GLASS ON THE ROPES OF MUAY THAI

You may have wondered if Thais really used glass on the ropes, just like in Jean Claude Van Damme's movie called "Kickboxer" from the year 1989. In the final fight, Jean Claude Van Damme portrays Kurt Sloane, who fights against Tong Po, played by Michel Qissi. Before the fight, both of them dip their hands in a bowl of glue and then into a box filled with glass shards. But where did this idea come from? And was it really used in rope fights in Thailand?

When Glenn A. Bruce was conducting research to develop and write the screenplay for "Kickboxer," he read a small booklet created by the Rajadamnern Stadium Company Ltd. on January 31, 1961. This booklet was given to tourists as a souvenir and was titled "Rules and regulations of Thai-style boxing."

Inside, there is a section titled "A brief history of Thai boxing," which mentions that Thai boxing was once fought with hemp ropes and frosted glass. This is where the information originated that influenced the final scene of the movie "Kickboxer," where Kurt Sloane fights Tong Po using ropes on his hands and then applying glue and glass.

However, this was never a part of rope fights or Muay Krad Chuek.

Glenn A. Bruce

that style boxing rules and regula tions

That style boxing rules and regulations manual page that is the wrong information about glass in the ropes