LISA's SaWaDiKa & the History of Women in Muay Thai

LISA's SaWaDiKa put Muay Thai in front of a global audience in September 2026, crystal headgear and all. But the sparkle hides a surprising fact: until 2021, women weren't allowed to fight in Bangkok's two most famous Muay Thai stadiums, Lumpinee and Rajadamnern. Here's why, and how that changed.

SaWaDiKa: Thailand, turned up to full volume

Released in early September 2026, LISA's SaWaDiKa is a love letter to Bangkok. Shot across six locations in the city, the video packs in tuk-tuks, Thai trains, Chula kites, Thai-patterned fabrics and, of course, Muay Thai. Fans responded: the video passed 70 million YouTube views in its first 24 hours, the biggest first-day number on the platform worldwide in 2026 (The Nation).

A crystal-studded headguard leaning on the ring ropes? Very LISA. But for a lot of women who train, seeing one of the world's biggest stars put on gloves means more than a fashion moment. For most of Muay Thai's modern history, women in Thailand were kept outside the sport's most important rings.

Why women were banned from the ring

Muay Thai is more than a sport in Thailand. It carries rituals, spiritual beliefs and deep respect for the ring itself. Before a fight, boxers perform the Wai Kru Ram Muay to honour their teachers and bless the ring.

Part of that tradition was a belief that women, and in particular menstruation, would "pollute" the ring and bring bad luck to the fighters who used it. Origin stories differ. One popular account tells of a nurse who climbed into the ring to help an injured fighter, and was then blamed for a run of bloody knockouts that followed (Under the Ropes).

The result was a firm rule at the big stadiums: women couldn't fight there and couldn't even step into the ring. In many gyms, women were also expected to duck under the bottom rope instead of stepping over the top one, a custom you can still see today.

Women fought anyway

The ban never stopped women from training or competing. Thai women and foreign fighters built careers on smaller stadium cards, at festivals and on regional shows, often for less pay and less recognition than men. Many of today's top female fighters started young and fought dozens or even hundreds of times before the big stadiums opened their doors.

2021–2022: the doors finally open

Lumpinee, 2021. Facing pressure to modernise, Lumpinee rebranded and agreed to let women fight. Its first women's title bout, Buakaw Mor.Kor.Chor.Chaiyaphum vs Sanaejan Sor.Jor.Tongprajin for the WBC and Lumpinee mini flyweight titles, was held in 2021. On 13 November 2021, women fought inside the Lumpinee ring for the first time in the stadium's 65-year history (Wikipedia).
Rajadamnern, 2022. Thailand's oldest stadium, open since 1945, hosted its first four women's bouts on 22 July 2022 as part of the Rajadamnern World Series (Wikipedia).

In just a few years, women went from being kept out of these rings to headlining cards and fighting for stadium titles in them.

From banned to a pop-culture moment

That's what makes SaWaDiKa land differently. A Thai woman, one of the most famous artists on the planet, bringing Muay Thai into a global hit, only a few years after women were allowed into the stadiums. The crystals are fun. The history behind them is the part worth knowing.

If the video has you wanting to try Muay Thai, you're in good company. Women's classes are growing in gyms worldwide, and there has never been a better time to start.

Train like the women who changed the sport

At Athena Fightwear, we design for women who train, and we take our name from the Greek goddess of strategy and war. Find your fit in our women's Muay Thai shorts, protect your hands with handwraps made for women's hands, or start with a complete Muay Thai fighter outfit.

FAQ

Does LISA do Muay Thai in SaWaDiKa?

Muay Thai is one of the Thai cultural elements featured in the SaWaDiKa music video, along with tuk-tuks, Thai trains and Chula kites. While she is not shown doing Muay Thai in the MV, Lisa has been known to do Muay Thai/kickboxing training for fitness and her SaWaDiKa MV features 4 real Muay Thai fighters.

Why couldn't women fight at Lumpinee Stadium?

Traditional beliefs held that women, especially menstruation, would spiritually pollute the ring and bring bad luck to fighters. Lumpinee banned women from fighting or entering the ring until 2021.

When did women first fight at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern?

Women first fought inside the Lumpinee ring on 13 November 2021. Rajadamnern held its first women's bouts on 22 July 2022.

Can women train Muay Thai in Thailand today?

Yes! Women train at gyms across Thailand and now fight on cards at both Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, bringing some of the most exciting fights to date. Some gyms still follow traditions such as entering the ring under the bottom rope.

What should a woman wear to her first Muay Thai class?

Muay Thai shorts (especially Women's Muay Thai Shorts which fit more comfortably), a supportive sports bra or fitted top, and handwraps. Most gyms lend gloves for your first sessions.