- 2 days ago
The former kingdom of Siam has fully embraced modernity, yet traditional boxing endures, blending seamlessly into the underground fight gyms of Bangkok. Ring matches, nighttime bouts—Thai boxing is a part of daily life for its people.
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00:00Thank you for joining us.
01:10Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.
01:13It has a reputation as a hotbed of unbridled excess.
01:17It has an insatiable thirst for power, concrete, shopping centres and traffic.
01:22It's precisely these contrasting surroundings which make this capital city so alluring.
01:33Take the SkyTrain as it glides from a modern district through elegant commercial centres into the ambience of a typical Siamese village.
01:41Or travel from the luxurious surroundings of a four-star hotel to the more spiritual environs of the city's famous temples and shrines.
01:51Wow.
01:51Let's go.
02:00Let's go.
02:01Let's go.
02:32As in most sports, fitness is important.
02:48And Muay Tei training accords the same importance to this as do most other combat sports.
02:54So it's no surprise to see skipping ropes in use.
03:02Muay Thai is an integral part of Thai culture.
03:17More commonly known as Thai kickboxing, Muay Thai, or to give it its full name, Silapa Muay Thai, was created for the military in the 16th century.
03:26The concept of a club doesn't exist in Thailand.
03:32People prefer to talk of camps or even clans where all the boxers gather.
03:36It's a genuine sporting community made up of several boxers who live and train together.
03:47Muay Thai apprenticeship begins with bandaging the hands.
04:04Whether it be for training or competitive bouts, each competent must be familiar with the technique, which is not to be taken lightly.
04:11In fact, bandages protect the joints, wrists, and thumbs better than any gloves.
04:21But it must be admitted that they're awkward to put on and remove, as the elasticated bandaging is three meters long and held in place with adhesive tape.
04:29The gloves come in different sizes ranging from 6 to 16 ounces.
04:59Many parents send their children to one of these camps at a very young age, in the hope that they will one day become great champions.
05:29Muay Thai is a very spectacular martial art, combining a variety of fist and foot techniques.
05:42Muay Thai is a very spectacular martial art, combining a variety of fist and foot techniques.
06:12Swing kicks are usually struck with the shin. These are the most commonly used and could be considered as the kickboxer's basic move.
06:42Swing kicks.
06:52Swing kicks.
06:59Swing kicks.
07:05Swing kicks.
07:11Swing kicks.
07:20Swing kicks.
07:22Swing kicks.
07:32Swing kicks.
07:37At the end of training, all the fighters gather to drink from buckets of water put out for
08:05them to quench their thirst.
08:35Bangkok Market is a feast for the senses, where fruit, spices, meat, fish and even flowers
08:43are all side by side, groups in sections by product family.
09:13Whether you're standing by a spice stall or a flower stall, the experience is quite bewildering.
09:25As well as shopping, Bangkok Market offers a vast variety of things to eat.
09:50While this is far away from any four-star restaurant, the atmosphere is convivial and homely, and
09:57the food is excellent.
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13:30small piece of wood falls out.
13:37On this there's a number which corresponds to a piece of paper on which are written auguries
13:41for the month or even the year ahead.
13:49At least once in their life and for a variable period, every Thai has to live as a monk and
13:54wear a saffron robe.
13:59Some do voluntary work, building or renovating temples, but all of them bring offerings to
14:04statues of the Buddha and provide for the everyday needs of the monks.
14:29Bangkok has a population of around 12 million people, making it one of the world's biggest
14:34cities.
14:38Thais have managed to maintain their cultural heritage while still stepping into the modern
14:43world.
14:44Also in the world of Islamic싶ちょっと amends in the world.
14:45They're a long way to be in the world, and they're different.
14:46They're two things like this.
14:47They're very good.
14:49They're very good.
14:51They're very good.
14:53They're not very good.
14:54They're very good.
14:55And they're great.
14:56Go see what happens.
14:57All over Thailand, and especially in Bangkok, you can see this diversity integrating perfectly
15:23into society.
16:23Muay Thai is also a part of everyday life. Bouts take place almost every evening at Bangkok's two legendary arenas, Lumpine and Ratchadamnoen.
