**Title: The Art of Eight Limbs: A Journey Through the History of Muay Thai Boxing****Description:**Dive into the captivating world of Muay Thai, Thailand's legendary martial art, with "The Art of Eight Limbs: A Journey Through the History of Muay Thai Boxing." This comprehensive exploration takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the ancient battlefields of Siam to the modern global stages where Muay Thai shines as a beacon of discipline, strength, and cultural heritage.**Key Features:**- **Rich Historical Insight:** Uncover the origins and evolution of Muay Thai, tracing its development from a survival skill to a respected sport and art form. Learn about the historical context that shaped Muay Thai, including its role in Thai society and its journey across borders.- **Legendary Fighters and Battles:** Get inspired by the tales of legendary Muay Thai warriors whose bravery, skills, and spirit have left an indelible mark on the martial arts world. This book highlights the stories of figures such as Nai Khanomtom, the revered "Father of Muay Thai," among others.- **Cultural and Spiritual Significance:** Delve into the profound cultural and spiritual aspects of Muay Thai, understanding how rituals like the Wai Kru and Ram Muay are integral to the practice and preservation of this art.- **Modern Evolution and Global Impact:** Explore how Muay Thai has adapted to the modern era, with insights into training methods, the introduction of rules, and the sport's spread across the globe. Discover how Muay Thai has influenced mixed martial arts (MMA) and become a global fitness trend.- **Stunning Visuals and Narratives:** Through vivid storytelling and engaging analysis, this book brings to life the essence of Muay Thai, making it accessible to both practitioners and enthusiasts eager to learn about its rich legacy.**Why Read This Book:**"The Art of Eight Limbs" is more than just a history book; it's an invitation to experience the heart and soul of Muay Thai. Whether you're a seasoned fighter, a martial arts aficionado, or simply someone fascinated by Thai culture, this book offers something for everyone. It's a tribute to the enduring spirit of Muay Thai and a testament to its role in fostering resilience, respect, and unity among its practitioners.Immerse yourself in the world of Muay Thai and discover why this ancient art continues to captivate hearts and minds around the globe. "The Art of Eight Limbs: A Journey Through the History of Muay Thai Boxing" awaits to inspire and enlighten you on every page. Read more

What do you know about Southeast Asia? Would you like to know more?Free History BONUS Inside!Southeast Asia has a long and complicated history. The many threads of its history are often found tangled with many other times, places, and political personalities. It can be a little difficult untangling the strands of these powerful Southeast Asian civilizations, but this book has really run the gamut as it pertains to finding the individual wellsprings from which all of these nations, kingdoms, and empires have sprung. Here you will learn the origins of majestic realms such as Indonesia, Burma, and the Philippines. Not only will you learn about their origin, but you will also discover how they evolved over the years and their current status today. This book covers ancient Southeast Asia, the mid-period, colonialism, World War Two occupation by the Japanese, the aftermath of the war, and the subsequent revolutions. The history of this region is a riveting story full of all manner of plot twists and developments. If you would like to learn more about Southeast Asia or are just up for an entertaining read, you’ve come to the right place!In this book, you will discover:How ancient Southeast Asian nations were foundedThe cultures and religions that were incubated in the regionThe dynamic trade networks that were establishedThe terrible wars that were foughtHow colonization affected the areaThe impact of Japanese occupation during WW2The postwar struggle for independenceAnd moreDon’t miss this opportunity to learn about the history of Southeast Asia. Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button today! Read more

