Physical Fitness Development for Khon Practitioner

Abstract

Khon is a performing art that involves various forms of body movement. These vary depending on the personality of each character: Phra (the male character), Nang (the female character), Yak (the demon character) and Ling (the monkey character). Therefore, khon students or practitioners need good physical fitness to develop their skills and competence and perform best according to the traditional Khon dance patterns. From the study, Phra and Nang were characters that emphasized the deliciated expressions.; they required the flexibility of their body. Hence, to settle a beautiful posture with good balance, yoga activities could be practised along with practising dance skills to develop physical fitness and improve and increase the core muscle strength of the Phra and Nang performers.

On the other hand, Yak was a character that required endurance and muscular strength. The endurance of the cardiovascular system and resistance training would enhance muscle and bone strength, whereas Ling was a character that required physical fitness related to many skills, such as speed, that the Ling performer should practice by running short distances at maximum speed, such as running a 50-meter sprint. Moreover, Ling performer needs to develop muscle power, the training that allows the muscles to exert maximum force in a short period of time, such as throwing, jumping, and somersaulting. Further is the development of agility, which is the skill of changing the direction of movement in a short period, such as practising zigzag, turning, and running. As a result, khon learners and khon teachers should know about building physical fitness, which is necessary for practising and performing, efficiently performing, and preventing injuries. Providing many training activities affects performance thoroughly.