มงคล: the headband and the ring

The mongkhon is the cord headband a fighter wears into the ring. It is blessed, the kru puts it on and takes it off, and it is never put on the floor or stepped over. The armbands, prajiad, carry the same weight. You will not wear either in class, but you will see them on fight night, with the wai kru ram muay, the slow dance each fighter does around the ring to honour their teachers before the first bell. The ring itself is treated with care: no sitting on the ropes, no shoes. If a fighter hands you their mongkhon to hold, keep it high and give it back with both hands.