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{{Short description|Combat sport of Thailand}}{{pp|small=yes}}{{use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}{{stack begin}}

factoids

factoids

{{stack end}}Muay Thai (, {{RTGS|muai thai}}, {{IPA-th|mūa̯j tʰāj|pron|th-muaythai.ogg}}), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinching techniques.WEB, Newhall, Lindsey,weblink Preserving the Classic Technique of Maemai Muay Thai, Fightland, Vice, 2015-10-26, 2016-03-29, 27 October 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151027144059weblink">weblink live, – NEWS, It's Hand-to-Hand for a Keeper of Faces, The New York Times, 2005-01-09,weblink 2010-08-10, David, Colman, subscription, 22 March 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150322105301weblink">weblink live, – NEWS, Sugar and Spice and a Vicious Right: Thai Boxing Discovers Its Feminine Side, The New York Times, 2007-09-16,weblink 2010-08-10, Thomas, Fuller, subscription, 1 July 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170701062338weblink">weblink live, – MAGAZINE, Fighting for Their Lives, Time (magazine), Time, 2001-06-11,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20101030135739weblink">weblink dead, October 30, 2010, 2010-12-07, Alex, Perry, – WEB,weblink Muay Thai History, March 4, 2016, 16 May 2020, 7 March 2021,weblink live, This discipline is known as the "Art of eight limbs", as it is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.NEWS, Kuswandini, Dian,weblink Get fit the Muaythai way, The Jakarta Post, 2009-07-22, 2015-03-04, 14 March 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110314082107weblink">weblink live, Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the late 20th to 21st century, when Westernised practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing and mixed-rules matches as well as matches under Muay Thai rules around the world. The professional league is governed by The Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (P.A.T.), sanctioned by The Sports Authority of Thailand (S.A.T.).Muay Thai is related to other martial art styles such as Muay Chaiya, Muay Boran, Muay Lao, Kun Khmer, Lethwei, BenjangWEB, Martini, Terkuak! Seni Beladiri Muay Thai Ternyata dari Indonesia,weblink dead, 26 May 2023, 27 May 2023, Indosport, Indonesian,weblink and Tomoi.BOOK,weblink Language, Space and Cultural Play: Theorising Affect in the Semiotic Landscape, 9781108472203, 9 July 2020, Wee, Lionel, Goh, Robbie B. H., 2019, Cambridge University Press, 12 March 2023,weblink live, A practitioner of Muay Thai is known as a Nak Muay. Western practitioners in Thailand are sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning "foreign boxer".NEWS,weblink Fighting as a 'farang' for a fist full of Baht, Reynolds, Alex, 2006-01-24, The Daily Telegraph, 2010-08-10, London, 29 June 2018,weblink live,

History

(File:USMC-110215-M-2739S-005.jpg|thumb|Local school children in Thailand demonstrate Muay Thai.)The history of Muay Thai is poorly documented, and little is actually known of its early development. Modern Muay Thai arose from the local form of bare-hand fighting historically known simply as muay, and became recognized as a distinct martial art form in the early 20th century, when the term Muay Thai ('Siamese boxing' in English) was introduced in physical education curricular documents to distinguish it from international boxing (muay sakon in Thai).JOURNAL, Vail, Peter, Muay Thai: Inventing Tradition for a National Symbol, Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, 2014, 29, 3, 509–553, 10.1355/sj29-3a,weblink 0217-9520, The officially recognized history of Muay Thai was largely codified in the late 20th century, when the sport gained widespread popularity and became recognized as a national sport and cultural heritage. The term Muay Boran was coined to describe the pre-modern historical martial art form of Muay Thai, and they came to symbolize a warrior spirit seen as a core component of Thainess.This historiography was largely extrapolated from brief mentions in written records, including four episodes in the royal chronicles of the 18th century: one where King Sanphet VIII fought an incognito match at a temple fair, Khwaeng Mueang Wiset Chai Chan in 1702{{rp|283}}; one where Nai Khanom Tom{{rp|414}}, as a war captive following the fall of Ayutthaya, fought in front of the Burmese king and defeated ten Burmese fighters; one of the military commander Phraya Phichai Dap Hak, who in his youth was a Muay Thai fighter; and one of Muen Phlan, who was chosen by King Rama I to fight against two French challengers.JOURNAL, Modern Muay Thai Mythology, Peter T., Vail, Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 12, 2, 1998, 75–95, According to this extrapolated history, Muay Thai is believed to have been developed by the Siamese army as a form of self-defence and to date back at least to the 16th century as a peace-time martial art practised by the soldiers of King Naresuan.WEB,weblink In Friendly Thailand, Boxing Matches are Brawls, Chicago Tribune, 24 February 2022, 24 February 2022,weblink live, King Naresuan is believed to have learned warrior fighting techniques from his enemies, the Khmer, and to have been capable of using them for self-defence.BOOK, De Cesaris, Marco, 8 November 2013, Muay Thai Boran: The Martial Art of Kings, Edizioni Mediterranee, 978-8827223543, Scholars have described this royalist-nationalist history as an invented tradition, constructed to serve the needs of Thai nationalism at the time. This tradition has caused Muay Thai to become strongly attached to the official Thai cultural institution and separated from other similar and closely related martial arts in the region, including Kun Khmer in Cambodia, muay Lao in Laos, and lethwei in Myanmar. This separation has led to political friction over the sport's international status, especially with Cambodia, as some consider Kun Khmer{{'s}} precursor Bokator to also be the progenitor of Muay Thai.MAGAZINE, Bryan, Andrew, 2022-05-31, The Complicated History of Muay Thai,weblink 2024-01-26, Black Belt (magazine), Black Belt, en, WEB, Phontam, Visapra, 2023-05-03, Muay Lao Federation's President Apologizes for Controversial Remarks,weblink 2024-03-05, The Laotian Times, en, Mr. Saysamone’s controversial remarks were made in March when he criticized the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA) stating that Muay Thai was a copy of Kun Khmer while many believe that the kickboxing martial art originated from Thailand., The link between the two martial arts has fueled ongoing debates among historians. One theory advances that Bokator, the martial art used by the Khmer military during the 10th century, was imported to Siam where it served as a basis for the creation of Muay Thai. Another theory suggests that the Khmer fighting techniques were adopted by the Thais through Muay Korat, a fighting style originating from the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, where a strong Khmer influence persists. Phra Hensamahan, the first patriarch of Muay Korat, is said to have adopted his techniques from the Khmer martial art used in Angkor in Cambodia, which then served as a basis for the creation of Muay Boran and later Muay Thai.

