Floating Ribs

By | 31 January 2013

for Panya Kraitus and Pitisuk Kraitus

The bottom ribs
On both sides
Of the body
Are fragile
Easily broken
They are
Floating ribs
If struck
By a kick with the foot
A knee kick down
From above
A swinging knee kick around
From the side
The result is
Debilitating pain
For the opponent
If the boxer
Delivering the blow
Kicks repeatedly
Floating ribs
Fracture.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Clavicle

This bone is brittle
Easily broken
Keep this in mind
Always
If it breaks
The shoulder will sag
As happened to Thai boxer
Chatraphetch Kiakawkeo
Against Kumanthong Lukprabaat
On January 23, 1978.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Solar Plexus

Even though
This is not
A point to which
A single blow
Can bring a boxer down
Repeated punches
To it
Can be powerfully
Debilitating
Since it lies
Near the heart
It is especially dangerous
If hit hard
Ribs can be broken
Spear the heart
Resulting in death.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Inner Wrist

This point can be dangerous
In delivering
And receiving blows
In delivering a punch
If not done correctly
It can be
Dislocated
Receiving a kick
May also
Dislocate it.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Shins

One of the strongest
Parts of the body
Also
Vulnerable
The bone at the center
At the front
Is brittle
Fractures easily
A powerful blow
As when
You block a kick
Can break it
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Point of Chin

The chin can be reached
With a jumping knee kick
A floating knee kick
Where the left foot
Is raised
From the ground first
Then the right knee kicked up
Powerfully
To the opponent’s chin
So that the body leaves the ground
Or with an elbow jab
As Phudphaadnooi Worawuth did
When he won over
Huatrai Sitthi-boonlert
When no one thought
He had the remotest chance
Of winning.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Groin

In the old days
80 years or so ago
Fists were bound with twine
No groin-guards were used
Thai boxers fought without
Shields
Only kapok-stuffed triangle cushions
Under loin cloths
The great Thai boxing teacher
Ae Muangdee brought
Metal shields from Singapore
Making it safe from
Hard kicks delivered
With foot or knee
In the opinion of the writer
Anyone not prepared to protect
This part of the body
Should not be a
Thai boxer at all.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Armpit

Failure to guard
During a match
Can lead to defeat
A strong upward kick
To it
Can tear the shoulder
Tendons and ligaments
Badly dislocate it.
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Philtrum

The area above
The upper lip
Is a prime spot
For the boxer looking
To knock out his opponent
Close to the nervous system
Like all points close to the nose
When struck it causes tears
To flow
Weakening the opponent
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

Hollow of Knee

If not protected
If exposed to repeated blows
A boxer can collapse
Lose a match
And what is this
But life?
Said the Muay Thai Master

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