Deluxe Martial Arts Forums - View Single Post - Ram Muay- Should it be performed by all Muay Thai fighters?

GonzoStyles · 02-21-2005, 11:21 AM

A little about the Ram Muay from what I was taught..

The Ram Muay is actually rooted in the Rama Yana which is a Hindu tale of the god Rama and his helper Hanuman the monkey general. in Olden times the Mongkon (like the Ram Muay)was also a way to identify the boxers homeland.
With the tail of the Mongkon held up the boxer was from the south, when the tail draped down the boxer was from the north, and straight out at right angles to the side was from the central plains.
The Pra jer (arm-band) is placed on with speacil prayers of protection and may also contain personal good luck charms like an Image of the Buddha, or a lock of their mothers hair, etc.
Within the Ram Muay are fundamental Muay Thai teachings like "Yang Sarm Khum" the "three strides movement" which is the basic stance and footwork of Muay Thai.
Some movements are indicitive of other elements of the RamaYana as the movement imitating the magical "Garuda" bird by balancing on one leg. True Muay Thai afficianados are said to be able to judge a boxers footwork and balance by his Ram Muay, This is an event also judged and awarded and frequently wagers are placed on the strenghth of a boxers Ram Muay alone!
In olden times sorcerers or "Mor Phi" in Thai, would Tattoo speacil protective prayers that would sometimes cover a large portion of the Boxers body, some boxers nowadays have a speacil Tattoo of Hanuman on the left bicep.
Other rituals like circling the ring holding the top rope, or touching the surface of the ring by various means actually have strategic values; gauging the floors traction , determining whether ring ropes are tight or loose.

But to me the most important part of the Ram Muay is the music! the haunting sound of the Pi Java (java flute) with the drums and cymbals
droning at a slow pace in the first round, speeding up as the fight progress and eventually coming to a crescendo as it spurrs the fighters on in the last round. This simply cannot be duplicated with a tape or CD as the band are actually present at the fight and will adjust the musics tempo to the speed of the fight!!

I dont believe the Thais are offended by Far Lung (foreigners) not preforming the Wai Khru or Ram Muay. but what is offensive to any true devotee of Muay Thai is the spectators with no respect for centurys old traditions (older than the history of their home country in some cases!)
who boo, hiss or worse treat it like a wrestling match chanting " USA USA "
as the Ram Muay is being performed.

So they next time you get a chance to witness a Ram Muay rember you are watching the evolution of a tradition that through the power of Muay Thai has crossed cultural boundarys and the centurys to remind us of the honor and history of the people responsible for sharing with us their heritage.

Kop Khun Kop

Gonzo

02-21-2005, 11:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
GonzoStyles Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 606	Ram Muay A little about the Ram Muay from what I was taught.. The Ram Muay is actually rooted in the Rama Yana which is a Hindu tale of the god Rama and his helper Hanuman the monkey general. in Olden times the Mongkon (like the Ram Muay)was also a way to identify the boxers homeland. With the tail of the Mongkon held up the boxer was from the south, when the tail draped down the boxer was from the north, and straight out at right angles to the side was from the central plains. The Pra jer (arm-band) is placed on with speacil prayers of protection and may also contain personal good luck charms like an Image of the Buddha, or a lock of their mothers hair, etc. Within the Ram Muay are fundamental Muay Thai teachings like "Yang Sarm Khum" the "three strides movement" which is the basic stance and footwork of Muay Thai. Some movements are indicitive of other elements of the RamaYana as the movement imitating the magical "Garuda" bird by balancing on one leg. True Muay Thai afficianados are said to be able to judge a boxers footwork and balance by his Ram Muay, This is an event also judged and awarded and frequently wagers are placed on the strenghth of a boxers Ram Muay alone! In olden times sorcerers or "Mor Phi" in Thai, would Tattoo speacil protective prayers that would sometimes cover a large portion of the Boxers body, some boxers nowadays have a speacil Tattoo of Hanuman on the left bicep. Other rituals like circling the ring holding the top rope, or touching the surface of the ring by various means actually have strategic values; gauging the floors traction , determining whether ring ropes are tight or loose. But to me the most important part of the Ram Muay is the music! the haunting sound of the Pi Java (java flute) with the drums and cymbals droning at a slow pace in the first round, speeding up as the fight progress and eventually coming to a crescendo as it spurrs the fighters on in the last round. This simply cannot be duplicated with a tape or CD as the band are actually present at the fight and will adjust the musics tempo to the speed of the fight!! I dont believe the Thais are offended by Far Lung (foreigners) not preforming the Wai Khru or Ram Muay. but what is offensive to any true devotee of Muay Thai is the spectators with no respect for centurys old traditions (older than the history of their home country in some cases!) who boo, hiss or worse treat it like a wrestling match chanting " USA USA " as the Ram Muay is being performed. So they next time you get a chance to witness a Ram Muay rember you are watching the evolution of a tradition that through the power of Muay Thai has crossed cultural boundarys and the centurys to remind us of the honor and history of the people responsible for sharing with us their heritage. Kop Khun Kop Gonzo