Muay Thai Child Gladiators
Children of Muay Thai in Thailand begin training and fighting as young as 4 and 5 years old.These children are drawn in to Muay Thai prize-fighting, in what they see as a route out of poverty. Parents of poor children are keen for them to fight in the hope that if they start early enough they can develop the necessary conditioning and skills for big fights in Bangkok, where the money is.It is the country’s national sport and is to Thailand what football is to England, with leagues and successful fighters being treated like celebrities, which is what many of these youngsters hope to become.
These little fighters are upholding a centuries old tradition and despite their young age, the fight is very real with none of the boys holding back on kicks and punches and battle it out until they are left bruised and bloodied.
