Wai Khru Ram Muay

 

 

In yesterday's blog, I wrote about the students of Tahsang Village performing "Wai Khru Ram Muay".

The complexity, beauty, and hypnotic nature of the ritual is dificult for me to describe in words.  I know that my description of the music as being like "snake charmer" music did not do it much justice.

Today I found a very good clip on Youtube that shows a Wai Khru Ram Muay performed by three fighters.  In a Muay Thai match, the Wai Khru Ram Muay would be performed inside of the ring by the two fighters after they had first entered the ring and paid respects to each of the corners of the ring.  In a Muay Thai match, the fighters may or may not perform their Wai Khru Ram Muay at the same time or in unison. Their movements are highly individualized but share common elements.  Besides paying respect to Buddha, their teachers, their trainers, their country, there is a certain psychological intimidation element to the Wai Khru Ram Muay.

The link to the Youtube video is below:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/OPK5JtxjIM0

Our four year old grandson, Peelawat, performs his own versions of the Wai Khru Ram Muay; I suspect it is something that he has picked up from the older boys at school.  This weekend, I will share this video along with some others of Wai Khru Ram Muay with him and show him a special movement - "Chang" (elephant).

Duang and I attended a match in Pattaya.  The fighters were performing their Wai Khru Ram Muay when one of the fighters went to his knees bent his forehead to the mat and rose his torso upright with his right arm and hand placed at his chin to simulate an elephant's trunk - the place went crazy.  I have practiced the movement ever since and now that he is four, I will pass it along to Peelawat.

I think that it is going to be another great weekend.