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Krabi-Krabong - The Mother of Muay Thai
Page 2 - Origins
Krabi-Krabong evolved over hundreds of years of struggle and countless battles with Burma and other nearby countries. It developed, into a dynamic battlefield art that encompassed a complete system of strategy and tactics for both armed and unarmed combat. Krabi-Krabong is the martial art from which Thai Boxing is claimed to have descended. A few dedicated Thai martial artists still practice Krabi-Krabong, preserving the art's rich tradition and deadly methodology. Pedro Villalobos Solana is one of a small number of non-Thai instructors active in the United States.
A native of Spain who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, he studied the art in Thailand under Ajarn Vira Yhut and Ajarn Sila. He received his certification from the Buddhai Swan Sword Fighting Institute in Nongkam, near Bangkok, and now teaches it at the Thailand Arts Institute in Atlanta.
"Krabi-Krabong is a mix of many different styles," Villalobos
says. "During times of peace, ancient travelers and immigrants from
different Asian countries made their way to the land now known as )
Thailand.
They brought fighting techniques, and the war masters learned, integrated
and blended techniques from these many places. New techniques were tested
in battle and retained only if found to be effective. The death toll was
high in those close-contact battles of old. "There were many casualties'
Villalobos says. " New soldiers had to learn how to fight very quickly.
Because Krabi-Krabong was developed to meet the needs of those replacement
soldiers, it was designed around two key principles: simplicity and effectiveness.
"The result was a system that a new fighter could learn quickly and
apply in combat immediately," Villalobos says. "Krabi-Krabong
is practical, not fancy."
Krabi-Krabong grew to include techniques for -using numerous weapons, but no matter which one was used, the associated footwork remained the same as it did for empty hand fighting. This principle of simplicity meant that a soldier could learn the footwork, then concentrate on weapons and bare-hand techniques with minimal distraction. For hundreds of years, Krabi-Krabong continued to evolve. At its zenith; it was the equal of any fighting system in the ancient world. As the technology of war progressed, however, the need for the old skills gradually faded. Spears and war axes gave way to guns and bombs. Empty-hand fighting on the battlefield became increasingly rare. The masters grew old and then died, leaving their art to civilian successors. It is in these hands that Krabi-Krabong now rests.
Like most modern-day instructors, Villalobos is determined to pass on the techniques and rituals of the ancient way as completely and accurately as possible. He does so to honor those who came before him and to ensure that future fighters will have a tangible link to the past.
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