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WAI KRU RAM MUAYEvery culture has its form of greeting, a way to introduce oneself or to pay formal respects to an elder. In most cases in the western world, the greeting is a handshake, although Russia, of course, drops its 'Iron Hand' when it comes to greetings, when people kiss and hug each other warmly. This is probably due to the climate, a friendly embrace being necessary to keep each other warm during the introductions. The Eskimos rub noses, as that is the only part of the anatomy that is not covered by layers of polar Bear Hide, while the Maori of New Zealand charge at their guest with spears while pulling faces - a show to frighten off those whose intentions are not genuine. However the act is so amusing that most people fall about laughing at the spectacle, thereby breaking the ice and making the introduction much more enjoyable……and so it goes around the world. In Thailand, the ceremony is far more complex because the traditional form of greeting is both formal and polite with the precise degree of respect conveyed in the expression. 
Known as the "Wai", the greeting is actually both warm and charming, especially when accentuated with that magical smile that is so famous in this mystical land. Like the Indian namaste, the wai is essentially the pressing together of palms, accompanied by a nod of the head, a slight bow, and the Thai hello: sawatdee. But to wai or not to wai, that is only one question of many. In general, the palms may be held so that the tips of the thumbs touch four different places: chest, chin, nose, and forehead. Each position indicates the social position of the "waier" relative to the "waiee". Chest-wais are given to students, children, and compeers; chin-wais to adults; nose-wais to teachers and parents; and forehead-wais to images of the Buddha. The forehead-wai is also used to greet monks and the King of Thailand. If two strangers meet, but cannot gauge each other's age or relative social position, the chin-wai is the safest. Teachers and parents commonly do not reciprocate wais. This is not to be taken as a slight to your carefully rehearsed wai. In Thailand, these two groups are respected almost unconditionally, and may acknowledge a wai with merely a nod. Thais are sometimes baffled by how to wai recognizable non-Thais, most of whom are farangs (Falangs), people of European ancestry. Farangs usually shake hands. Thus arises the ridiculous situation in which a Thai tries to shake the hand of a farang, whose hands have already been brought dutifully together in a wai, or vice versa. To avoid this, many Thais and farangs merely nod to each other, smile, and bow slightly. The forehead-wai is offered to images of the Buddha every time an image is within sight. Devout taxi-drivers speeding down a highway may nonetheless quickly take their hands off the wheel to wai images. I know of no traffic fatalities resulting from this devotion; suffice it to say that it's a good thing Thais believe in reincarnation. Like many hand greetings, the wai originated as a way of showing respect, and as a way of showing that nobody has a weapon. Unfortunately, somebody commonly has something else. Properly, they should drop whatever they have; but increasingly the wai is performed with the object held awkwardly between the palms. It could be a book, a whisky bottle, and an unwitting baby's head. More and more it is a cell phone. Another problem posed by the wai, like the handshake, is a combinatorial one. The number of handshakes taking place between people is about half of the square of the number of people. 5 people mean 10 handshakes, but 10 people mean 45 and 20 people means 190. Wais likewise. If the waiees are important people, each should be waied. If time is short, Thais wai a few times to various parts of a crowd, and contract multiple sawatdees to wuddee, wuddee, wuddee. The question when to wai is fairly simple to answer; the younger generally wai elders first. If you are entering or leaving a residence, you should already be bringing your hands up. If you happen to be a farang courting a Thai, you must remember to wai every older member of the family - especially your beloved's father and mother -- before they wai you. Thai households being what they are, it is not always clear who is family and who is not. Err on the side of caution: "politeness" is counted among the highest of Thai virtues. Regrettably, waiing between equals and friends is being phased out; but when in doubt, a wai won't hurt. It can only hurt if it is offered insincerely, or worse, mockingly. There are not a few travellers in Thailand who should be deported for their desecration of the wai. Among other displays of cretinism, I have seen tourists bow like Japanese, namaste like Indians, and utter some nonsensical word, all at once. In a country less tolerant than Thailand, such contempt for etiquette might get you punched. Here it is largely ignored. Noted? Yes. Mentioned? But not to you. Avenged? -- why bother? But sometimes even well-meaning questions regarding the wai's rules can unsettle a Thai to a surprising degree. Out of curiosity, I once waied my students in exactly the same fashion they are expected to wai me. "Can I do this?" I asked, naively. Had I been naked or aflame, they might not have been more dismayed. "Please stop that now," they stammered, looking around the room as if for an escape hatch. They heaved a collective sigh of relief when I did stop, and I've never done it again. The Thais believe that to be waied in such a way shortens one's life. Having undergone such training and mastered the intricacies and subtle social meanings of the wai, travelers will often wai liberally. Returning to the land of handshakes and bear-hugs, they may find these rather forward, intrusive, and even needlessly sweaty. As they decline thrusted arms with a courteous nod, they may be seen as aloof, even rude, but they have learned