Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai may be translated as ?Thai boxing? and refers to a martial art practiced in Thailand. It is the national sport of Thailand and is sometimes called ?the Art of eight limbs?. It is characterized by the use of feet, knees, elbows, and hands, in its fighting techniques. Other Southeast Asian counties also have almost similar styles of martial arts; Pradal Serey in Cambodia, Tomoi in Malaysia, Lethwei in Myanmar.
Muay Thai is popular throughout the world and is sometimes referred to as Thai kickboxing. Japanese and American style kickboxing are direct derivatives of Muay Thai.
Muay Thai in addition to its competitive and self defense aspects is popular as a vigorous an effective physical exercise regime.
Techniques Muay Thai is considered a ?hard? martial art and feature strikes using eight points of contact, namely from elbows, hands, feet and knees. This is different from western boxing with its two points of contact namely hands, and four points of contact namely hands and feet, in most other martial arts. Each of the eight ?limbs? have an extensive number of striking techniques associated with them.
Traditional Muay Thai fights proceed mainly through an exchange of strikes; however for modern competitions Mauy Thai has assimilated many other forceful striking techniques from other martial arts to prevent the opponent from striking back immediately. On the other hand in Mixed Martial Art (MMA) competitions the greater range of striking ability in Muay Thai has been a distinct advantage. Muay Thai techniques also feature lots of hip rotations. In addition grappling and clinching also take place in order to make use of the knees strikes.
Blocking of strikes is done through techniques involving fore arms, shins, knees, and shoulders. The standard boxing guard using gloves is also extensively used. More sophisticated blocking techniques allow for immediate counter attacks.
All this makes Muay Thai an exciting, tough, flexible, and physically demanding, martial art.
Training In order to successfully participate in Muay Thai sparring, vigorous and tough physical conditioning and training program has to be followed. This may include shadow boxing, running, rope jumping, abdominal exercises, resistance exercises, and weight training, among others. In addition special pads, heavy bags, focus mitts, and practice sparring, will also be part of the training.
Less vigorous and demanding exercise regimens can be followed by amateur Muay Thai practitioners who are merely interested in improving their fitness level instead of engaging in competitive sparring.
History Muy Thai along with similar martial arts in the region were derived from Krabi Krabong a Siamese martial art for weapons. A disarmed Krabi Krabong practitioner was trained to use fighting techniques like strikes and throws. Further development of these unarmed combat techniques resulted in Muay Boran, an older form of Muay Thai. Various regional forms of Muay Thai also evolved with special characteristics. Muay Thai was also a form of entertainment at Thai Royal Court.
Muay Thai influenced several other martial arts. Kickboxing which does not allow elbow and knee strikes is heavily influenced by the Muay Thai. Many Mixed Martial Arts styles extensively borrow from Muay Thai. Some practitioners of MMA consider it as the primary style of MMA. Military forces in Thailand use Lerdrit a modified form of Muay Thai.
Muay Thai rules for fights differ depending on the country and the fight organizer. The fights are generally organized into weight categories as in Western boxing.