Muay Thai is a TMA

[Payak]

Just noticing lately how many people when discussing TMA's fail to realise how traditional Muay thai is.

Wai Kru (respect to teachers)

The waikru is performed when you begin training under a new teacher,
It shows respect to your teacher, the relationship with a teacher is like family.
performing the waikru for a new teacher also ensures you remember what is taught.
If you do not perform it you may forget a lot of what is shown to you.

Again it is performed before a fight to show respect and to honor your parents, who are your original teachers in life, your Muay thai instructor and all instructors past and present.

The first Waikru you perform for your teacher is long and very complex set of rituals, to long to mention here.
it is your initiation as a student, and you must take an oath to honor, respect and obey your teacher, he in return takes an oath to teach you to the best of his abilities.

A Muay Thai boxers oath

I will ensure that I am clean, strong and behave with honesty and integrity.
I will not bully those weaker than myself.
I will undertake good deeds to the benefit of others and be loyal to the nation
I will avoid causing trouble of any kind.
We will be united and help one another whenever possible.

Fighters get a new name

When a Muay Thai boxer is considered ready for the ring, he is given a new name, usually with the name of his Muay Thai training camp as his surname.

Approaching the ring

we believe spirits are everywhere, so before we enter the ring we must ask permission from the spirits to enter, and give thanks for allowing us to fight on her land.
During this ritual a fighter will determine which nostril the breath is flowing more freely,then take his first step (avoiding the bottom stair) with the foot of that side, for good luck.

The prajiad is worn on the arms to bring luck, they are given at the temple before a fight, they can contain amulates and various other objects to protect the fighter,or give more power.

The monkong is handmade by your teacher and blessed at the temple, it protects you from harm and gives good luck.
it should not touch the ground or it loses power, it should never go under the ropes as the monkong must remain most high above all things.
The Monkong is removed by your teacher after the Ram Muay who recites an ancient incantation for luck and protection, as it's removed he will blow the evil from your hair.

The pong malai or flowers around your neck are given by friends, family and fans for luck.

Sak yants or traditional tattoos are given for luck and protection also, Hanuman Tattoos are popular as he is the founder of Muay Thai.
Hanuman Tattoos give speed,agility and strength.

everything mentioned above is just the tip of the iceberg, now tell me again Muay thai is not a traditional art.
How many arts perform such complex rituals and have so many beliefs.
Muay Thai and it's teachings extend far beyond the ring.

[Sinister]

So is Boxing honestly. There aren't as many cultural aspects of the Sport, but anyone who has been around Professional Gyms and old school trainers knows that Boxers are cut from a specific mold and most of them hold similar ideals when it comes to tradition, honor, etiquette, at least in the Gym.

[sailin on]

I thought muay boran was the martial art and muay thai was the sport.

[Ron Powell Jr]

This is true but i think people just use the term TMA to distinguish Oriental arts for the most part. I know it's innaccurate, but that's how it's used.

[Doughbelly]

This topic makes no sense to me, Payak. Why are you trying to shoehorn an inherently flawed cubbyhole definition generated by bunch of white guys who just don't get it into the way it works with most of Asia?

Furthermore, rituals and customs as they're applied in the culture from which an art/sport originated tend to be conflated in the adoptive culture, contributing to this rather nebulous and ill defined dichotomy between TMAs and 'modern' arts.

As a thesis, I think this is flawed and just doesn't fly for several reasons.

[aries]

Of course Muay Thai is a traditional martial art, it just happens to be highly practical as well. To anyone saying, 'oh it's just a sport' well that's never stopped Judo being considered a TMA has it?

[Doughbelly]

Originally Posted by aries

Of course Muay Thai is a traditional martial art, it just happens to be highly practical as well. To anyone saying, 'oh it's just a sport' well that's never stopped Judo being considered a TMA has it?

Like I mentioned above, it's a false dichotomy.

[Payak]

i'm simply pointing out that people will often mention TMA's in one sentence, in the next they will mention boxing and Muay thai.
people need to understand that MUAY thai did not just appear yesterday.
it's got serious history.
Doughbelly, go easy on the english, i'm struggling with the easiest words.
feel like i'm talking to a damn professor or something, you kind of lost me bro.
speak laos or thai, lol.

[skiffle band]

Well, perhaps it is a misnomer, but I consider the difference between TMA and modernized MA to be practicality. I don't know Muay Thai that well, but I would bet that sport Muay Thai dropped a few of the moves it had traditionally, in favour of those that were actually useful.

[Ron Powell Jr]

Doughbelly enough with the excessive showboating. That's frowned upon in Muay Thai .