The Ceremonial

Following Thai Tradition, the place which has been chosen for the Wai Kru Ceremony should be carefully arranged with Muay Thai Boxing Equipment laid out on each side of the setting. Usually, a statue of the Buddha is placed in a central location as the main focus of attention. White flowers, incense sticks & candles will normally be brought to this place as Ceremonial objects for paying Homage with.

Likewise, a white wax candle will also be brought weighing (approx) 15 grammes and a bowl for holding 'Holy Water'. Some scented blessed powder will also be used during the Ceremony for the Traditional marking of the Boxing equipment. It is also Customary for a metal tray to be brought for donations that will normally be given to the Buddhist monks as a gift on the next day. The Ceremony usually begins as follows the Muay Thai trainees (fighters) will enter the location reverently, bringing with each of them 5 incense sticks, white flowers, a white wax candle and some coins to be donated to the monks. They should then sit down on the floor preferable in the Lotus Position, in neat rows facing their Muay Thai Teacher (Kru), silently thinking about him, and recalling as many different aspects as possible about
him for approx 1 minute duration.

The Wai Kru Ceremony proper then begins. All of the trainees should then bend forward & perform 3 prostrations to show respect. They should then resume sitting quietly and still again. Their Teacher will usually at this point in time prepare the 'Holy Water', by certain Rituals such as dripping wax from the candle into it. At the same time, he will say prayers in Thai praising all the virtues of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

At this point in time during the Ceremony, all of the lit candles and incense sticks will then be collected and put together in 1 place. After which, all the trainees will usually perform 3 more prostrations towards their Master. Then after kneeling down, sit in the Lotus Position with their hands clasped together at the centre of their chests (palms flat) as in the Traditional 'Wai' position. The Teacher will usually lead the trainees in the chanting of Buddhist prayers.

While preparing the Ceremonial "Holy Water" it is not unusual for Teachers to drink some of it, sprinkling some onto the crown of the head. After which, he will then usually dip the index finger of his right hand into the container that holds the scented powder made moist by him and dab it onto all of the Muay Thai training equipment.

The teacher will also mark the crown of the Trainees heads with the moist powder while saying (chanting) 'Namo Buddhaya' which means roughly - a blessing from the Buddha. Following Tradition, normally at this point in time the Trainees may take some of the wax from the 'Holy Water' and stick it to their hair. This is meant to be very lucky and is called - 'To attach or or stick the wax'.