Thai Boxing - Muay Thai

No visit to Thailand is complete without an evening out to a Muay Thai stadium.  I have been to two venues in Chiangmai, one at the Gawila Boxing Stadium which is over the River Ping, east of the city centre and the other at the Moon Muang Beer Bar, situated virtually opposite Thapae Gate, adjacent to the moat.  Any local samour or tuk tuk driver will take you to either in no time, at a cheap rate.

Out of the two venues, I prefer the Moon Muang Beer Bar as it is more central and easier to get to.  Whether you are a boxing fan or not it is worth catching this spectacle as the Thai people take their national sport, (Muay Thai) Thai Boxing, very seriously indeed.  As with most cities in Thailand, the locals of Chiang mai enjoy their boxing and visit the stadium in great numbers to support their fighters in their individual bouts.

The entrance cost is 400 baht (approximately 8 pounds) for the entire night’s entertainment which usually consists of 10 to 12 bouts of boxing.  You are quickly shown to your table which, for westerners such as myself, is always near to the boxing ring therefore giving you an excellent view of the fighters.  There are a number of bars inside the stadium dotted around, and in no time at all a member of staff will come over with a drinks menu for you to choose from.

There is nothing quite like experiencing the real thing when it comes to Muay Thai, the young Thai boxers fight for pride and prestige and always put on a good show for tourists and locals alike.  On the many occasions I have been, the boxers always seem to be well matched in height and weight with no distinct advantage, then again I am a farang woman, what do I know?

 Thai Boxing itself is a form of martial art with its origins coming from the ancient battle field tactics of Siamese (or Thai) armies.  Thai Boxing is now exported to many countries across the world and is practised by hundreds of thousands of people of a way of self-defence and keeping fit. This marshal art utilises the body as a natural weapon to create a devastating fighting style, whether in the ring or in real life self-defence.  It incorporates hand techniques.

If you are so inclined you can study Muay Thai in Chiang Mai at or Muay Thai - True Bee Gym in Pai too.

Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium
Every Wednesday 9pm
Entrance Baht 400
28 Loi Kroh Rd., Muang, Chiang Mai mobile (0)89-8526947