Thai army cadets set Muay Thai 'wai khru' ritual world record

Under six massive statues of Thailand's renowned kings thousands of army cadets, university students and a handful of volunteers perform a Muay Thai "wai khru" supplication and set a new Guinness World Record as the sun set in seaside resort Hua Hin.

The gathering, part of the international Muay Thai Festival currently taking place just outside the holiday town, has broken the previous record of 250 by having 3,660 participants simultaneously performing the traditional pre-match dance of respect for their coach.

Thousands of Thai army cadets, university students and a handful of volunteers performed a record-breaking Muay Thai "wai khru" ceremony, all under the watchful eyes of six massive statues of former kings.

The sunset gathering in Hua Hin, part of a Muay Thai Festival in the seaside resort town, broke the previous Guinness World Record of 250 by having 3,660 participants simultaneously performing the traditional pre-match dance of respect for their coach.

The sun had baked the sheets of concrete hot as the barefoot performers -- organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Royal Thai Army, and the culture and sport ministries -- filed onto the parade ground at Rajabhakti Park in front of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha.

Dressed in red uniforms with white Mongkhon headbands, as well as white Muay Kard Chuek ropes -- the hemp wrappings fighters wore before gloves -- the phalanx of men moved in near perfect unison to the directions of famed Muay Thai fighter Sombat "Buakaw" Banchamek.