Back at the red corner he steps to the middle of the ring and gets on his knees. He begins the Ram Muay, the ceremonial dance that starts every Muay Thai match. The dance is symbolic of stories of the ancient Hindu Veda s or represent what he will do in the fight. This particular Ram Muay represents a deer hunt. The movements are slow and graceful the fighter seems to sway peacefully as he gathers his thoughts and prepares for the fight.
Thai matches start off slow almost scripted.
Normally there is a gentle foot push aimed at the gut followed up with a few slow leg kicks. Muay Thai hurts, the fighters know this they let their adrenalin and endorphins build so they will feel less pain. As the round goes on the tempo picks up, as they fight the traditional Thai fighting live musicians are playing music. The music sets the pace, as the tempo increases the fighters speed it up, and if the fighters are slowing down the musicians play faster to try to liven the fighters up. By the second round the fighters are throwing bombs at each other, leg kick followed by head kick, one after another seemingly oblivious to the pain of taking a full shot on the bare shin.