The royal salute movement, for instance, is one where the boxer bows down from the waist down and pushes the hands forward together while they brush against his forehead and rest on the eyebrows. Other postures are the Thep Panom, Deeppanom, Promma, Pra Ram Tam Gwang, and so on. Each of them has it’s own dance and movements, either sitting down or up, or both.

Another movement performed by those in the boxing ring is to touch the top rope on each side of the ring to seal it off from any outside distraction.

Within Muay Thai education, which is a martial arts form that disciplines both the mind and the body, there are several types of Wai Khru ceremonies, each with a specific movement. I’ll explain them briefly below, so we can get a better idea of the importance of this ritual in Thai culture.

a. The trainee fighter ceremony

In this ceremony, the Muay Thai trainer accepts the apprentices and promises to teach them everything he knows, as best he can. At the same time, the apprentices pledge to obey the rules imposed by their trainers and go through any difficulty with diligence and resilience. This ritual is a part of initiation for the students.

b. The annual ceremony to pay homage

As the name suggests, this ceremony is performed every year, and it is an opportunity for students to reiterate their respect and gratitude for their trainers. It is also when homage is paid to the trainers and teachers who have passed away.

c. The ritual dance of homage

This ritual is performed either at the end of an annual-homage ceremony, or separately. It symbolizes the apprentices’ allegiance pledge to their teachers (khru muay). When their initiation and training are completed, the khru muay sends them to participate in contests where they can prove their skills and gain achievements.

Even then, the teachers decide when one is worthy of being called a true Muay Thai fighter. When this happens, the fighter gets to execute the ritual dance of homage once more, usually right after a competition

d. The teacher ceremony

Becoming a Muay Thai teacher is not achieved easily. One must be an excellent fighter, have perfect command of the philosophy and teachings of Muay Thai, and prove to have the appropriate character for it. At least in Thai culture, this usually when they’ve had enough experience, good competition attendance, and plenty time to master the Muay Thai theory.

Such an important milestone deserves its own Wai Khru ceremony, so rising to this rank is also celebrated with prayer, Ram Muay dance, offerings and other traditions.

Conclusion

The rituals of Wai Khru are extremely important in Thai culture, and Ram Muay is an essential part of Muay Thai practice for those who approach it with the right attitude. While it may have a profoundly spiritual character, it can, or should be just as important for secular players as well, at least as a way of showing their respect for the sport.

Ram Muay is one of the elements that make Muay Thai such a special combat sport, even though many argue it can be brutal. When we look behind the actual hitting, we see beautiful form and choreography, elegant moves, great physical condition and focus, self-discipline and balance.

What do you think about the Ram Muay? Do you practise it ? here is what others had to say. Please give the article a share if you found it interesting.