Muay Boran

Although not nearly as widespread as Muay Thai due to it’s lethality and the fact that it does not have a sporting component, there are still some Muay Boran resources on the web.

There are not many publications or DVDs about Muay Boran but the ones that I have been able to find on the net are generally good. Two Muay Boran masters to note are Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk and Arjan Marco De Cesaris. Colonel Pooksrisuk has released his teachings on training DVDs while Cesaris has released his in book format. The two mediums compliment each other as Cesaris gives more history and theory in his books while Pooksrisuk’s DVDs are better at showing how techniques are executed.

Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk is a career military man and Muay Boran specialist who has spent the greater part of his life devoted to the preservation and propagation of Thai martial arts. Given the lethality of Muay Boran, the Thai army itself uses a form of Muay Boran for it’s hand to hand combat curriculum. Pooksrisuk has trained and documented most of the ancient and modern methods of Thai martial arts under the few grandmasters that have remained.

Pooksriuk markets his instructional DVDs under the name “Ancient Bare Knuckle Muay Thai”, referring to how Muay Boran was traditionally fought without gloves. In this DVD, he teaches the Muay Boran techniques and principles not found in Muay Thai such as “Crazy monkey” shelling techniques used by many Mixed Martial Art fighters, strikes against a takedown and ways to break a Thai neck clinch not taught in most Muay Thai schools.

Available at: Amazon.com

Volume 2 delves into more advanced techniques and conditioning exercises. He covers extensive footwork, line drills, using the triangle, opening and defensive strategies on the inside and outside lines as well as the art of opening, sinking, moving the mind to open the target as well as a deeper understanding of the Khorat style (Strength emphasis) tiger walk and the Chaiya style (Posture emphasis) lion walk and the ability to translate basic weapons tactics to empty hand strategy.

Many of these techniques were meant for battlefield applications so as with volume 1, Colonel Pooksrisuk advises caution with these techniques.

Available at: Amazon.com

Arjan Marco De Cesaris is a leading exponent in Muay Boran and Muay Thai outside of Thailand. This book provides a good primer to anyone wanting to find out about Muay Boran and contains information on the background and history of Muay Boran as well as drills, footwork, conditioning and techniques such as punches, elbows and kicks.

Available at: Amazon.com

The other training manual by Ajarn focuses on the advanced techniques of Muay Boran such as flying elbows and knees, trapping, advanced combinations and conditioning.

Available at: Amazon.com