tiger King as well as Khun Luang Sorasak, loved MuayThai very much. Once he went, dressed in plain clothes, to a district called Tambol Talad-guad with four royal guards. There he entered a boxing competition. The promoter did not recognize the King, but knew that the boxer came from Ayutthaya. He let the King fight against very good fighters from 8 the town of Wisetchaichan. They were Nai Klan Madtai (killing fists), Nai Yai Madlek (iron fists), and Nai Lek Madnak (hard fists or punches). The Tiger King won all three fights. King Prachao Sua also trained his two sons, Prince Petch and Prince Porn, in MuayThai, sword fighting, and wrestling. During the early part of the Ayutthaya period the Department of Royal Boxing was founded. One of its responsibilities was to recruit young talented boxers to fight for the King’s entertainment. The top boxers were chosen for the Royal Quarries, called Thani Lir (chosen guards). They were responsible for the security of the royal palace and the King at all times. These boxers were to become the boxing masters who trained the soldiers and the Princes. In the later part of the Ayutthaya Period, after the second loss to Burma in B.E. 2310 (1767 CE), there was one boxer of note. Nai Khanomtom Nai Khanomtom was a prisoner of war captured by the Burmese when Ayutthaya was sacked for the second time in B.E. 2310 (1767 CE). In B.E. 2317 (1774 CE), the Burmese King, King Angwa, wanted to hold a celebration for the Great Pagoda in Rangoon. Boxing was included in the celebrations. Good Thai boxers were called on to fight with Burmese boxers. On the 17th of March of that year, Nai Khanomtom fought and defeated 10 Burmese boxers in succession with no rest period between fights. It was the first time that MuayThai was used in competition outside of Thailand. For his achievements, Nai Khanomtom was honored as the Father or MuayThai or the Inventor of MuayThai, and the 17th of March is now named MuayThai Day.