19th century

File:หมื่นมวยมีชื่่อ.jpg|thumb|Muay Boran during the reign of King ChulalongkornChulalongkornThe ascension of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to the throne in 1868 ushered in a golden age not only for Muay but for the whole country of Thailand. Muay progressed greatly during the reign of Rama V as a direct result of the king's personal interest in the sport. The country was at peace and Muay functioned as a means of physical exercise, self-defense, attacking, recreation and personal advancement.WEB,weblink Awesome Muay Thai, 9 July 2020, 23 September 2020,weblink dead, In 1910, the King requested muay fighters from outlying provinces to fight matches at the funeral of his son Prince Urubongse Rajasombhoj, and granted the noble rank of Muen to the three best fighters, who were from Lopburi, Khorat and Chaiya. These would later become codified as regional styles of Muay Boran.

The modern era

1913: British boxing was introduced into the curriculum of the Suan Kulap College. The first descriptive use of the term "Muay Thai".1919: British boxing and Muay Thai were taught as one sport in the curriculum of the Suan Kulap College. Judo was also offered.1921: First permanent ring in Siam at Suan Kulap College. Used for both muay and British boxing.1923: Suan Sanuk Stadium. First international style three-rope ring with red and blue padded corners, near Lumpinee Park. Muay and British boxing.WEB,weblink The Modernization of Muay Thai – A Timeline | Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu, 8Limbs.us, 2015-01-10, 2015-06-13, 23 April 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150423020225weblink">weblink live, King Rama VII (r. 1925–1935) pushed for codified rules for Muay and they were put into place. Thailand's first boxing ring was built in 1921 at Suan Kulap. Referees were introduced and rounds were now timed by kick. Fighters at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium began wearing modern gloves, as well as hard groin protectors, during training and in boxing matches against foreigners. Traditional rope-binding (Khat Chueak) made the hands a hardened, dangerous striking tool. The use of knots in the rope over the knuckles made the strikes more abrasive and damaging for the opponent while protecting the hands of the fighter.WEB, Patterson, Jeff, Know Your Muay Thai: Hand Wraps,weblink nwfighting.com, Northwest Fighting Arts, 4 March 2014, 6 March 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140306225833weblink">weblink live, This rope-binding was still used in fights between Thais but after a death in the ring, it was decided that fighters should wear gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was also around this time that the term "Muay Thai" became commonly used, while the older form of the style came to be known as "Muay Boran", which is now performed primarily as an exhibition art form.File:Bangkok Lumpinee Boxing Stadium 2.jpg|thumb|left|A Muay Boran demonstration, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, BangkokBangkokMuay Thai was at the height of its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Top fighters commanded purses of up to 200,000 Baht and the stadia where gambling was legal drew big gates and big advertising revenues. In 2016, a payout to a superstar fighter was about 100,000 Baht per fight,NEWS, Zandstra, Tate, Blood, sweat and debt,weblink 3 April 2020, Southeast Asia Globe, 13 October 2016, 25 February 2021,weblink live, but can range as high as 540,000 Baht for a bout.NEWS, Krausz, Tibor, Muay Thai child fighters put their health on the line for gamblers and hope of a better life,weblink 3 April 2020, South China Morning Post, 15 October 2018, 4 March 2020,weblink live, In 1993, the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur, or IFMA was inaugurated. It became the governing body of amateur Muay Thai consisting of 128 member countries worldwide and is recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia.In 1995, the World Muaythai Council, the oldest and largest professional sanctioning organisations of muay Thai, was established by the Thai government and sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.In 1995, the World Muay Thai Federation was founded by the merger of two existing organisations, and established in Bangkok, becoming the federation governing international Muay Thai. In August 2012, it had over 70 member countries. Its president is elected at the World Muay Thai Congress.In 2006, Muay Thai was included in SportAccord with IFMA. One of the requirements of SportAccord was that no sport can have a name of a country in its name. As a result, an amendment was made in the IFMA constitution to change the name of the sport from "Muay Thai" to "Muaythai" – written as one word in accordance with Olympic requirements.File:THAI FIGHT 2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Thai FightThai FightIn 2014, Muay Thai was included in the International World Games Association (IWGA) and was represented in the official programme of The World Games 2017 in Wrocław, Poland.In January 2015, Muay Thai was granted the patronage of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and, from 16 to 23 March 2015, the first University World Muaythai Cup was held in Bangkok.In 2020, there are more than 3,800 Thai boxing gyms overseas.NEWS, Prateepchaikul, Veera, Army's role in boxing a shady affair,weblink 30 March 2020, Bangkok Post, 30 March 2020, Opinion, 12 March 2023,weblink live,

