Wai Kru Ram Muay - The dance of the Nak Muay

Sawatdee Khrup!

3rd and final topic of today hope you enjoy

THE DANCE OF THE NAK MUAY

By Kru Shaun Boland

“When humans participate in ceremony, they enter a sacred space. Everything outside of that space shrivels in importance. Time takes on a different dimension. Emotions flow more freely. The bodies of participants become filled with the energy of life, and this energy reaches out and blesses the creation around them. All is made new; everything becomes sacred”. – Sun Bear

I remember entering Lumpini stadium in Bangkok Thailand for the first time, the wailing of the Pi Java echoed through the stadium accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of the Klong Kack and Ching.
In the ring were two Nak Muay, performing the Wai Kru and Ram Muay.
Each boxer wore a Mongkon on his head and on their arms were Prajits.
Oil, which had been massaged in before the fight, glimmered under the stadium lights.
The air was heavy with musk of liniment and sweat as both boxers rhythmically danced to the sound of the Pi Muay.

I was watching the pre-fight ceremony of the Wai Kru (teacher respect) and Ram Muay (boxer’s dance) and, although at the time had no knowledge of its significance and symbolism, I thought that it was both unique and beautiful.

The music that accompanies the Wai Kru Ram Muay is called Pi Muay and generally this is accompanied by a three piece, though in the south of Thailand sometimes four pieces, band. The band consists of a Klong-Kack (drum), Pi java (flute), and the ching (small thumb held cymbals).

To the Thai people one of their most important virtues is the showing of respect and humbleness towards their teachers. The teacher is their mentor second only from their true parents. Instructors are full of knowledge, love and kindness, ready and willing to transfer their skill and knowledge to the students, so that the students in turn will be of value to society and to the country as a whole in the future.

So the Wai Kru ceremony prior to the fight is the student’s respect for their mentor. It is conducted to pay respect to the instructors, the opponent and the spectators. In reality the effectiveness of the ceremony is to demonstrate the gentleness and graciousness in the controlling of the body and the mind.
The Nak Muay’s thoughts, when performing the ceremony should be on their teacher, parents, loved ones and someone close who has passed on.

The ceremony of the Wai Kru and Ram Muay really begins in the dressing room where the Nak Muay is prepared for their fight. Once the Nak Muay has been massaged and warmed up the mongkon (ceremonial head-dress) is placed on the head. The top of the head, to the Thais, is of spiritual significance for they believe this is where the spirit leaves the body (Hence why it is regarded as bad manners to tap a Thai on top of their head). Legend says the first mongkon was made by capturing a cobra snake and inserting its tail into its mouth. The cobra was then left to dry out in the sun for several days and finally shaped to fit the Nak Muay’s head. These days the mongkon is more likely to be made from either rope or plastic tubing covered by cloth.
Once the Mongkon is placed a prayer is offered and the Prajit (arm band) is placed upon the Nak Muay’s arm. The Prajit can contain a prayer and amulet (Kruang ruang) both which are blessed by a monk at the local temple.

The Nak Muay makes his way to the ring and, once outside the ring skirt, will kneel to the floor and bow three times. Some Nak Muay will touch the earth and then touch the top of their heads. This is symbolic to when fighters would compete on makeshift arenas drawn in the earth. The Thais believed that a blessing to the goddess of the Earth would protect them. On entering the ring the Nak Muay will always step over the top rope, lowering the head under the lower or middle ropes is deemed as bad luck.

Once the Nak Muay has bowed to the judges and referee he will begin to seal the ring. This is a symbolic gesture to keep out bad spirits. In addition you can sometimes see the Nak Muay drag or scoop their foot; again this goes back to the days when they fought on makeshift rings on the ground. The dragging of the foot signifies drawing of the ring in the earth and the scooping is when they kicked out stones from the arena.

Sealing the ring also gives the Nak Muay the opportunity to test the ropes making sure if they are tight or loose.

