What was Thai boxing like before gloves?

Before gloves, Thai boxers fought with their hands bound in rope, muay kaad chuek. ^1,20,40 Their punches were not all the ones taught today: older Thai punches were crosses and a long, circular strike that landed with the heel of the palm, while hooks and uppercuts came later from Western boxing. ¹

A king's tournaments

King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, reigned from 1868 to 1910. He held boxing tournaments, set up a royal boxing centre and gave the noble title of muen to the winners, and from 1887 Muay was taught in physical education. ¹

Lopburi, Korat and Chaiya

In 1910, at the funeral of a royal prince, Prince Urubongse, three outstanding fighters were given the title of muen: one from Lopburi, one from Korat and one from Chaiya. ^1,2 Later accounts turned those places into regional styles, and today they are grouped under the name muay boran, ancient boxing. The term itself is recent; it means Thai boxing before the modern rules of about the 1930s. ^1,2

Muay Chaiya, from the south, is known for a low stance and a three step footwork pattern, Yang Sam Khum. ² The same name now appears in IFMA's wai kru rules as one of the finishing movements judges look for. ²²

Sword and staff

Thailand's weapon art, krabi krabong, is a separate art: the krabi is the sword and the krabong the staff. ¹⁰ Some UK teachers keep the two together. The British Thai Boxing Council grades in Muay Thai, Muay Boran and krabi krabong, and Sitsiam Camp in Stalybridge, a founder member, teaches all three. ⁴⁶

Where muay boran lives today

• In competition. IFMA runs "mae mai muaythai", traditional techniques, as a full medal discipline, with a duo demonstration called mai muay judged on realism, timing, balance and fitness. ^20,21,22
• In grades. The Master Sken Association puts self-defence and muay boran techniques into its armband grades. ⁴⁷ The Kru Muaythai Association keeps a register of Muay Thai and Muay Boran teachers. ³²
• In demonstrations, usually with little contact. ²⁰
• Beside the sport. IFMA's list of disciplines keeps the old arts next to the modern one: combat, muay boran or mae mai muaythai, krabi krabong, the beam fighting game muay talay, a fitness workout called Muay aerobic, and the wai kru. ^20,24

Old Siam's boxing was about to get a ring, rules, referees and gloves, and in the space of about 15 years.