Rules

According to IFMA rules, Muay Thai is a full contact martial art that uses the fists, elbows, knees and feet to strike an opponent. For a strike to count as a point score, it has to connect without being blocked by your opponent. Strikes do not score if they connect with your opponent's glove, forearm, shin or foot. Strikes to the groin were allowed in Muay Thai boxing until the late 1980s, and are still permitted in Thailand itself, and in club or competition events that abide to the traditional rules. While competitors do wear groin protection, such as cups, the rules for club level sparring and competition events may vary regarding the protective gear that may or may not be worn. Mixed-sex fights are not practiced at international level, but do occur in club and inter-club sparring and competition events. If the fight goes the distance and both fighters finish with the same score, then the winner is determined by which fighter landed the most full contact blows.WEB, Muaythai Rules – International Federation of Muaythai Associations,weblink 2022-02-19, 18 February 2022,weblink live,

Olympics

Timeline of International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) from founding to International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition:WEB, 2021-07-20, Muay Thai, IFMA fully recognized by IOC,weblink 2021-07-21, nationthailand, en, 21 July 2021,weblink live,

• 1992 – National Federation of Muaythai Associations founded.
• 1995 – International Amateur Muay Thai Federation (IAMTF) founded.
• 2012 – Official request for International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition launched.
• 2016 – First endorsement received.
• 2017 – Muaythai is included in the World Games.
• 2021 – On June 10, the IOC Board of Directors agreed on the full endorsement of IFMA at the 138th IOC General Assembly in Tokyo.
• 2021 – On July 20, the IOC General Assembly granted full recognition to the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) and Muaythai.
• 2023 – On January 11, USA MuayThai has been officially approved by The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and was recognized by the organization’s committee as the newest member with a chance to build on the 2028 Olympic in the United States.
• 2023 – The European Olympic Committees (EOC) had officially announced the inclusion of Muay Thai, or Thai-style boxing, at the 2023 European Games to be held in Krakow, Poland.

Traditional wear

File:Wat Thai Village DC 2013 (9343057612).jpg|thumb|160px|Fighters wearing mongkhon and pra jiadpra jiadThe mongkhon, or mongkol (headband), and pra jiad (armbands) are often worn into the ring before the match begins. They originated when Siam was in a constant state of war. Young men would tear off pieces of a loved one's clothing (often a mother's sarong) and wear it in battle for good luck as well as to ward off harmful spirits. In modern times, the mongkol (lit. "holy spirit", "luck", "protection") is worn as a tribute to the fighter's gym. The mongkol is traditionally presented by a trainer to the fighter when he judges that the fighter is ready to represent the gym in the ring. Often, after the fighter has finished the wai kru, the trainer will take the mongkol off his head and place it in his corner of the ring for luck. They were also used for protection. Whether the fighter is a Buddhist or not, it is common for them to bring the mongkol to a Buddhist monk who blesses it for good luck prior to stepping into the ring.

Techniques

Formal Muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: mae mai (แม่ไม้), or "major techniques", and luk mai (ลูกไม้), or "minor techniques". Muay Thai is often a fighting art of attrition, where opponents exchange blows with one another.WEB, Muay Thai {{!, Muay Pro {{!}} Muay Pro Muay Thai % {{!}} Muay Thai|url=https://muaypro.com/history-of-muay-thai/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Muay Pro|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611233228weblink|url-status=live}} This is certainly the case with traditional stylists in Thailand, but is a less popular form of fighting in the contemporary world fighting circuit where the Thai style of exchanging blow for blow is no longer favorable. Almost all techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, elbow and block.

Punching (Chok)

(File:Muay Thai match in Bangkok, Thailand.jpg|right|thumb|Muay Thai match, Bangkok){| class="wikitable"!English !! Thai !! Romanization !! (help:IPA|IPA)Jab >Mat na/Mat yaep >màt nâ|}}Cross (boxing)>Cross/Straight หมัดตรง Mat trong {{IPA-th}}Hook (boxing)>Hook/Swing (boxing)' >Mat tawad/mat wiang san'' >màt wìəŋ sân|}}Overhand (boxing)>Overhand/Haymaker หมัดเหวี่ยงยาว Mat khork/mat wiang yao {{IPA-th}}Backfist/Spinning Backfist >Mat wiang klap/Mat clap lang/Kwang jag narai >màt wìəŋ klàp|}}Uppercut >Mat soei/Mat ngat >màt sɤ̌jmàt sɔ̌j daːw|}}Superman punch/Cobra punch >Kradot chok >kradòːt tɕʰók|}}The punch techniques in Muay Thai were originally quite limited, being crosses and a long (or lazy) circular strike made with a straight (but not locked) arm and landing with the heel of the palm. Cross-fertilisation with Western boxing and Western martial arts mean the full range of western boxing punches are now used: lead jab, straight/cross, hook, uppercut, shovel and corkscrew punches and overhands, as well as hammer fists and back fists.As a tactic, body punching is used less in Muay Thai than most other striking combat sports to avoid exposing the attacker's head to counter strikes from knees or elbows. To utilize the range of targeting points, in keeping with the centre line theory, the fighter can use either the Western or Thai stance which allows for either long range or short range attacks to be undertaken effectively without compromising guard.