a greeting more modest and complex, and -- if done right -- more graceful and beautiful. The wai is taken very seriously, among the Thai that is, and from this brief description you will realize the awkwardness that will be suffered by a Thai who incorrectly wais. However as a visitor you will not offend any Thai when making a wai when meeting a Thai. The Thai are very pleased when visitors make the effort to participate in their traditions, be it performing a wai greeting, or quietly observing a ceremony in a temple. It is perfectly acceptable for foreigners to shake hands when greeting the Thai as well. A nod of the head in a slight bow is also an acceptable response to a wai from, say a waiter or the doorman at the hotel. Of course, if you are Russian, then you may try a couple of kisses on the cheek and you will probably get away with it, but go easy on the hug. The Thai are generally smaller than the average Westerner. Likewise, the Eskimos among you could risk a quick rub of noses but again, the Thai nose is generally smaller and you could get so close before touching that it would become a kiss. And of course it is possible that a Maori warrior could not get a visa because he would truly frighten the Thai consul as the Thai are extremely wary of things that resemble 'pii' (ghosts and demons). Oh yes, I nearly forgot ... The Wai means "Hello" but it also means "Goodbye
Music is an integral part of Muay Thai and because of it; this art of self defence has become an extension of one of Thailand's dramatic arts. The Wai Kru and Ram Muay are traditionally accompanied by a three piece, though in the south of Thailand sometimes four pieces, band, the band consists of a Klong-klak drum, pee java flute, and the ching cymbals. According to legendary chronicles and historical records of Thailand, Muay Thai competitions were customarily organized on celebratory and festive occasions. It was also used as a means of selecting men with great fighting skills to serve in important positions in the military. The most important question today is how are we to preserve this beautiful and gracious art from disappearing or from losing its authenticity? There are many ways to answer this question, but first of all we must fully understand the importance of the WAI KRU ceremony. To train for Muay Thai a fighter must have a mentor. Perhaps a fighter will be directly taught by other fighters, but all in all, every fighter is considered to have a mentor, and it is customary that all fighters must respect their mentors. One of the most important virtues of the Thai people is the showing of true respect and sincere humbleness towards teachers, masters, mentors and instructors. They are considered to be second from their true parents. Instructors are full of knowledge, love and kindness, ready and willing to transfer their skill and knowledge to the students, so that the students in turn will be of value to society and to the country as a whole in the future. All instructors should be respected and revered by their students. As the future inheritors of all the knowledge and skill, it is the duty of the students to swear allegiance to endure the hardship and to persevere to achieve the final aims. Those students who respect or revere their mentors will benefit from the following results:
Life of prosperity, those students who truly respect their mentors, are consistent in behaviour and humble will always be looked after and taught, giving the student less chance of doing wrong as the students will always think before actually doing anything.
In every stage of the training of Muay Thai, the Wai Kru is a vital part of the training, which can be explained in the following sequence: Submission as a student, Keun Kru or Yok Kru - Keun Kru or Yok Kru is when the instructor accepts the student and the student accepts the instructor to be the one to train him. In the past, the student must serve the instructor for a period of time before actual training begins. During this period the instructor will study the student to ensure that the student is trustworthy, honest and able. Once the instructor is satisfied with the student's performance permission is given by the instructor to conduct the Keun Kru ceremony, in some areas it is called the Yok Kru ceremony. This ceremony is where both the instructor and the student accept one another and the student must abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the instructor. The Keun Kru ceremony is conducted on Thursday because in ancient times, Thursdays are considered to be an auspicious day for such occasions. The student must bring along some personal items for the ceremony. As for money, it depends on each individual instructor. The ceremony is conducted in front of a Buddha image and the student will pledge his loyalty to the instructor. Kronb Kru -Kronb Kru is a ceremony conducted for the student on the completion of his training. The student has now the ability to transfer his knowledge and skill to others and at the same time is able to adapt and apply his skill to suit the situation; the student is ready to compete in any competition with pride. In this ceremony the student is given the Monsol according to the tradition of that training camp. Again, this ceremony is conducted on a Thursday before noon at the home of the instructor or at the temple. Yearly Wai Kru - "Yearly Wai Kru" is a tradition that Thailand has carried forth since ancient time. We Wai Kru to respect our mentors because if it was not for them we would not have the knowledge and principles that we abide by. It is these two virtues that enable us to carry on fulfilling our tasks. In this ceremony we again pledge our respect and memories to our teachers past and present. Even though some of us have long finished our education or training we still give our teachers the greatest of respect. The day chosen for the Wai Kru is Thursday as it is believed to be "the day of the teachers". 
