Wai Kru

Wai Kru is a dance preceding each Thai boxing match and represents respect. Wai = a honourable greeting, Kru = teacher. After entering the ring at the side of the corresponding sport school, the fighter, before the start of the match, honours Buddha and other spirits in a prayer. He asks for power and protection during the match, while burning incense sticks in his hands. Afterwards he puts the sticks at the altar.

Music fulfils an important function during Thai matches. Emotional rhythms and volume are tuned to the fighters' moves. When the Wai Kru match takes off, live music starts and doesn't stop until the match is over.

Mongkon en Kruan rang

Before the fighter gets in the ring his teacher first puts on a Mongkon (a head belt). The Mongkon is the teacher's property, regarded holy and is never touched by the fighter. It's not allowed to drop the Mongkon or bring it anywhere near the ground, because that would result in the loss of it's magic. To make sure the fighter's head doesn't come close to the ground, which is prohibited, some men step over the cords of the ring when he enters The Thai believe the head is holy because of it's far distance from the ground (contrary to the feet which are on the ground). Strangely enough this rule doesn't apply during the game.

Second the fighter is put in the Kruan Rang, a lace belt around the biceps with protecting specimen, which functions as a talisman. Than the fighter greets the ring with a Wai-gesture, starts dancing in his own corner and makes a wish. Finally he passes all corners, along the direction of the ring cord, and carries out some special rituals of his own gym, moving towards the centre of the ring. Here he kneels on the ground three times, honouring his ancestors and teacher in a prayer. Again the teacher is thanked for the learned moves. The protection of the spirits is asked, and they are also thanked for their help. The Wai Kru dance, meant to warm up, comes to and end now. The fighter moves back to his corner of the ring where the teacher undoes his Mongkon: he is ready to fight.

Pong Malai

Sometimes fighters put on a garland or Pong Malai which is a gift from friends and/or fans.