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Reviews of Muay Thai Documentaries

On this page we reviewed the best Muay Thai documentaries for you. If you're more interested in Muay Thai movies, Click here to go to our Muay Thai movies review page!

Inside the Fight: USA vs Thailand

Inside the fight by filmmaker and photographer Jeff Dojillo is a 4 part Muay Thai documentary which talks to the main contenders from the USA who faced some of the best fighters from Thailand in the event USA vs Thailand which took place in Los Angles, California on the 21st of October 2011.  The event highlighted the following fights: Romie Adanza vs Lansuanlek, Kevin Ross vs Sagetdao Petchpayathai and the fight between Joe Shilling and Kaoklai Kaenorsing.

In the first episode, the three US fighters talk about their drive and passion to compete on the highest level of international Muay Thai and the difficulties Muay Thai is facing in the US competing with sports as MMA and the UFC. But the sport is getting more recognition as the fighters are taking on stronger competitors. By going toe to toe with the top fighters from Thailand, they are putting the US on the map as a country which can produce competitors who can compete on the highest levels.

In the second, third and fourth episodes of the documentary, the fighters talk about their expectations for their own upcoming fight but also the fights of the other competitors. The fighters are filmed during their preparations for the big night. These episodes also show some great footage of the highlights of the fights. After the event, they look back at their fights and talk about what they have gained from the experience of their fights and what their expectations are for the future.

Into The Fire: Episode 1 - Baptism By Fire (By Muay Thai Premier League)

Baptism By Fire is the first documentary (Episode 1) released by the Muay Thai Premier League of their documentary series, Into The Fire. A new episode will be released before the start of each tournament, of which several are scheduled for 2011 and 2012. In this first episode, the documentary series takes a closer look at the competitors fighting out of the United States, namely Kevin Ross, Germaine de Randamie, Mirjam Nakamoto and Baxter Humby. They tell about their passion for Muay Thai and the road they had to travel to come where they are today. They will show you how Kevin Ross prepares for his fight in Las Vegas against Thai veteran fighter, Sittisak. Germaine de Randamie talks about how it is to move to another continent to find new challenges in her fighting career and how it felt losing for the first time in her life during exploits in the world of MMA. Mirjam Nakamoto tells about her journey in the world of Muay Thai and how it is to train with one of her biggest opponents at the same gym. The last fighter showed in the documentary is the remarkable one armed fighter who is preparing for his revenge fight against his mimesis, John Wayne Parr.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Buddha's Lost Children

Buddha's Lost Children is the award-winning documentary film about Buddhism, compassion and love, which touches every head and heart. Buddhism may be a faith of patients, but this is something different for Abbot Phra Khru Bah, a former Muay Thai boxer who after ten years of fighting wanted to devote his live to more important matters. He got the nickname "Tiger Monk”. Phra (means: Monk) is one of the few that cares for the faith of the poor children of Northern Thailand, who are an easy prey for traffickers and other riffraff. His approach is “tough love”, also for the adults with whom he encounters.

This documentary film also gives the viewer an inside in the problems in the lives of poor hill tribe communities in Northern Thailand. Phra Khru Bah's unique approach to the problems faced by young boys growing up in this area, helps to develop respect for themselves and others. A former Muay Thai fighter turned monk and with his uncommitted love and Muay Thai background, he teaches the boys self-respect and love for others by using Muay Thai training as part of their daily routine.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Buddha's Lost Children Revisited

This is the second part of the documentary about a monastery in Northern Thailand, where the Buddhist monk Khru Bah (a former Muay Thai champion) takes care of underprivileged boys from hill tribe villages. Khru Bah does so in an unorthodox way, namely by dealing with mountain horses and boxing training to keep the boys out of danger from things such as drug abuse and prostitution. This sequel picks up where we left the boys in part one. We will witness how local groups try to limit the effect of Khru Bah’s controversial approach. And how his daughter leaves her life in the big city behind to support her father in his struggle for better opportunities for the boys from the hill tribe communities in the mountains of the golden triangle.

 

 

 

 

Muay Thai Documentaries: Lumpinee

This tale of friendship and struggle takes us to the troubled area of Southern Thailand where kids fall through the cracks of society due to conflicts and poverty. This story shows us the life at Uncle Sak's boxing camp were kids for different reasons have found a place which offers them shelter from the dangers of drugs and other forms of abuse. However, not all the kids in the camp join the camp just because of their troubles; some of the kids just come because of the art of Muay Thai. The rigorous training schedule helps some of the more troubled kids to find their way back into society by building on their fiscal condition as well as on their mental wellbeing. Uncle Sak hopes to achieve this by setting strict rules for his students and the same time offering them his loving kindness. He hopes to form a new generation of Muay Thai fighters from the South who will be able to fight their way to the top: Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

 

 

Muay Thai Documentaries: Muay Thai - Born For The Fight

This somewhat dated documentary gives the viewer one of the most complete insides in the past and present of the world of Muay Thai and its role in Thai society. It goes into the origin of the sport and how it turned from a brutal battle field art into a sport referred to as Muay Boran and its final transition into the art of Muay Thai as we now know it today. The documentary is full of old footage of real rope-bound hands Muay Boran fights and old training methods which haven’t been seen in years.

