Wai khru ram muay (Thai: ไหว้ครูรำมวย) is an action of respect in Thai culture that is performe by participants in Muay Thai competitions. Wai is an action of Thais to show respect to others by putting the hands together like in prayer. Similar practices are as in pre-contemporary China where they place the left hand over the right fist or as in Japan where they bow. Khru means teacher. Ram means dance in the old Thai traditional style. Muay means boxing. Usually Thais prefer to call it short Ram Muay or Wai Khru. Ram Muay is the way to show respect to the teachers and the trainers. Also, in past muay Thai was usually fought in front of the king, so Ram Muay was also to apologize to the King for the brutality in fighting.