How Muay Chaiya Helps in Personality Development
As previously mentioned, Muay Chaiya is essential for strengthening the mind, muscles, character, patience, discipline, and honesty. We must begin to be disciplined from the very start of muscle training with Muay Chaiya exercises, including:
"Pan Mud" (Clenching Fists): We must understand the correct stance and foot spacing. The feet should be parallel to the shoulders of the practitioner. One must learn to squat and straighten to train leg strength and leg muscles. The fist must be clenched correctly, which will exercise the forearm muscles. When squatting, clench strongly, and when straightening, unclench strongly. This should be done for at least 1 and a half minutes. It requires intense concentration. One must be mindful to clench the fist correctly. The forearms should be parallel to the ground, not too wide, and remain parallel to the ground when squatting or straightening.
"Pan Khaen" (Arm Wrapping): This posture strengthens the shoulders. While wrapping the arms, there must be proper spacing: the upper arm should be above the eyebrow, and the lower arm at the solar plexus, both parallel. This posture helps strengthen the shoulders, with squatting and straightening movements continuously accompanying it to train leg muscles.
"Pan Mud" (Fist Wrapping): This posture helps us understand the Muay Chaiya stance in a thick angle. One fist should be aligned with the outer corner of the opposite eyebrow. For example, if the right hand is on top, the right fist should be aligned with the left eyebrow's outer corner. The other fist should be under the right arm and halfway along it. Both arms should form a 45-degree angle and be about a hand's length from the face. When straightening and squatting, the fists must be wrapped correctly throughout.
"Pan Mud Yok Khao" (Fist Wrapping with Knee Lift): This posture exercises the legs more by lifting the right knee. When lifting the knee, hook the top of the right foot, and keep the upper part of the leg as close as possible to the calf. This posture does not involve straightening; it's a continuous squatting movement. This posture helps the practitioner understand movement and be mindful of lifting and hooking the foot. After lifting, place the foot back to the original spot. When wrapping the fists while lifting, ensure the knee and arm are on the same side. If lifting the right knee, align it with the right arm, with the knee at elbow level. This helps improve balance. When putting the leg down, place it at the spot where it was lifted.
"Pan Mud Yok Khao Yor Yued" (Fist Wrapping with Knee Lift and Squat-Straighten): This is a full-form balance training, involving squatting and straightening while standing on one leg. When squatting, try to ensure neither knee drops, and continue to wrap the fists every time you squat and straighten.
"Pan Mud Yok Khao Dod" (Fist Wrapping with Knee Lift and Jump): This trains endurance, breathing, balance, and the discipline of the exercises from "Pan Mud" to "Pan Mud Yok Khao Dod".
"Pan Mud Yok Khao Deet Khaeng" (Fist Wrapping with Knee Lift and Leg Flick): This trains the use of the "chat" weapon (different from a "teep" or kick, which involves lifting the knee and extending the leg with the heel, sole, or side of the foot hitting the target; "chat" is a flicking motion using the ball of the foot or toes to hit the target). It trains leg flicking, ensuring the knee does not drop, and is done ten times per side.
"Pan Mud Plik Liam Deet Khaeng Salap Kha" (Fist Wrapping, Changing Angle, Leg Flicking, Alternating Legs): This helps you train mindfulness to know that the right side flicks to the left, and the left side flicks to the right. Flicking means flicking the leg out and returning it to the spot from which you lifted it.
"Pan Mud Plik Liam" (Fist Wrapping, Changing Angle): You will learn about changing angles and rotating the feet with the toes (ball of the foot). When turning left, the right arm is on top; when turning right, the left arm is on top. Maintain a forward gaze. (This posture is very important as it is the foundation for using martial arts techniques with Muay angles).
"Pan Mud Yok Khao Dod Deet Khaeng" (Fist Wrapping, Knee Lift, Jump, Leg Flick): Each time you jump, you must flick the leg repeatedly ten times, then alternate legs and flick ten more times. Continue alternating until the set time is complete. Your knees must not drop. This posture combines all the exercises into a point of mindfulness and also trains endurance and breathing.
It is clear that Muay Chaiya training benefits you from the very beginning. You will build muscles related to standing. All your muscles will develop in a structured and disciplined way. Furthermore, you can effectively use the muscles you build for self-defense.
It is evident that Muay Chaiya training is beneficial, making you understand the correctness of defense, which is very important. Moreover, you will become a disciplined, patient, and gradual person, not rushed. Please remember that a strong foundation is crucial. To be tall, you need a foundation; if the foundation is not strong, you cannot stand. Tall buildings with weak foundations cannot stand tall and will surely collapse. Foundation also refers to the foundation of the mind. One must have love, gratitude, diligence, perseverance, and honesty.
If we learn Muay Chaiya, we can eliminate obstacles and effectively strengthen what we lack within ourselves.
Kru Lek (Kridakorn Sodprasert)