After watching "Muay Thai Chaiya", I was kind of curious about the rituals that were conducted before the match started. Thus, this curiousity prompted me to search for information about one of the most important influences in almost everybody's lives - Teachers!!!
Here goes! =)
Before the match starts, the boxers will perform a dance called the "wai khru". This is not merely for entertainment purposes! The dance is actually performed so as to acknowledge the effort the teacher has put in in training and preparing the boxer for the match. Also, the dance serves as a warm-up exercise to relax the muscles. Didn't know that this ritual was so multi-purpose ya? =)
Here's an example of how it's done!
Besides training the boxers, the teachers also provide them with lucky charms...
Muay Thai boxers wear mongkhols which are actually headbands. This accessory is blessed by the boxer's teacher so as to bring luck to the boxer during the match. However, it is removed after the wai khru dance by the boxer's teacher. Nobody else is allowed to touch the headband. Seems like the relationship between the boxer and his teacher is pretty close.. and the boxer does indeed have a lot of respect for his teacher.
Information obtained from: http://www.bangkok-city.com/muaythai.htm Video taken from: http://youtube.com/watch?v=k92ibgC1JXo
**Wan Shin
* my stories -11:13 PM
SUPERSTITION - WOMEN'S AURA IN MUAY THAI
Initially, women were banned from entering the fighting ring because Thai people believed that a female presence will destroy a Muay Thai fighter's skill, making him vulnerable to dangers and injuries. The belief is that female boxers, who are called Nak Muay Ying, will jinx any Muay Thai ring they fight. So sexist right??? Women in the past really have no stand in the society.
BUT..... of course now the society perceptions have changed. There has been an increase in the number of women joining Muay Thai as a sport. If not, I bet the women rights organization will be fighting for women to be allowed to join the sports till now.... The irony is that in Thailand, women who has shown their support for the Women's Liberation Movement were the ones who displayed objection against female practice of Muay Thai and calling them a disgraceful lot!
Thai people believe that unseen spirits inhabit everywhere, so it is necessary to perform special rites before they enter a boxing ring. They will ask for the spirits permission, propitiating them and destroy any evil that may be lurking around. The ritual is to protect the fighter and allow him to gain victory. Interestingly, before the fighter enter the ring, he will determine which nostril allow him to breathe more freely. If it is the right nostril, he will take the first step with his right foot, at the same time avoiding the bottom stairs. The aim is to have good luck.
Before entering the ring, fighters will bow to show reverence. When they enter the ring, they will rub the ropes to "seal the ring" so as to prevent any evil spirits from entering. Before the fight begin, the fighters will kneel and bow three times and perform a ritualistic dance that is unique to each fighting school. The dance is to show respect to their teacher and his school mates as well as to intimidate the opponent. When the fight begin, traditional music will be played to keep up the tempo of the fighters.
Parinya Charoenphol and Asanee Suwan, the actor who played her character in the movie
I read up an article that covered the true story of Parinya Charoenphol and thought it would be interesting to post it up.
"Charoenphol was born into a family of nomads that eventually settled down in Chiang Mai province, and - taking the traditional route for children of poor parents - became a novice monk. He played truant to make money for the family and was expelled from his monastery. At the age of 12, he visited a temple fair at where a kickboxing match offered 500 baht to the winner; goaded by insults about being a sissy, Charoenphol entered and won. Intense training at a muay thai (traditional kickboxing) camp followed, then wins in 20 out of 22 regional matches, and finally nationwide fame. All the while Charoenphol was making visits to the village transvestite, experimenting with makeup, and saving up the money for the sex change he had been planning since childhood."
This is only a short excerpt from the article written by Will Hodgskin, on 19th August 2005 in The Guardian. To read up more you may visit the website at: http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1551894,00.html
The articles is very interesting as it describes the sweet personality of Nong Toom, how she differs from other transsexuals. It also talks about how her life has changed after the sex reassignment operation. Most importantly, it covers the controversy that sparked out of her presences as a transvestite in the world of Muay Thai dominated by masculine males.
