Yaang Sam Kun – The three-step walk

The famous Thai boxer’s walk is one of the most important Muay Thai techniques to master. It is the basis of all footwork in Muay Thai boxing and is of such crucial importance that without mastering it completely you will never be able to move on to an advanced level. During the Ram Muay pre-fight ritual dance the walk is stylistic and graceful. Different styles of the Yaang Sam Kun developed differently, in different areas, under different masters. But the basic movement is the same and is designed to maintain balance.

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Guard and Movement

Proper knowledge of boxing guard is essential. There is enormous potential physical harm to a body not properly guarded. Regardless of what movement or direction a boxer takes the boxing guard must be strongly maintained. If you are not properly protected you will feel insecure and lose confidence in your abilities as a boxer. The body should be angled towards opponent, the rear arm protecting the flank and abdomen. Your less dexterous foot (the left if you are right-handed) is placed forward with the toes pointing to your opponent. The rear foot should have the toes pointing a little to the side. (The feet should not be placed exactly parallel as this compromises balance.) The heels should be raised so that you can shift the weight between the balls of your feet and remain in a constant state of readiness. Legs should not be held straight. Tuck your chin in. The forearms should be raised for protection. Elbows should remain close to your body. Fists should be loosely clenched. Your less dexterous hand (left if right-handed) should be held to eyebrows, extended slightly to the front in the same direction as the front foot. Do not strain the body to maintain the pose – relax. If you relax you can be quick enough to see your opponent’s weapons coming.

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Vulnerable Targets

Every Thai boxer should be aware of the vulnerable points on the human body and must find ways to protect them.

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Muay Thai Weapons

Modern Thai boxers have an arsenal of eight weapons to choose from: fists, elbows, knees and feet. While it may be possible for a Muay Thai boxer to win a particular fight using exclusively just one of the weapons available to him, by properly mastering the use of each of his weapons he will be able to confidently face any opponent.


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An insight into muay thai kick boxing

The exact date muay Thai kick boxing was started is hard to narrow down, but it does date back all the way to medieval times. King Nareasen made it famous in 1560 AD when he was given a chance to fight for his freedom. King Nareasan was victorious, freed, and returned home where he declared the fighting style (then called Siamese style boxing) a national sport.

The art of muay thai kick boxing is known as both a hard martial art and as "the deadly art." Muay thai kick boxing is a self defence art developed in Thailand and it enjoys immense popularity in many south-Asian countries as well. There is a wide variety of forms and styles, just like other styles of martial arts.

Muay thai kick boxing is the national sport of only Thailand, though it has become popular in many other countries. The main point that separates muay thai kick boxing from western developed boxing is the fact you are allowed to use shins, knees, elbows and fists. The fighter is able to use 8 parts of his body to strike his opponent.

About 50 years ago, boxing gloves where introduced - before this it was more common to bond smashed shards of glass to a rope binding around the hands. This practice was ended when international muay thai kick boxing tournaments began. This ultimate full-contact martial art, builds stamina and mental toughness. In Thailand, every boy is mandated to learn muay thai and most girls will learn at least some basic moves.

Muay thai kick boxing is designed to be performed unarmed, as every move can be done with combinations of eight body parts. Unlike other forms of martial arts where grappling is done on the floor, the grappling done in muay thai kick boxing is done while standing. The most common techniques used while grappling are attempts to hit the opponent's stomach or head with the knees. Muay thai kick boxing appears as an extremely violent form of martial arts. Contrary to how it appears, it actually provides you with anger control and a constant strive for peace and unity.

By Eddie Maclean
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A Guide To Thai Boxing

You mostly know Thailand for its picturesque nature, lovely people, wonderful culture, gorgeous beaches, fantastic temples, superb nightlife, and delectable foods, but the country is also known for Muay Thai. Thailand is home to Muay Thai. It certainly is an excellent destination to enjoy and learn Muay Thai. You know Muay Thai?

Literally, Muay Thai means Thai boxing. It is national sport of Thailand, and Thais call it “The Art or Science of the Eight Limbs,” as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are greatly used in this art. It is actually a kind of hard martial art that is practiced in several countries in the Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, it’s known as Pradal Serey, in Malaysia, it is Tomoi, in Laos, it is Muay Lao, and in Myanmar, it’s called Lethwei. It’s pretty much related to Kung Fu or Silat.

Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand. It is believed that Muay Thai has originated from Muay Boran (ancient boxing), which was a way of combating that was used by Siamese soldiers, along with Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style. The modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit is still used in Thai Military. The martial art was greatly kept up by the Thai Buddhist monks, who were regarded as the keepers & teachers of all spiritual & practical arts. They taught the art to their disciples for the general good and welfare of the society.

Muay Thai was often promoted for self defense. Thai kings often invited skilled fighters to Royal palace to teach Muay to their personal guards, soldiers, and princes. The royal fighters were called royal muay (muay luang). Muay Thai was greatly patronaged by the Thai kings. It’s said that during the Ayutthaya Period, the king set up a platoon of royal muay guards that was named Grom Nak Muay (Muay Fighters' Regiment).

During peace, Thais started using Muay Thai for physical exercise, self-defense, recreation, and personal advancement. Gradually, Muay Thai became a sport in which the participants fight in front of spectators. Codified rules for Muay Thai were scripted, after a death occurred in a ring. According to the new rules, the fighters were required to wear modern gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was around 1920s the term Muay Thai became widely popular.

Muay Thai has been highly celebrated in the Thai movies, such as Ong-Bak, Tom-Yum-Goong (The Protector in the US, Warrior King in the UK), and Born to Fight. It’s dynamically featured in the Jean Claude van Damme movie, Kickboxer, which is about a young fighter, who learns Muay Thai to take the revenge of his brother, paralyzed by the current fighting champ.

Thai boxing is extremely popular traditional sport in Thailand. It’s widely practiced and loved in Thailand. You can very much learn the martial art in Thailand, but you’ll have to become a disciple of an expert teacher for learning art. You can find professional Thai boxing teachers just in Thailand.

By James Burrows
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Muay Thai : About

Muay Thai (pronounced [muait?ai]; Thai ??????) literally Thai Boxing and also known as The Art of the Eight Limbs is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. It is known as Pradal Serey in Cambodia, Tomoi in Malaysia, Muay Lao in Laos and as a similar style called Lethwei in Burma. The different styles of kickboxing in Southeast Asia are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the Malay peninsula. The Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit.[1]

Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies slightly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A master practitioner of Muay Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts.

Various forms of kickboxing have long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia. Muay Thai's origin in Thailand can be traced back to its ancestor Muay Boran ("ancient boxing"). This was the form of unarmed combat used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style [1]. The precedence Muay Thai and Muay Boran give to the kicks is only indigenous to Thailand and the surrounding area, since Indian boxing as well as most southern Chinese styles use only low kicks sparingly. Another influence from Thailand's weapon style can be seen in the pre-fight Wai Kru ritual which is based on the sabre dance of Krabi Krabong. Neighbouring countries such as Cambodia or Myanmar also show signs of influence one way or the other. Eventually Muay Boran was divided to

There is a phrase about Muay Boran that states, "Punch Korat, Wit Lopburi, Posture Chaiya, Faster Thasao.

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