Thai Boxing – A must-see sport!
Bustling and vibrant to the core, there are few cities in Asia that can rival Bangkok in terms of its sheer vitality and cultural flavor. The quintessential city in its entire breathtaking splendor, Bangkok is a holiday destination for the masses. Renowned for its fun-loving population and its all consuming shopping culture, this Asian Vegas of sorts has a lot to offer discerning travellers from across the world.
Urban at heart, Bangkok is home to a myriad of attractions that encompass the city's inherent diversity and spirit. A trip to the Grand Palace in Bangkok is a must for those with a flair for history as it is also home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo). Built in the 14th century this stunning Emerald wonder is undoubtedly the country's most prominent temple. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha houses one of Bangkok's largest and most ancient Reclining Buddha statues at a length of 150 feet. Nature lovers can revel in the breathtaking beauty of the Golden Mount also known as Wat Saket and the Chao Phraya River which cuts across Bangkok with its meandering waterways.
Shopaholics dream come true, Bangkok offers some of the best bargains in all of Asia. With sky high malls and quaint local markets visitors will be sure to find tasteful souvenirs and goods from all over Asia in the city's numerous shopping venues such as Siam Paragon.
For those who are looking for an authentic Thai experience, there is no better experience than Muay Thai or Thai Boxing. A form of martial art that is indigenous to Southeast Asia, the sport is a cultural obsession as it's the national sport. With a rich legacy that dates back centuries Muay Thai combines the fighting techniques that encompass knees, hands, elbows and shins to create what is known as the The Art of Eight Limbs.
Formerly known as the 'martial art form of the kings' the sports has a deep history as a royal affair due to what took place in 1914, when the sons of King Sen Muajng Ma battled it out to the death for the royal throne.
Much like other martial art forms, the Muay Thai boxer must also possess a limber and agile body to be sufficiently competent in the energy consuming sport. In the period of its inception, Muay Thai fighters wore ropes on their fists to strengthen the impact of the blows although now boxers use gloves that are similar to traditional boxing gloves. The training practices of athletes nowadays also involve a vigorous routine that is designed to condition the body for the combat movements used in Thai Boxing. The typical Thai boxer goes through weight training exercises and abdominal work-outs followed by resistance building activities such as running, rope jumping and shadow boxing.
Challenging as western boxing but poetic in its artistic movements Thai boxing has been used in Hollywood movies, television shows and video games such as Street Fighter, True Crime: NYC and Dead or Alive. Visitors have the opportunity to join Thais in their national past time at Lumpini Stadium where live fights take place on a weekly basis. Visitors can expect an adrenaline rush like no other as fans cheer on their favourites in the packed stadium that has witnessed some of the sports' best combats. It's a Thai community experience akin to watching football in England or a game of cricket in India. It's an activity that is intrinsically woven in to Thai culture, so much so that in its heyday, Muay Thai displays were part of local festivities and red letter calendar days.
Just 30 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok is ideally located within easy reach of the city's main attractions. Charming and luxurious this contemporary Bangkok hotel.