16:39Inaugurated in 1945, Ratchadamnoen is Thailand's biggest and oldest boxing stadium.
17:00Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, locals and tourists alike can watch a fight in this legendary stadium.
17:08The boxers demonstrate all the skills developed by Thai martial arts exponents over more than two centuries.
17:21A veritable industry, Muay Thai is the bread and butter of over 200,000 people, boxers, trainers and tradesmen among them.
17:33Boxers must fight in shorts, with bare chests and feet, but they are allowed to wear ankle supports.
17:46They fight in categories decided by weight and ranking. Points are awarded according to criteria including technique, precision, power, defensive skills, fighting spirit and attacking ability.
18:04They do all this using only eight weapons, two fists, two feet, two knees and two elbows.
18:11The boxers can hold on to each other while striking with the elbows and knees, but the bout ends when one of the combatants is brought to the ground.
18:22Punches and kicks can be aimed at any part of the body.
18:50Match officials oversee five three-minute rounds with a two-minute rest period between each one.
18:59Each fighter can have two assistants, a coach and a medical assistant.
19:05Fights are intense and straightforward, offering entertainment in the ring as well as in the crowd.
19:21CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
19:24CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
19:26CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
19:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
19:35CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
20:06The changing facilities are rudimentary, but this doesn't prevent the fighters from getting
20:18fully prepared before each fight.
20:24First they are massaged with a camphor-based oil called mamwe, and then a protective talisman
20:30known as a brajate is tied to their arm.
20:34The boxers then wait patiently for their turn in the ring.
20:51Between bouts, the judges and referees get together to comment on their decisions and
20:55give their advice.
21:00It's vital for the boxers to arrive for their bout wearing the correct apparel before they're
21:04allowed to climb into the ring.
21:07The sacred headband, the mongkong, is worn as a mark of respect for their trainer and allows
21:14them to optimize their mental awareness.
21:19The sacred headband, the mongkong, is worn as a mark of respect for their trainer and allows
21:37them to optimize their mental awareness.
21:44thewits.
21:49The sacred headband, the mushrooms and the human being were important.
21:53The sacred headband.
21:56The sacred headband and the sacred headband.
22:00The sacred headband and the sacred headband.
23:35While the sacred headband is permitted during the pre-match rituals,
23:57it has to be removed before the start of each bout.
24:07Throughout the fight, the fighters must show mutual respect
24:10and cannot show any outward signs of pain in front of the audience,
24:14which is made up of passionate Muay Thai fans,
24:17and many of whom are former boxers themselves.
24:36Thais love games of chance, and especially betting,
24:39which is part and parcel of everyday life here.
24:43Gambling is a way for aficionados and ex-boxers to make some easy money.
24:48They scrutinize both the fight and the fighters.
24:52A boxer's rating varies according to the number of fights he has won or lost.
24:56Nowadays, there would be no regular Muay Thai fights in Thailand
25:02were it not for these gamblers.
25:15Muay Thai is a fully developed martial art which requires great vigilance,
25:19as blows can come from any direction.
25:29As popular as it has ever been,
25:31there are over 100,000 Muay Thai practitioners,
25:34and every week, hundreds of fights take place all over the country.
25:38Thailand's passion for Muay Thai is comparable
26:07to France's passion for football.
26:27The atmosphere outside the arenas is virtually no different
26:31from that outside a football stadium.
26:37People often meet up after fights to eat and have a drink
26:40in one of the many stalls around the arenas.
26:42People often meet up after fights to eat and have a drink
26:44in one of the many stalls around the arenas.
27:07They puedan die when eating and have a drink or more.
27:14In New York, feels like food and Den Sarajean.
27:15This is another garage in theрен предnad
29:02One of the best places to do so without having to spend any money is Lumpini Park.
29:13Lumpini is a 57.6 hectare public park in the heart of Bangkok's main business district.
29:18It has playing fields, an artificial lake where visitors can hire a boat, and two and a half kilometers of paths ideal for running on.
29:31It's quite common to find free fitness courses going on in the middle of the park.