Once the sealing of the ring is completed the Nak Muay will circle the ring several times prior to beginning their Wai Kru. The Wai Kru is performed rhythmically to the Pi Muay (boxing music) and the Nak Muay will bow three times (three is a lucky number in Buddhism) ensuring that their knees, elbows and forehead touch the floor. The Ram Muay (boxers dance) follows immediately and this can involve bird like movements either from the ground or standing.

Some camps also have their own Ram Muay to add to their fighters’ ritual. There is the warrior where the Nak Muay will symbolically fire arrows at their opponent. There is the grave digger, which describes itself really! Here at Chao Phraya Muay Thai Academy we perform the fisherman Ram Muay which was originally shown to my first chief instructor Kru Byron Gibson by his Thai instructor Kru Phykadamn prior to being passed down to me. This Ram Muay comes from the fishing district of Krabbi in the south of Thailand and signifies the casting of a fisherman’s net.

To the uninitiated the ceremony of the Wai Kru and Ram Muay may seem laborious but it is unique to the Thais and signifies centuries of ritual and respect prior to going to battle. A Nak Muay who performs good Wai Kru and Ram Muay is also showing great respect towards their opponent who should look upon this as complimentary and not aggressive.

In addition to the ceremonial value the Nak Muay also gets the opportunity to focus before the fight, they stretch out their limbs and get to test out the canvas and ropes. They can calm their nerves and get used to the crowd and event before the fight begins.

I have written this as an overview to give the layman an outline as to why this ritual takes place. Unfortunately less of these are being performed due to more shows being televised and the need to fit in as many shows as possible. The Wai Kru and Ram Muay are integral rituals which have a significant place in Muay Thai.

So the next time you see a Nak Muay perform these rituals watch with open eyes, open minds and an open heart as to the beauty, splendour and historical significance of what can only be called - The dance of the Nak Muay.

One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world – Hannah Senesh

SHAUN

some Great Ram muays out there and a good one is very eye pleasing
and thanks thaieye
LIL Big Jake Horner age 9 didnt do a bad job on this too
bless him and you thankyou sir

Sawatdee Khrup,

Great to see the kids performing the traditions of Muay Thai so well, a credit to their Instructors and parents.

The Ram Muay I teach at Chao Phraya Muay Thai is called 'Ram Tod Hay', The dance of the fisherman. Which has it's historical background from the coastal fishing villages along Krabi province. Kru byron Gibson was taught this Ram Muay by his Kru(Phykadamn)back in the early 90's while in Krabbi Thailand. It was taught to me by Kru Byron and we have adopted it as our Ram Muay. Which is quite befitting as our camp name 'Chao Phraya' is the great river of Thailand translated as 'The river of Kings'

Khru Gary from Hannuman Muay Thai wrote this on Ax a while back and I have copied it for everyon'es reference

THE 9 RAM MUAY'S

1, The Ram Theb Panomn (Dance of the angles) A dance to welcome the angels and offer the soul.

2, Ram hanuman (Dance of Hanuman) A dance depicting the story of and recalling the fighting prowess Hanuman

3, Ram Ruehsieh Jasmin (Dance of the meditating jungle priest) A dance of the jungle priest Rueh Srie Khru Ku Plaay, the original teacher

4, Ram Naray Doehndong (Dance of the god Naray) dance of the god of war Naray, in the world of humans and his battle with evil demons.

5, Ram Hanuman Kam Kauw (Hanuman going over the mountain) Dance from theatre showing the movements and fighting ability of Hanuman

6, Ram Tep Tida ( Dance of the Goddess) The dance of a feminine character, it revels hidden fighting abilities.

7, Ram Khru Tau (Dnce of the old teacher) dance of the old fighter in which slow, modest and careful movements demonstrate experience.

8, Ram Naray Tam Gwang (Naray hunting the deer) The opponent is the deer movements demonstrate litheness and superior calm.

9 Ram Tod Hay (Dance of the fisherman) The dance of a fisherman, the fighter who catches his opponent in his net.

SHAUN

That young lad from Benfleet who performed on the last warriors show in crawley... awesome Ram Muay.

Anyone able to put that up here?

Luv it!

Luv'in it!

Thanks for the post Shaun, enjoyed reading it. Wee lad has a GREAT Ram Muay!