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.