In the documentary, several experts on Thai history, sociology and the art of Muay Thai, try to explain the role of Muay Thai in Thai society, highlighted from their field of expertise, which makes this documentary a must-see for anyone interested in this fascinating martial art. The film shows the pride of the Thai people in their culture and teaches the principles of the religion, Buddhism, and how those have influenced the evolution of the art of Muay Thai.

The second part of the documentary focuses more on the present way Muay Thai is practiced in Thailand. By following three boys in two different camps in different parts of the country, the documentary shows the life at a Muay Thai camp and its heavy daily training regime. Through interviews it tries to find out what motivates the young men to undergo this hard living. The first boy is a 9-year old boy from a troubled home in Isan. The boy is taken into the camp by the owner of the camp who also is the headmaster of the local school. The owner finds him a safe home with one of his trainers and we see the boy flourish in his new surroundings. This shows us that a Muay Thai camp is like a second chance for many boys in Thailand who are threatened to fall through the cracks of society. The second boy is a fourteen year old bright young boy training at one of Thailand’s most respected camps in the coastal town of Pattaya. And finally the third fighter, who is one of the lucky ones as he is already a national hero by claiming the ‘Lumpinee Champion’ title. We follow him as he is preparing to defend his title at Lumpinee Stadium in the capital of Bangkok.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Thai Boxing: A Fighting Chance

This British documentary film from 2002 follows three fighters and their preparations for their upcoming fights. The first fighter is a 27-year old graduate from Havard University who travels to Thailand to study under 7-time Muay Thai Champion, Apidej Sit Harum, who also received the highest honor for a Muay Thai fighter from the Thai King, namely "Fighter of the Century". The second fighter the film crew follows is a 13-year old boy from the city of Ayutthaya whose mother heads a Muay Thai camp for troubled teenagers. The boy is fighting to pay for his university degree. The third fighter is a 29-year old mother of two who traveled to Bangkok to follow her dream to become a professional female Muay Thai fighter. She had this dream since she was a young girl but couldn't pursue it back then due to the fact that there wasn't a professional Muay Thai league for women. Besides only following the three fighters in this Muay Thai documentary, it also goes into the history and cultural aspects of Muay Thai.

Note: The British actor, Jason Statham, narrates this documentary film.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Betting on a Muay Thai fight at Rajadamnern Stadium

Gambling is banned by law in Thailand. The only exception made by the Thai government  is that it allows betting on Muay Thai fights. The bookmakers and gamblers make use of a complicated system of hand signals which can be best compared to hand signals used by traders on the stock exchange. During a fight you can see gamblers making frantic hand signals as they see their fighter lose or gain the upper hand during the fight.

This short documentary by Elite Boxing takes a closer look at betting on a  Muay Thai fight at Bangkok’s Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium. An experienced gambler takes the viewer among the seasoned gamblers and tries to explain the complex system of hand signals used to place a bet or to change  the stakes of the bet.

 

 

 

Muay Thai Documentaries: Human Weapon

History Channel’s “Human Weapon” is a martial art documentary series which has been on the air since 2007. In the series, Mix martial artist, Jason Cambers and former American Football player Bill Duff travel the globe  to train and closer examine the history, mechanics and role of the national martial art or combat system in that respective society.

During each episode, the two study the national martial of the country by training at different training facilities under the guidance of several masters of the respective martial art. By using computer generated images they try to demonstrate the possible damage on the human body inflicted by some of the martial art’s key techniques. But they also will try to go into the origin of the sport and the several variations of the art. And after a week of training, one of them will take on a representative of the martial art in the ring to test what they have learned.

The series gives the viewer greater inside in the respective martial art, like in their episode on Muay Thai. The couple went all the way back to the origin of Muay Thai, namely the different forms of Muay Boran which used to be practiced in different parts of Thailand, each with their own signature moves. But the couple also visits an elite unit of the Thai army which still uses some of those ancient techniques in their hand to hand combat. They also train at the jungle camp of one of Thailand’s most respected Muay Chaiya masters, which the closes thing to Muay Boran and is still being practiced. At the end of the episode they train in a Thai country side camp to prepare for the final fight in which Jason Cambers has to face a former Lumpinee Champion.  

