Orathai Boonyarit, 14, hissed like a snake as she kicked and punched her opponent. (Thomas Fuller/International Herald Tribune ) Femininity, with a sharp jab, in Thailand Obedient and gracious at home, girls hold nothing back in ring NERN MAPRANG, Thailand: "To be a good girl," says Pannipa Chaiyated, a demure 13-year-old, "you must have manners, speak politely and help with the housework." That's when she's not slugging her opponents in the ring. In a country where femininity is highly prized and girls are often told by their parents to be discreet, obedient and gracious, female boxing is now a surprise hit. Chanin Preechakul, founder of the Women's Thai Boxing Club of Thailand, estimates that more than 100 boxing camps around the country train girls, with a high concentration in Thailand's poor, rice-farming heartland. "Ten or twenty years ago, there was a saying that any female boxer who had three matches in one year was very lucky," Chanin said. "Now there are matches every weekend." With its roots in military training, Thai boxing, or muay Thai, is a rough sport that can make Western boxing look courteous. The sport was once known as nawa arwut, literally "nine weapons," because the goal was to teach soldiers that even if they had no knives or guns they could use two hands, two elbows, two knees, two feet and their head to battle their enemies. The rules have evolved: boxers are no longer allowed to head-butt their opponents and are also barred from biting, spitting, pulling hair, poking at the eyes and sticking out their tongues. But a well-placed knee to the kidney or a kick to the head or neck is fair game - and encouraged. Muay Thai has for years been popular among martial arts enthusiasts worldwide, both women and men, and has been adopted by the gym crowd for its disciplined workout regimen. But it is only in the past few years that the sport has taken off for girls and women in Thailand, partly because a slowing economy has tightened belts and girls are lured by the cash they receive for fighting. The sport is also being promoted more aggressively. At the Bangkok Boxing Stadium, one of the three main venues for muay Thai in the capital, fights for girls and women are held every Saturday afternoon. More here: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/13/africa/thai.php