Wai khru ram muay is a ritual performed by participants before fighting in Muay Thai competitions. Wai khru, or Wai kru, is a Thai concept that exists in almost all of Thai performance art - from traditional Thai music to classical Khon dance and fighting arts, such as Krabi Krabong and Muay Thai. The ritual consists of 2 parts: "Wai khru" and "Ram muay," made up of 4 different Thai words. Wai is a traditional Thai greeting with the palms together as a sign of respect. Khru is the Thai form of the Sanskrit word guru meaning "teacher." Ram is the Thai word for dancing in classical style, and Muay means "boxing." The full term can therefore be translated as "war-dance saluting the teacher," but Thai speakers generally shorten it either to Wai khru or Ram muay. At its core, the Wai khru ceremony reflects the deeply established values of Thai culture - values of respect for authority, gratitude for knowledge, and reverence for tradition. Similarly, the Ram muay is a series of choreographed movements often performed before a Muay Thai bout to show respect and gratitude to the fighter's teacher, parents, and ancestors. In the days when fighters fought in front of the royalty, the Ram muay also paid respect to the king.