Watching Muay Thai: Pay Dearly To See Bloodshed
Muay Thai: Where Violence Meets Culture (and Tourists Meet Confusion) So, you want to watch Muay Thai in Thailand? Excellent choice! Nothing says "cultural immersion" like watching two humans savagely attempt to hit and kick each other into unconsciousness while you sip overpriced beer and pretend to understand the scoring system. Muay Thai (literally "Thai boxing") is Thailand's national sport, an ancient martial art known as " the art of eight limbs " because fighters use fists, elbows, knees, and shins. It's basically a full-contact game of human chess, if chess pieces could knee each other in the liver. Where to Watch: A Hierarchy of Authenticity and Comfort Your Muay Thai viewing experience will vary dramatically depending on where you watch. Here's the breakdown: Lumpinee Stadium (Bangkok) The holy grail of Muay Thai. Recently relocated to a shiny new facility that purists complain lacks the "authentic smell of liniment and desperati...