Re: OT: Muay Thai and Ong Bak.
Originally posted by Mat
[B]
- He does some kata type malarkey. Do they do anything like this in muay thai? Ie, a kata, and specifically one like that?[/b]
possibly in some older muay, like muay boran, but not in muay thai. There’s probably similar things in krabbi krabong as well. The closest you’ll see to in muay thai, IME, is the ram muay.
2) The downward elbow to the head… is that legitimate? Is it common? Is it effective? I’ve never seen it before in competition, thai rules or MMA, but maybe that’s a rules thing… it would seem to really hurt the elbower to me, but I don’t know what I’m talking about!
yeah, it’s valid. not that common from what I’ve seen though. I mean, how often is it that you have the opportunity to pull it off? I’ve heard it’s very effective, but I myself have never tried it.
3) The two elbowed-strike going inwards… same question. That looks like some really weak nonsense to me… but ditto with my qualifications! 
my guess it that it’s another of the more traditional techniques that you don’t see much of anymore, if it’s valid. The more traditional styles had things such as a double uppercut (which he uses in the movie) and several other strikes - even jumping/flying techniques. In muay thai, the only aerial technique you really see is a jumping knee. The traditional stuff even has the flowery name convention going on, for example, catching a roundhouse kick and putting your elbow into his caught knee is called “breaking the elephant’s tusk”. and the spinning hook kick is called “alligator whips its tail”
4) Is there a tradition of Thai fighters using traditional drugs/herbal mixes? Obviously not like the multiple needle gag in the film but in any way? If so, anyone know what, just out of interest?
no clue. What CSN said makes sense tho. I know they are very spiritual - the mongkong and paprachiat (the head and arm bands they wear) are blessed by monks and are supposed to protect trhem from serious injury. Some fighters wear other blesse items as well.