rantlust

Posted by anupcs on September 22nd 2005 in Movies, Raves, Society, Sports
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I have always felt that the Thais are the friendliest people in the world. This is evident from visits to many Thai restaurants in the US and elsewhere. The wait staff seem to bend over backwards to make one feel good and not just with the tasty food. While I have never been to Bangkok, I have indeed been to Phuket (pronounced pooket) and neighboring islands (before the Tsunami) and loved the whole experience primarlily because of the reception of the Thai locals. While in Phuket, I had seen a few Muay Thai (or Thai Boxing) fights and didn’t think much of it until tonight.

Toinght, we saw Ong-Bak - one of the biggest ever Thai movie hits starring Tony Jaa. The movie is quite klitschy and is along the same vein as some of the Golden Harvest Kung Fu movies of yesteryears; nevertheless, the fights in the movie were thoroughly enjoyable and done without any computer effects or wires. The stunts have to be seen to be believed. If you think Jet Li kicks major ass, you will be floored by Tony Jaa’s heroics.

Muay Thai has a long history as a martial art and the fighters “use fists, elbows, shins, feet, and knees to strike the opponent.” It is quite different from any other martial art in Asia. The visual effect to the observer is very dramatic. The martial art has a spiritual element in it as well. The fighters normally perform some sort of Buddhist ritual before a match. Muay Thai is supposed to have originated from Krabi Krabong, a weapons art literally meaning “stick and sword”. When the soldiers (in earlier times this was used in battle) lost their weapons, they used their elbows, knees, etc., at close quarters and this evolved into Muay Thai. The sport of Kickboxing is considered to be a watered down version of Muay Thai.

It’s amazing that a social and friendly people like the Thais have such a deadly martial art.