Elbow (Sok)

(File:Muay.Thai.Training 2.jpg|right|thumb|Elbow (Sok) training)The elbow can be used in several ways as a striking weapon: horizontal, diagonal-upwards, diagonal-downwards, uppercut, downward, backward-spinning, and flying. From the side, it can be used as either a finishing move or as a way to cut the opponent's eyebrow so that blood might block his vision. The diagonal elbows are faster than the other forms but are less powerful. The elbow strike is considered the most dangerous form of attack in the sport.{| class="wikitable"!English !! Thai !! Romanization !! (help:IPA|IPA)Elbow slash >Sok ti >sɔ̀ːk tiː|}}Horizontal elbow >Sok tat >sɔ̀ːk tàt|}}Uppercut elbow >Sok ngat >sɔ̀ːk ŋát|}}Forward elbow thrust >Sok phung >sɔ̀ːk pʰûŋ|}}Reverse horizontal elbow >Sok wiang klap >sɔ̀ːk wìəŋ klàp|}}Spinning elbow >Sok klap >sɔ̀ːk klàp|}}Double elbow chop >Sok klap khu >sɔ̀ːk klàp kʰûː|}}Mid-air elbow strike/Jump elbow chop >Kradot sok >kradòːt sɔ̀ːk|}}(File:ThaÏ Boxing.jpg|right|thumb|Horizontal Elbow (Sok tat))There is a distinct difference between a single elbow and a follow-up elbow. The single elbow is a move independent from any other, whereas a follow-up elbow is the second strike from the same arm, being a hook or straight punch first with an elbow follow-up. Such elbows, and most other elbow strikes, are used when the distance between fighters becomes too small and there is too little space to throw a hook at the opponent's head.Elbows can be used to great effect as blocks or defences against, for example, spring knees, side body knees, body kicks or punches. When well connected, an elbow strike can cause serious damage to the opponent, including cuts or even a knockout.

Kicking (Te)

{| class="wikitable"!English !! Thai !! Romanization !! (help:IPA|IPA)Straight kick >Te trong >tèʔ troŋ|}}Roundhouse kick#Muay Thai method>Roundhouse kick เตะตัด Te tat {{IPA-th}}Semi-circular Kick>Diagonal kick เตะเฉียง Te chiang {{IPA-th}}Half-shin, half-knee kick >Te khrueng khaeng khrueng khao >tèʔ kʰrɯ̂ŋ kʰɛ̂ŋ kʰrɯ̂ŋ kʰàw|}}Kicking#Reverse roundhouse/wheel kick>Reverse roundhouse kick เตะกลับหลัง Te klap lang/Jorakhe faad hang {{IPA-th}}Down roundhouse kick >Te kot >tèʔ kòt|}}Axe heel kick >Te khao >tèʔ kʰàw|}}Kicking#Flying kicks>Jump kick กระโดดเตะ Kradot te {{IPA-th}}Step-up kick >Khayoep te/yiep te >kʰa.jɤ̀p tèʔ|}}(File:Women muay thai.jpg|right|thumb|Kicking (Te))The two most common kicksNEWS,weblink 5 Main Kicking Techniques In Muay Thai, 2016-04-05, Muay Thai Teacher, 2016-12-22,weblink August 26, 2018, in Muay Thai are known as the thip (literally "foot jab") and the te chiang (kicking upwards in the shape of a triangle cutting under the arm and ribs), or roundhouse kick. The Thai roundhouse kick uses a rotational movement of the entire body and has been widely adopted by practitioners of other combat sports. It is done from a circular stance with the back leg just a little ways back (roughly shoulder width apart) in comparison to instinctive upper body fighting (boxing) where the legs must create a wider base. The roundhouse kick draws its power almost entirely from the rotational movement of the hips, counter-rotation of the shoulders and arms are also often used to add torque to the lower body and increase the power of the kick as well.JOURNAL, Cimadoro, Giuseppe, Mahaffey, Ryan, Babault, Nicolas, April 2018, Acute neuromuscular responses to short and long roundhouse kick striking paces in professional Muay Thai fighters, The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59, 2, 204–209, 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08295-6, 29619797, 4647910,weblinkweblink 30 April 2019, live, If a roundhouse kick is attempted by the opponent, the Thai boxer will normally check the kick, that is, he will block the kick with the outside of his lower leg. Thai boxers are trained to always connect with the shin. The foot contains many fine bones and is much weaker. A fighter may end up hurting himself if he tries to strike with his foot or instep. Shins are trained by repeatedly striking firm objects, such as pads or heavy bags.weblink titleMuay Thai Weapons, url-statusdead, archive-urweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131202235209weblink">weblink archive-date2013-12-02, access-date2012-12-29, ">

Knee (Ti Khao)WEB, urweblink titleMuay Thai Weapons, url-statusdead, archive-urweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131202235209weblink">weblink archive-date2013-12-02, access-date2012-12-29,

