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By APD writer Juicy Chan
Ayutthaya. Mar.18 (APD) -- In Thailand's most ancient city Ayutthaya, a blond child put his palms together devoutly in front of his Thai boxing teacher who put a headband onto his head with blessings and affection in the last sunshine of the day.
The litter Thai boxing enthusiast was one of the 1400 Thai boxers from all around the world who came to join the annual Wai Kru ceremony here on Saturday.
Every year on Mar.17, namely the Thai Boxing Day, hundreds of Thai boxing practitioners gather in the historical park of the former capital of the Kingdom, to show their respect to their teachers and past thai boxing masters.
Most visitors to Thailand and Thai Boxing aficionados know the Wai as a traditional Thai greeting with the palms pressed together as a sign of respect. Kru is the Thai form of the Sanskrit word guru meaning teacher.
Not only is this ritual an expression of respect to the teachers or trainors, but also as a way of advanced apologizing to the King for the anticipated brutality of the fight which is about to happen. Thai boxing as usually arranged for the King’s entertainment in the past.
The ceremony culminates as the "Ram Muay" begins. In English it means "War Dance Salute to Teacher", which can be either simple or complex combination or movements based upon images of the monkey god Hanuman, who appears in the Thai epic the Ramakien, to demonstrate a fighter’s control and style.
The dance, also recognized as a warm-up before any fights, aims to pay respect to religious deities, earth and mankind, asking for an honorable fight and protection for both himself and his opponent.
Glen Gran, a Norwegian who has been practicing Thai Boxing for over 15 years, took his three children to the ceremony. He told APD that he has been intrigued with the charm of Thai boxing.
"I want my children to learn to stay focus, motivated and grateful through strict exercises of this martial art." said he.
The ceremony commemorates Nai Khanom Tom, a local hero, famous for his victory over ten Burmese fighters in a boxing bout that took place in 1774. He is regarded as the Father of Thai boxing.
The annual World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony has become a firm fixture on the calendar for muay thai practitioners all over the world. The event allows international boxers to appreciate the more respectful and charming elements of this distinctly ancient Thai martial art, according to Santit, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Not only do visitors get to see first-hand the appreciation Thai boxers have for their teachers, they also get to spend a day or two in Ayutthaya, one of the most beautiful and historically important places in Thailand, said Santit.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
