What is Muay Thai? The ultimate guide to Muay Thai

Then the signal for the match was given, Nai Khanom Tom rushed forward, elbowing and pummeling his opponent in the chest until the latter collapsed. This decision prompted the other Thai boxers to vounteer to fight together with Nai Khanom Tom to avenge him. Evolve Mixed Martial Arts® is Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has authentic World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, and No-Gi Grappling. It does not cost much to pick up a pair of new gloves, or you could set yourself up for the long-haul with a pair that is built to last from the Evolve Fight Gear store. There are plenty of other sizes available, but for first-timers who are not yet ready to start sparring, 10oz or 14oz is ideal.

To break through a door, imagine the approach of a Muay Tae as a battering ram, and a Muay Mat as an explosive device. A Muay Femur, on the other hand, would swiftly and tactfully remove the screws and bolts that hold the door together. To put it another way, their vision, observation, and free-flowing, technical style is built around deconstructing an opponent with style and poise rather than brute force. What they might lack in strength and explosiveness, they make up for in skill. First up, is the horizontal elbow, which is effectively the first elbow strike a https://thenewsgod.com/the-ascent-of-muay-thai-in-thailand-a-rich-cultural-spread-and-sporting-force/ newcomer should get acquainted with.

Wai kru is the ceremonial and cultural introduction to each muay thai bout, and is performed by every muay thai boxer before a contest. However, it has also been turned into a standalone competition discipline, with athletes performing the wai kru ritual and being judged for it. The word muay means “boxing”, leading to a direct translation of muaythai (also sometimes written as two words, Muay Thai) as “Thai boxing”. The sport has a history dating back to the 1600s, when it was first recorded in Thai history. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that the rules of muaythai were finally written down.

muay thai

Simply put, your defense is the wall preventing your opponent from entering your domain. Be the king or queen of the castle, and ensure they are kept out as much as possible. Of course, an attacking platform from the clinch is determined by your control of your opponent. Working your way into a position of dominance is crucial for creating openings. If you haven’t already factored your gas tank into the equation, now is a time to think about it. Clinching can really drain a fighter, so remember to be efficient with your energy.

  • The main punch techniques include the straight lead punch (jab), straight rear punch (cross), uppercut, hook, overhead punch, and spinning back fist.
  • Without expert knowledge, you could end up failing to keep up with a group of experts, or struggling to learn ineffective techniques from a con artist at a McDojo.
  • For example, you can feint a low kick to drop your opponent’s guard.
  • Muay Thai is widely recognized as the most effective stand-up striking martial art while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is acknowledged as the most dominant grappling, ground fighting martial art.
  • Fists are wrapped in hand wraps and boxing gloves to protect both the striker and the opponent.

When beginning your Muay Thai journey, it is important to remember to master the basics in stages, starting with your stance and footwork. The most prolific brand name in today’s global Muay Thai landscape. From a complete range of products to international fight events and an unceasing drive in promoting the sport, YOKKAO’s 360-degree operations are unprecedented in the history of Muay Thai. For safety and fairness, professional Muay Thai promotions will always provide boxing gloves. Glove sizes between 6oz to 10oz are prescribed based on the weight divisions.

He organized official matches between masters of all regions in front of the grand palace. So, when he joined the ring, he was said to overwhelm 3 masters of that time. Thai people know how to swing a devastating kick from their first day on earth.

Muay Thai Music is played during matches, and gambling is a big part of Muay Thai. The upward elbow is a fierce strike that can really help a fighter get the better of their counterpart. The mechanics of this technique requires the practitioner to generate upward momentum when targeting the opponent’s chin, jaw, or nose. By pushing upwards, the force carried forward (if landed flush) will push or jolt your opponent’s head backward, potentially ending the fight in the process. The horizontal knee is effective when thrown from the rear and lead legs. When in the clinch, the switch can also catch an opponent off guard, which adds to the variety of this knee strike.

People who are training to compete in fights will train intensely for 5-7 days per week. Most training happens within dedicated Muay Thai gyms, and often MMA gyms nowadays. Whilst participants are aiming to land as many shots on each other as possible – they must also endeavour to evade the shots that are being thrown at them by their opponents. With its roots in Thailand’s military, It is now trained across the world and numerous organisations broadcast Muay Thai ring fighting events to millions of fans globally. It’s also a key component of MMA styles such as the fighting you would see in UFC or Bellator bouts. Known as the “science of 8 limbs, it incorporates strikes using the fists, knees, shins and elbow as well as an element of grappling.

They would often go through 5-6 opponents in a row, for approximately 10 minutes, to improve their clinching skills while building endurance and stamina. If a fighter can train for 10 minutes without a break, then a 3 minute round in the ring will be much easier to endure. The Muay Thai circle of training is still practiced today, and is a training technique commonly used at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA training camp, Phuket, Thailand. In Muay Thai, fighters can use punches to hit their opponent’s head or body, just like in boxing.

Muay Thai is widely regarded as the most effective striking discipline on the planet. Also known as the “Art of Eight Limbs” (as competitors can use their fists, elbows, knees, and legs), Thailand’s national sport prides itself on being the most technically superior of the stand-up arts. Unlike many martial arts that focus on katas (or forms), Muay Thai is straightforward and to the point. There is no elaborate or detailed choreography and the moves are not designed to be performed for entertainment purposes. Muay Thai is a stand-up striking style that was developed to hurt the opponent in the most efficient way. They are effective yet instinctive enough to be picked up easily.