{| class="wikitable"!English !! Thai !! Romanization !! (help:IPA|IPA)knee (strike)#Straight>Straight knee strike เข่าตรง Khao trong {{IPA-th}}Diagonal knee strike >Khao chiang >kʰàw tɕʰǐəŋ|}}Curved knee>Curving knee strike เข่าโค้ง Khao khong {{IPA-th}}Horizontal knee strike >Khao tat >kʰàw tàt|}}Knee slap >Khao ti/khao top >kʰàw tòp|}}Knee bomb >Khao yao >kʰàw jaːw|}}Flying knee >Khao loi >kʰàw lɔːj|}}Step-up knee strike >Khao yiap >kʰàw jìəp|}}

• Khao dot {{IPA-th|kʰàw dòːt|}} (Jumping knee strike) – the boxer jumps up on one leg and strikes with that leg's knee.
• Khao loi (Flying knee strike) – the boxer takes a step(s), jumps forward and off one leg and strikes with that leg's knee.
• Khao thon {{IPA-th|kʰàw tÊ°oːn|}} (Straight knee strike) – the boxer simply thrusts it forward but not upwards, unless he is holding an opponent's head down in a clinch and intend to knee upwards into the face. According to one written source, this technique is somewhat more recent than khao dot or khao loi.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Supposedly, when the Thai boxers fought with rope-bound hands rather than the modern boxing gloves, this particular technique was subject to potentially vicious cutting, slicing and sawing by an alert opponent who would block it or deflect it with the sharp "rope-glove" edges which are sometimes dipped in water to make the rope much stronger. This explanation also holds true for some of the following knee strikes below as well.

Foot-thrust (Teep)

(File:Womens Muay Thai teep.jpg|right|thumb| One fighter executes a Muay Thai foot-thrust (Thip) kick against her opponent in a women's amateur muay Thai match.)The foot-thrust, or literally, "foot jab", is one of the techniques in Muay Thai. It is mainly used as a defensive technique to control distance or block attacks. Foot-thrusts should be thrown quickly but with enough force to knock an opponent off balance.{| class="wikitable"!English !! Thai !! Romanization !! (help:IPA|IPA)Front kick>Straight foot-thrust ถีบตรง Thip trong {{IPA-th}}Sideways foot-thrust >Thip khang >tʰìːp kʰâːŋ|}} "'Oblique foot-thrust"' || || "Oblique teep" ||Reverse foot-thrust >Thip klap lang >tʰìːp klàp lǎŋ|}}Slapping foot-thrust >Thip top >tʰìːp tòp|}}Jumping foot-thrust >Kradot thip >kradòːt tʰìːp|}}

Clinch and neck wrestling (Chap kho)

(File:Manachai yokkao.jpg|thumb|160px|Ram Muay, rituals before the match){{See also|Muay Thai clinch}}In Western boxing, the two fighters are separated when they clinch; in muay Thai, however, they are not. It is often in the clinch that knee and elbow techniques are used. To strike and bind the opponent for both offensive and defensive purposes, small amounts of stand-up grappling are used in the clinch. The front clinch should be performed with the palm of one hand on the back of the other. There are three reasons why the fingers must not be intertwined. 1) In the ring fighters are wearing boxing gloves and cannot intertwine their fingers. 2) The Thai front clinch involves pressing the head of the opponent downwards, which is easier if the hands are locked behind the back of the head instead of behind the neck. Furthermore, the arms should be putting as much pressure on the neck as possible. 3) A fighter may incur an injury to one or more fingers if they are intertwined, and it becomes more difficult to release the grip in order to quickly elbow the opponent's head.A correct clinch also involves the fighter's forearms pressing against the opponent's collar bone while the hands are around the opponent's head rather than the opponent's neck. The general way to get out of a clinch is to push the opponent's head backward or elbow them, as the clinch requires both participants to be very close to one another. Additionally, the non-dominant clincher can try to "swim" their arm underneath and inside the opponent's clinch, establishing the previously non-dominant clincher as the dominant clincher.Muay Thai has several other variants of the clinch or chap kho {{IPA-th|tɕàp kʰɔː|}}, including:

• Arm clinch: One or both hands controls the inside of the defender's arm(s) and where the second hand if free is in the front clinch position. This clinch is used to briefly control the opponent before applying a knee strike or throw.
• Side clinch: One arm passes around the front of the defender with the attacker's shoulder pressed into the defender's arm pit and the other arm passing round the back which allows the attacker to apply knee strikes to the defender's back or to throw the defender readily.
• Low clinch: Both controlling arms pass under the defender's arms, which is generally used by the shorter of two opponents.
• Swan-neck: One hand around the rear of the neck is used to briefly clinch an opponent before a strike.

{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}

Defence against attacks

(File:Muay Thai boxer.jpg|thumb|Praying before the match)Defences in muay Thai are categorised in six groups:

• Blocking – defender's hard blocks to stop a strike in its path so preventing it reaching its target (e.g. the shin block described in more detail below)
• Parry/block – Parrying or blocking uses the kickboxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.
• Avoidance – moving a body part out of the way or range of a strike so the defender remains in range for a counter-strike. For example, the defender moves their front leg backward to avoid the attacker's low kick, then immediately counters with a roundhouse kick. Or the defender might lay their head back from the attacker's high roundhouse kick then counter-attack with a side kick.
• Evasion – moving the body out of the way or range of a strike so the defender has to move close again to counter-attack, e.g. defender jumping laterally or back from attacker's kicks
• Disruption – Pre-empting an attack e.g. with defender using disruptive techniques like jab, foot-thrust or low roundhouse kick, generally called a "leg kick" (to the outside or inside of the attacker's front leg, just above the knee) as the attacker attempts to close distance
• Anticipation – Defender catching a strike (e.g., catching a roundhouse kick to the body) or countering it before it lands (e.g., defender's low kick to the supporting leg below as the attacker initiates a high roundhouse kick).

