MUAY BORAN: ANCIENT HISTORY AND MODERN EVOLUTION

Muay Thai Boran is the mother art of modern Thai Boxing, the combat ring sport popular around the world. Commonly known as Muay Boran, it is in reality a thoroughly researched mix of characteristic elements derived from: regional style variations such as “Muay Chaiya”, “Muay Korat” and “Muay Lopburi”. All of them have common ground in combative principles and in shared logic, but apply differently each techniques according to their local origins. Moreover artistic and lethal Hanuman  (the “White Ape”) techniques are included in Muay Boran curriculum, as it is  practiced by International Muay Boran Academy’s members. All those ancient fighting principles together with modern scientific training techniques borrowed from professional thai boxing, combine to create an effective, useable methodology available to the modern western  athletes and martial arts enthusiasts.

In this way, it is correct to label Muay Boran as a discipline that is ancient and modern at the same time.

It was Thai Grand Master Chinawooth Sirisompan’s vision of the need for a coherent structure, that led to the patented first version of traditional Muay Thai technical program after numerous attempts around 1990. The program was articulated and subdivided into levels called “Khan” and as such formed the basic structure of the official curriculum that is now followed by International Muay Boran Academy’s associates across Europe and America.

The result of this continued close cooperation between Grand Master Sirisompan and italian Arjarn Marco De Cesaris , is to have perfectly adapted a traditional Siamese Martial Art to the realistic requirements of western practitioners: self-defence, fitness, self confidence, cultural study and eventually a tough fighting sport. When East and West meet, with mutual respect, the best of both worlds emerges.

MUAY BORAN'S INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

IMBA The International Muay Boran Academy (IMBA) is the first international school dedicated to the development of traditional Thai unarmed fighting disciplines. IMBA  has been created thanks to the dedication of one of the world wide exponents of Muay Thai, the Italian Master Marco De Cesaris in close cooperation with his mentor, thai Grand Master Chinawooth Sirisompan, the office of the Thai Culture Commission, along with the precious support of the International Amateur Muay Thai Federation, IAMTF.         

IMBA operates within the parameters of AITMA, (Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts) whose Chairman is Grand Master Chinawoot Sirisompan. The International Muay Boran Academy’s mission is to form a global network of highly qualified Muay Thai instructors, In Europe and in other continents alike. Apart from his first schools in Italy and Spain, other branches has been opened in many countries, full members countries are at the moment: Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, England, Romania, Belgium, France, Austria, Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Finland, Malta and Mexico. The obligations of being an IMBA associate are many. One of them is the promotion of technical seminars open to all martial artists. Some seminars are more intensive and devoted to the deeper understandings of ancient techniques (mainly Mae Mai and Look Mai Muay Thai techniques) and their application with particular interest to self defence aspects. There are courses open to instructors of various levels and the passing of gradings for students, based on AITMA curriculum, on a regular basis. For the first time in the recent history of this ancient Siamese Martial art, Muay Thai is moving away from the corner in which it was trapped, for years debated in typical situations weighing up the pros and cons. For example “it is a very effective combat sport but it’s too hard for me” or  “sure it’s good for the ring, but street fights are another matter!“. Muay Boran is a complete fighting art that tends to combine ring sport and martial aspects of the Siamese discipline. In encouraging the two different aspects of the art to coexist, Muay Boran successfully bridges the gap between modern combat sports and traditional martial arts. We invite you to try out and train with an IMBA qualified instructor. This offer is open to anyone interested in widening his technical scope whether you come from having studied another discipline or just an avid enthusiast.

What is Muay Boran?

What a fantastic answer!!! I would just like to add to this Muay Boran does indeed translate to the ancient style of Muay Thai. However it also encapsulates krabi kabong, muay plum, etc. It was used in the old day when Siam (Thailand) was in conflict with its neighbouring countries. It is the way of the warrior.
    
Also bujiboy is right with respect to the different catagories that Muay Boran fell into. For Example, Muay Thasao, Muay Korat, Muay Lobburee and Muay Chaiya. Muay mean boxing and the last word is a province in Thailand, therefore Muay Chaiya is boxing from Chaiya. It is often a misconception that these are seperate martial arts and I have even seen answers claiming that Muay Chaiya is better than Muay Boran, which is obsurb as Muay Chaiya is Muay Boran. Chaiya is just the province it is from. The different provinces will have techniques that they specialise in. For Example, some might be good at clinch work, kicking, etc. However the under pinning art is Muay Boran.
     
Muay Boran is not an art that you will see or hear a lot about due to the popularity of Muay Thai, which is a shame. There are few people who know Muay Boran and even fewer who teach it. The reason for this is because Muay Thai is the ring sport and a lot of Muay Boran techniques are forbidden due to safety reason. Muay Boran is quickly been forgotten about due to this reason and the few people who know about it are doing their best to keep it alive.

Source: mastersken.com