Muay Thai Grading and Ranking System
The Muay Thai grading and ranking system explained
Muay Thai is a highly effective fighting style. Sparring and/or fighting experience is given more weight in Muay Thai grading than in other martial arts.
Although Muay Thai's emphasis is based on martial fitness and tenacity, its grading system operates similarly to that of more traditional disciplines.
Everyone, regardless of age, experience or fitness level, has the opportunity to learn and practice Muay Thai.
You'll put in serious martial arts practice; whether or not you enter a battle is up to you.
The answers to the questions, "Does Muay Thai have belts?" and "What does Muay Thai grading look like?" can be found in this article.
Let’s go right into the process of earning new belts in the Muay Thai martial art, first explaining why the concept of "Muay Thai belt ranks" is such a recent invention and why it isn't universally adopted by all training facilities.
Origins of the Muay Thai Belt System
Muay Thai's lack of a ranking system in comparison to other martial arts can be better understood if you know its rich history.
The Thai martial art of Muay Thai has its origins in the late 16th century when the country was ripped apart by civil strife.
Muay Thai evolved from the requirement for unarmed combat. Muay Thai has been practised for hundreds of years, and its spiritual and cultural aspects have persisted.
Traditional armbands, known as praijoud in Thailand, are worn by fighters, although they do not indicate rank and are instead considered part of the uniform.
Is a belt used in Muay Thai fights?
There is no belt system in traditional Muay Thai. Muay Thai practitioners do not wear belts or other indications of status, just as you won't see boxers doing so.
Thai boxing has its roots in a professional fighting tradition. Fighters in the Muay Thai discipline prepare for competition in the hopes of winning championship belts.
They weren't thinking about climbing the corporate ladder or honing their craft on the side. The group's objective was to perfect their training and rise to the top.
Traditional and modern Muay Thai gyms alike allow anyone to spar with anyone else.
In MMA, fighters are paired off randomly, unlike in Karate schools where pupils of similar belt colours are paired off based on their skill level.
That doesn't, however, imply that the gym is in complete anarchy and no one has a clue what's going on. Skill, experience and the quality of a fighter's victories are all taken into account when ranking them.
If you have experience training in martial arts with a consistent group of people, you will learn about the fighting styles and abilities of the many characters.
In Muay Thai dojos, the same premise applies- but there isn't a way to keep track of who is a student.
Evaluation of martial skills
Despite the lack of a unified worldwide grading system for Muay Thai, several gyms find it useful to create their own internal grading system.
In most styles of martial arts, belt ranks signify the practitioner's proficiency (not their mastery) in the technique.
To begin, a Muay Thai grading system provides a standard against which instructors can measure their pupils' progress and success.
Second, if students are not interested in competing for championship belts or ring fighting, a ranking system gives them something to work toward.
Students of the style benefit greatly from having a grading system in place since it instils in them a sense of determination and focus.
There is a strong correlation between participation in a grading system and a desire for lifelong learning and improvement.
The World Muay Thai Association (WTBA) is a prominent group that supports introducing a ranking system within Muay Thai (World Thai Boxing Association).
The organisation's stated goal is "the promotion and preservation of ancient Thai martial arts." To be sure, this approach is utilised in other areas of the world.
How does one move through the ranks in Muay Thai?
According to the Total Combat Fitness Blog, unlike other martial arts, Muay Thai has never traditionally used belts or ranks.
However, the Muay Thai Levels of Competence have recently been established by the Kru Muay Thai Association (KMA) and the Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts (AITMA).
Khan is the title given to each of the first ten Muay Thai Skill Levels. Their order is as follows:
Khan 1 (White Mongkol)
Khan 2 (Yellow Mongkol)
Khan 3 (Yellow-White Mongkol)
Khan 4 (Green Mongkol)
Khan 5 (Green-White Mongkol)
Khan 6 (Blue Mongkol)
Khan 7 (Blue-White Mongkol)
Khan 8 (Brown Mongkol)
Khan 9 (Brown White Mongkol)
Khan 10 (Red Mongkol)
The last nine Muay Thai belts are all referred to as "Mongkol." Their order is as follows:
Mongkol 1 (Red-White Mongkol) – Assistant Teacher (Kru)
Mongkol 2 (Red-Yellow Mongkol) – Teacher (Kru)
Mongkol 3 (Red-Silver Mongkol) – Assistant Master (Kru Yai)
Mongkol 4 (Silver Mongkol) – Master (Arjarn)
Mongkol 5 (Golden-Silver Mongkol) – Assistant Grand Master (Arjarn)
Mongkol 6 (Golden Mongkol) – Grand Master (Pramajarn)
Mongkol 7 (Golden Mongkol) – Assistant Senior Grand Master
Mongkol 8 (Golden Mongkol) – Associate Senior Grand Master
Mongkol 9 (Golden Mongkol) – Senior Grand Master
Pros Muay Thai ranking system
One school of thought holds that it is an excellent method of inspiring children by allowing them to track their development.
The serious amateur who isn't after a championship title nevertheless has something to strive for.
It's also an efficient method of pairing people with complementary skill sets.
Once more, amateurs aren't out to murder each other; they're just in it for exercise, skill development and entertainment.
When you put two highly uneven warriors in a ring together, it makes it harder to do those things.
Challenges with a Muay Thai rating system
There are also many who argue that a rating system for Muay Thai is nothing more than a money-making scheme.
Some schools require students to pay for exams and a uniform (armbands, shirts or shorts) before they may advance to the next level.
Some martial arts schools have been accused of turning into belt mills or "McDojos," which is a pejorative term.
They have a test every few months, charge the students and give out new belts- often without considering whether or not the students' actual skill level has improved.
