KNOCK OUT!

Muay Thai is known as the sport of kings in Thailand. Originating from battlefield fighting skills and an essential part of the Thai culture, this popular sport has beaten a path to Singapore in recent years. PIONEER discovers the thrills and pain of kick-boxing - Thai-style.

If you are thinking of getting fit or losing those extra kilos real fast, consider taking up Muay Thai. But be prepared to get more than a few bruises in the process.

Ms Angela Ong is one lady who keeps going back for more despite the pain. "You need endurance and you need to withstand bruises," Ms Ong exclaimed. "I get bruised every week!"

Nowadays, kick-boxing aerobic classes available in gyms incorporate moves from Muay Thai. But the art of Muay Thai is vastly different from simply punching and kicking into the air in aerobics class. Using punches, elbow strikes, kicking and grappling, strikes are delivered with force and fighting in the ring can be lethal. It is not boxing, where blows are limited to areas from the waist up.

Round 1 - Training and benefits

"Muay Thai helps you in self-defence, body strengthening, and fitness," said Ms Lana Ng, a registered trainer with People's Association (PA).

She learnt Muay Thai in Chiangmai, Thailand, at the age of 18 and is the only female Muay Thai instructor in Singapore. Ms Ng spent about five years learning the sport.

In professional Muay Thai, males fight five three-minute rounds with two-minute rest intervals, while females go for three rounds with the same rest interval. According to Ms Ng, amateurs fight three rounds with one-minute intervals for both genders. A knock-out is awarded if the opponent is knocked down and unable to continue within the 10-second count. Points are also awarded based on the strikes and techniques.

The rounds may be brief, but stamina is still a crucial part of Muay Thai. In Chiangmai, Ms Ng had to run eight hours a day and go through training routines such as skipping, punching the sandbag, padwork, grappling and other fighting techniques.

"Grappling is very tough because you have to learn to stiffen your neck and not let it be pulled down when your opponent grabs you," said the 44-year-old instructor, who started teaching five years ago. "To strengthen our neck, we used our mouth to lift a boulder by a rope and towel wrapped around it."

Of course, you are not expected to do such rigorous training here. Unless you are serious about competing, you can still have a good time by taking up the sports in local gyms, like Ms Ong. Having read about Muay Thai, Ms Ong registered for the course organised by Lifeskills & Lifestyle Division, PA, at Tanglin Community Club (CC), which is conducted by Ms Ng. At the course, students do jogging and skipping, padwork, and are taught punching and kicking techniques. They do light sparring, but no actual fighting is involved.

"Apart from the fact that it keeps you quite fit, I like the moves," said Ms Ong, 25, who took up Muay Thai last December. "It also builds up your endurance."

Round 2 - Traditions

Muay Thai originated from the ancient battles of Thailand and was popular among many generations of kings.

Ram muay is the ancient spiritual dance that boxers perform before each fight as a mark of respect for the teacher and ancestors of the art. An integral part of Muay Thai, it also serves as a psychological preparation for the boxer.

At a fight, the boxer wears a headband and armband. The teacher puts the headband, called the mongkhol, on the boxer's head before the dance. The mongkhol is a sign of respect for the teacher and is believed to bring luck to the boxer. It is removed after the dance. As for the armband, it is believed to be for protection and is removed after the fight.

Round 3 - Challenges

Physical endurance is part of the game. If you can't take the blows, don't expect to compete.

"To be a boxer, you must think whether you can accept it when others hit you. You have to train to be daring, then you won't be afraid," said Ms Ng.

If students express the interest to fight competitively, Ms Ng is ready to groom them. Mr Wong Lei Biao, who started training under Ms Ng when he was 14, has already competed twice. His first attempt two years ago did not win him a medal. But he did Ms Ng and Singapore proud last year by clinching the silver medal in the lightweight division at the World Championship Muay Thai Against Drugs Festival 2004, organised by the World Muay Thai Council (WMC). Held in Thailand, the competition saw 69 countries participating.

"I fought until my nose was hit crooked! I didn't even know I was bleeding because I didn't feel anything already. I thought I had a runny nose," said the 18-year-old. "The referee stopped the match and the doctor there adjusted my nose back to its original position."

Sharing his experience, he said that there is a huge difference between training and fighting in the ring. In training, endurance is required but in the ring, courage is key. "You get scared initially but you won't be afraid anymore after a few fights," he said.

Concentration is another key factor because once you lose it, you risk getting hit and injured. It is important to be mentally prepared, stay calm, think fast and strategise as you block blows crashing into your face.

"If my boxer is not prepared, I will not bring him because he will become a sandbag on the stage," said Ms Ng, explaining that knockouts are common at competitions. "I must protect them, too. I can't just let them fight whenever there's a chance."

Round 4 - She bangs

More and more females are taking up the sport. In Ms Ng's class at Tanglin CC, about 30 per cent of the students are female.

"It's not really a male thing," commented Ms Ong. "It's all about technique, not about whether you are a girl or if you are weaker."

Ms Rodrigo, too, shrugged the gender issue aside. "To be honest, it's not a sport for everyone. It's physically very demanding," said Ms Rodrigo. "It's not about whether you are male or female. If you just want to get fit fast, it's a great way to do so."

Round 5 - Go for it!

If you have a low threshold for pain, this sport is probably not suitable for you. But if you are looking for an adrenaline rush, Muay Thai is definitely enticing, whether you are male or female.



For more information on Muay Thai, visit the WMC website at www.wmtc.nu.
To find out more about the courses offered by PA, visit pa-online.pa.gov.sg/cc-online.