The sixth edition of the International and Thai Martial Arts (ITMA) Games will be held between Mar 10-17 at the indoor stadium in Saphan Hin with over 1,200 athletes from 50 countries expected to participate in a variety of martial arts disciplines including Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate and Jiu Jitsu.
Competition groupings will be determined by age and weight, from the cadet division, incorporating 8-10 years old, through adult (19-39) to masters (40-45), typically with three rounds of competition of varying duration, depending on the class.
The ITMA Games and Festival were founded in 2016 by the World Muay Thai Organisation (WMO), the World Muay Boran Federation (WMBF) and the Kru Muay Thai Association (KMA) with a shared vision to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Thailand through the power of martial arts.
The multi-discipline competition in Phuket next month will see rules and regulations run in accordance with a number of major international organisations, including: WMBF; WMO; Union Boxing Federation; Dap Thai Society, covering Thai sword fighting; International Sport Karate/Kickboxing Association (IKSA); Carlson Gracie Federation, covering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Gi and No Gi); and International Fighting Sport Association (IFSA), covering amateur MMA and Jeet Kune Do.
On the fringes of the actual competition will be a series of interactive workshops and seminars where attendees can learn more about the intracacies of a variety of mixed martial arts, including: a WMO ring officials refreshers course; a WMO ring officials course for Muay Thai; a Muay Boran and Dap Thai seminar; a ISKA ring officials course for Kickboxing; a MMA ring officials course; and a Sagat Muay Thai Seminar.
Furthermore, on Mar 17 there will be the annual Wai Kru Ceremony held by the Kru Muay Thai Association (KMA). “Wai Kru” is to show respect and thanks to one’s teacher and their lineage of teachers, for passing down their skills and knowledge and this auspicious occasion sees a grand display of tradition, respect, history and culture of Thailand’s most precious martial arts.
Everyone is welcome to celebrate National Nai Kanomtom day (Thailand’s Muay Thai war hero) on Mar 17 and to participate in the Wai Kru ceremony attendees will experience an exchange in blessings from highly respected Grand Masters.
The event was officially announced by Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), at a press conference held at the Twin Tower Hotel in Bangkok on Jan 18.
Also present were Charatdej Ulit, President of the Phra Chao Suea Muay Thai Sports Association, Chinnawut Sirisamphan, President of the Muay Thai Teachers Association, in addition to numerous Muay Thai teachers and students.
Mr Rewat explained that the tournament is being organised by the PPAO, the Phra Chao Suea Muay Thai Sports Association and the Muay Thai Teachers Association and will be held at gymnasium 1 at Saphan Hin Stadium which has a total of 600 seats for spectators to enjoy the action.
Mr Rewat added that the event is a key part of the government’s drive to promote the national sport of Muay Thai as a soft power to help enhance the country’s image internationally while attracting tourists to its shores.
As part of this initiative, it was announced on Feb 2 that Thailand is sending eight Muay Thai experts to Saudi Arabia in April to train the country’s military and national boxers.
In related news, the head of the Phuket Sports Association, Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, said on Jan 31 that the province is equipped and ready to respond to Prime Minister Strettha Thavasin’s call to issue 90-day visas for people wishing to come to Thailand to study Muay Thai as part of the goverment’s drive to promote the sport as one of the country’s so-called soft powers.
With a tourist visa, a foreigner can stay in Thailand for up to 60 days but with a special visa for learning Muay Thai, they could stay for 90 days.
Phuket is internationally renowned for Muay Thai with 43 boxing camps currently registered with the Sports Authority of Thailand and two standard boxing stadiums, Patong Beach Boxing Stadium and Bangla Boxing Stadium, said Mr Thammawat.
The province is therefore perfectly placed to take advantage of the proposed move to allow students to enter on a special visa which would help boost the local economy immeasurably, Mr Thammawat added.