Defences in practice

Defensively, the concept of "wall of defence" is used, in which shoulders, arms and legs are used to hinder the attacker from successfully executing techniques. Blocking is a critical element in muay Thai and compounds the level of conditioning a successful practitioner must possess. Low and mid body roundhouse kicks are normally blocked with the upper portion of a raised shin (this block is known as a "check"). High body strikes are blocked ideally with the forearms and shoulder together, or if enough time is allowed for a parry, the glove (elusively), elbow, or shin will be used. Midsection roundhouse kicks can also be caught/trapped, allowing for a sweep or counter-attack to the remaining leg of the opponent. Punches are blocked with an ordinary boxing guard and techniques similar, if not identical, to basic boxing technique. A common means of blocking a punch is using the hand on the same side as the oncoming punch. For example, if an orthodox fighter throws a jab (being the left hand), the defender will make a slight tap to redirect the punch's angle with the right hand. The deflection is always as small and precise as possible to avoid unnecessary energy expenditure and return the hand to the guard as quickly as possible. Hooks are often blocked with a motion sometimes described as "combing the hair", that is, raising the elbow forward and effectively shielding the head with the forearm, flexed biceps and shoulder. More advanced muay Thai blocks are usually in the form of counter-strikes, using the opponent's weight (as they strike) to amplify the damage that the countering opponent can deliver. This requires impeccable timing and thus can generally only be learned by many repetitions.

Child boxers

(File:Children Muay Thai.jpg|left|thumb|In Thailand, children often start practicing Muay Thai and perform in the ring from the age of 5.)In 2016, 9,998 children under the age of 15 were registered with Board of Boxing under the Sport Authority of Thailand, according to the Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Centre (CSIP).NEWS,weblink Expert urges 'no head contact' among young boxers, Bangkok Post, Prangthong, Jitcharoenkul, 2016-12-26, 2018-10-27, 12 March 2023,weblink live, Some estimates put the number of child boxers nationwide at between 200,000 and 300,000, some as young as four years old.NEWS, Doctors call for crackdown on child boxing,weblink 22 December 2017, Bangkok Post, 22 December 2017, 12 March 2023,weblink live, The Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Centre (AIMC) at Ramathibodi Hospital studied 300 child boxers aged under 15 with two to more than five years of experience, as well as 200 children who do not box. The findings show that child boxers not only sustain brain injuries, they also have a lower IQ, about 10 points lower than average levels. Moreover, IQ levels correlate with the length of their training.NEWS, Amsangiam, Lerpong, Panyasuppakun, Kornrawee, The high cost of Muay Thai,weblink 27 October 2018, The Nation, 27 October 2018, 27 October 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20181027185956weblink">weblink live, Beyond brain damage, the death of young fighters in the ring sometimes occurs.NEWS, Child boxer dies after fight,weblink 13 November 2018, Bangkok Post, 13 November 2018, 12 March 2023,weblink live, (File:Thai Boxer.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Child boxer)Adisak Plitapolkarnpim, director of CSIP,WEB,weblink ThaiScience (วิทยาศาสตร์ไทย), Assoc. Prof. Plitapolkarnpim Adisak,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170518100038weblink">weblink 18 May 2017, dead, 26 January 2017, was indirectly quoted (in 2016) as having said that muay Thai practitioners "younger than 15 years old are being urged to avoid 'head contact' to reduce the risk of brain injuries, while children aged under nine should be banned from the combat fight"; furthermore, the Boxing Act's minimum age to compete professionally was largely being flouted; furthermore, quoted indirectly, "Boxers aged between 13 and 15" should still be permitted to compete, but "with light contact to the head and face". He said that "spectators and a change in the boxing rules can play a vital role in preventing child boxers from suffering brain injuries, abnormality in brain structure, Parkinson's disease and early-onset Alzheimer's later in life...Children aged between nine and 15 can take part in [Thai] boxing, but direct head contact must not be allowed". Referring to Findings [of 2014] on the Worst Forms of Child Labour as published by the US Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs, he said, "We know Muay Thai paid fighters have been exploited in the past like child labourers and the matter still remains a serious concern."At the 13th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in 2018, it was revealed that up to three percent of the upcoming generation will grow up with learning disabilities unless an amendment is ratified that bans children under 12 from participating in boxing matches. International pediatricians have called on lawmakers in Thailand to help.NEWS, The worst type of child abuse – Doctors call on ban for underage boxing,weblink The Thaiger, 2018-11-08, 2018-11-08, 9 November 2018,weblink live,

