Ram Muay and Wai Kru: the pre-fight ritual explained

Wai Kru: the bow to teachers

Wai Kru (Thai: ไหว้ครู) is the pre-fight ritual of respect to teachers, parents and the lineage. The fighter circles the ring, seals the corners, then kneels and bows three times before rising into the Ram Muay dance. Also written Wai Khru. Glossary: Wai Kru

The sequence, as Muay Thai Citizen and Wikipedia describe it: the fighter circles the ring counter-clockwise - some say three times - pausing to say a short prayer at each corner, right hand on the rope. This is the part called sealing the ring (IFMA's rulebook names it Krob Kru), keeping negative forces out of the fight to come. Only then does the fighter kneel and bow to the canvas three times. Under IFMA's rules (v3.057, revised 11 May 2026) every athlete must perform the Wai Kru before the first round (rule 20.1), the minimum is the Thep Pa Nom and Kom Krab postures with three prostrations (20.2), and in IFMA competition sealing the ring is reserved for finals (20.2.1) - stadium shows run to their own customs, where sealing the ring is a standard part of the ritual.

Ram Muay: the dance

Ram Muay (Thai: รำมวย) is the danced portion of the pre-fight ritual, performed to sarama music. Movements are stylised and often tell a story; each camp or region has its own sequence. Also written the boxing dance. Glossary: Ram Muay

Watch two fighters from different camps and you will see different dances. Trainers can often name a fighter's camp or lineage from the Ram Muay alone - it works like a signature.

Yang Sam Khum: the three-step walk

Inside the dance, the Yang Sam Khum (Thai: ย่างสามขุม) is the three-point stepping pattern in which the fighter advances and changes lead with three deliberate steps. It mirrors the footwork used in the fight itself. Also written the three-step walk. Glossary: Yang Sam Khum

Sarama: the music

The ritual is not performed in silence. Sarama (Thai: สะระหม่า) is the live music that accompanies the Wai Kru and the fight, played by a small ensemble of pi chawa (oboe), klong khaek (drums) and ching (cymbals). Wikipedia's sourced article describes the tempo as slow and stately during the ritual, rising once the fight commences and building with the action; IFMA's rulebook names the same instruments (java pipe, small cymbals, two drums) and allows a recording when no live band is available. Also written wong pi klong. Glossary: Sarama

If you have only ever heard Muay Thai through a television mix, the live sarama is one of the sounds that makes a stadium night what it is.

Mongkhon: the headband

During the ritual the fighter wears the mongkhon (Thai: มงคล): the sacred headband worn during the Wai Kru. Under IFMA's rules the mongkhon is mandatory for the homage (rule 15.9.3: "Athletes must wear the sacred headband (Mongkon) for paying homage during the Wai Kru"), and the same competition-dress rules that specify the shorts, singlet and head guard for the bout itself mention the mongkhon only for that homage. Also written Mongkol and Mongkon. Glossary: Mongkhon

One practical point follows. The armbands (prajead) are a different matter: IFMA's rule 15.9.3 lets a fighter keep a prajead on the upper arm, biceps or waist during the bout itself, so long as the strings stay short. The headband belongs to the ritual.

Watching the ritual at a stadium

The full sequence - Wai Kru, Ram Muay, sarama played live - runs before every bout on a stadium card, not just the main event. Arrive for the first fight and you will see it a dozen times in one night, which is the fastest way to appreciate how much the dances differ between camps. Our stadium guides cover the Bangkok venues and what a fight night costs.

What this means if you are starting out

You will not be asked to perform a Wai Kru in your first weeks. Many gyms teach a simple version once you have been training a while, and what your coach expects is the rule that matters. Our first class guide covers what early sessions actually look like, and the history of Muay Thai gives the ritual its context.

Sources for this page, read 23 Oct 2026: Wikipedia: Wai khru ram muay · Wikipedia: Sarama (Thai music) · Muay Thai Citizen: Wai Kru Ram Muay · IFMA Rules & Regulations v3.057 (11 May 2026), rules 15.9.3 and 20. The common claim that the mongkhon belongs to the camp is repeated in our glossary entry, but we found no owning source for it, so this page does not repeat it. Thai spellings vary between regions and transliteration systems, and Thai is tonal. Definitions on this page match the 306-term glossary.

FAQs

What is the Wai Kru in Muay Thai?

The Wai Kru (ไหว้ครู, WHY KROO) is the pre-fight ritual of respect to teachers, parents and the lineage. The fighter circles the ring, seals the corners, then kneels and bows three times before rising into the Ram Muay dance.

Why do Muay Thai fighters dance before a fight?

The dance is the Ram Muay (รำมวย), the danced portion of the pre-fight ritual, performed to sarama music. Movements are stylised and often tell a story; each camp or region has its own sequence.

What is the music played during the Wai Kru?

Sarama (สะระหม่า): live music from a small ensemble of pi chawa (oboe), klong khaek (drums) and ching (cymbals). It plays through the Wai Kru and the fight itself, speeding up as the rounds progress.

Do beginners have to learn the Ram Muay?

That depends on your gym. Many teach a simple version once you have been training a while, and what your coach expects is the rule that matters. Watching it first helps: our first-class guide covers what a beginner's early sessions actually look like.