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this is from world muay thai council website ( http://www.wmtc.nu/html/tips/wmc03_tps-waik.html )
The first thing that is required for practicing Muay Thai is the performance of ritual homage and dancing that is called the Wai Kru. All boxers must perform this homage before starting their daily practice.
MuayThai is regarded as a field of martial art and science that has been developed from generation to generation since the establishment of the Thai nation. Muay Thai is therefore a mixture of all good things and indicates the long-lasting and civilized culture of the nation.
According to the tradition of MuayThai, the ritual homage is the first part of the competition so as to pay gratitude and respect to the fighter’s trainer, the opponent, the referee and judges and the audience. In so doing the boxer believes that luck will be on their side and he won’t be afraid of anything.
The Wai Kru is performed through dance. While the boxer is dancing, he will observe his opponent and stretch his body to get physical and spiritual relax at the same time. The attitudes used in the dance show the major techniques used called Mae Mai to practice the basic skills and balancing techniques.
Besides the performance of ritual homage also shows the boxers respect and gratitude towards his trainer. Wai Kru will be performed in a tender manner according to the trainer’s instructions. It indicates the morality and ethics of the fighter. Therefore the style will vary from region to region and from trainer to trainer.
It is also a strategy used to teach boxers to hold onto the unity and fraternity of the team. Id the boxers perform the same style of Wai Kru it means the same instructors of the same camp taught them. They won’t fight each other and the fraternity will lead them in their loyalty to the king. They must accordingly turn their faces to where the king sits.
The boxers who come from the northern region usually have strong legs and therefore use vigorous and threatening attitudes whereas the boxers from the south use a gentler approach because they usually defend in a more gentle manner. Boxers from the Central region also have their own style
cheers
Drew