BREAKING BARRIERS WITH MUAY THAI

By Ummi Nadiah Rosli

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- If one were to capture the strikes in
slow-motion, it is easy to see why Muay Thai – Thai kick boxing – has the
reputation of being one of the deadliest and most feared martial arts in the
world.

With an arsenal of eight weapons to choose from, seasoned Muay Thai fighters
swear by their fists, elbows, knees and feet to execute moves that are possibly
more lethal than a knife or gun.

While other martial arts use two points of contact (e.g fists in Western
boxing) and four points (e.g hands and feet in sport-oriented martial arts),
Muay Thai has eight points.

A well-trained fighter utilises punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes that
can make a deadly impact.

The roots of Muay Thai, which means ‘the art of eight limbs’ can be traced
back to the battlefields of 15th century Thailand. The warrior’s eight points of
contact substituted swords and sticks during weaponless combat.

It has since become the country’s national sport and bears similarities to
Indochinese styles of kickboxing such as Tomoi in Malaysia, Muay Lao in Laos and
Cambodia’s Pradal serey.

Today, the bone shattering techniques of this martial art is being used all
over the world from the Thai military to the CIA and has inspired movies and
legions of enthusiasts including in Malaysia.

CONDITIONED TO LAST

"1-2-3. Uppercut-block-kick", Mohd Aly Yakin instructs his students. The 32
year-old Muay Thai instructor moves swiftly around the training studio. He is of
medium-built with an anatomy of solid muscles that even an accomplished athlete
would envy. With seven years of teaching experience, Singaporean-born Aly was
trained in Muay Thai two years ago in Chiang Mai, Thailand and is also trainer
at a local fitness centre. Previously, he practised Taekwondo for 19 years which
he started at the age of nine.

"Martial arts like Taekwondo employ 80 percent legs and 20 percent hands.
But in Muay Thai it’s 50/50. Plus Muay Thai is easy to learn, there’s no uniform
and it’s suitable for all ages."

He added that unlike other martial arts, Muay Thai students do not earn
belts for their skills and progression. Instead, their skills will be tested in
the ring where the championship belts are vied by top fighters.

Aly explained that the training and conditioning regimes for fighters were
also very challenging. "In Thailand a typical training session would be punching
and kicking on bamboo sticks and coconut trees. It’s grueling and painful. As a
result, your shins, legs and elbows will be strong. But we train differently at
my classes, of course."

Maybe Aly noticed the writer’s worried expression, busy scanning the studio
for the aforementioned bamboo stick. None in sight, fortunately.


GEARED FOR EIGHT LIMBS

With shins conditioned to be used just like a club, the effective use of
both elbows and knees are also emphasised.

The speed, precision and power of Muay Thai techniques are well-known among
martial arts exponents, and fighters can often take down an opponent with just
one shot. Broken bones are common in the ring, but numerous fighters have also
died from a lethal kick or elbow.

Another distinctive element of Muay Thai is the rotation of the hips to
deliver powerful punches and kicks. Aly demonstrated the movement with a kick on
the punching bag and the sound of the impact alone sent chills down the writer’s
back.

"Learning defensive and offensive techniques are a must because this is 100
percent physical contact", Aly stated. "Fighters can target at almost any part
of the body and only the head cannot be used to strike an opponent."

He explains that he currently has 600 students enrolled in the beginner’s,
intermediate and advanced classes and that fighter-training classes are being
carried out this year for a competition to be held in June.


MORE THAN JUST FIGHTING

But competing is not necessarily on everyone’s wish list when learning Muay
Thai. Popularized by movies like ‘Ong Bak’ and martial art contender events,
people from all walks of life have turned to Muay Thai as a means of physical
exercise and self-defense.

"My students are mostly females in their 20’s, The youngest student I have
is 12 years old, and the oldest is aged 63. It builds stamina, gets you in
excellent shape and builds up your confidence."

Meanwhile, 61 year-old Lee Yoon Kong could not agree more. He has taken up
Muay Thai for almost a year and has felt its benefits directly. "The main reason
I learnt Muay Thai is for me to keep fit cause if one is always sick one would
be a social burden! I am now free of medication which I had to take to control
my high cholesterol. I feel healthier now unlike when I was not attending this
class."

Yoon Kong added that it is also an effective self-defense and combat sports
offering the best in boxing punches and martial arts kicks. "Muay Thai uses
every part of the body as a weapon. Moreover, it has no ‘katas’ to learn. To be
able to punch and kick the correct way certainly cuts short the time to maim
your assailant in a self-defence situation."

For 28-year old Darshini, the rigorous drills have helped her get in shape.
"What I like most about the classes is that you really sweat it out compared
with other workout like yoga. You definitely learn to tough up too. Since I
joined three months ago I noticed that I’ve shed a few kilos."


MUAY THAI BREEDS AGGRESSION?

Raw, bloody and lethal, it is hard not to associate contact sports like Muay
Thai to violence.

A misconception, Aly stressed that is quite common. "Muay Thai teaches an
individual to be disciplined, humble and in control of his or her actions and
feelings.

"At the same time, instructors must understand what the students want. They
can't just simply teach. They must make the effort to know the background and
character of their students. In Thailand, there have been cases where youngsters
have run ins with the law as they join gangs or fight in the streets after
learning Muay Thai. Instructors have to be professional to avoid students from
abusing their skills."

DE FACTO MARTIAL ART CHOICE

Incorporated into different styles of competitive fighting, Muay Thai has
garnered a worldwide recognition for its success with mixed martial arts. In
Malaysia, Aly said that Muay Thai enthusiasts hope to have an official
association by this October.

"Presently Muay Thai is not formally recognized in the country. There are
Tomoi associations established by the people of Kelantan but none for Muay Thai
yet. We hope through this association we can advance like any other sport or
martial arts in the country."

So with an action pose, the writer switched the pen and paper for some
punches and power kicks. Aly continues his class but he fails to mention one
thing. Just how infectious Muay Thai can be.

-- BERNAMA