»Introduction
Now we are going to start to learn rules of Muay Thai. We will focus on rules applied for Muay Thai sport competition in Thailand. For some of competition hosted in different countries, rules can be adjusted a bit in which in most case for safety reasons suach as to prevent fighter from being attack by very harmful techniques, but essentially, most of rules should be based on official regulation agreed to be used internationally.
Wai Kru
Apart of learning how to fight and concepts of Muay Thai, It is absolute necessary for people who want to become a Muay Thai boxer or trainer to learn all forms of Wai Kru ceremony, which consists of four elements; Initiation as a trainee of fighter (Yok Kru), Annual Homage-Paying ceremony, Initiation as a teacher (Krob Kru), and the Ritual Dance of Homage. Even though to become a formal boxer, the person must complete all of these elements, but only in this article we will talk about the Ritual Dance of Homage which is generally called "Ram Wai Kru". It is the performace that fighter must perform before the fight.
The objectives of Ram Wai Kru are many, but there are several main objectives of one is to pay respect and regardness to the teachers, parents or anything that they respect. Two is for boxer to be able to have a chance to get concentrate and release tension that he may have before the fight begin and the third is to observe their opponent's ability and weakness throu
Once you have applied for a training camp, Kru Muay will teach about how to perform Ram Wai Kru. However, If you are new to Muay Thai and have no clue about this, It is also a good start to learn from books and videos.
You may also interested in articles about training, read more about;
»Wai Kru/Ram Muay
Guide for boxers about Muay Thai ethics and maners dirung competition
There are traditions bout what do's and don'ts when boxers and seconds/trainers are during the formal competition. Manners in Muay Thai are actually derived from the Thai clture. It is very important for boxers to follow these strictly, and respectfully no matter what nationality they are or where the competition is held;
All of Muay Thai boxer MUST perform Ram Wai Kru, There is an official regulations specify that boxers must perform Ram Wai Kru before the fight.
Boxers must follows the Muay Thai rules strictly and obey to the referees's judgement/instructions without any objections
Boxers must not do anything that considered to be impolite to opponents, audiences, yelling, spitting at them, for example.
Boxers/trainers must respect to the referees' final judgements without any objection and boxers must not do any behaviour that to protest the judgement such as do not step down from the ring after the fight or attack the referee etc.
During the fight, when opponent about to loose or being disadavatage, boxer wil not take opportunity to intensify situation eventhough boxer can do that without breaking the rules.
Seniority is ery important, younger boxer must pay respect to more senior boxer before and after the fight.
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»The Ring
The ring for Muay Thai must be in square shape. The ring platform could be available in two sizes depends on the availability of space, which are small size 16ft.X16ft (area inside the ropes or fighting area), and 24ft. X 24 ft. for big size. There must be at least 90 cm space extension for the area outside the ropes. For safety, the surface of fighting area must be covered by soft materials (rubber, soft clothes) in between 3/4 inces - 2 inches in thickness covered with canvas.
The platform must be elevated at least 4ft. from the ground and must be surrounded by ropes, at least 3 strings streched to the pillers at every corners of the ring. Ropes must be at least 3/4 inches diameter and covered by soft material.
At the boxer conners, at least two small ring steps must be provided for seconds and boxers to get onto the fighting area, there should be additional ring step at the other side of the fighting area for other officers and doctors.
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»Hand Wrapping and Boxing Gloves
Hand wraping material could be a bandage stripe and can be 2-inches wide and 12 ft. long for maximum. Sticky tape can be used to adhesive the hand wrap material. However, the sticky tape must wide 1 inch and 6ft. long for maximum and could cover only the back of the wrist, not cover on the knuckles.
See how to wrap
Gloves
Boxing gloves for Muay Thai weight between 4-6 ounce can be used for competition. In some case, weight of gloves can be varied depends on weight class of boxer as follows
Mini Flyweight - Junior Featherweight = 6 ounce (132g.)
Featherweight - Welterweight = 8 ounce (227g.)
Junior Middleweight and upwards = 10 ounce (284 g.
Gloves must not be modified interms of shape, size and stuffing materials.
Gloves string must be tighted securely and the knots must be wrappe by sticky tape. Gloves must be in good condition and clean.
Gloves used in competition must be inspected and approved by match commitee before used.
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»Dressing
Boxers must wear groin protector, mouth guard is also allowed.
Boxers must wear shorts that long between thigh and knees. Colour of shorts should be red and blue to repersent boxer's side. Wording on the shorts must not be rude, offensive or intimidate to any party.
Vest, socks and shoes are not allowed, but in the case of women competition, vest can be used. and for safety, toenail must be short and clean
Ammulets such as head garland (Mong Kol) is allowed only when boxer perform Wai Kru. Armband (Pra Jeard) must be worn only at the upperarm and covered by soft material.
Ankles supporters are also allowed but boxer can not wear double ankels supporters in the same foot. (only 1 ankle supporter per foot). Boxer can not use other materials as an ankle like stripe, bandage etc.
No belt or any other decorating materials are allowed.
Gel, vasline, oil or any other lubricate material applying to boxers' skin are not allowed, only vasline ca be used for stop the wound bleeding.
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» Equipments
Here is the list of fundamental equipments used in Muay Thai competition. The competition officer must provide these equipments to boxers and teams, which include;
» Seats for boxer and seconds before the competition begin, provided at each team's station (at least 3 seats provided for each team and additional 2 seats provided for boxers rest during the fight (round break).
» Tray for each team for store waste water of boxer's refresment during round break.
» 2 bottles of drinking water for each team
» Tables and chairs for scoring referees/officers.
» A bell or alarm system to indicate round begining and end.
