Simple dha

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Is it correct to assume that bearers of these types of weapons are/were krabi krabong practitioners?
Regards
Marc

I would probably hesitate to apply a general term like that to all dha/daab users. Perhaps a better way to phrase it would be that certainly those within the standing militaries and palace structures (meaning also regional power centers) of the time had training in martial arts and sword work. Those in more rural areas, perhaps less so focused on just swords but certainly would have engaged in muay thai. Fights were common for entertainment and training purposes.

There were to my understanding a wide variety of local styles, schools, and techniques adapted to the many varieties of swords we see in the region. But I think generally it's safe to say that a bodyguard to a local ruler or governor certainly spent more time training than say, someone engaged as a caravan guard.

Modern krabi krabong is an amalgamation of styles and techniques, and I am far from knowledgeable on the subtleties of what differentiates it from older techniques, but I understand there are substantial differences.