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Muay
Thai Boxing
SASSOM Real Gym - Real People - Real Results |
WHY TRAIN MUAY THAI
Muay Thai is one of the fastest and
easiest sports to learn in the world. As well as self-defence, this Martial Art
also is great for fitness. We teach those that want to learn Muay Thai for their
own self-confidence and satisfaction. I also train those that want to compete in
the sport of Muay Thai.
With that in mind, the skills’
training has been refined emphasing the system’s unique footwork and explosive
power. The syllabus has been structured and formatted in such a way to provide a
gradual progression through the 5-coloured singlets (Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green
& Brown) before the student obtains their Black singlet.
TRAINING TIMES
· Monday & Wednesday 6:15pm - 7:15pm
· Saturday 9:00am - 10:00am (Open Session)
TRAINING COSTS
· $95.00 per month - Direct Debit on a
6-month Contract
· $120.00 per month - Direct Debit No
Contract
· First Training Session is Free
MUAY THAI HISTORY
Muay Thai began as a close combat
battlefield fighting skill. More deadly than the weapons it replaced. As to
where Muay Thai came from, its evolution, the sources aren’t clear and often
contradict each other.
What is known is that Muay Thai was an
essential part of Thai culture right from its dawn. And in Thailand, it’s the
sport of kings. They all agree that Muay Thai developed as a means to defend the
land and people from constant invasion threats. In olden days, national issues
were decided by Muay Thai contests.
The first great upsurge of interest in
Muay Thai as a sport, as well as a battlefield skill, was under King Naresuan in
1584, a time known as the Ayuddhaya period. During this period, every soldier
trained in Muay Thai and could use it, as the King himself did. Slowly Muay Thai
moved away from its root in the ‘Chupasart’ and new fighting techniques were
evolving.
The change in the art was to continue
under another fighting King - Prachao Sua - the Tiger King. He loved Muay Thai
so much that he often fought incognito in village contests, beating the local
champions. During the reign of the Tiger King the nation was at peace. The King,
to keep the army busy, ordered it to train in Muay Thai. The interest in the
sport was already high but now it took off yet again.
Thai Boxing became the favourite sport
and pastime of the people, the army and the King. Historical sources show that
people from all walks of life flocked to training camps. Rich, poor, young and
old all wanted some of the action. Every village staged its prize fights and had
its champions. Every bout became a betting contest as well as a contest of local
pride. The betting tradition has remained with the sport and today large sums
are wagered on the outcome of fights
Thai boxing has always been popular but
like most sports, there have been times when it was more in fashion. In the
reign of King Rama V, many Muay Thai matches were Royal Command fights. These
boxers were rewarded with military titles from the King. Today the titles are
virtually untranslatable. They mean something comparable to Major of Boxing. At
the time they were much prized and respected titles.
Muay Thai has always been a sport for
the people as well as a military fighting skill. In all its golden ages, the
people have trained and practiced the sport whether they were King or commoner.
It was a part of the school curriculum right up to the 1920’s when it was
withdrawn because it was felt that the injury rate was too high. The people
however, continued to study it in gyms and clubs just as they do today.
The Rama V period was another golden age
for Muay Thai. Boxing camps were set up, talent scouts - at Royal Command -
recruited potential boxers from around the country. This thrilled the people
then as much as the main bouts do today. The matches then were not fought in a
ring, any available space of the right size was used, a courtyard, a village
clearing.
It wasn’t till the reign of King Rama VI that the
standard ring surrounded by ropes came into use, as did time keeping by the
clock. Before this period, time keeping was done by floating a pierced coconut
shell on a boat of water. When the coconut piece sank, a drum signalled the end
of the round.
During the reign of the Tiger King, the hands and
forearms began being bound with strips of horse hair. This was to serve a dual
purpose - protect the fighter and inflict more damage on the opponent. Later,
these were replaced by hemp ropes or starched strips of cotton. For particular
challenge matches and with the fighter’s agreement, ground glass was mixed
with glue and spread on the strips.
