Film Australia Video presents: Born for the Fight, The Art of Muay Thai.

Tape review by SDJ

Unlike the other videos I have reviewed so far, this is not a training video or a fight video; it is a documentary, which provides ' a fascinating insight into the history and culture of Thai people revealed through the ancient sport of Thai Boxing'. The video does not just rely on shot after shot of two boxers knocking each other around the ring to captivate its audience. It gives a detailed history of Thailand and how the Art of Muay Thai was formed over thousands of years on the battlefield against invading countries. It details the pride and culture of Thai people along with the principle religion of Buddhism and how these are tied in with this most Noble of Fighting Arts. As most of you will be aware Muay Thai is a traditional style of unarmed combat elevated to an art form over thousands of years as it grew on the battlefields of the never-colonised Thai people. It is perhaps the most advanced and ferocious of all the martial arts but at the same time holds a great deal of honour and is very closely tied in with the teachings of Buddhism. This video is more than just a Thai Boxing documentary it reveals what is fascinating about Thai people, their History and their Culture.

It follows the lives of three Thai Boxers as they train and prepare to fight. The first, a young boy of nine, who like so many young Thai Boxers are homeless and are taken in by the camps and taught much more than just how to fight. The second is a fourteen year old boy training in one of the most prestigious camps in Thailand and the third, a Muay Thai Champion as he prepares to defend his Title in the main fight stadium in Bangkok, Lumpini. The video shows how Thai boxers live in training camps with an almost continuos training regime to master their art. It reveals how Thai boxing offers a chance of escape from poverty for young boys in poor villages, it offers a chance for stardom and money, a Muay Thai Champion is indeed a National Hero. The video footage of the 'stars' of the video living, training and fighting is interspersed with interviews with the boxers themselves, their trainers and others.

Any one who is keen to learn more about the art form that they are learning, other than how to knock someone out will find this an extremely good addition to their video collection. If you are after a fight or training video then look else where, although I still recommend you at least borrow it to watch. I myself found it a great video to watch, it is by no means a slow dull documentary video, nothing about the Thai people or their culture is dull, far from it in fact, you get to see how they live and get to see three fighter s train and fight, want more could you want?!!?