Kickboxing Festival and Wai Kru Muay Thai ceremony to be held in Bangkok, March 17
The 11th annual Kickboxing Festival and Wai Kru Muay Thai ceremony takes place March 17-20, at Ayutthaya in Bangkok. Over 300 Muay Thai boxers from 30 countries around the world will gather to pay their respect to their teachers, and to pay homage to the legendary Muay Thai folk hero, Nai Khanom Tom. Contestants come from the UK, Canada, Russia, Korea, France, the Ukraine, and South Africa.
The highlight of the festival is the Muay Thai tournament with boxers contending for the Nai Khanom Tom belt with a cash prize for the weight divisions of 60, 65, 70, and 80 kilograms. There will also be a Wai Kru competition for students. (Before combat begins, the boxers perform Wai Kru, a complicated ritual in which they thank their teachers.)
Muay Thai Festival Highlights
Other highlights include:
- A light and sound presentation
- A welcome reception for guests
- Displays by Thai performance artists
- Muay Thai demonstrations
- Exhibitions of ancient Thai weapons
- Thai handicrafts and art
- Thai cuisine
- An elephant performance showing their intelligence and gentleness
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
Although Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is the national sport of Thailand, its popularity has become increasingly popular worldwide. It is a martial art blending physical prowess and control, with spiritual insight and work on self.
Boxers fight on a 78-square-foot canvas with five, three-minute rounds, and two-minute breaks in between. They always wear blue or red gloves and trunks, and fight barefoot. They also wear armbands and special headbands presented to them by their teachers.
Visit the Tourism Thailand site for specific programming times.