ประวัติศาสตร์มวยไทย

มวยไทย เป็นมรดกภูมิปัญญาทางวัฒนธรรมเป็นศิลปะการต่อสู้ป้องกันตัวของชนชาติไทยมาแต่ครั้งโบราณ เป็นการใช้อาวุธของร่างกาย ๙ อย่าง หรือที่เรียกว่า นวอาวุธ ได้แก่ มือ ๒ เท้า ๒ เข่า ๒ ศอก ๒ และศีรษะ ๑ อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ นับเป็นศิลปะการต่อสู้ที่เก่าแก่ประเภทหนึ่งของโลก

Muaythai belongs to Thailand’s intangible cultural heritage. The origin of this traditional Thai martial art can be traced back to the dawn of the nation’s history. It is the art of efficiently using nine body parts viz. two fists, two feet, two knees, two elbows, and the head as weapon (called Nava-arvudh in Thai). Muaythai is not only important at individual, community, social, and national levels, but also has long played a vital part in. protecting the, kingdom’s sovereignty

In the past, Muaythai was a martial art that most Thai men had to learn and train. It is said that Muay is the basic art of fighting, use of weaponry is a secondary skill, and fighting strategies are the key to victory.

To practice Muaythai, one needs to be wily, astute, and knowledgeable. The Thai Royal Annals note that monarchs usually mastered Muaythai fighting while high-ranking royals, military noblemen as well as commoners were trained in this martial art for the purpose of self- and national defense. The practice of Muaythai also helped to optimize the use of weapons such as the Krabi (curved sword), Krabong (short wooden staff), Plong (wooden staff), sword, Ngao (halberd), and Thuan (lance), especially in close fighting.

When the kingdom was not at war, Muaytbai contests became common for those who wanted to pit their strength and fighting skills against worthy. opponents. The Law of the Three Seats, Section Miscellany, mentioned boxing as: “…117 Article 1 – If two persons made a voluntary agreement to box or fight with each other and one of them was hurt; had broken bones or even died, the other would not be penalized…”

As such, Muaythai has been important at individual, community, social, and national levels as well as playing a vital role in main-taining the kingdoi’s sovereignty

Muaythai has its origin in the land known as “Suvarnabhumi”, an extensive region in Southeast Asia in which Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia are currently located. In the Early Ayutthaya Period, the Palace Laws mentioned Muaythai as an entertaining activity held as part. of royal ceremonies, supposedly to come into existence around the year 957.

Muaythai is also referred to in legends of different kingdoms in Suvarnabhumi. For instance, the Annals of the North have accounts of betting on Muaythai fight staking a kingdom, which took place in the reign of King U Thong of Ayutthaya.

According to these legendary evidences, Muaythai has been developed in parallel with establishment of Thai kingdoms in the land of Suvarnabhumi.

When the Thai Kingdom was established, various states, small or large, fought each other to protect their territories and consolidate their sovereignty. Thus most Thai men had to be proficient with both their bare hands and weapons. In the past, Thai kings needed moral strength and the ability to master both warfare and Muaythai. They were taught by experts in different disciplines. Thai men who wanted to learn and train in Muaythai had to source well-known teachers.

In the Ayutthaya Period, the importance of Muaythai was highlighted as noted by Simon de la Loubre, a French envoy to Siam, “…In Ayutthaya, people do Muaythai using fists, elbows, knees and feet. This kind of fighting was so popular that some people took it as their occupation…”

It was in this period that Muaythai fighters had an opportunity to serve the royal court. Able-bodied males could participate in a Muaythai contest held in the presence of the king and the most capable fighters were selected to join the civil services. They were assigned to teach Muaythai to noblemen, soldiers, and royal sons. Some of them served as royal bodyguards of the king, city officials, and high-ranking royals. They were called Thanai Lueak (Selected Attendant) or Tamruat Luang (Court Police) and subject to the Krom Nak Muay (Department of Boxers).

King Naresuan the Great selected capable young men to train Muaythai and the use of weaponry. He also had a guerilla unit founded; the troop played an important part, in restoring the kingdom’s sovereignty. In his reign, exponents of Muaythai were appointed Chatulangkhabat – guards of the King’s elephant’s legs.

Even when Ayutthaya began to fall, the dignity and honor of Muaythai fighters were evident to the Burmese. Nai Khanom Tom, an able Thai fighter, defeated ten Burmese opponents in a row in a match held in Rangoon on 17 March 1775 as part of the celebration of the installation of the gold umbrella crown of the Shwedagon Pagoda (the Golden Pagoda). His victory is still remembered with pride by Thai people up to the present day.

In the Thon Buri Period, King Taksin the Great also had great interest in Muaythai fighting. He was well-trained in both Muaythai and Krabi-Krabong. There had been many famous masters and fighters of Muaythai since the Late Ayutthaya Period such as Master Mek of Tha Sao Village, Master Thiang of Kaeng Village, Master Hao of Muaeng Tak sub-district, Master Nin of City of Thung Yang, Mr. Thuek – a student of Master Nin, and Mr. Thongdi Fankhao (Choi) who was later elevated to Phraya Phichai Daap Hak, a loyal soldier of King Taksin the Great.