The untold story of how America’s secret war in Laos in the 1960s transformed the CIA from a loose collection of spies into a military operation and a key player in American foreign policy.January, 1961: Laos, a tiny nation few Americans have heard of, is at risk of falling to communism and triggering a domino effect throughout Southeast Asia. This is what President Eisenhower believed when he approved the CIA’s Operation Momentum, creating an army of ethnic Hmong to fight communist forces there. Largely hidden from the American public—and most of Congress—Momentum became the largest CIA paramilitary operation in the history of the United States. The brutal war lasted more than a decade, left the ground littered with thousands of unexploded bombs, and changed the nature of the CIA forever. With “revelatory reporting” and “lucid prose” (The Economist), Kurlantzick provides the definitive account of the Laos war, focusing on the four key people who led the operation: the CIA operative whose idea it was, the Hmong general who led the proxy army in the field, the paramilitary specialist who trained the Hmong forces, and the State Department careerist who took control over the war as it grew. Using recently declassified records and extensive interviews, Kurlantzick shows for the first time how the CIA’s clandestine adventures in one small, Southeast Asian country became the template for how the United States has conducted war ever since—all the way to today’s war on terrorism. Read more

In A History of Thailand, Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit reveal how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree labour evolved into a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. They trace how a Buddhist cosmography adapted to new ideas of time and space, and a traditional polity was transformed into a new nation-state under a strengthened monarchy. The authors cover the contests between urban nationalists, ambitious generals, communist rebels, business politicians, and social movements to control the nation-state and redefine its purpose. They describe the dramatic changes wrought by a booming economy, globalization, and the evolution of mass society. Finally, they show how Thailand's path is still being contested by those who believe in change from above and those who fight for democracy and liberal values. Drawing on new Thai-language research, this second edition brings the Thai story up to date and includes a new section on the 2006 coup and the restoration of an elected government in 2008. Read more

A tale of piety, greed, debauchery and equanimity in a remote Asian kingdomIt’s 1875 and Chiang Mai, capital of Lanna, is a cultural crossroads of Buddhist monks and Christian missionaries, of spirit doctors and opium smokers, of seductive dancers and Western adventurers.A sharp rise in teak prices sets off a mad rush for logging concessions, and the forests of Lanna resound to the thwack of axes and the trumpeting of elephants as the mighty trees are felled.Enter Doctor Marion Cheek, a medical missionary and teak trader, whose exploits in this exotic realm – saving the life of the ruler’s wife, setting up a harem of local beauties and standing triumphant at the kingdom’s highest point – make him a legend in his lifetime. Read more

Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. In 2014, Koh Tao was the site of the brutal double murders of two British backpackers, but theirs weren't the only suspicious backpacker deaths.My name is Suzanne Buchanan. I am the former owner and editor of the Samui Times, a news publication on Koh Samui, and covered the stories of the so-called "backpacker murders" and other suspicious deaths. Although I am a British citizen, because of my investigation and stories, as well as my support for the two Burmese migrant workers sentenced to death for the murders, I had to flee Thailand for my own safety. There is currently an active warrant for my arrest should I return to Thailand, which had been my home for more than twenty years, and I continue to receive death threats.In "THE CURSE OF THE TURTLE" readers can make up their own minds on who is responsible for the murders that so devastated the victims' families. Were the Burmese migrant workers responsible? Or were the powerful, tribal families who run Koh Tao involved? And if so, were they aided by corrupt law enforcement? Read more

Jim Thompson was already a legend for the James H.W. Thompson Silk Company that he founded, when he disappeared in the Cameron highlands in Malaysia in 1967. Read more

A History of Thailand offers a lively and accessible account of Thailand's political, economic, social and cultural history. This book explores how a world of mandarin nobles and unfree peasants was transformed and examines how the monarchy managed the foundation of a new nation-state at the turn of the twentieth century. The authors capture the clashes between various groups in their attempts to take control of the nation-state in the twentieth century. They track Thailand's economic changes through an economic boom, globalisation and the evolution of mass society. This edition sheds light on Thailand's recent political, social and economic developments, covering the coup of 2006, the violent street politics of May 2010, and the landmark election of 2011 and its aftermath. It shows how in Thailand today, the monarchy, the military, business and new mass movements are players in a complex conflict over the nature and future of the country's democracy. Read more

