History and Era of Muay Korat
The history of Muay Thai mentions four styles of Muay Thai: Muay Lopburi, Muay Chaiya, Muay Tha Sao, and Muay Korat. Muay Korat is named after Nakhon Ratchasima Province, commonly known as “Korat”. It is a style famous in the northeastern region, or Isan, of Thailand. Muay Korat has a history dating from the Ayutthaya period to the Rattanakosin period, with the primary goal of training for national defense.
Methods of Training Muay Korat in Ancient Times
Training in Muay Korat in ancient times, although lacking specialized equipment as seen today, was fundamentally integrated into the daily activities and physical labor of the people. The training was embedded in the routine movements associated with their livelihoods and lifestyle, involving exercises with tools, daily activities, and natural environmental elements. This included tasks such as drawing water, carrying water, pounding rice, splitting firewood, climbing coconut trees, and climbing betel nut trees. Train the body’s sensory perception to remain alert.
Attire for Muay Korat
Translate to Thai , academic writing “The attire of Muay Thai Korat fighters consists of wearing shorts and a loincloth rolled and tied around the waist, extending between the legs up to the waist. They do not wear shirts or shoes and wear a Mongkhon on their heads at all times during the fight. The Mongkhon is considered an important talisman for fighters, and according to ancient Muay Thai tradition, the fight would immediately stop if the Mongkhon of either side fell off. Additionally, a triangular cushion with ropes tied to its three corners was used instead of a ‘Krachap’ (a protective device for the genital area). They also wore Pra Jiad, which are cloths inscribed with yantras and magical symbols.
The distinctive features of Muay Korat
The distinctive feature of Muay Korat, setting it apart from other styles, is the way the hands are wrapped with raw thread, starting from the fists and extending almost to the elbows. However, in other regions of Thailand, the hands are wrapped only from the fists to the wrists. The unique characteristics of Muay Korat include its wide-range kicks and punches, and it features a powerful technique called the “Mat Wiang Khwai”