In the Early Rattanakosin Period, the kingdom was still involved in warfare and so Muaythai maintained its importance. The proficiency of Muaythai fighters was recognized internationally. Many foreign fighters came to challenge them and, though bigger in size, were defeated. During this period, Muaythai was mentioned in literary works, reflecting its importance and popularity as an art of self-defense as well as an entertaining activity. In the reign of King Nang Klao (King Rama III), different postures of Muaythai fighting were portrayed in a tome with pages made from pulp of trees belonging to the family Uricaceae.

As the Siamese recognized the importance of Muaythai and had long developed close association with this martial art, Muaythai saw continuous development. King Mongkut (King Rama III) had a strong passion for Muaythai and Krabi-Krabong and had his sons trained in these fighting arts. As a result, the art of Muaythai was preserved and passed down through generations, encouraging the promotion of Muaythai in all parts of the country.

King Chulalongkorn (King Rama 10 learned and practiced Muaythai with Master Luang Mon Yothanuyok (Seri Atsali) at the Royal Boxing School. In his reign, Muaythai reached its zenith. A. boxing tournament was organized in the presence of the king at the funeral of HRH Prince Urubongse Rajasombhoj from 19-22 March 1909 at Suan Misakawan Boxing Stadium. It was executed by proficient boxers from different cities and the winners were rewarded with the title “Muen” and appointed as Muaythai masters. Among them were Muen Muay Mi Chue, Muen Mue Maen Mat, and Muen Cha-ngat Choeng Chok.

In 1887, King Chulalongkorn commanded establishment of the Department of Education. Muaythai was included in school curricula, especially that of the School for Physical Training Teachers and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where Muaythai training was held two hours a week.

In 1906, the Association of United Teachers began offering a Muaythai training course. Phra Chai Choke Chok Chana was the first trainer, later joined by Khun Yisan Saphayakorn (Master Saeng Dap) and Luang Wisan Darunkorn (An Sarikbut). In 1909, the Ministry of Education had the Exercise Club established at the Association of United Teachers in the compound of Suankularb Wittayalai School. It served as the first institute in the country that provided teachers with physical education courses. In 1913, the club was upgraded to an independent school call ed the Central Physical Education School. In 1933, the Physical Training Division published a textbook covering all physical training subjects taught at the Central Physical Education School. The textbook was later used as part of Muaythai training.

Due to the growing popularity of Muaythai, a boxing stadium was constructed at the behest of King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI) in the compound of Suankularb Wittayalai School in 1921. The stadium hosted a Muaythai match every Saturday. Many permanent boxing stadiums were subsequently constructed including Tha Chang Stadium (which is the Royal Thai Navy Club now), Lak Mueang Stadium (near the City Pillar Shrine), Suan Sanuk Stadium (near the clock tower of Lumpini Park), Suan Chao Chet Stadium (in the compound of the Territorial Defence Department), Tha Phra Chan Stadium, Phatthanakan Stadium (near the Charoen Krung Junction), Si Ayutthaya Stadium (in the Si Kak Phraya Si quarter), and Thon Buri Stadium (near Wong Wian Yai).

In the reigns of King Pra.jadhipok (King Rama TO and King Ananda Plahidol (King Rama VIII) from 1929-1944, the rules of boxing were revised. The regulations on boxing, Admiral HRH Prince of Jumborn Edition, were imposed and revised on a regular basis. It was not until 1928 that a boxer died of injuries in a bout held at Lak Mueang Stadium. A committee was then set up to reconsider the boxing regulations and boxers have since worn gloves instead of wrapping their knuckles with hemp ropes or starched strips of hemp rope as before. Muaythai is widely known and has gained a reputation in other Asian and western countries. This is attributable mainly to its huge Thai following, evidenced by frequent competitions and construction of boxing stadiums, some of which still function today.

In 1929, Phraya Kharathornbodi organized a fair in Lumphini Park offering various entertainments and Muaythai matches. Later in 1945, Ratchadamnoen Stadium opened and matches were organized. Muaythai stadiums were constructed according to standards laid down in the Muaythai rules set by the Department of Physical Education. Permanent boxing stadiums replaced temporary stadiums in various venues, where fights continue to be organized to the present day Ratchadamnoen and Lumpini Stadiums, for instance. The popularity of Muaythai among foreigners has risen dramatically due to dissemination of the art abroad. For example, in 1959 Mr. Kaito Kenguchi, a Japanese martial arts master, visited Thailand and Ratchadamnoen Stadium. Deeply impressed by Muaythai he introduced the discipline to Japan. Mr. Osamu Noguchi, a Japanese boxing promoter, created a hybrid martial art combining Muaythai and karate which he introduced to Europe in 1976 as kickboxing. Muaythai schools were opened by Thai instructors in Berlin, Germany, which were well received by many Muaythai enthusiasts. In addition, Mr. Tom Harinck of the Netherlands is an exponent of Muaythai and has entered many martial arts competitions world-wide. Thus, Muaythai has been introduced to the rest of the world, and according to the saying, “If you come to Thailand and never watch Muaythai, it seems you have never come here at all.”