thai boxing is the undisputed national sport of thailand. the origin of mauy thai are said to be on the battlefields of ancient saim where it was used as a close combat technique by soldiers in battle. the full-on close contach nature of muay thai means that it is more brutal than conventional boxing but it is also more exciting for boxing fans to watch. each bout of muay thai begins with a ritual performed in the ring by both contestants. know as wai kru or ram muay the dance-like ceremony dates back centuries and is intended to honour the boxer's trainer and pay respect to the spirits. bangkok's most well-know venue for muay thai is lumpini stadium or rama iv road. established in 1956 it is one of seven major boxing stadiums in the country where bouts are held several nights each week. rachadumnern boxing stadium on rachadumnern nok avenue in bangkok is another popular venue.