From award-winning ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman, and written using exclusive interviews and information comes the definitive account of the dramatic story that gripped the world: the miracle rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave miles underground for nearly three weeks—a pulse-pounding page-turner by a reporter who was there every step of their journey out. After a practice in June 2018, a Thai soccer coach took a dozen of his young players to explore a famous but flood-prone cave. It was one of the boys’ birthday, but neither he nor the dozen resurfaced. Worried parents and rescuers flocked to the mouth of a cave that seemed to have swallowed the boys without a trace. Ranging in age from eleven to sixteen, the boys were all members of the Wild Boars soccer team. When water unexpectedly inundated the cave, blocking their escape, they retreated deeper inside, taking shelter in a side cavern. While the world feared them dead, the thirteen young souls survived by licking the condensation off the cave’s walls, meditating, and huddling together for warmth.In this thrilling account, ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman recounts this amazing story in depth and from every angle, exploring their time in the cave, the failed plans and human mistakes that nearly doomed them, and the daring mission that ultimately saved them. Gutman introduces the elite team of volunteer divers who risked death to execute a plan so risky that its American planners admitted, “for us, success would have meant getting just one boy out alive.” He takes you inside the meetings where life and death decisions were grimly made and describes how these heroes pulled off an improbable rescue under immense pressure, with the boys’ desperate parents and the entire world watching. One of the largest rescues in history was in doubt until the very last moment. Matt Gutman covered the story intensively, went deep inside the caves himself, and interviewed dozens of rescuers, experts and eye-witnessed around the world. The result is this pulse-pounding page-turner that vividly recreates this extraordinary event in all its intensity—and documents the ingenuity and sacrifice it took to succeed. Read more

If you want to discover the captivating history of Thailand, then keep reading... Free History BONUS Inside! Did you know that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that a European power has not colonized? Thailand has seen its fair share of struggles. Today, the Thai government struggles to find its place in the world, oscillating between democracy and authoritarian regimes. Even though its name translates to “Land of the Free,” it seems the country has some trouble living up to that name. This captivating guide to the Thai people and their history details the interesting events that led the country to where it is today. In this book, you will learn about the country’s rich history, from when the first people settled the land hundreds of thousands of years ago to its modern-day role in the world. Although Thailand’s prehistory and early rulers are discussed in the book, the book focuses more on Thailand’s history after 1238, as this was the year the people broke free of the oppressive Khmer rule and adopted the name “Thai,” which means “Free.” Thailand was greatly influenced by the Western nations, which was one reason why a European power never conquered it. However, despite embracing Western ideas and intertwining them with their own culture, Thailand has not followed in the West’s footsteps when it comes to governing, as the country has had only brief periods of true democracy. Learn how a country whose history is marked mostly by absolute monarchies and military dictatorships prides itself on its freedom. In this book, you will discover: Thailand’s prehistory and early rulersThe liberation from the Khmer EmpireThailand’s golden age under the SukhothaiThe powerful Ayutthaya KingdomThe Chakri dynasty, which still rules Thailand today20th-century coups and rebellionsAnd much more!So if you want to learn more about the History of Thailand, scroll up and click the “add to cart” button! Read more

Today, Muay Thai is considered by many to be the most dangerous stand-up fighting system. Muay Thai was originally used in combat by soldiers to protect their country from enemies. Therefore, the fighter needed to kill or finish fighting as quickly and efficiently as possible - and try their best to avoid the ground fight. In times of peace, Muay Thai was practiced as means of exercise, self-defense, and sports entertainment. In the old days, we called it Muay Thai boran, which means "ancient boxing."Muay Thai boran can be divided into 4 categories based on geographical regions:1. Muay Chaiya: Southern Style2. Muay Lopburi: Central Style3. Muay Korat: Northeastern Style4. Muay Tasao: Northern StyleToday, Thailand has an additional style which was developed by the Department of Physical Education to combine all 4 Muay Boran regional styles into one, which helps preserve the tradition and keep maneuvers up to date.This book is about Muay Phraya Pichai-dabhak, which was built upon Muay Tasao but includes a wider range of techniques, tactics, and weapons. Muay Phraya Pichai-dabhak was used by warriors in the old days, before the current era, to defend Thailand from Burma. This fighting system includes kicks, push-kicks, punches, knees, elbows, throws, grappling, head-butts, and various weapons.While Muay Thai is often seen as a stand-up fighting system, ancient Thai battlefield fighting systems incorporated grappling, breaking, and throwing techniques, which are similar to those found in Aikido, Judo, Wrestling, Traditional Jiu Jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In Thailand, this type of fighting was called Monkey and Ogre boxing.This work by Grandmaster Somporn Sangchai, a life-long practitioner of Muay Phraya Pichai-dabhak, is a complete record of this ancient and traditional fighting system of Thailand. This book has existed for decades in Thai language and has just recently been translated into English as part of Grandmaster Somporn's dream to share Thai martial arts with the world. He hopes readers from around the world can learn about and appreciate this classic form of traditional combat. Read more

