Muay Thai: Ranking Systems

Almost everyone is familiar with martial arts belt ranking systems, such as those used in Karate, TKD, Judo, etc. I have seen a couple of questions arise from time to time regarding ranking used in Muay Thai.

Universally, there is no ranking system other than a persons fight record. The only belt to earn is the Championship Belt. Hence the Muay Thai saying 'The Belt is in the Ring!'.

However, from gym to gym, there are ranking systems employed for a variety of reasons. Gyms throughout the world use their own private ranking systems within Muay Thai, my gym included. Even the Thai's have some honorary titles or rankings that they bestow upon boxers and students outside of a Championship Belt.

Ranking systems are primarily used for two purposes:

1. Dangling a carrot in front of a students nose. Face it, for those of us who do not live in Thailand, Muay Thai matches are often hard to come by. I live/teach on the East Coast of the US. When I was an active fighter (from '93-'97) I only had the opportunity to fight in 8 Muay Thai matches. Those matches all took place in '93 and '94. After that, I was unable to get fights for myself, though a few boxers in my gym were able to continue to compete. So, since fights are so hard to come by, the students still have a goal to work towards.

2. Keeping track of a students progress. By having students ranked, I know exactly what each person knows and what I need to teach them, rather than trying to keep mental track of each individual. With each rank, there are a set of techniques they are to be concentrating on to learn proficiently before they should concentrate on anything else.

I do not know the ranking structures of the other gyms throughout the world, but many of them use colored armbands called Kruang Ruang, or Paprachiat.

At SuriyaSak Muay Thai, for example, we use the following colors to designate ranking:

Yellow-Beginner Green-Intermediate Blue-Advanced Red-Accomplished Boxer Black-Instructor Black/Red-Accomplished Boxer/Instructor

The Yellow Paprachiat is earned after demonstrating proficiency in Muay Thai's basics. Such as the Round Kick, the Push Kick, Boxing, Straight Knees, and some of the Elbow Strikes

The Green Paprachiat is earned when the student has learned all of SuriyaSak's Muay Thai techniques with proficiency.

The Blue Paprachiat is earned when a student has demonstrated his fitness level and ring knowledge to such an extent as to be able to be put in a professional Muay Thai match (Thai rules).

The rest of the rankings are honorary, in that there is no real test.

The Red Paprachiat is awarded to fighters that have demonstrated good Muay Thai technique in the ring. Fighters must have at least 3 fights to be considered for this rank.

The Black Paprachiat is awarded to those Master K has certified as an instructor, and is thus able to teach Muay Thai on his or her own.

The Black/Red Paprachiat is awarded to one who has been certified to teach, and has also proven himself in the ring.

Keep in mind, when discussing ranking within Muay Thai, the only universally agreed upon ranking is a boxers fight record, or a Championship Belt. Any other ranking within Muay Thai only has significance within that particular gym, and its affiliates.

couldn't you just rank them on paper and not let any one know, so that there isn't the bad stuff that goes on with ranking?

-nak muay

Since I started competing in grappling tournaments i find that getting belts means less, but lots of guys dont plan on competing so it is important to them to earn something. There is no major harm in belts,everyone should just relax.

How did you do?

I think teachers with lots of sudents feel like that, they use the belts to remember guys and know where theyre at.

Do you wear belts? or armbands?

Kind of like BJJ.A purple belt knows most everything.Beyond that there is little difference.

I feel that your rank only says what your teacher thinks of you. Even within systems skill varies wildly, within rank. It is an accepted fact in BJJ that some teachers purples are as good as others browns, and so forth. Some teachers give out BJJ rank on tournament skill, others on self-dense skill. Look, at judo... in europe you must do well in competition to gain rank fast.But in america if you just hang around judo for 4 or so years youll get a blackbelt.

I see your point, but I think it's helpful for students ranks to be known. Who should the beginner turn to if the instructor is busy with someone else? That kind of thing...

As a note, though SuriyaSak employs a ranking system, most students in both schools really could care less about it. It's only there for those who want it, the rest just show up, work out, and learn...

My Muay Thai record was 6-2-0 with 3 KO's. I won an Amatuer Super Middleweight Title in 1994.

We use armbands. We award them, but we usually don't wear them while working out. Just in fights. The ones we use to designate ranking are expensive handmade ones from Thailand.

Did you get a badass belt or trophy to show your grandkids oneday?