| Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is the Thai name for a | | | | The ram muay ceremony usually lasts about five |
| indigenous form of martial art practiced in Thailand | | | | minutes and expresses obeisance to the fighter's |
| and several southeast Asian countries including | | | | guru (khru), as well as to the guardian spirit of Thai |
| Cambodia (where it is known as Pradal Serey) and | | | | Boxing. This is done through a series of gestures and |
| Myanmar where it is generally known as Lethwei. | | | | body movements performed in rhythm to the |
| Traditional Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand as | | | | ringside musical accompaniment of Thai oboe (pii) and |
| a martial art used by the military. The military style of | | | | percussion. Each boxer works out his own dance, in |
| Muay Thai is called Lerdrit, while today's "Sport Muay | | | | conjunction with his trainer and in accordance with |
| Thai" slightly varies from the original art and uses | | | | the style of his particular camp. |
| kicks and punches in a ring and with gloves similar to | | | | The woven headbands and armbands worn in the |
| those used in boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as | | | | ring by fighters are sacred ornaments which bestow |
| "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, feet, | | | | blessings and divine protection: the headband is |
| elbows, and knees are all | | | | removed after the ram muay ceremony, but the |
| The training of a Thai boxer and particularly the | | | | armband, which actually contains a small Buddha |
| relationship between boxer and trainer is highly | | | | image, is worn throughout the fight. After the fight |
| ritualised. When a boxer is considered ready for the | | | | begins the fighters continue to bob and weave in |
| ring, he is usually given a new name by his trainer, | | | | rhythm until the action begins to heat up. The |
| usually with the name of the training camp as his | | | | musicians continue to play throughout the match and |
| surname. For the public, the relationship is perhaps | | | | the volume and tempo of the music rise and fall |
| best expressed in the ram muay (ritual dance) that | | | | along with the events in the ring. |
| takes place before every match. | | | | |