Thailand is known for its picturesque beaches and famous temples, but there's much more to this popular holiday destination than many realize.A Brief History of Thailand offers an engaging look at the country's last 250 years--from coups and violent massacres to the invention of Pad Thai in the 1930's. Readers will learn the vibrant story of Thailand's emergence as a prosperous Buddhist state, its transformation from traditional kingdom to democratic constitutional monarchy and its subsequent rise to prominence in Southeast Asian affairs.Thailand's dramatic history spans centuries of conflict, and this book recounts many of these fascinating episodes, including:The true story of Anna Leonowens, the British governess hired to teach the children of King Mongkut, fictionalized in Margaret Landon's bestselling novel Anna and the King of Siam and turned into a hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and film, The King and IThe bloodless Siamese Revolution of 1932 that established overnight the first constitutional monarchy in Asia, ending almost eight centuries of absolute rule and creating a democratic system of parliamentary government The Japanese invasion of Thailand and construction of the "Bridge Over the River Kwai" made famous by the novel and Oscar-winning filmThe mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol, murdered in his bed in 1946, and a source of controversy ever sinceThe development of Thailand as an international playground during the Vietnam War, when American military used it as rowdy destination for servicemen on furloughThe 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, who was born in the U.S., educated in Switzerland, loved to play the saxophone and was idolized by his peopleWith this book, historian and professor Richard A. Ruth has skillfully crafted an accessible cultural and political history of an understudied nation. Covering events through the King's death in 2016, A Brief History of Thailand will be of interest to students, travelers and anyone hoping to learn more about this part of the world. Read more

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A full-color specialized guide for fitness, strength, and cross-training for Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts fighters as well as their trainersEffective martial arts training, especially for a demanding sport like Muay Thai, requires a prudent training plan. In Muay Thai Training Techniques, professional trainer Christoph Delp shows amateur as well as advanced fighters how to best utilize their training time, whether at home or in the gym, alone or with a partner or coach.A comprehensive guide for Muay Thai fighters as well as those utilizing Muay Thai techniques in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai Training Techniques includes over 300 full-color illustrations and photos. It teaches effective exercises to improve flexibility, stamina, and strength as well as basic fighting techniques such as feints, counters, and combinations. Muay Thai champions Saiyok Pumphanmuang and Kem Sitsongpeening are featured, demonstrating their own training methods and most effective techniques. Training is broken down into core components that any Muay Thai fighter or instructor can use to help build an individual training plan; several ready-made, detailed training plans are also included for beginners, intermediate, and advanced practitioners. Rounded out with crucial information on nutrition, weight classes, and the importance of regeneration to effective training, Muay Thai Training Techniques will help all Muay Thai fighters to take their practice to the next level. Read more

Early European visitors placed Ayutthaya alongside China and India as the great powers of Asia. Yet in 1767 the city was destroyed and its history has been neglected. This book is the first study of Ayutthaya from its emergence in the thirteenth century until its fall. It offers a wide-ranging view of social, political, and cultural history with focus on commerce, kingship, Buddhism, and war. By drawing on a wide range of sources including chronicles, accounts by Europeans, Chinese, Persians, and Japanese, law, literature, art, landscape, and language, the book presents early Siam as a 'commercial' society, not the peasant society usually assumed. Baker and Phongpaichit attribute the fall of the city not to internal conflict or dynastic decline but failure to manage the social and political consequences of prosperity. This book is essential reading for all those interested in the history of Southeast Asia and the early modern world. Read more

