In ancient Thailand, warriors fought countless battles for survival, relying on combat techniques that became, over time, highly efficient and deadly. In the era before guns, wars were fought at close range with arrows, spears, swords, farming tools, knives and myriad other handheld weapons. Thus the deadly war art of Thailand was forged and tested in blood. Early in the 20th century, the old systems were codified and given a common name - Krabi-Krabong - literally "saber and staff." Krabi-Krabong is relevant to today's martial artist because of its practical application as a fighting art. Based on a series of universal principles for movement while fighting, Krabi-Krabong's deceptively simple basic motions can be learned quickly and adapted for combat use with virtually any weapon: staff, sword, knife, broomstick, hammer or baseball bat. In addition, Krabi-Krabong contains an extensive empty-hand fighting system, Muay Thai Boran, the forerunner of modern-day Thai boxing. A small community of dedicated martial artists continues to practice Krabi-Krabong, preserving its rich traditions and methods and providing training for the king's elite bodyguards. In this book, Kruu Pedro Villalobos gives you an introduction to Krabi-Krabong's history, primary weapons and modern fighting strategies and techniques, plus a captivating guide to the cultural and spiritual side of this historic martial art.

Kruu Pedro Villalobos is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced Krabi-Krabong/Muay Thai fighters in the world. He received his certification in Krabi-Krabong from the prestigious Buddhai Swan Sword Fighting Institute in Thailand and is now the head instructor of the Ancient Muay Thai Sangha School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.