{"id":1124,"date":"2023-02-01T17:36:10","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T17:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muaythai.com\/?p=1124"},"modified":"2026-06-22T02:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T02:06:23","slug":"muay-lopburi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muaythai.com\/th\/muay-lopburi\/","title":{"rendered":"Muay Lopburi – Thailand’s Oldest Martial Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Muay Lopburi is Thailand’s oldest form of Muay Thai with over a thousand years of history. It is one of the four styles<\/a> of Muay Boran<\/a> and by far the most ancient. It even shares relations with monkeys and one of the avatars of Vishnu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muay Boran is the name given to the various forms of Muay Thai before the sport was given universal rules. The name translates to ‘Ancient Boxing.’ There were four primary styles of Muay Boran, one of which is Muay Lopburi. The other three are Muay Tha Sao<\/a>, Muay Korat<\/a>, and Muay Chaiya<\/a>. Additionally, Krabi Krabong<\/a> could also be included to be a form of Muay Boran but is an armed form of combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lopburi and Rama<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Muay Lopburi was founded in the Lopburi region of Thailand, hence the name. According to legend, an avatar of Vishnu, Rama, famously loosed an arrow into a mountainside, flattening it, and this was the founding of the city of Lopburi<\/a>. At the center of the city is a pillar shrine, named Lukson Shrine, which is said to be the arrow Rama initially sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rama, a Hindu God and an avatar of Vishnu, is named Phraram in Buddhist Thai texts. Tourism Thailand <\/em>explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The reason it is called Sorn Phraram is because Ramayana was assumed to be the myth of this city, after ending war with Thossakan Phraram returns to rule Ayutthaya and wishes to build a city there; where his arrow had landed Phraram commanded the mountains to vanish … after all duties were accomplished Phraram named the new city, Lopburi. For this reason, locals explain that the city shrine is Phrarams’ arrow which had turned to stone.”<\/em><\/p>\nTourism Thailand<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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\"Lopburi
Lopburi, Thailand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Due to this legacy, Nak Muays<\/a> (Fighters) from this region will include a bow and arrow form during the Wai Kru<\/a>, called ‘Phra Rama Plaeng Sorn’ which translates to ‘Rama shooting an arrow.’ The Wai Kru is the Buddhist dance and prayer which fighters perform before a match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most notably, kickboxing and Muay Thai superstar Buakaw<\/a> performs a bow and arrow loosing move as part of his Wai Kru. Buakaw was born just a few hours outside of Lopburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origins of Muay Lopburi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Legend has it that in the year 675 AD a hermit named Sukatanta developed a martial arts school by the name of Khao Samor Khon in the city of Lopburi. Sukatanta was a Ruesi<\/em> which means he was a monk who had reached enlightenment through meditation. Is it said that Ruesi<\/em>‘s had healing powers, were herbal experts, could see the future, and knew the secrets of hand-to-hand combat, among other powers. Mentions of Ruesi <\/em>are found in both Buddhist and Hindu texts and will sometimes be referred to as Rishi<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sukatanta would teach Muay Lopburi to the king of the Sukhothai Kingdom Ram Kamhaeng. King Khun Ngam Muang<\/a>, of the Phayao Kingdom, also studied at the Khao Samor Khon martial arts school as late as the 1200s. It would nearly become a tradition that kings for hundreds of years would learn Muay Lopburi including Ayutthaya Kings Narai and Sanphet VIII in the 16 and 1700s, plus King Rama V in the 1800s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city of Lopburi has an extremely high population of monkeys which live alongside the people. The monkeys are officially named Crab-eating macaques. The style of Muay Lopburi is thought to have drawn inspiration from the local monkeys due to its nonstop movement and tricks.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"monkeys
Monkeys in Lopburi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Muay Lopburi as a Martial Art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The basic philosophy of the Muay Lopburi style of combat is based on fast movements, straight punches, and tricks. Nak Muay athletes utilizing Muay Lopburi must always be moving their feet and striking quickly at their opponents when there are opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two minor styles taught under Muay Lopburi, these being Muay Kiao and Chalat Chok. Chalat Chok means ‘Intelligent Punching’ and Muay Kiao means a fighter must always be moving, whether on defense or offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muay Lopburi students will utilize a stance named ‘Phra Kan Poed Lok’ which translates to ‘The Dark Lord who Shatters the World.’ The stance has one foot in front of the fighter with the toes facing the opponent. The back foot is turned facing away from the fighter. Rolled in front of the Nak Muay with the finger knuckles pointing toward the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three slight adjustments to the stance that a fighter may use. A two-pit stance is the standard one discussed above. A three-pit stance, but the fighter will take one step back with their rear foot, this is a wider form. Plus the one-pit stance in which a fighter lifts their lead knee and leans forward slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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