If you want to discover the captivating history of Southeast Asia, then keep reading...Five captivating manuscripts in one book:History of Southeast Asia: A Captivating Guide to the History of a Vast Region Containing Countries Such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, and MoreHistory of Thailand: A Captivating Guide to the Thai People and Their HistoryHistory of Vietnam: A Captivating Guide to Vietnamese HistoryHistory of Bali: A Captivating Guide to Balinese History and the Impact This Island Has Had on the History of Indonesia and Southeast AsiaHistory of the Philippines: A Captivating Guide to Philippine HistorySome of the topics covered in part 1 of this book include: How ancient Southeast Asian nations were foundedThe cultures and religions that were incubated in the regionThe dynamic trade networks that were establishedThe terrible wars that were foughtHow colonization affected the areaThe impact of Japanese occupation during WW2The postwar struggle for independenceAnd moreSome of the topics covered in part 2 of this book include: Thailand’s prehistory and early rulersThe liberation from the Khmer EmpireThailand’s golden age under the SukhothaiThe powerful Ayutthaya KingdomThe Chakri dynasty, which still rules Thailand today20th-century coups and rebellionsAnd much more!Some of the topics covered in part 3 of this book include: The BasicsAncient VietnamFour and a Half Centuries of IndependenceThe Ly DynastyThe Tran DynastyThe Later Le DynastyThe Europeans ArriveNew Powers and New DivisionsThe FrenchFrench RuleVietnam in TurmoilHo Chi Minh and the French Indochina WarThe Vietnam WarAnd much, much more!Some of the topics covered in part 4 of this book include: How the island of Bali was home to paleolithic humankindWhy Bali’s Asian biodiversity and rich, fertile soils are not found on the neighboring islandsWhat makes up the unique human heritage of indigenous BalineseHow the island retained its endemic Balinese Hinduism despite 1,300 years of Muslim influenceFrom where and from whom the Balinese learned their abundant skills in metalworking, crafting, sculpture, and artHow art and ritual offerings form the basis of Balinese life, from where the island draws its nameHow it was that the island nation of Bali was not interested in seafaring and maritime tradeAnd much more!Some of the topics covered in part 5 of this book include: That the Philippines is an area of biological and maritime megadiversity.Why the islands have one of the oldest, multi-layered histories on Earth.Why the Philippines was so attractive to colonizers.How the Spanish managed to rule a diverse archipelago for over three centuries.To understand the ongoing relationship between the United States and the Philippines.Why the islands are ethnically and culturally abundant but still unified.How history has created its own island regions of independent rule.Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about Southeast Asian history! Read more

From the author of Another Kyoto and Lost Japan, a rich, personal exploration of the culture and history of Bangkok, and an essential guide for anyone visiting the cityAlex Kerr has spent over thirty years of his life living in Bangkok. As with his bestselling books on Japan, this evocative personal meditation explores the city's secret corners. Here is the huge, traffic-choked metropolis of concrete high-rises, slums and sky trains; but also a place of peace and grace. Looking afresh at everything from ceramics to Thai dance, flower patterns to old houses, Kerr reveals one of Asia's most kaleidoscopically complex cities. Another Bangkok will delight both those who think they know the city well and those visiting for the first time. Read more

