In the old days, Thai traditional boxers 'had their fists and the lower arms wrapped in strings and then soaked in a starchy liquid, granulated glassy material was sprinkled on to lend additional devastating effects. When dry and hard, the pair of dress fists becomes a deadly lethal weapon.' (Chaleo Manilerd 1980 : 23)
Thai boxers of today wear regular gloves and rattan headbands entering a ring with much ceremony - typical of Thai folk beliefs associated with martial sports. At every event of Thai boxing, there is a traditional musical band to provide traditional martial music for the fight. The band consists of Javanese pipe, a pair of two face drums and cymbals. Any tune can be played and varies with the phases of the fights. There is a tune for the ritual, for shadow boxing. During the fighting the piper can change the tune or the tempo to suit the action of the fighting.