Thai kick boxers pay respect

Popular Muay Thai kickboxer Buakaw Banchamek, who starred as historic Thai nobleman Phraya Phichai in the recent film “Thong Dee Fun Khao”, will be Ayutthaya tomorrow (March 17) to attend the World Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony 2017 at Ayutthaya Historical Park.
“The annual World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony has become a firm fixture on the calendar for muay thai practitioners all over the world. The event allows international boxers to appreciate the more respectful and charming elements of this distinctly ancient Thai martial art. Not only do visitors get to see first-hand the appreciation Thai boxers have for their teachers, they also get to spend a day or two in Ayutthaya, one of the most beautiful and historically important places in Thailand,” says Noppadon Pakprot, deputy governor for TAT’s tourism products and business.
Every year, hundreds of muay thai boxers and enthusiasts from around the world come to Thailand to join the annual Wai Kru ceremony and to show their respect to their teachers and past muay thai masters. The event also includes a special ritual, so that boxers can pay homage to famous muay thai fighters from Thai history including King Naresuan the Great of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Nai Khanom Tom – a local hero, famous for his victory over 10 Burmese fighters in a boxing bout that took place in 1774.
Also taking part in tomorrow’s ceremony are Samart Payakaroon, Anuwat Kaewsamrit and Saengmani Umkatongchiangmaiyim as well as 20 competitors from the “Thailand Festival Experience – Mission 1: Amazing Fight”, a TAT project launched to encourage visitors to enjoy “Unique Thai Local Experiences”.
The ceremony will feature a professional bout of boxing “The Amazing Muay Thai World Heritage Competition” with matches between professional Thai and foreign boxers, exhibitions and demonstrations relating to ancient Thai martial arts, sword and knife making by bladesmiths of the Aranyik Village and tattoo art.
For more information, contact the TAT Call Centre 1672.