The Border Patrol Police (BPP) of Thailand was formed as a United States CIA’s paramilitary intelligence force in the early 1950s. In the early 1960s, changes in Thailand’s political leadership and the U.S. government’s strategies for fighting the spread of communism in Southeast Asia led to a transformation of the BPP. The organization became a civic action agency supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the Thai monarchy. Its civic actions, pinned on advancing anticommunist modernization, civilian counterinsurgency, and royalist nationalism, soon extended from the margins to the center of Thailand, and contributed to building the border of “Thainess” (khwam pen thai). The growing tension between the royalist network, consisting of military and rightwing groups, and the democratization movements culminated in a massacre. On October 6, 1976, the Village Scout, a rural vigilante group that the BPP created through its civic actions, and the Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit (PARU), a subunit of the BPP, attacked peaceful protesters at Thammasat University. The success of a military coup on the same day solidified the victory of the royalist network, and it would continue to dominate Thai politics and society into the post–Cold War era.Through a study of the Border Patrol Police’s transformations, Indigenizing the Cold War shows how the Thai ruling elite unfailingly pursued their nation-building. With an introduction of the “indigenization” concept and an in-depth analysis of postcolonial nation-building, this work challenges conventional Cold War studies. The Cold War in Thailand was not always and only about an ideological conflict between the communist and anticommunist. It was a war between the local ruling elite and the people, each pushing forward their visions for constructing a new nation-state. The “indigenization” framework reveals the nature of the collaboration between the global superpowers and the Asian local ruling elite, who took advantage of the American Cold War for legitimizing and continuing their authoritarian regimes. Read more

It is a cherished belief among Thai people that their country was never colonized. Yet politicians, scholars, and other media figures chronically inveigh against Western colonialism and the imperialist theft of Thai territory. Thai historians insist that the country adapted to the Western-dominated world order more successfully than other Southeast Asian kingdoms and celebrate their proud history of independence. But many Thai leaders view the West as a threat and portray Thailand as a victim. Clearly Thailand's relationship with the West is ambivalent.The Lost Territories explores this conundrum by examining two important and contrasting strands of Thai historiography: the well-known Royal-Nationalist ideology, which celebrates Thailand's long history of uninterrupted independence; and what the author terms "National Humiliation discourse," its mirror image. Shane Strate examines the origins and consequences of National Humiliation discourse, showing how the modern Thai state has used the idea of national humiliation to sponsor a form of anti-Western nationalism. Unlike triumphalist Royal-Nationalist narratives, National Humiliation history depicts Thailand as a victim of Western imperialist bullying. Focusing on key themes such as extraterritoriality, trade imbalances, and territorial loss, National Humiliation history maintains that the West impeded Thailand's development even while professing its support and cooperation. Although the state remains the hero in this narrative, it is a tragic heroism defined by suffering and foreign oppression.Through his insightful analysis of state and media sources, Strate demonstrates how Thai politicians have deployed National Humiliation imagery in support of ethnic chauvinism and military expansion. He shows how the discourse became the ideological foundation of Thailand's irredentist strategy, the state's anti-Catholic campaign, and its acceptance of pan-Asianism during World War II; and how the "state as victim" narrative has been used by politicians to redefine Thai identity and elevate the military into the role of national savior. The Lost Territories will be of particular interest to historians and political scientists for the light it sheds on many episodes of Thai foreign policy, including the contemporary dispute over Preah Vihear. The book's analysis of the manipulation of historical memory will interest academics exploring similar phenomena worldwide. Read more

First appearing in 2005 and quickly selling out, this fully revised edition of Thailand’s Political History continues in the same style as the first but with its scope dramatically widened. While the first edition began with a portrait of late Ayutthayan society, the new edition steps back to the thirteenth century, tackling some of the most topical and pressing historical debates at present. It discusses the development and evolution of the Siamese state from the early Sukhothai period through the fall of Ayutthaya to the rise of the Chakri dynasty in the late eighteenth century and its consolidation of power in the nineteenth. Moving into the twentieth century it traces the emergence of the Thai nation state, the large-scale investments in modern infrastructure and the concomitant economic expansion that have occurred since the 1950s onwards.A new final chapter brings the reader up-to-date and addresses Thailand’s current political situation spanning the rise and fall of Thaksin Shinawatra to the divisive and at times violent polarisation of Thai society. It traces the emergence of the rival Yellow and Red shirt protest groups, the takeover of Suvarnabhumi International Airport by the PAD and the occupation of Ratchaprasong intersection by the UDD and their eventual violent dispersal by the Thai military. Often at variance with the more dominant interpretations of nationalistic history and with a strong reliance upon primary sources, Barend J. Terwiel’s Thailand’s Political History makes a refreshing assessment of past events possible. Read more