Her transformation from her 12-year old self, to her 21-old self.
Credits:
Pictures from:
Yahoo Movies, http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808607923/photo/stills, viewed on 10th November 2007
The Guardian, 2005, http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1551894,00.html, viewed on 10th November 2005
Izzah(:
* my stories -6:42 AM
BEAUTIFUL BOXER! (PART 2)
This post will cover the Southeast Asian themes that can be found within the movie regarding Muay Thai. I will also briefly mention how the outstanding film has made a mark in SEA and exposes non-Thai people on the martial art. Okay brace yourself, for this post is going to be one lengthy read!
People have gotten used with the idea of linking masculinity and callous aggression to Muay Thai. It is after all a violent, brutal sport originated from unarmed combat in warfare. Yet in this movie the stereotype is challenged. Parinya "approaches Muay Thai as an art form to be mastered with balletic grace, channelling the necessary aggression into elegant moves that flatten her opponents mercilessly." (Hodgkinson 2005) People disregard the artistic version of Muay Thai which was actually performed for the royalty in the past. Although elements of it may be seen in the Wai Kru - the dance of paying respects, people still find it abnormal to see the correlation between elegance and Muay Thai. This remains so despite Charoenpol winning 20 out of 22 matches with his style of Muay Thai.
Parinya, also known as Nong Toom in the movie, was also marginalized for his effeminate behaviour and also because he challenged the norm by wearing makeup on matches. Before meddling in the boxing world, Nong Toom entered monkhood and this could be seen as a method of normalizing him. He was isolated from society to undergo the normalization process. This includes him getting in touch with his spirituality and mixing with other monks who adopt strict guidelines of conduct. After he entered the boxing world, he faced plenty of discriminations which troubled him greatly as he tried to come to terms with identity. He was ridiculed by his friends, and taunted by his opponent in the ring.
There is a line said by the protagonist that marked an impression in my mind - "The more make up I put on, the harder they kicked me. So I kick them back harder." This clearly exhibits how his increasing attempt of expressing his feminine identity meant greater competition for him. Yet its motivating how he managed to turn his adversity around and convert it to strentgh. Apart from his opponents and friends, the general society and Muay Thai enthusiasts also showed objection to his wearing makeup during matches. Indeed, discrimination towards transsexuals were widespread and further heightened as it existed within the masculine world of Muay Thai.
The movie also showed how devoted the Thai people were to Buddhism as their religion. It was pervasive throughout all aspects of their lifestyle; the art of Muay Thai included. Nong Toom believed deeply in karma. He thinks the reason why he was born a male was due to his sin from his past life. He then entered monkhood at a young age to improve karma for himself and his parents. There was a scene where he secretly went to the isolated waterfall area to put on lipgloss on himself although he knew it was a sin for a monk to beautify or decorate himself. Later on his parents encountered misfortunes and he blamed himself as he believed that he had worsen their karma due to his commitment of sin.
Religion in Muay Thai is seen particularly in the performance of the Wai Kru. It is a form of prayer done before a fight to pay tribute to the gods. Fighters may also chant religious verses during fights. This is all done in hope of transcending their physical limitations and to be replaced by an invincible holy spirit. (Villalobos, Schuyver 2002)
Another SEAsian theme that is seen in the movie is rural poverty. In a scene, Nong Toom 's father laments how he has to find "work wherever (he) can". His mother who mans their lychee plantation also doesnt earn much from it. In a way, Toom's entrance into monkhood was due to him not being able to complete his elementary education due to lack of funds. Later on, as his parents fell into tragic cirumstances, he had to sneak away from the temple to find jobs and support his family.
His entrance into the world of Muay Thai also provides a means for him to provide a better life for his family. In the first match that he won, he bought 'good food' for his mother to cook using his prize money. As he became more financially stable, he soon started saving for his sex change operation. He managed to collect money to achieve his want, as he has covered his basic needs, which is to become a woman.