29:55But it's another sport that catches the eye here.
30:08Sepak takro, from the Indonesian-Malayan word sepak, meaning kick, and from the Thai word takro, meaning ball, is a team sport not unlike volleyball.
30:23It's almost exclusively played in Southeast Asian countries and is very popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos.
30:31In Thailand, it's considered a national sport alongside kickboxing.
30:37It's traditionally played with a woven rattan ball, although these days it's usually made of plastic.
30:46It's ultra-bombini.
31:49Bangkok is a modern city, its infrastructure and vibrancy making it more reminiscent of New York than an Asian city.
32:00At the weekends, young Thais enjoy getting together in the city's trendy hotspots.
32:53We're right back.
33:23We're right back.
33:53Every day, chefs come to the camp to prepare meals for the boxers.
33:57The kitchen is right next to the ring, showing the importance the promoters give to the weight and fitness of the boxers.
34:05In accordance with the teachings of Buddha, the fighters lead an ascetic lifestyle, just like the monks do.
34:21Every morning, they go to collect their food from local inhabitants and tradesmen.
34:30Under the watchful eye of their coach, they don't eat anything before the end of morning training.
34:35A boxer's weight is vitally important, as this is one of the categories which influences the organization of a fight.
34:44The camp is a home from home, where solidarity between boxer and coach reigns supreme.
34:52The camp is a home from home to home, who is very special and athleticism.
34:56The camp is wide for the time and to be very special.
34:58The camp is the first to be a matchup.
35:00You also have to come to the club.
35:01You also have to come to the club.
35:02You also have to come to the club.
35:04The camp is the state ofagem.
35:05You also have to come to the club.
36:14Muay Thai training is punishing.
36:16The fighters have to condition their bodies to withstand the rigors of battle.
36:37Let's go.
36:38Let's go.
36:39Let's go.
36:40Let's go.
36:46Muscle building is an integral part of the training regime, which includes a combination of presses, weightlifting, crunches and many other exercises.
37:12But sports coaches often have other tricks up their sleeve, like this weighted head guard, which helps to work the neck and jaw muscles.
37:34These methods may seem barbaric, but the results are plain to see.
38:09It's a well-known fact that the Thais love their food, and Thai cuisine is one of the spiciest in the world.
38:19Thai chilies are the second strongest and hottest in the world, after the Mexican habanero.
38:24Thailand's consumption of chilies is the highest in Asia, and probably one of the highest in the world.
38:34It is therefore no surprise to find them in the boxing camp kitchens.
38:46Life in the camp follows a well-established hierarchy.
39:09The younger boxers must respect and obey their elders.
39:14They are also responsible for the upkeep and high standards of the camp.
39:19After several hours of intense training, the boxers take their first break.
39:24It's a time to relax, socialize, and have a meal.
40:27As owner of the camp, the promoter keeps a close eye on its maintenance.
40:57Under his watchful gaze, the boxers train tirelessly with the self-discipline of people
41:08who are all too aware of how lucky they are to be here.
44:59Muay Thai is a way for boxers to provide for their families.
45:03The country is dotted with many small camps which attract young boys from the age of seven.
45:11Young fighters have the same dedication and follow the same rules as the adults.
45:41Muay Thai is a martial art that allows the use of both hands and feet.
45:55But what makes Muay Thai different from other similar martial arts is the use of hand-to-hand fighting techniques.
46:17Parents come to watch every fight their child takes part in.
46:19Because each fight is an opportunity to watch their child take another step to becoming a champion.
46:33And each fight doesn't carry the same stigma as it does in the West.
46:35It's accepted by the Muay Thai boxers as simply part of the game.
46:41My good luck is a game for all of us.
46:47We've been running for several years.
46:49You've been running for six months now.
46:53And all over 80 generations chapters of the World of Spain.
46:57Oh wait!
46:59Violin's快 régmacked, man.
47:01No, no no!
47:02I saw my angels at home and this day because Jesus met his baby when our friends were turned out into the world.
47:04See those?"
47:06Yes.
47:07Its very nice to meet the world.
47:08We've been singing aujourd in the East.
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