around their upper arms.

They wore shorts with a protective cup and their
waists were belted by a long piece of cloth. They wore neither a shirt nor shoes.
The referee would wear an old style Thai dress uniform with a royal white shirt
and white socks.
One great fight from this period was between Muen Mad Man, aged 50, and
Nai Pong Prabsabod, a tall man aged 22 who came from Korat. The younger man
fought to avenge the death of his father who was killed in a bout with Muen Mad
Man that took place at the funeral of Khun Marupongsiripat. Two minutes into the
grudge match, Muen Mad Man was knocked out by Nai Pong. The spectators
became very excited and went mad trying to congratulate Nai Pong. It took some
time for the situation to calm down.

In B.E. 2464 (1921 AD), after the war, the first permanent boxing stadium was
built on the football ground at Suan Khulab School. It was named the Suan
Khulab Boxing Stadium. At first, spectators would sit or stand around the ring.
The ring itself was a square, 26 meters by 26 meters. Boxers wrapped their
hands with cotton threads, wore a head band or mongkon, and an amulet or pa-prajiat

King Rama VI Period

King Mongkhut Klao Chao Yu Hua (B.E. 2453-2468, 1910-1925 CE)
During this period, Thailand went to World War I. The Thai army was
stationed in France with General Praya Dhepasadin as Commander. He loved
MuayThai and he organized a bout to entertain the European servicemen and
laymen. They enjoyed the bout very much and thus was born European interest in
MuayThai.

In B.E. 2430 (1887 CE), King Rama V established the Department of
Education. MuayThai was a subject in the curriculum of the physical education
teacher’s training school and at Prachufachomktao Royal Military Cadet School.
This period is considered the golden age of MuayThai.

King Rama V recognized the value of MuayThai. In order to promote interest
in Thai sports, the King encouraged MuayThai tournaments. He also encouraged
the promotion of Muay Luang, or royal boxing centers to train youngsters. These
Muay Luang also organized and controlled MuayThai tournaments. The royal
office would also send official invitations to the heads of Muay Luang inviting
11
their boxers to participate in particular events and festivals. Winners at such
events were promoted by His Majesty the King to a position callen ‘Muen’, or
first-rank officer.

King Rama V Period

King Chulachomklao (B.E. 2411-2453, 1868-1910 CE)
King Rama V learned MuayThai from the Boxing Department with boxing
master Luang Pola Yotanuyoke. The King loved MuayThai and loved watching
boxing matches. From time to time he would order Royal officers to arrange for
good boxers to fight for him. Such tournaments were used to recruit men for His
Majesty the King’s Royal Guards.

King Rama IV Period

King Chomklao (B.E. 2394-2411, 1851-1868 CE)
When young, King Rama IV loved to dress himself up as a boxer. He also
loved sword and pole fighting. Often, he would box and compete in sword and
pole fighting during festivals in the grounds of the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha. During this time, Thailand saw the growth of western sports and culture.
However, MuayThai remained a popular activity and a strong symbol of Thai
culture.

King Rama III Period

King Pra Nangklao (B.E. 2367-2394, 1824-1851 CE)
King Rama III learned MuayThai from the Boxing Department. During his
reign, Thai boys loved to fight, and they learned MuayThai and the sword of Khun
Ying Moe. Khun Ying Moe is renowned for leading many brave women to defeat
the invading soldiers of Prince Anuwong from Vientienne, Laos, who were
attacking the city of Korat.

King Rama II Period

King Pra Buddha Lert La Napa-Lai (B.E. 2352-2367, 1809-1824 CE)
While young, this King trained as a boxer at Bang Wa Yai Training Center
(Wat Rakangkositaram) with the boxing master, and army general, Somdet
Prawanarat (Tong You). At age 16, he learned more about MuayThai from the
Boxing Department. He changed the sport’s name from its previous name, Ram
Mad Ram Muay, to MuayThai.

When the foreigner got in close he employed
wresting tactics to try to break the Thai boxer’s neck and collarbone. To counter
these tactics, Muen Han tried kicking and using stepping kicks. He tried to control
the fight and his footwork was very quick. Eventually, the foreigner began to tire
and it seemed he was going to lose. His brother, realizing this, jumped into the
ring to help his younger brother. This caused a riot to break out among the
spectators. Many foreigners were injured. The two brothers, after recovering from
their injuries, left Thailand.

It was

20 by 20 meters square and there was a reception area set up nearby. The fight
was not to be scored, but to continue until a decisive winner emerged. Before the
fight, Muen Han was oiled with herbal ointment, and he wore amulets on his upper
arms. He was then carried to the ring on the shoulders of a friend.
When the fight began, it was clear that the foreigner was much heavier, taller,
and stronger than Muen Han.

He told Pra Ya Pra Klang that he

wanted to fight for prizes against Thai boxers. This request was relayed to King
Rama I and, after consulting with Pra Raja Wangboworn, the Director of the
Boxing Department, a bet of 50 changs (4,000 Baht) was agreed upon. Pra Raja
Wangboworn selected a good boxer named Muen Han to fight the foreigner in a
ring set up behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace.

King Rama I Period

Pra Puttha Yord Fa Chula Loke, The Great (B.E. 2325-2352, 1782-1809 CE)
King Rama I, himself, trained as a boxer from a very early age. He expressed
keen interest in, and often watched, boxing matches. In B.E. 2331 (1788 CE), two
foreigners, brothers who traveled around the world trading goods, arrived in
Bangkok. The younger of the two proved to be quite a good boxer and won prizes
from matches around the world quite often.

MuayThai in Ratanakosin Period

The first era of this period encompasses the rule of King Rama I to King Rama
IV (B.E. 2325-2411, 1782-1868 CE). At this time, MuayThai was considered the
national fighting art. It was an essential part of every festival.
Eventually, it was decided that rules and regulations were necessary,
especially regarding the length of rounds. An intriguing method of timekeeping
was then developed. A coconut shell would have a hole punched in it and be
floated in a water tank. When the coconut shell sank, a drum signaled the end of
the round. There was no limit to the number of rounds, so the boxers fought until
there was a clear winner or until one of them gave up.

There is no evidence of rules or regulations, and it is thought that boxers fought
without any official points system. So, they would fight until one dropped or gave
up, leaving the man standing as the obvious winner.
Bouts took place on open grounds, mostly in temple areas. Boxers wrapped
their hands and wrists in thread, wore a head band or mongkon, and an amulet or
pa-pra-jiat usually around their right arm.

MuayThai in the Thonburi Period

The Thonburi period extended from B.E. 2310-2324 (1767-1781 CE). It was a
period of reconstruction after the restoration of peace in the Kingdom. MuayThai
training was primarily for man-to-man conflict during wars and or military
service.
The arrangement of competitive boxing bouts during that period involved the
matching of different training camps, usually from remote areas of the country.

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.

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.