Tomoi
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218830966
2008-06-12T10:39:05Z
124.122.141.207
'''Tomoi''' is the [[Malaysia]]n name for the South-East Asian [[martial art]] known in [[Thailand]] as [[Muay Thai]], in [[Cambodia]] as [[Pradal Serey]], and similar to an art from [[Myanmar]] known as [[Lethwei]].
Tomoi refers to ''siku lutut'', which in [[Malay language|Malay]] is translated literally as "elbows knees". It is not known exactly when Tomoi was first practiced but its name gives a clue to its age. The word tomoi derives from ''dhoi muay'' or ''dhee muay'' which is the [[Thai language|Thai]] word for pugilism and fist fighting in general. It was also the term used for bare fisted [[Muay Thai]], now known as [[Muay Boran]] (ancient boxing).
Tomoi is most widely practiced in northern [[Malaysia]] along the [[Thailand|Thai]] border. The [[Terengganu]] state was captured by [[Siam]] in the early 1800s. Tomoi was probably brought into what is now [[Malaysia]] long before this time since [[Malaysia]] has always been home to ethnic [[Thai people|Thai]]s. Even before British colonization it was a popular pastime among not only [[Thai people|Thai]]s but [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]]s, as well. Tomoi is practiced by Malays not because of its effectiveness in the ring but more toward its cultural espect. It remained so until [[1990]] when the [[Kelantan]] government under the administration of PAS banned a number of traditional arts including Malay attire, dances and tomoi along with them. Although it was still practiced by a few, tomoi's popularity among Malays began to wane and many began calling the art by its [[Thai language|Thai]] name of [[Muay Thai]]. In [[2006]] the ban was abolished and the art was again allowed to be practiced under the proposed name of "Muay Kelate". The preferred name used by promoters is freestyle kickboxing but most Malay-speakers in [[Malaysia]] still call it tomoi.
==See also==
*[[Kuntao]]
*[[Lethwei]]
*[[Muay Thai]]
*[[Pradal Serey]]
*[[Silat]]
==External links==
*Discovery Channel (Muay Thai) [http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/martial_arts/south_asia/muay_thai/index.shtml]
*GameLow.com (Muay Thai) [http://www.gamelow.com/Sports-M/Muay_Thai.php]
*[http://martialarts.com.my/community/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=12&storynum=10 Muay Thai, Malaysia] Community, Clubs, News
[[Category:Combat sports]]
[[Category:Malaysian culture]]
[[Category:Martial arts of the Malay archipelago]]
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