March 17 is celebrated as”Boxers Day” or National Muay Thai Day in Bangkok. This is the day that Nak Muays honor the memory and achievements of Nai Khanomtom. I’m going to gank the text from the AntaraiWear.com website because I think it’s a great synopsis of Nai Khanomthom’s legend and achievement.
“Nai Khanom Tom, a warrior from Thailand’s ancient capital, was captured after the Burmese sacked the city in 1767. His fighting style intrigued the Burmese king, who demanded a tournament pitting his own country’s combatants against the Thai warriors.
According to legend, Nai Khanom Tom dazzled his first opponent with a pre-fight ritual called Ram Muay, a ceremonial dance honoring his teachers and mentors. Then he proceeded to pummel him, scoring a quick knockout. But the Burmese fighter cried BS, claiming Nai Khanom Thom’s pre-fight dance distracted him.
The Burmese king knew how to settle this dispute: If Nai Khanom Thom could defeat nine more consecutive opponents, he would then prove the superiority of his fighting style, earning his freedom as a bonus. Nai Khanom Tom took on fighter after fighter, dishing out abuse, until finally none stood in his way. He earned his freedom – a feat celebrated every March 17 as “Boxer’s Day” or “National Muay Thai Day” in his native country.
Every time you practice Muay Thai – every time you strike a bag with your elbow or throw a thunderous roundhouse kick – you honor Nai Khanom Tom’s memory and achievement, whether you know it or not.”
So this weekend when your training realize that you are part of this history, that you’re carrying forth the skills and traditions to keep Muay alive. Think of him and know that with each kick you honor his memory.
Happy Muay Thai Day.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Ernesto // Mar 16, 2007 at 8:33 am
Tomorrow - I beat a heavy bag for Khanom Tom and my liver for St. Patrick.. Cheers to everyone!!
2 Dii Mak // Mar 16, 2007 at 9:14 am
Ernesto, I have you beat. I am going to do the same AND wear my Antarai Nai Khanom Tom t-shirt out on my Geary St. Irish pub crawl!
3 Dii Mak // Mar 16, 2007 at 9:27 am
Nopstar,
Didn’t you mention one time that there is a way to honor your Kru at this time? Some kind of ceremony? Is the ceremony performed in Thailand? What do the gyms out there do to honor this time or are there festivals or anything?
4 Ernesto // Mar 16, 2007 at 10:17 am
I will honor my Kru by buying him a few pints of Harp.. Bunkerd would appreciate a bottle of Hennessey.. Grand Opening Party at Gym 445 tomorrow from 6-10pm should you want to do some free drinking before hitting Geary Street. I will wear my green Mexico soccer jersey ..Good times!
5 jack n coke // Mar 17, 2007 at 3:05 am
Happy Boxers day.. i will celebrate by travelling to Thailand tonight!
Cheers!
6 Human Weapon Take II // Jul 25, 2007 at 12:06 am
[...] of the history (go figure) was informative and succinct; big props to the producers for recognizing Nai Khanomtom and his achievements. I think this might have been the first time his name has ever been mentioned [...]
You must log in to post a comment.