» 1 or 2 stop watches and time keeper.
» Marking record sheets for match commitee.
» First aid corner and at least 1 first aid kit available.
» Plates or posters to show round/boxer sequence.
» Microphone and amplifier (if the competition has a spokeman).
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»Weight Devisions
All of boxerswho want to enter to formal competition must be at least 15 years old. Like other kind of boxing sport, weight devisions of Muay Thai boxers are determined as described below;
1. Mini Flyweight, not exceed 104 pounds (47.5 kg.)
2. Junior Flyweight, not exceed 108 pounds (49 kg.)
3. Light Flyweight, not exceed 112 pounds (51 kg.)
4. Junior Bantamweight, not exceed 115 pounds (52.5kg.)
5. Bantamweight, not exceed 118 pounds (54 kg.)
6. Junior Featherweight, not exceed 122 pounds (55.5 kg.)
7. Featherweight, not exceed 126 pounds (57.5 kg.)
8. Junior Lightweight, not exceed 130 pounds (59.5 kg.)
9. Lightweight, not exceed 135 pounds (61.5 kg.)
10. Junior Welterweight, not exceed 140 pounds (64 kg.)
11. Welterweight, not exceed 147 pounds (67 kg.)
12. Junior Middleweight, not exceed 154 pounds (70 kg.)
13. Middleweight, not exceed 160 pounds (73 kg.)
14. Light Heavyweight, not exceed 175 pounds (79.5 kg.)
15. Heavyweight, exceed 175 pounds
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» Seconds
In the competition, boxers are allowed to be accompanied by seconds. However, there are some rules regarding to have second to give support during the fight;
» Only 2 seconds are allowed for 1 boxer.
» Seconds are not allowed to go in to the fighting area, except before the fight begins and during the round break.
» During the fight, seconds are not allowed to give any advice to their boxers.
» During the fight, if seconds consider that the boxer can no longer be able to fight and they want to surrender for the boxer, the immediate decision such as throw in a towel into the ring is not allowed. If they want to surrender for the boxer, the prior agreement with the match commitee is reqired.
» During the fight, seconds are not allowed to be on/around the ring and seconds are responsible for keep all equipments away from the fighting area.
» If the competition is for the championship, 1 boxer is allowed to have up to 3 seconds, but during the fight, only 2 seconds are allowed to present on the fightig area during the round break.
» The referee on the fighting area have the right to dismiss seconds that perform impolite action/manner or intend to make any objections to the referees judgements. Boxer's score could also be deducted due to that impolite action of their seconds.
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» Referees
In Muay Thai Competition There must be match comitee, which consist of;
1 referee on the fighting area and 2 referees for boxer's marking.
All of referees must have educational qualification in physical education and have intensive experience in Muay Thai judgement.
The role and responsibility of referee on the fighting area
» Before boxer perform Wai Kru, referee must check boxers' dressing, make sure that they do not against the rules.
» Before the fight, in some case, referee may repeat important rules/ suggestions to boxers and seconds.
» Referee has the right to give warning to boxers as well as an order to deduct boxer's score, or dismiss boxers/seconds out of the ring in case if they are breaking the rules.
» Referee's judgement is final, could not be objected or changed.
» Referee has the right to stop the fight at anytime if he consider that one of boxer has very much lower in skills and ability than another boxer so they are not able to fight equally.
» Referee has the right to stop the fight at anytime if one of boxer has very serious injuries and is not be able to fight any further.
» Referee has the right to stop the fight and dismiss one or both of boxers seem to has no willing to fight or not fighting seriously.
» Referee is responsible to make judgement on any rules which beyond the formal terms and regulations.
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» Judgement and Scoring
Fighting result cloud be determined by;
Boxer's total score, the boxer who has the highest total score is the winner. There might be some cases when both of boxers has serious injuries before the end of the competition and they can not complete the fight. These rules could be applied.
1. If the competition is set for 5 rounds, when the referee on the fighting area decide to end the fight in round 1 or 2, the boxers will be draw as a result.
2. If the referee on the fighting area decide to end the fight in between round 3-5 the the boxer who has the highest current score will be the winner.
Knock Out (K.O), the referee will terminate the fight when;
1. One of the boxer has seroius injuries and down to the floor. The referee will consider to end the fight if would be in danger if he continue the fight.
2. In consultation with the doctor, referee will terminat the fight when one of boxer has a large wound more han 2 cm long.
3. One of the boxer get down to the floor more than 2 times in the same round.
4. One of the boxer commit to surrender.
5. One of the boxer breaking the competition rules, with or without prior warning.
Scoring
Attack
Boxers will get a score when attack opponent by using fist, knees, elbows etc.), according to the Muay Thai rules. Attacks will be scored if hit to the right point of the body and intensely.
During the fight, referees can give extra scores to boxer that has better skills, tactics.
Defence
Boxer will get a scores if he can defense from opponent's attack and counter-attack effectively.
The 1 point can be deducted each time when boxer breaking the rules during the fight.
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» Fouls/Penalties
Boxer is breaking the rules when he tries to do one of these activities.
» Using forehead or part of the head to attack. (head butt)
» bite or spit on the opponent
» pull opponent's hair
» grab opponent's arms/neck
» When opponent is down to the floor, try to slay down on opponent or use knees/elbow strike on opponent.
» Use Judo/wrestling technique to throw opponent.
» Hang on the ring strings when attack opponent.
» Pretend to fall down to take adventage from oponent. (have chance to rest during the fight)
As mention in the scoring topic that boxer who breaks any rules will be deducted the scores. The score deduction can only be deducted 2 time for maximum during the fight and then will be autometically voted down if he break the rules more than 2 times during the fight.
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