The art of Muay Thai from past to present has a tradition that every fighter must perform the Wai Kru before every competition. Wai Kru is performed as a means of paying respect to the chairperson of the competition or in the past as a way to pay homage to the King who would normally be a spectator on almost every occasion. It also symbolizes the gratefulness of the fighter towards his mentor who had trained him and as a means of concentrating himself mentally for the competition. If we further study the roots of the Thai culture we will discover that the Wai Kru is not just a way of paying respect to only our mentor but what this ritual is actually doing is paying homage to mentors before and long before him since the dawn of humanity. Hence, the Wai Kru is a way of worshipping past instructors and the way up to the holy spirits in heaven. The role of the art of the Wai Kru ritual: To merit and worship God. If we consider the roots of all different types of art, it can be seen that religion plays a vital and influential role in its direction. Therefore, all different form of art attempts to bring man closer to God (If you do not believe in God then it is quite difficult for you to understand art, especially the art of Muay Thai and the Wai Kru ritual). Hence, the Wai Kru and its music are to worship all the gods, especially the god Pra Isuan, the creator and the ruler of the universe. It is then appropriate for MUAY THAI Boxers to invite and accept the holy spirits into their bodies and minds.
For an example, below is one verse of the Hua Jai Hanuman Kah-lah to practice: HA NU MA NA ND MA NA HA MA NA HA ND NA HA ND MA 
It is used for meditation training as you must memorize the verse correctly and repeat the verse over and over again as quickly as possible which requires much concentration. It is a method of measuring your faith and will power. Simultaneously, during the chanting of the verses in your mind you must think of the Hanuman god, his bravery, his strength and his power until you can see him in your mind. In return you will feel and have the power and strength of the Hanuman god. From this inspiration of thoughts we can compare it to the Buddhist teaching as follows:
Ancient Thai warriors had always held fast to these principles, which in turn brought them renowned for their bravery throughout the peninsula. It is an example that we the younger generation should follow and help preserve this Thai legacy. Today, the "Wai Kru ritual" is known as the "Wai Kru" for short. In Muay Thai competition, the art of the Wai Kru ritual is of a basic one. It is conducted to pay respect to the instructors, the opponent and the spectators. In reality the effectiveness of the ceremony is to demonstrate the gentleness and graciousness in the controlling of the body and the mind. 
In Buddhism, the true quality of being gentle and gracious hides the true power of authority. And if we can use this power together with the strength of our body and the wisdom of our mind, then this is the origin of all the magical power. Boxers should "Wai Kru" in the way it has been done by our ancestors in the past. It is a way to help preserve the art of MUAY THAI from disappearing or from losing its authenticity. 
The first thing a boxer learns in MUAY THAI is the Wai Kru. The Wai Kru is not designed to insult or show off to the opponent. It is a ritual in memory and in respect of the mentor who have given the boxer his knowledge and skill. Other than that, the Wai Kru makes the boxer concentrate on his MUAY THAI skill while practicing his balance. The Ram Muay is an elaborate dance, which was originally used to express stories from ancient Vedic text and identify the camp to which the fighter belonged. As times have changed there are now fewer and fewer Ram Muay which identify the actual camps to which a fighter belongs, now it is more likely that the Ram Muay is used to advertise the skills and abilities, both real and imagined, that the fighter possesses. A well done Ram Muay will often result in money being thrown into the ring as a sign of admiration by the gathered fans. 
At Chao Phraya Muay Thai our Ram Muay is "the Fisherman" which has been handed down from Arjarn Phykadamn to Kru Yai Byron Gibson through to me. It is a beautiful and traditional Ram Muay whose history is from the fishing town of Krabbi. The Ram Muay is performed towards the opponent's corner and depicts a fisherman casting his net into the ocean to catch fish. It is performed three times and on the final execution the fish is caught. The Nak Muay then returns to their respective corner and symbolically presents their Kru with the fish.
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