New students come to us after they've seen the movies, but they only see the end result, and not everyone has the patience to get there. Jean-Claude Van Damme is very good, and he makes it look easy, but he didn't do it in six months. No one can say, but in Thailand's Muay Thai camps, young village boys may have their first fight when they are eight years old. Many of these camps are in Isan, Thailand's poor northeast, where Muay Thai may be regards, as a way to escape poverty. Here, under the tutelage of former champions, the boys go to two schools, learning to read and write, but also to box.
Training days are long and there is no day of rest.
They also learn complex rituals. The day of a fight begins with a monk's blessing. Headbands and armbands are worn, with prayers tightly rolled inside. Some fighters have their backs, arms and chests decorated with protective tattoos. Spell are cast against opponents and to ward off evil spirits.