Jul 04, 2008 11:57:29am

Muay Thai

Muay Thai

You might have heard about it, or even seen it on TV - the furious punches, crushing elbow strikes, lethal kicks, powerful grappling and artful feints. Welcome to the exciting world of Muay Thai, a martial art like no others, and a proud heritage of the Thai nation. Originally designed for the battlefields of Siam, Muay Thai has now become one of the most devastating fighting arts in the ring. Muay Thai uses only the most effective offensive and defensive moves. They are based on the eight limbs of the body - hands, elbows, feet and knees.

The History of Muay Thai

The history of Muay Thai is interwoven with the history of the Thai people. Gentle, peace-loving people, for centuries Thais had to defend themselves and their land from aggressive powers. They developed a form of close, hand-to-hand combat best suited for the kind of rough-terrain battle they were fighting. Over time, it became a rite of passage for Thai men to take up training in this martial art. King Naresuan the Great (1555-1605), one of the country’s most celebrated warrior-heroes, is believed to have been an excellent boxer himself, and it was he who made Muay Thai a required part of military training. Another milestone in the history of Muay Thai was the triumph of Nai Khanom Tom over 10 Burmese boxers in 1774. Taken captive after the Thai capital fell in 1767, Nai Khanom Tom was picked to fight before the Burmese king. After defeating ten of them in a row, he was freed and returned home a hero. In the old days, Muay Thai was a dangerous sport, with no safety gear of any kind for the fighters, and only lengths of cords to wrap around the fists in place of gloves. Over the years, rules have been written along the line of international boxing regulations. In recent years, the sport has attracted a wide following outside of the country, and training facilities have been set up in countries as far as the U.S. and the former Soviet states. In 1995, the World Muay Thai Council was set up by cabinet resolution to promote this Thai heritage at national and international levels.

Muay Thai Bout Rules

A ‘Muay Thai’ match generally can have anywhere from 3 to 5 rounds. If the fight is set for a 3:2 minute round, it means that it is 3 rounds with each round lasting 2 minutes and a 1 minute break in between each round. If it scheduled for 5:3, you will know that it is 5 rounds lasting 3 minutes per round with a 2 minute break in between. No additional rounds are allowed under official Muay Thai Rules. The fight is preceded by a Ram Muay dance, in which each contestant pays respect to his teachers, his God, his King and Queen and his family. Besides the symbolic meaning, the dance is a good warm-up exercise that demonstrates balance and technique. You will notice that each boxer wears a headband and armbands. The headband, called mongkhol, is believed to bestow luck to the wearer since it has been blessed by a monk or the boxer’s own teacher. Since Buddhism and the teacher play important roles in the life of Thais, the headband is both a lucky charm and a spiritual object. It will be removed after the Ram Muay dance, and only by the boxer’s trainer. The armbands, meanwhile, are believed to offer protection and are only removed when the fight has ended. Allowed Weapons and Strikes

Think Western boxing—the cross, the hook, the jab, the uppercut. Then add to that powerful kicks delivered to the leg, the body and the head. The Muay Thai round kick is not snappy like the Tae Kwon Do round kick. It does not slap at the skin with the foot. Rather, it drives the shin bone into the body like a baseball bat. Another effective Muay Thai strike is the front kick, which can be used like a jab to create distance to set up other techniques. However, it can also be thrown with force to the abdomen or face.

Knees are also used. They can also be thrown to the leg, body and head. The knee can be thrown to the side like a left or right hook coming up under the rib cage or slamming into the kidneys. It can also be thrust forward into the stomach feeling as if it may come straight out the other side.

Then, there are the elbows. Possibly the most treacherous of the Muay Thai weapons, elbows are used like knifes. A downward angle elbow aimed above the eye will slice through the eyebrow, causing blood to drip into the eye, blinding the opponent.

Fighters can also tie up in the clinch. In Western boxing, fighters are immediately separated when they tie up. In Muay Thai, however, fighters grapple for domination in the clinch using off-balancing techniques and creating openings for knees and elbows. A match is decided by a knockout or by points. Three judges decide who carries the round and the one who wins the most rounds, win the fight. The referee plays a very important role, since boxers’ safety depends on his decision.

Boxers must regularly wear gloves, each weighing not less than 6-ounces; a mouth guard is also required. Each fighter must fight bare-foot, however ankle supports are allowed.

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