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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