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