The changes to the sport have mostly been changes to
equipment not the system. For example, Thai fighters have always worn groin
guards. A kick or knee to the groin was a perfectly legal move up until the
1930’s. In the early days, the protection was made from tree bark or sea
shells held in place with a piece of cloth tied between the legs and around the
waist. The groin guard later became a triangular shaped pillow, red or blue,
tied around the waist with a through strap between the legs.
The pillow went, after a fighter on a trip to Malaysia
saw a groin box. He came back with the idea, which is close to the original idea
of the sea shell and since then, Muay Thai fighters have used them. The 1930’s
saw the most radical change in the sport. It was then that it was codified and
today’s rules and regulations were introduced. Rope bindings of the arms and
hands were abandoned and gloves took their place.
This innovation was also in response to the growing
success of Thai Boxers in international boxing. Along with the introduction of
gloves, came weight classes based on the international boxing divisions. These
and other innovations - such as the introduction of five rounds - substantially
altered the fighting techniques that the boxers used causing some of them to
disappear.
Before the introduction of weight classes, a fighter
could and did fight all comers regardless of size and weight differences.
However, the introduction of the weight classes meant that the fighters were
more evenly matched and instead of there being one champion, there became one
for each weight class.
Most Muay Thai fighters belong to the lighter weight
classes. Seventy percent of all fighters belong to the fly and bantam weight
divisions. There are welterweight and middleweight fights but they are not seen
that often and the heavier categories seldom fight.
The establishment of stadiums, instead of makeshift
rings and courtyards, began during the reign of Rama VII before the Second World
War. During the war, they gradually disappeared but grew again soon afterwards -
Muay Thai had not lost any of its appeal. The boxers from up-country once again
headed toward fame and fortune in Bangkok. The glory could be found at stadiums
like Rajdamnern and Lumpinee. Later, they fought in full fury on television.
Thailand’s Channel 7 started broadcasting the fights in colour over 20 years
ago.
Today all four Thai television stations broadcast free
to millions of Muay Thai fans throughout Thailand - four nights a week. The
battle art has evolved into a popular sport. Ruled, codified and now with five
three minute rounds, each with a two minute recovery period between rounds.
Those old timers around today, who fought before the
Second World War, lament the changes bought about by the standardisation of the
sport. The three minute round and weight classes have changed the sport as they
remembered it. They had to fight all comers and they had to know all the tricks
of the trade. They didn’t have these breaks and instead fought ‘till one of
them dropped. Muay Thai has changed and evolved from battlefield close quarter
killing techniques based on a fighting tradition passed on from generation to
generation up to the present time.
But despite the changes, Muay Thai has lost none of its
exotic appeal and even mystique. Muay Thai is still the fighting art to beat.
The fighting art that defeats all challenges from Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwando and
the latest kickboxing fashions. They have all gone to Thailand, not just once
but many times and from many places to test themselves.
Muay Thai has lost none of its appeal in
Thailand. The television fight broadcasts rate among the Kingdom’s most
popular programmes. In the provinces, villages cluster around any available TV
to watch. In the city, people disappear from the streets while Thailand is
watching Muay Thai. Thai Boxing is also becoming increasingly popular outside of
Thailand. It has its enthusiasts and practitioners in the Americas, Australia,
Japan, Europe, as well as in many other countries around the world. The
illustrious history of Muay Thai will continue as it receives greater
recognition and gains in international popularity.
MUAY THAI HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA
Muay Thai was first brought to Australia
by Bob Jones in 1988 when he took a group of guys to Thailand to train &
fight. Bob Jones was the chief instructor and founder of Zen Do Kai and was
looking to include the best Martial Arts from around the world into his system.
He had heard reports that the Dutch had gone to Thailand in 1987 and had been
defeated by the local Thai fighters. So Bob Jones thought that there was
something worth learning from the Thai’s.
Group training camps to Thailand has
become a yearly tradition for some. Bob Jones has been going for 20-years now
and still learns something new every time he goes. After taking the first group
to Thailand he started promoting Thai Fights in Australia and many other Martial
Artistes started training in and traveling to Thailand. Some fighters have spent
months and years training and fighting in Thailand. They all eventually come
home to Aus and teach others what they have learnt, and so the sport grows.
Australia is now recognized as producing some of the best Thai Fighters in the
world.