Cock Fighting or Gamecock Fighting is still an immensely popular pastime in Thailand, especially in rural Northeast Thailand. Fighting Cocks, called “Gai Chon” are kept for the sole purpose of cock fighting.
In terms of Thailand’s cultural heritage, cock fighting is often placed alongside Muay Thai, you could almost say it is a way of life in Thailand, an estimated 200,000 people gather each weekend at cockpits to have a flutter or enter their own birds into the fighting arena.
Whilst much of the world view cock fighting as a barbaric and cruel sport, and thus has outlawed it, cock fighting is still legal in Thailand and many other South East Asian countries. But Thailand has regulated cock fighting in recent years.
The use of artificial spurs armed with blades and spikes is no longer permitted and birds are not required to fight to the death.
Despite the obvious brutality of fighting, gamecocks are usually extremely well looked after, constantly pampered and groomed, and during breaks in a fight they are treated much like a boxer is by his trainer and cornerman.
I’m not condoning cock fighting, I’m merely speaking matter of fact, I haven’t witnessed enough to form an opinion but I would like to go and see the real thing one day just for the experience, after that I may utterly oppose it, who knows.
The cock fighting photos and link to the video on this page are of a sparring session in Buriram. The cocks spurs were heavily taped to prevent any injury. Needless to neither bird was injured, after it was deemed they had enough of a workout to keep in fighting shape they were separated.
It’s just another day in Buriram, you never know what’s going to happen next, one minute you are bored out of your mind, and the next minute there’s a cock fight happening, out of the blue. My wife’s nephew pulled this cocky bird (photo above) from under his shirt.
I wasn’t ready for a fight, they just turned up with the cocks and I was like a headless chicken trying to set my camera up.
I’ve read a few different theories about cock fighting, one thing is for sure, place 2 cocks together and they will fight, but would they naturally fight to the death or just until they have established a pecking order? Can you train a cock to fight better? can you train a cock to fight to the death?
Click on the image below to watch the video on Vimeo.
A popular legend in Thailand is that Prince Naresuan won Thailand’s independence from Burma when his gamecock won a challenge against that of a Burmese prince.
Cock Fighting facts.
- The U.K banned cock fighting in 1849.
- There are more than 100 breeds that will fight.
- Cock fighting is said to be the oldest spectator sport in the world.
- Cock fighting has been present in Thailand for hundreds of years, dating back to at least the 12th century.