Muay Thai, the sport of kings

The Thai monarchy’s favourite sport attracts thousands of tourists every year. It even has its own national holiday. Discover the history of this millenary martial art.

The myth of the Tiger King
Thai monarchs have been passionate about the national sport for centuries, so no wonder it is billed the sport of kings. Take the legend of the Tiger King, for instance. King Phra Chao Sri Sampetch VIII, who ruled from 1703 to 1709, loved Muay Thai so much that he was reluctant to give up fighting after his coronation. Known for his ferocious style, he supposedly sneaked off, disguised as a commoner (the most imaginative storytellers say he’d wear a tiger mask) to participate in local tournaments and justly beat his rivals. During his reign, he promoted the sport more than anyone, making it part of the army’s training because he considered it essential to governing a country like Thailand, at the time, kingdom of Ayutthaya.

A war technique reimagined as sport
According to the official version, Muay Thai was born in Siam between the 13th and 15th centuries. The constant wars between the kingdoms of Myanmar and Cambodia forced Thai soldiers to hone their war skills. They started to use their own body parts as weapons: fists, knees, elbows…everything was allowed as they kicked and punched their way to victory. It became a professional sport during the peace period, under King Narai (1604–1690)…. read more