In the past when they fought, fighters would bind their fists with rope. This  was to protect the bones in the backs of their hands, by making their fists tight and strong.

         Muay Chaiya wrapped the hands up to the wrists. While central Muay and Muay Lopburi wrapped to the middle of the forearm, and Northeastern Muay wrapped all the way up to the elbow.

         Mr.Tup Jamkor for example used to wrap his arms up to the elbow in a pattern called Kaeng Sing (Lion’s Shin) to protect the bone along the back of the arm, hand and fingers.