Pi Chart also mentions how many children in the training camps come from broken homes. By mixing with the other trainees and adhering to a strict daily routine of training, they are sheltered from influences of social ills.
There is also the element of migration. As Nong Toom got more famous, he moved on from provincial matches and advanced into matches held in Bangkok. It is thus revealed how the best congregates, trains and competes in the capital where resources are abundantly available and dreams are achieved.
Yet coming to the city also proved to be a trial for Toom as he encountered the press. They accused him of adopting feminity as a promotional gimmick. They ridiculed him and made him into a 'clown'. They didn't understand his true self or his honest intentions of pecking his opponents on the cheek as a method of apology for hurting them.
Thus we observe how the film provokes the audience by making them think of social issues such as discrimination of transsexuals or the widespread poverty in the countryside. The film also exposes Muay Thai as a martial art practiced in training camps and how it is battled out in the ring. The art form of Muay Thai is also showcased in a scene where Toom performs a ritualistic dance of ancient movements of Muay Thai. The film was distributed all over Southeast Asia. With its promotion of Muay Thai, it has contributed in making non-Thai people more aware of the martial art and evoking an interest in them to take it up. The several awards and nominations the film received on the international platform further boosts its popularity and spread within the SEA.
Credits:
Kru Pedro Solana Villalobos and Mark Van Schuyver 2002, Fighting strategies of Muay Thai – secret of Thailand’s boxing camps
Poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2005/beautiful_boxer_ver2.html, viewed on 10th November 2007
Pictures from: Yahoo Movies, http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808607923/photo/stills, viewed on 10th November 2007
Will Hodgkinson, 19th August 2005, 'I don't think about gender. I think about winning', http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1551894,00.html -Izzah (:
* my stories -4:36 AM
BEAUTIFUL BOXER (PART 1)
I just caught the movie and I must admit I am very impressed. The story was centered on a controversy yet the director managed to deal with the sensitive issues delicately. The nature of the plot in itself was touching and also inspiring. As the protagonist brings you into his conflicted of world of wanting to be a woman versus that of being a masculine Muay Thai fighter, you feel for her in times of good and bad.
Okay I won't elaborate further on the artistic or emotional appeal of the movie cause you've got the critics to do that and they are best at their business!
As the plot isn't really our topic of concern, I lifted this from the net:
"Inspired by a true story, this drama from Thailand tells the story of Nong Toom, who was born in a small community where his family struggled with poverty, and Nong Toom himself was the target of bullies who made fun of his delicate nature. From his early childhood, Nong Toom felt more like a girl than a boy, and when he encounters a transsexual for the first time, he comes to the realization that he also is a woman trapped in a man's body.
While Nong Toom is not by his nature aggressive, one day he is forced to fight a bully to defend himself and one of his friends, and he discovers he has a natural talent for kickboxing. Nong Toom begins training with a skilled kickboxing coach, Pi Chart, but despite the best efforts of Nong Toom and his best friend Pi Bua, the secret of his unorthodox sexuality leaks out.
To his surprise, Pi Chart accepts Nong Toom as he is, and boxing promoter Pi Mo embraces his lifestyle as a marketable gimmick, as the fighter now battles his opponents while wearing makeup -- and wins more often than not; however, Nong Toom begins to alienate his new following when he declares that his embrace of women's clothing and makeup is not a joke and that he's saving his prize money to one day have a sex-change operation." - Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Although the plot above omits certain crucial parts of the movie, I think its extensive enough a coverage. I have separated my analysis of the movie into the second part as piecing everything together made it into a long boring lengthy post.
For your viewing pleasure, here's the trailer of the movie! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Here's the url to visit the official website: http://www.beautifulboxer-themovie.com/
Credits:
Synopsis of movie from: Starpulse.com, http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Beautiful_Boxer/Summary/, viewed on 10th November 2007
Poster taken from: http://www.impawards.com/2005/beautiful_boxer_ver1.html, viewed on 10th November 2007
Trailer: uploaded on Youtube.com by user tlareleasing, http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dav45yuScvk, viewed on 10th November 2007
