Legacy of Muay Boran: History, Styles, and Differences from Modern Muay Thai

Introduction

Many people have heard of Muay Thai, but not many know about its predecessor, Muay Boran. Muay Boran is a traditional martial art practiced in Thailand, known for its powerful strikes and brutal techniques. Muay Boran is all about unleashing crazy strong elbow and knee moves and using them together in lightning-fast combos to take down your opponent as fast as possible.

Brief history of Muay Boran

Muay Boran is a traditional form of martial arts that has been practiced in Thailand for centuries. It is believed to have originated from various ancient martial arts practices that were used by the Siamese army in battle.

The term "Muay Boran" is a generic term that refers to all of the ancient martial arts practices in Thailand. Historically, Muay Boran was used by warriors when they lost their weapons and had to engage in hand-to-hand combat. In order to survive in battle, the techniques of Muay Boran were designed to maximize the damage that each blow could inflict and to be as efficient as possible. The use of powerful elbow and knee strikes, as well as combinations thereof, was emphasized and taught with the intent of quickly overpowering one's opponent.

Over time, Muay Boran evolved into a form of entertainment, with fights being held in the streets or local arenas, with no time limit or restrictions on the number of rounds. During these fights, a hole was hollowed out of a coconut and then submerged in water. When the coconut sank, the fighters would take a break. The popularity of these bouts led to the development of Muay Thai, which is a sport version of Muay Boran, with rules and regulations aimed at making it safer.

The most well-known regional styles of Muay Boran

Muay Chaiya: This style originated in the southern part of Thailand and is known for its fluid and evasive movements and emphasizes defense and counter-attacks.

Muay Korat: This style originated in the northeastern region of Thailand and is known for its strong and powerful strikes. It focuses on punches and elbow strikes and is characterized by its use of a low, crouched stance.

Muay Tae: This style is known for its high kicks and swift movements. It emphasizes footwork and agility and was developed in the central region of Thailand.

Muay Lopburi: This style is characterized by its use of jumping and spinning techniques. It is known for its graceful movements and was developed in the city of Lopburi in central Thailand.

Muay Thasao: This style is known for its use of elbow strikes and knee strikes. It was developed in the northern region of Thailand and emphasizes close-range combat. Each of these regional styles has its unique techniques and strategies, making them distinct from one another. Muay Boran practitioners may specialize in one or more of these styles, depending on their training and preferences.

Main differences between Muay Thai and Muay Boran

1. Use of head as a weapon: Muay Boran allows the use of the head as a weapon, while Muay Thai does not.
2. Rule differences: Muay Boran has fewer rules than Muay Thai since it was originally designed for the battlefield.
3. Stance: Muay Boran has a more compact stance with fists aligned with the head's centerline, while Muay Thai fighters use a less compact stance with fists on either side of the head's centerline.
4. Emphasis on limb attacks: Muay Boran emphasizes attacking the opponent's limbs to render them immobile, while Muay Thai focuses more on striking the body and head.
5. Flashy attacks: Muay Boran promotes flashy attacks such as flying elbows

Conclusion

In recent times, the practice of Muay Boran has undergone significant changes. Traditionally, Muay Thai masters would impart the techniques of Muay Boran to advanced students as an integral part of their training. However, this approach is no longer common, with many schools and instructors opting to focus solely on modern Muay Thai techniques.

Moreover, the current rules and regulations governing Muay Thai tournaments and competitions have banned several moves that were once a part of Muay Boran. Consequently, the relevance of Muay Boran in contemporary Muay Thai has diminished. Even in Thailand, where Muay Thai is the national sport, it is becoming increasingly challenging to find schools that are willing to teach the art of Muay Boran.