 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Krabi–krabong" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 Krabi-krabong practitioners with Daab swords | |
| Focus | Weaponry |
|---|---|
| Country of origin |  Thailand |
| Famous practitioners | Lamp Sakkapoom,Tony Jaa |
| Olympic sport | No |
| Meaning | Sword-staff |
Krabi-Krabong (Thai:กระบี่กระบอง,pronounced[krā.bìːkrā.bɔ̄ːŋ]) is a weapon-basedmartial art fromThailand.[1] It is closely related to otherSoutheast Asian fighting styles such as Silat, Burmesebanshay and Cambodiankbach kun boran. The royal bodyguard corps of the late KingBhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) were said to be highly trained in krabi-krabong.
The system's name refers to its main weapons, namely the Krabi (Thai Cutlass) and Krabong (staff). Typically, practitioner will be practicing "Daab Song Mue" (duel wielding sword). Unarmed krabi-krabong (muay boran) makes use of kicks, pressure point strikes, joint locks, holds, and throws.[2][3]
The weapons of krabi-krabong include the following:
Each weapon is taught from both leads through a series of drills which can be used interchangeably with the various weapons.[4]
Krabi–krabong was developed by the ancient Thai warriors for fighting on the battlefield.[5][6] It was likely used in conjunction withmuay boran[citation needed] but whether the two arts were developed together or independently is uncertain.[citation needed] Early warfare inIndochina was mostly between rival kingdoms and were fought en masse. Individual fighters were armoured and carriedrhino hide shields.[citation needed] The Burmese invasion of 1767 resulted in the loss of many historical records and cultural documents. However, the Thai fighting arts were traditionally passed down orally and did not rely on written documents for their preservation.[citation needed] Simon de la Loubère, the French diplomat from the court of Louis XIV, observed the existence ofmuay Thai and Krabi–krabong in his famous accountDu Royaume de Siam (1689)[7] while visiting theAyutthaya Kingdom in 1688.
Archaeological findings and classical dances bear testament to the myriad of weapons that were once used inThailand.[citation needed] Some of them are no longer found in the country's martial arts today, such as thekris (dagger),hawk (spear),trishula (either long ortekpi "short-handled trident"),daab (straight sword) andvajra.[citation needed] Entire dances were built on individual weapons,[citation needed] and calisthenics used by the modern Thai military are still based on these dances.[contradictory]
The weapons, their design and the pre-fight war dance in krabi-krabong show evidence ofIndian derivation combined withChinese characteristics.South Indian scholars, holy men, settlers and traders were especially influential in the evolution ofThai culture and martial arts. TheTamil stick-fighting style ofsilambam was of particular importance to the history of numerousSoutheast Asian fighting systems. During the colonial period,silambam became more common in Southeast Asia than inIndia where it was banned by the British rulers.[8]
Asian elephants were an integral part of warfare in Thailand. They would commonly be mounted by higher-ranking warriors like generals or royalty. To choose a successor to Intaraja I, his two sons fought on elephants. Krabi–krabong was often practiced by the palacemahouts or elephant trainers. From the back of an elephant, archers could shoot arrows at enemies below or, if he was wielding a polearm, engage in hand-to-hand combat with another mounted fighter. After the 15th-century introduction of gunpowder, elephants served as tanks with cannons mounted on their backs. The legs were the war-elephant's weak spot, so they had to be guarded by up to four foot soldiers. Although mahouts no longer practice martial arts, reenactments of such battles are staged by performers who are often from families that have been training elephants since theAyutthaya Kingdom.[citation needed]
AsIndochinese trade extended toJapan, small communities ofJapanese people were living and trading around the region. After the Battle Of Sekigahara in 1600, many of those from the losing side of the war came to Thailand. Others were pirates or official traders who arrived on the Red Seal Ships. The Japanese fled Ayutthaya after theBamars invaded in 1767 but they left their influence on the local fighting arts. Many of the techniques, stances, weapons and throws of krabi-krabong are similar to those found injujutsu andOkinawan kobudō.[citation needed]
InThailand, as with other countries in Southern and Southeast Asia, monks acted as teachers to their local community. Young boys would be sent to the temples where, aside from learning aboutTheravada Buddhism, they would be taught subjects ranging from languages to astrology. One such establishment was the Buddhaisawan Temple inAyutthaya where the monks taught sword-fighting to their students. The origin of these monks is unknown but they are believed to have come from the kingdom ofLan Na inNorthern Thailand. The modern Buddhaisawan Sword Fighting Institute was led by Sumai Mesamana until his death in 1998. His son Pramote Mesamana began training in krabi-krabong at the age of 6. According to the younger Mesamana, the art was passed down in his family from father to son ever since theAyutthaya Kingdom.[citation needed]
.jpg)
During the 16th century, theFirst Toungoo Empire ruled over parts of Thailand. Naresuan was born to KingMaha Thammaracha but until the age of 16 he was a hostage of the Bamars. Upon his return to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, he renounced allegiance to Bamars on behalf of his father the king. Having studied at Wat Buddhaisawan, Naresuan was well-versed in fighting with the single-edge sword (daab)[citation needed]. The Bamars attacked the capital numerous times in succession but were always repelled by Naresuan's forces. In a final attempt to retake their Thai states, the Bamars sent an army of 25,000 warriors led byMingyi Swa, the crown prince of Burma atop a war-elephant.