Injuries

Muay Thai is a combat sport that utilises eight different parts of the body (fists, elbows, knees and shins) so injuries are quite common in all levels of muay Thai. An injury is considered reportable if it requires the athlete to rest for more than one day. Many injuries in the sport go unreported as the fighters may not notice the injuries at first, refuse to admit that they need treatment, have a heightened pain threshold, fear that their instructor will perceive the injury negatively, or have confusion as to what is an injury.JOURNAL, Gartland, Malik, Injury and injury rates in muay Thai kick boxing, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001, 35, 5, 308–13, 10.1136/bjsm.35.5.308, 11579062, 1724381, Similar to most sports, injury rates tend to be higher in beginners than amateurs and professionals. Soft tissue injuries are the most common form of injury in muay Thai, comprising between 80 and 90% of all injuries. These injuries are caused by repeated trauma to soft parts of the body. During matches there is little to no padding, leaving soft tissue vulnerable to strikes. The second most common injuries among beginners and amateurs are sprains and strains. It appears that these injuries can be easily avoided or reduced. Many participants of a study admitted to inadequate warm up before the event of the injury. The third most common injuries are fractures. Fractures are more commonly seen with amateur and professional fighters, because they are allowed full contact, while beginners are not. The most common sites for fractures are the nose, carpal bones, metacarpals, digits and ribs. The distribution of injuries differs significantly for beginners, amateurs and professionals, because as a fighter progresses through the different levels, the forces involved grow progressively higher, less padding and protective equipment is used, and athletes are likely to train harder, resulting in more serious injuries among experienced fighters.

Gambling

(File:Koh Samui Lamai Thai Box SW 11.jpg|right|thumb|Thai boxer during a fight on Koh Samui)According to a Bangkok Post columnist, "...Thai professional boxing is all about gambling and big money. Gambling on muay Thai boxing is estimated to worth about 40 billion baht a year....all the talk about the promotion of Thai martial arts is just baloney." Rob Cox, the manager of a boxing camp just east of Bangkok claims that "Without the gamblers, the sport would pretty much be dead. They're killing it off, but they're also keeping it alive".The practice of fixing fights is not unknown. Boxers can earn from 60,000 to 150,000 baht for purposefully losing a fight. A fighter, later arrested, who threw a fight at Rajadamnern Stadium in December 2019, is an example.NEWS, Cox, Rob, The fall of a fighter: corruption and gambling in Muay Thai,weblink 3 April 2020, Asian MMA, 31 January 2019, 5 August 2020,weblink live, An infamous alleged case of match-fixing was the bout on 12 October 2014 in Pattaya between top Thai boxer Buakaw Banchamek and his challenger, Enriko Kehl, at the K-1 World Max Final event.

Folklore

An urban legend started being told by Thai people in 1767 around the time of the fall of the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, when the invading Burmese troops rounded up thousands of Siamese citizens. They then organised a seven-day, seven-night religious festival in honour of Buddha's relics. The festivities included many forms of entertainment, such as costume plays, comedies and sword fighting matches. According to the folklore story, at one point, King Mangra wanted to see how Thai fighters would compare to his fighters. Nai Khanomtom was selected to fight against the King's chosen champion and the boxing ring was set up in front of the throne. When the fight began, Nai Khanomtom charged out, using punches, kicks, elbows and knees to pummel his opponent until he collapsed. The King supposedly asked if Nai Khanomtom would fight nine other Burmese champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought one after the other with no rest periods. His last opponent was a great kickboxing teacher from Rakhine State whom Nai Khanomtom defeated with kicks.WEB,weblink Nai Khanom Tom: Father of Muay Thai, 2020-07-09, 2020-06-27,weblink dead, (File:งานรำลึกนายขนมต้ม 2560.jpg|right|thumb|Every year on March 17, Thailand celebrates Nai Khanom Tom day.)King Mangra was so impressed that he allegedly remarked, "Every part of the Siamese is blessed with venom. Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. But his Lord was incompetent and lost the country to the enemy. If he had been any good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen."NEWS,weblink A celebration of all things muay Thai, Bangkok Post, 12 May 2020, 12 March 2023,weblink live, Said in The Royal Chronicle of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya :-{{BlockquoteDamrong Rajanubhab. (1962). Phraratcha Phongsawadan Chabap Phraratcha Hathalekha Lem 2 [The Royal Chronicle of Letters by the King's Own Hand Volume 2]. พระราชพงศาวดาร ฉบับพระราชหัตถเลขา เล่ม 2 (in Thai). (2nd ed.) Bangkok: OdiantStore. p. 384.}}(Translation): "While King Hsinbyushin of Burma was residing at Yangon to raise an umbrella crown of The Shwedagon Pagoda for celebration, Burmese nobleman informed him of Siamese-skilled muai thai man. The King then stated a royal order to arrange a Siamese man name, Khanom Tom, a famous fighter from Ayutthaya to confront a Burmese boxer in front of the throne. The first round, the latter collapsed by Khanom Tom, and others round he confronted nine and ten other Burmese boxers. King Hsinbyushin was applauding him and said that Siamese was surrounding by dangerous situation but he can confront opponents up to nine and ten while unarmed. Because of King of Ayutthaya's negligent behaves that caused the aftermath of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the kingdom could stay if he's good. King Hsinbyushin then royally rewarded Khanom Tom as should."|multiline=yes|author=Somdet Phra Phonnarat (Vanaratana) of Wat PhoWat Pho>Wat Phra Chettuphon.}}To commemorate the story of Nai Khanom Tom, the Muay Thai Festival and Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony are staged annually every year on March 17.WEB,weblink Spain Pays Respect to Nai Kanom Tom, 2012-02-20, 2013-05-11, 19 June 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170619232455weblink">weblink dead,

