DUO DRILL The military training performance “Hop To The Body Slam" (The Dance of The Royal Guards) is a training activity royally given by H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X). It serves as a way to relieve stress from training and duties while demonstrating their readiness, elegance, strength, and bravery in a manner befitting the royal guard tradition. This military performance is a customary training practice of the Royal Guard, a revered institution responsible for safeguarding the monarchy.
However, this training is not reserved solely for the royal guards; rather, most of the lowranked soldiers are also obligated to practise. It appears to be one of the state regulations that promotes extreme royalnationalism over the citizen’s body since the king choreographer is the commander-inchief of the Thai military.
The music was originally composed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) in 1948 called “March Ratchawanlop". The lyrics were later composed and edited in 1952.
___________________________________ Ratcha- (prefix) royal (raj) -wanlop (n.) friend, lover, beloved, favourite