hailand’s old Muay Thai fighters struggle to preserve their traditional martial art as the nation’s culture continues to be more commercialised.
Wisarut Wat Suksiriwararak is an old Muay Thai fighter from Pai in Northern Thailand. He fought in bouts all around Thailand up until his retirement in 1992.
He now runs his own gym in Pai, passing down his knowledge of Thailand’s traditional martial art to both locals and visitors from around the world.
However, over the past few decades, authentic practices of Muay Thai have slowly being fading away changing as Thailand’s culture has become increasingly commercialised.
With a growing impetus on financial incentives and entertainment, is this historic martial art beginning to move away from its proud heritage?
By Marko Randelovic
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