Conditioning

Like most full contact fighting sports, muay Thai has a heavy focus on body conditioning.WEB,weblink Muay Thai, Economic Realities, and Cultural Differences, Gordon, Mclean, 2013-05-22, Vice, 2015-03-04, 19 February 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140219020321weblink">weblink live, This can create a steep learning curve for newcomers to muay Thai but allows for rapid increases in fitness and stamina provided one avoids overtraining.WEB,weblink Muay Thai Training Stories, Darius, Moaz, 2021-09-01, Mua Thai Insights, 2021-09-09, 9 September 2021,weblink live, Training regimens include many staples of combat sport conditioning such as running, shadowboxing, rope jumping, body weight resistance exercises, medicine ball exercises, abdominal exercises and, in some cases, weight training. Thai boxers rely heavily on kicks utilising the shin bone. As such, practitioners will repeatedly hit a dense heavy bag with their shins, conditioning it, hardening the bone through a process called cortical remodelling.WEB, Baker, Donnie,weblink Muay Thai: Beyond The Ring: Top 3 Muay Thai Shin Conditioning Myths Debunked, Oldstylemuaythai.blogspot.co.uk, 2012-10-28, 2015-03-04, 26 February 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150226025757weblink">weblink live, Striking a sand-filled bag will have the same effect.(File:Punching bag.jpg|right|thumb|A fighter punching a heavy bag at a training camp in Thailand)Training specific to a Thai fighter includes training with coaches on Thai pads, focus mitts, heavy bag, and sparring. Daily training includes many rounds (3–5 minute periods broken up by a short rest, often 1–2 minutes) of these various methods of practice. Thai pad training is a cornerstone of muay Thai conditioning that involves practicing punches, kicks, knees, and elbow strikes with a trainer wearing thick pads covering the forearms and hands. These special pads (often referred to as Thai pads) are used to absorb the impact of the fighter's strikes and allow the fighter to react to the attacks of the pad holder in a live situation. The trainer will often also wear a belly pad around the abdominal area so that the fighter can attack with straight kicks or knees to the body at any time during the round.Focus mitts are specific to training a fighter's hand speed, punch combinations, timing, punching power, defence and counter-punching and may also be used to practice elbow strikes. Heavy bag training is a conditioning and power exercise that reinforces the techniques practiced on the pads. Sparring is a means to test technique, skills, range, strategy and timing against a partner. Sparring is often a light to medium contact exercise because competitive fighters on a full schedule are not advised to risk injury by sparring hard. Specific tactics and strategies can be trained with sparring including in close fighting, clinching and kneeing only, cutting off the ring, or using reach and distance to keep an aggressive fighter away.Due to the rigorous training regimen (some Thai boxers fight almost every other week), professional boxers in Thailand have relatively short careers in the ring. Many retire from competition to begin instructing the next generation of Thai fighters. Most professional Thai boxers come from lower economic backgrounds, and the purse (after other parties have their cut) is sought as a means of support for the fighters and their families.WEB, Newhall, Lindsey,weblink An American Sociologist Is Studying the Behavior of Muay Thai, Vice, 2015-01-16, 2015-03-04, 16 February 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150216035958weblink">weblink live, Very few higher economic strata Thais join the professional muay Thai ranks; they usually either do not practice the sport or practice it only as amateur boxers.WEB, Newhall, Lindsey,weblink The World Muay Thai Angels: Marketing the Women Fighters of Thailand, Vice, 2015-02-13, 2015-03-04, 10 August 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190810224541weblink">weblink live, – WEB, Newhall, Lindsey,weblink An American in Thailand: Muay Thai for the Rich, Vice, 2014-09-04, 2015-03-04, 15 February 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150215231652weblink">weblink live,

Famous practitioners

{{for|practitioners of Muay Thai|List of Muay Thai practitioners}}

In popular culture

{{for|popular culture|Muay Thai in popular culture}}

See also

• Muay Boran
• Muay Chaiya
• Muay Lerdrit
• Wai khru ram muay
• Pra Jiad
• Mongkhon
• Krabi–krabong

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

{{Commons and category|Muay Thai}}

• {{Citation|surname=Kraitus|given=Panya|year=1992|title=Muay Thai The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting |publisher=Transit Press|place=Phuket|isbn=974-86841-9-9|ref=none}}
• Muay Thai The Essential Guide To The Art of Thai Boxing. Tony Moore. New Holland. {{ISBN|1 84330 596 8}}.
• {{Citation|surname=Boykin|given=Chad|year=2002|title=Muay Thai Kickboxing – The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning, Training and Fighting |publisher=Paladin Press|place=Boulder, CO|isbn=1-58160-320-7|ref=none}}
• {{Citation|surname=Prayukvong|given=Kat|year=2006|title=Muay Thai: A Living Legacy |publisher=Spry Publishing Co., Ltd|place=Bangkok, Thailand|isbn=974-92937-0-3|ref=none}}
• AV MEDIA, Hartig, Bastian, 2018-12-04, Thai boxing: The dangerous fight against poverty, Video,weblink 2018-12-06, Deutsche Welle,
• AV MEDIA, Nusch, Florian, 2017-12-09, Child Thai boxers: A fighting chance, Video,weblink 2018-12-06, Deutsche Welle,
• JOURNAL, Vail, P. T., 1998, Modern "Muai Thai" Mythology, Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 12, 2, 75–95, 40860679,weblink subscription,
• Wei, Lindsey (2020) Path of the Spiritual Warrior: Life and Teachings of Muay Thai Fighter Pedro Solana. Auckland: Purple Cloud Press, {{ISBN|979-8651807901}}

{{Martial arts}}{{Sports of the World Games program}}{{Authority control}}