Ram Muay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ram Muay (rum - muay) and Wai Khru (why - kru) are pre-match Muay Thai spiritual ceremonies, performed at the beginning of a Muay Thai martial arts match. The ceremony seals off the ring from outside influences, pays homage to gods, parents, teachers, loved ones, king and country. The rituals are passed down from teacher to student.
The fighter first performs the Wai Khru, circling the ring three times before kneeling and bowing three times as a sign of respect to god and man. He also bows to Buddha to ask for protection for himself and his opponent and for an honourable fight.
The fighter then performs the Ram Muay, whose simple movements demonstrate a fighter's control and style. Each fighter performs the Ram Muay on each side of the ring to demonstrate his prowess to the audience. The Ram Muay is a personal ritual, ranging from the very complex to the very simple, and often contains clues about who trained the fighter and where the fighter is from.
The practitioner may wear a headband called a Mong Kon and armbands known as Pra Jiad during the ceremony, and the Ram Muay may be accompanied by music.