Knowing he was outnumbered, Naresuan charged his own elephant through the Burmese soldiers and fought directly with the prince. Using a halberd (ngao), Naresuan cleaved the crown prince in two from the shoulder to the hip. With their monarch now dead, the Burmese fled the battlefield and wouldn't become a serious threat to Thai sovereignty for more than a century. Naresuan ascended the throne in 1590 and under his rule the Thai encompassed theShan States and part ofCambodia.[9]
The Ayutthaya Kingdom became progressively weaker during the eighteenth century. The Thais and Burmese had been almost constantly fighting each other along the border territories since the time of King Naresuan the Great. In 1758 the Bamars began a siege which lasted nine years. Buildings, palaces and temples were laid to ruins while documents, archives and records were all destroyed. Royal treasures were stolen and all but 10,000 of the city's one million inhabitants were sold into slavery.
Taksin learned krabi-krabong while studying in Wat Buddhaisawan as a boy[citation needed]. But more than his martial expertise, it was Taksin's skill as a military strategist that allowed him to quickly attain the rank of general. Before the capture ofAyutthaya, the young general Taksin fled with 500 followers toRayong. He reorganised his forces and began attacking the Burmese invaders in small bands, destroying their supply routes. Word spread and within a few months Taksin rallied theThai people to battle once again. Despite being only half the size of the Burmese army, Taksin's troops managed to drive out the conquerors and restored Thailand to nearly its former size. With the previous king,Ekkathat, now dead, Taksin was convinced that he wasGautama Buddha's reincarnation and proclaimed himself king in 1767. Seven years later, he decided to give up his role as military commander and instead sent out generals to campaign in his stead.
.jpg)
Among all the warriors under Taksin's command, the greatest fighter wasPhraya Pichai Daab Hak, a nickname meaning "broken sword". Phraya Pichai was an expert with the dual swords (daab song mue) and acquired his moniker during a battle in which he continued fighting after one of his swords was broken. Another notable general wasRama I. Though not as skilled amartial artist as Phraya Pichai, Chakri was as brilliant a commander as Taksin. Under his leadership, Siam captured theLaoKingdom of Vientiane,Luang Prabang, andChiang Mai.
Taksin ruled from 1767–1782, but near the end of his reign he became increasingly dictatorial. He was said to have frequently flogged Buddhists monks and executed some of his concubines on false charges. A revolt broke out in the capital of theThonburi Kingdom and it was agreed by both the army and the nobility that Chakri should take Taksin's place as king. The current royal family of Thailand is descended from King Chakri, also called Rama I. Taksin himself was put to death but not in a conventional beheading. Instead, Taksin was wrapped in a velvet bag and beaten to death by his ministers with clubs. This method of execution was instituted to avoid spilling royal blood, and Taksin is the only known Thai king to have been killed in such a way.[contradictory][relevant?]
"Daab Chao Ram", a system of Krabi Krabong wielding mainly Thai single and/or duel swords (“Daab”, Thai single edge sword). This system was created atRamkhamhaeng University Thai Weaponry[10] Club by the various students of the numerous sword schools from all over Thailand who compiled their knowledge, skills, and experience which lead to the creation of “Daab Chao Ram”. Daab Chao Ram “Daab” meaning Thai single edge sword, “Chao” meaning lord, and “Ram” is short for KingRamkhamhaeng or Por Khun Ramkhamhaeng Maharaj. All of them together can mean either: 1) Sword of Lord Ram, 2) Legion of Lord Ram, or 3) Might of Lord Ram (meaning might differ from person to person). The name was chosen to commemorate Por Khun Ramkhamhaeng Maharaj for his good deed to the country and for his bravery in battle that earned him the nickname “Khamhaeng” meaning, bold. One prominent school that teaches Daab Chao Ram is Thai Achira.[11][12]Lamp Sakkapoom[13][14] is one of the highly regarded practitioner and instructor of Daab Chao Ram. He is also a skilledMuay Chaiya fighter.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
