Muay Thai Tattoos Phuket, Thailand
Tattoos @ Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training camp
The History of the Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
This is a Sakyant Buddhist Tattoo and it is the Thai name for the Thai art of Tattooing Sacred and intracate geometrical designs. Yant, are normally tattooed by Buddhist monks, or Brahmin Holy men, or even devout Buddhist artists. The Thai culture is very superstitious and most Thai people believe in spirits, ghosts, and magical charms and protection. The Sak Yant tattoos and artists have developed and changed over time for many different reasons.
The custom in Ancient Thailand (Siam) was that Muay Thai fighters, soldiers, and warriors would be tattooed with magical symbols, wards, and charms to try and keep their bodies hardened and protected from injury while at war or in battle. This increased the use of many Sak Yant tattoo designs, geometric patterns, and magical script or warding to be designed and developed to provide protection from swords, guns, knives, and hand-to-hand combat. Thailand has been to war with neighboring countries many times including 17 times against the Burmese (Myanmar) who actually captured the ancient capital of Siam called Ahyudhaya. Muay Thai fighters, soldiers,and warriors believe that if you cover your body with the Sak yant tattoos, it will make your body, skin, muscles, and joints invulnerable to attack and provide spiritual protection. Thailand shares a long border with Cambodia and the highly superstitious Cambodian people. Cambodia has a history of belief in magic in many forms, spirits, ghosts, wards, charms, and Shaman magic. In Thailand, they are called Madoo, or Witch Doctors in other cultures.
The use of Magic Yantra, scripts, geometric designs, and the ancient sacred alphabet. These Shaman were the first to write the sacred alphabet called "Khom Angkara" and it has been a part of the Cambodian culture and tradition for nearly more than a 1000 years. The design of Sak Yant tattoos in Thailand has changed dramatically over the centuries as the beliefs systems of the people change as well. Today in Thailand, you can get Sak Yant tattoos almost everywhere. The very superstitious Thai believe the tattoo must be done my a Buddhist monk, but many Thai also believe the protection comes from the belief in the magic and spiritualism rather than just the artist, and whether or not they are a Buddhist Monk. Sak yant tattoos are not just worn by Muay Thai fighters or soldiers. There is a large portion of the Thai and Cambodian people that believe in the magic and spiritual powers of the Sak Yant tattoos. From Doctors to Lawyers, and government workers to college students, the belief system of Buddhism, and/or in the tattoos is till popular today and growing.
Thai-Style Bamboo Tattoos @ Training Camp
Muay Thai tattoo aertists use the ancient form of tattooing with a small bamboo rod that taps the ink into the skin. This is the ancient and traditional style of tattooing that has existed in Thailand for 100's of years. A master artist using bamboo style inking and has tattooed countless guests at the camp in a variety of images. A popular bamboo style tattoo is a the whole back design which can take many hours to complete.
