Krabi–krabong
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![]() Krabi-krabong practitioners with Daab swords | |
Focus | Weaponry |
---|---|
Country of origin | ![]() |
Olympic sport | No |
Meaning | Sword-staff |
Krabi-Krabong (
Weapons
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Kru_Tony_Moore%2C_Sitsiam_Camp.jpg/250px-Kru_Tony_Moore%2C_Sitsiam_Camp.jpg)
The system's name refers to its main weapons, namely the Thai sword (krabi) and staff (krabong). Typically, two swords (daab song mue) are wielded as a pair. Unarmed krabi-krabong (muay boran) makes use of kicks, pressure point strikes, joint locks, holds, and throws.[2][3]
The weapons of krabi-krabong include the following:
- Krabi (Thai: กระบี่): sabre/curved sword
- Daab (Thai: ดาบ): single-edge sword
- Krabong (Thai: กระบอง): stick/ cudgel, usually either paired or used with a shield. Not very popular in present-day so often gets confused with long pole
- Daab song mue (Thai: ดาบสองมือ): Thai double swords, one in each hand
- Kean/Lo (Thai: เขน/โล่): buckler/shield made from wood or buffalo hide
- Phlong (Thai: พลอง): staff/pole, often mislabeled as Krabong
- Ngao (Thai: ง้าว): bladed staff
- Mai sok san (Thai: ไม้ศอกสั้น): a pair of clubs worn on the forearms
Origins
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Krabi_Krabong_practitioners_in_Thailand.jpg/250px-Krabi_Krabong_practitioners_in_Thailand.jpg)
Krabi–krabong was developed by the ancient Thai warriors for fighting on the battlefield.
Archaeological findings and classical dances bear testament to the myriad of weapons that were once used in Thailand. [citation needed] Some of them are no longer found in the country's martial arts today, such as the kris (dagger), hawk (spear), trishula (either long or tekpi "short-handled trident"), daab (straight sword) and vajra. [citation needed] Entire dances were built on individual weapons, [citation needed] and calisthenics used by the modern Thai military are still based on these dances.[contradictory]
The weapons, their design and the pre-fight war dance in krabi-krabong show evidence of
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Krabi_Krabong_old.jpg/250px-Krabi_Krabong_old.jpg)
Asian elephants were an integral part of warfare in Thailand. They would commonly be mounted by higher-ranking warriors like generals or royalty. To choose a successor to Intaraja I, his two sons fought on elephants. Krabi–krabong was often practiced by the palace mahouts or elephant trainers. From the back of an elephant, archers could shoot arrows at enemies below or, if he was wielding a polearm, engage in hand-to-hand combat with another mounted fighter. After the 15th-century introduction of gunpowder, elephants served as tanks with cannons mounted on their backs. The legs were the war-elephant's weak spot, so they had to be guarded by up to four foot soldiers. Although mahouts no longer practice martial arts, reenactments of such battles are staged by performers who are often from families that have been training elephants since the Ayutthaya Kingdom.[citation needed]
As
In Thailand, as with other countries in Southern and Southeast Asia, monks acted as teachers to their local community. Young boys would be sent to the temples where, aside from learning about Theravada Buddhism, they would be taught subjects ranging from languages to astrology. One such establishment was the Buddhaisawan Temple in Ayutthaya where the monks taught sword-fighting to their students. The origin of these monks is unknown but they are believed to have come from the kingdom of Lan Na in Northern Thailand. The modern Buddhaisawan Sword Fighting Institute was led by Sumai Mesamana until his death in 1998. His son Pramote Mesamana began training in krabi-krabong at the age of 6. According to the younger Mesamana, the art was passed down in his family from father to son ever since the Ayutthaya Kingdom.[citation needed]
Historical practitioners
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Naresuan_life_-_Wat_Suwan_Dararam_-_Section_01_%282108_BE%29.jpg/250px-Naresuan_life_-_Wat_Suwan_Dararam_-_Section_01_%282108_BE%29.jpg)
Naresuan the Great
During the 16th century, the First Toungoo Empire ruled over parts of Thailand. Naresuan was born to King Maha Thammaracha but until the age of 16 he was a hostage of the Bamars. Upon his return to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, he renounced allegiance to Bamars on behalf of his father the king. Having studied at Wat Buddhaisawan, Naresuan was well-versed in fighting with the single-edge sword (daab)[citation needed]. The Bamars attacked the capital numerous times in succession but were always repelled by Naresuan's forces. In a final attempt to retake their Thai states, the Bamars sent an army of 25,000 warriors led by Mingyi Swa, the crown prince of Burma atop a war-elephant.
Knowing he was outnumbered, Naresuan charged his own elephant through the Burmese soldiers and fought directly with the prince. Using a halberd (
King Taksin
The Ayutthaya Kingdom became progressively weaker during the eighteenth century. The Thais and Burmese had been almost constantly fighting each other along the border territories since the time of King Naresuan the Great. In 1758 the Bamars began a siege which lasted nine years. Buildings, palaces and temples were laid to ruins while documents, archives and records were all destroyed. Royal treasures were stolen and all but 10,000 of the city's one million inhabitants were sold into slavery.
Taksin learned krabi-krabong while studying in Wat Buddhaisawan as a boy[
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Thai_Village_2014_%2814692182241%29.jpg/250px-Thai_Village_2014_%2814692182241%29.jpg)
Among all the warriors under Taksin's command, the greatest fighter was
Taksin ruled from 1767–1782, but near the end of his reign he became increasingly dictatorial. He was said to have frequently flogged Buddhists monks and executed some of his concubines on false charges. A revolt broke out in the capital of the Thonburi Kingdom and it was agreed by both the army and the nobility that Chakri should take Taksin's place as king. The current royal family of Thailand is descended from King Chakri, also called Rama I. Taksin himself was put to death but not in a conventional beheading. Instead, Taksin was wrapped in a velvet bag and beaten to death by his ministers with clubs. This method of execution was instituted to avoid spilling royal blood, and Taksin is the only known Thai king to have been killed in such a way.[contradictory][relevant?]
See also
- Angampora
- Banshay
- Bataireacht
- Bōjutsu
- Gatka
- Jūkendō
- Kalaripayattu
- Kendo
- Kenjutsu
- Kuttu Varisai
- Mardani khel
- Silambam
- Tahtib
- Thang-ta
- Varma kalai
- Muay Thai
- Lethwei
- Kbach kun boran
- Silat
References
- ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (May 1, 1971). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (April 1, 1994). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (February 1, 1996). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (January 1, 2002). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (May 1, 2003). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ La Loubère, Simon (1693). The Kingdom of Siam (1986 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 49.
- ^ Crego, Robert (2003). Sports and Games of the 18th and 19th Centuries pg 32. Greenwood Press
Further reading
- Donn F. Draeger and Robert W. Smith (1981). Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts. Kodansha International.
- Tony Moore (2004). Muay Thai: The Essential Guide. New Holland Publishing.
- Wei, Lindsey (2020) Path of the Spiritual Warrior: Life and Teachings of Muay Thai Fighter Pedro Solana. ISBN 979-8651807901
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)