Thailand Sports And Recreation

Muay Thai is a martial art that was originally used as a way to keep Thai soldiers battle-ready during the 15th and 16th centuries. The first boxer to win historic recognition was Nai Khanom Tom. Captured by the Burmese, he won his freedom after dispatching 10 Burmese soldiers one by one in a boxing challenge. Muay Thai reached the peak of its popularity in the first decade of the 18th century during the reign of Phra Chau Sua, who promoted it as a national sport. Due to an alarming number of injuries and deaths, though, Muay Thai was banned in the 1920s. It was reinstated in 1937, after undergoing a series of regulations that shaped the sport to its present form. Today these fights, full of ritual, music, and blood, are put on display throughout Thailand. Every blow imaginable, with the exception of head-butting, is legal. Fighters exchange blows for five three-minute rounds; the winner either knocks out his victim or takes the bout by points (most bouts are decided in the latter manner). Fights are packed with screaming fans, most of whom have money riding on the outcome. While many provinces have venues, most of the best fighting occurs in Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen and Lumphini Boxing Stadiums.

Traditional Pasttimes

Every year during the hot season, a strong wind lifts handmade kites high over Bangkok. Kite-fighting, which has been popular for over 700 years, is enjoyed by kings and schoolboys alike. In a more gruesome fight, crowds watch and bet on Siamese fighting fish. When let loose in a tank, these fish battle to the death in a flurry of fins and scales. The fish are so aggressive that they will often kill themselves trying to attack fish in nearby tanks. The fighting fish have been raised in Thailand since the Sukhothai period and breeders are constantly developing new varieties. Their international popularity is a great source of pride. Thais also embrace karaoke, beauty pageants (for every shape and size), comedy clubs, and, especially in the countryside, cockfighting.