Here are some of the episodes that have been aired: Thailand/Muay Thai, Philippines/Eskrima, Okinawa/Karate, France/Savate, Japan/Judo, Greece/Pankration, Israel/Krav Maga, United States/Marine Corps Martial Arts, United States/Mixed Martial Arts, China/Kung Fu, Russia/Sambo, Cambodia/Pradal Serey, Malaysia/Silat.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Fight Quest

Fight Quest is a documentary series on martial arts aired by Discovery Channel since 2007 and is hosted by Jimmy Smith, a mixed martial artist, and Doug Anderson, a decorated Iraq war veteran.  The hosts travel the word to examine the world’s most dangerous fighting arts. Each episode, they visit one country and study the national martial art of the country with local masters. At the end of each episode, both of them will face a local experienced fighter in the ring.

In their episode on Muay Thai, Doug trains at a traditional countryside Muay Thai gym in Ayutthaya were he trains with a family of which the father is the trainer at the camp and his two sons are professional fighters.  Jim is training at a more modern gym in Bangkok which has raised several champions. During the training, the two will try to explain the viewer the mechanics of the martial art and their possible effects of the opponent. They also try to analyze the training methods used by their trainers and how they work to perfect the art which they are studying.

They also go back to the roots of the martial art, its cultural aspects and how it is presently being experienced in the country. During their episode on Muay Thai for example, Doug studied the Wai Khru and tries to explain its role in Muay Thai.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Fight of Flight

Fight of Flight is the Multi-Award Winning Feature Film of Peter McCarthy. On his way home after a night out on the town in his Irish home town of Galway, Peter was attacked by group of men and almost lost an eye as result of this altercation.  This confrontation did not only leave him with fiscal scars but also affected him with a mental scar and it was this that convinced him to give up his life in Ireland to move to Thailand to learn the art of Muay Thai. 

The film follows McCarthy through his nineteen months in Thailand. During the first three months the viewer is introduced to McCarthy, mostly, through his trainers and a few fellow boxers, one of which is an outspoken and rather philosophical American. The story then moves through McCarthy’s first fight, a short stay at the Wat Ram Poeng Buddhist Monastery, nearly a year travelling up and down Thailand trying to discover the secrets behind what motivates fighters in Muay Thai, his second, and final, fight and a little beyond.

 

Muay Thai Documentaries: Raised In The Ring

Raised In The Ring is a documentary which shows us the strength, beauty and history of Muay Thai as an integral part of Thai culture. Muay Thai is part of a cultural practice steeped in history and religious reverence. More importantly, to poor people from the countryside, it is a career and a way to fight themselves and their family out of poverty. Raised In The Ring shows us what life is like in Muay Thai training camps in the Chiang Mai and Surin regions where children are “raised in the ring” in the hopes of offering them a better life through education and training. Many of these children come from impoverished farming families. In Thailand, boys are often expected to help provide for the family starting at the age of 14. At an early age, their training allows them to engage in Thai boxing fights for candy or small gifts, then they soon become old enough to fight for 300 baht ($10).

 

 

Muay Thai Documentaries: John Wayne Parr - Blessed With Venom

"John Wayne Parr: Blessed With Venom" is a documentary chronicling the life and career of Australian Muay Thai superstar and 7 times World Champion, John Wayne Parr. The documentary film gives the viewer an intimate insight into Parr's early years in Thailand where he endured rigorous training under primitive conditions, to the heights of awe-inspiring accomplishments all over the planet. The documentary also presents us a very personal side to the Gunslinger as a husband and father of two. The true John Wayne Parr is revealed here. Champion, devoted family man and all round nice guy - a true hero with infinite courage to his fans, respected by his opponents and loved by his friends and family.

The documentary also takes a closer look at decisive fights in Parr's career. From his bloody contests with Thai marvel Orono, which is considered the start of the Gunslinger's legend, to his recent battles with Mike Zambidis, Lamsongkram and the three, all out wars with superstar Yodsanklai Fairtex. We are witness as Parr comes back from 2 losses to ultimately defeating Yodsanklai in Melbourne – a blockbuster encounter between two giants of the sport – two modern day warriors doing what they do best – trading bone crunching blows in the brutal world of Muay Thai Boxing.

Muay Thai Documentaries: Buffalo Girls

Stam and Pet are two 8 year old girls who are growing up in rural Thailand but they are no ordinary girls both girls are professional Muay Thai fighters. The film 'Buffalo Girls' follows the girls during their training and fights at small underground arenas were they fight for prize-money in an effort to help to provide for their families. Their story is an insight in the lives of two girls who grow up as prize fighters and shows the hardship and emotions of their young lives. The climax of the movie is the day the two girls have to face each other in the ring to determine who can call her self the 20 kilogram champion of Thailand and can take home the prize money which will alter the destiny.

 

 

 

 

 

On this page we reviewed the best Muay Thai documentaries for you. If you're more interested in Muay Thai movies, Click here to go to our Muay Thai movies review page!