03/16/2024
Nai Khanom Tom is considered the founder of the martial art now known as Muay Thai. Thailand, one of the few Pacific Island nations that never became subjected to Colonial rule, was known as Siam until 1939.
In 1774, the Burmese invaded and sacked the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, capturing thousands of Siamese, Nai Khanom Tom among them.
Burmese King Mangra sought to know if the Siamese martial art of Muay Boran (the precursor of Muay Thai) could match up with the Burmese style of fighting that his soldiers practiced. He selected Nai Khanom Tom to fight against King Mangra’s Burmese Boxing champion, to which the fighter humbly obliged.
Nai Khanom Tom paid respect to his elders, family and the sport by blessing the ring with a traditional Wai Kru. The fight began with Sarma music setting the tone and pace for the fighters. To the surprise of all, Nai Khanom Tom won the match by knockout!
After the fight, the referee tried to invalidate Nai Khanom Tom’s victory, claiming that the fight was invalid due to sorcery from the Wai Kru and the distraction from the music.
King Mangra then sent his second champion to try and defeat Nai Khanom Tom. When Nai Khanom Tom easily defeated the second fighter, King Mangra then sent a third fighter to attempt victory.
It wasn’t until Nai Khanom Tom defeated King Mangra’s tenth champion that the Burmese king declared, “Every part of the Siamese is blessed with venom! Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. But this lord was incompetent and lost the country to the enemy. If he had been any good, there was no way the city of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen!”
The king then released Nai Khanom Tom and all of the captured Siamese.
According to history, this occurred on March 17th, 1774. Since then Thailand celebrates the day as Nai Khanom Tom Day, National Muay Thai Day, or National Muay Boran Day.