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Making MAE SOKS
Making mae sowks is relatively simple:
- take a round bole of wood (hard wood if possible)
- ~ 10-12 cm in diameter
- ~ 42 cm long (your elbow to your finger tips)
- cut it length-wise down the middle
- put two pegs in-line in the flat face at one end of each
- drill a hole parallel to the flat face
- run cord/rope through hole as a forearm loop
(Drawings and plan with additional detail coming soon)
Pictured below are a pair of typical mae sowks purchased near Chiang
Mai.
These are painted a simple black varnish. Others can be found that
are decorated with traditional patterns.
In an effort to develop the concept of the forearms
shields (and due to a lack of good examples), several prototypes
were produced at maelstrom. These tended to be over-heavy and somewhat
impractical. However they have been used in Dog Brothers-style combat
(albeit with limited contact).
The most elegant pair so far produced (with the help
of a very skilled wood craftsman) have included some interesting
features such off-center pegs, deep arm groove, and peg holes to
let the two pieces fit together.
Any doubts about how they work can be relieved by
watching Tony Jaa demonstrate their utility (in Ong
Bak). As well, a demo is available by ajahn Stephen Wilson
( showing the short "ram
sowks" (performed by Brian Dobler).
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