Seven Principles

Draft

Table of contents

Joy.
Composure.
Community.
Style.
Economy of movement.
Repetition.
Fitness.

The Seven Remarkable Principles of MT

Joy.

If Thailand is the “land of smiles,” according to the tourist brochure, Muay Thai is the art of beating someone up in a way that’s lighthearted and fun. Preferably for both people involved. Thai gyms are distinctive for their playful attitude, even as Thai fighters are known for their brutal skill and tenacity in the ring.

This light touch is apparent as soon as you walk into any Muay Thai gym, distinct from Karate Dojos, MMA, or Western Boxing training camps. First, you may note a more casual attitude toward the formal aspects of training decorum. There is not a lot of bowing happening or saluting a photograph of some ancient sensei. After practice in his basement gym in Manhattan, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, a world champion, would often cook tripe with noodles for his students. We called him simply Coban and drank beer with him outside the gym. He was more of our gym uncle, than a sensei. Our respect came not from formal greetings, but in shared sweat (and tripe).

The casual, fun attitude permeates the serious parts of the sport, like sparring. Sparring, in any discipline, especially in the West, can often escalate into a life-and-death affair. People get emotionally upset. Egos flair. Advanced, more athletic students dominate, to the point of injury. This feels like war, attracting violent people who are good at that sort of a thing (while alienating most others).

Muay Thai has plenty of warriors of its own. But the atmosphere is much more playful. And therefore more inclusive. The roots of Muay Thai still exist in the festival culture, where fights happen for entertainment (and gambling), not for blood sport. Rural children train, fight, and grow up together, with hundreds of fights to their record (by contrast with Western fighters, who may fight dozens of time in their career).

Though MT fighters retire early, the way of joyous training sustains its practitioners for a lifetime. Fewer injuries means more fitness and more fun. Lighthearted sparring means more sparring practice for those who would otherwise be too intimidated to join. Though gender dynamics are culturally specific and complex, the Muay Thai way makes it easy to train across sexes, ages, and weight classes.

Composure.

The playful attitude of an MT fighter emphasises emotional and physical composure: laughter over anger. It requires staying calm under stress. Ultimately, it projects an image of strength through calm, cool, collected action.