01766nas a2200217   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002653001800043653001700061653002300078653001600101653001500117100002000132700001700152245007500169856014400244300001000388490000700398520112300405022002001528                                       d10aCombat sports10aFighting art10aInvented tradition10aMartial art10aMuay boran1 aMuller Jr, I.L.1 aA.M. Capraro00aMuay Thai: the consolidation of an invented tradition as a martial art  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85133445731&doi=10.14589%2fido.22.3.7&partnerID=40&md5=c5233e0b55572ac11ae8b5860f3409a6  a44-500 v223 aBackground. Some sources report Muay Thai has been part of Thailand’s history and heritage for hundreds of years. Problem. This study investigated whether Muay Thai originated from war contexts or was an invented tradition. Method. Analyzed books, scientific articles, and websites from professional and amateur Muay Thai organizations. Results and Conclusions. Muay Thai should not be considered an ancient martial art. In fact, Muay Thai is an invented tradition: a cultural heritage characterized by an artificial continuity with its remote past. Nevertheless, it is also considered a fighting art due to its cultural aspects, such as meditation, religion, music, dance, and the ritual of respect for one’s master. In most Western countries, this fighting modality is seen solely as a combat sport, disregarding its cultural aspects and emphasizing its technical efficiency and media appeal in MMA events. The Thai Government, through its cultural institutions and movie industry, spread this invented traditional narrative in an attempt to turn Muay Thai into one of Thailand’s Intangible Cultural Heritages.  a20843763 (ISSN)