Muay Thai History

Training in Muay Thai was generally for Soldiers in the military and a favored past-time for those who were not. With the country’s new found peace, the sport began to turn more competitive. Camps would match their best fighters agasint each other for entertainment. As there were still no formal rules, they lasted until a clear winner was left standing. To understand Muay Thai, it’s important to learn some basic terminology, the sport’s history and traditions, championship titles, fighting basics, and important people in the sport.

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The Ram Muay and/or Wai Kru is a traditional dance that is performed by fighters prior to every fight. It is an ancient tradition that aims to show respect to teachers, parents, ancestors, and the king. Elbows are typically thrown to the head and whilst they are legal in “full Thai rules” some versions of the sport don’t allow them – and you won’t find them traded in a casual gym sparring session.

  • His doctor ordered him to strengthen his core muscles, but he found conventional weight-lifting gyms flat and uninspiring.
  • Phraya Phichai’s sword broke during a key battle battle, leaving him without a weapon.
  • Rivers to force themselves to keep their eyes open and not cover them as water splashes into their faces.
  • You can use the jab to set up another punch, such as a cross, or to draw your opponent’s attention and guard up in order to land a low kick.

Phudaisawan Center for swords and pole arms became the most famous of the these training centers and was considered to be the eras equivalent of a college or university education. Along with the Pra Jiad, it is linked to history and tradition found in Thailand and Buddhism. Although it is a staple of modern Muay Thai, the tradition goes back hundreds of years and is related to Thai warriors. It is typically made from rope, braided cloth, or silk and sometimes has bones of a fighter’s ancestors or hair of a loved one woven into it as a blessing. If you’ve set foot in a Muay Thai gym as a newcomer and feel intimidated when you step into a new gym for the first time, you’re not alone. You’ll be welcomed as a new member of the martial arts family as soon as you step onto the mat.

While takedowns are allowed, Judo or wrestling techniques are prohibited. The throwing of opponents off the ring or back-breaking as seen in pro-wrestling is also not allowed. The most obvious would be the necessity of a top, usually a sports bra or sleeveless shirt. The length of fights differ between promotions but many female fights are timed the same as the male fights. Under professional full Muay Thai rules, fights are sanctioned for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, with a 2-minute break in between rounds.

This punch is a sneaky one that can often catch an opponent off guard and even set you up for other strikes when they are stunned. This punch is a little more difficult to master but is certainly not something that should cause anyone who is dedicated to their technique much trouble. Speaking of trouble, if you land this shot on the opponent’s jaw, they could be in a whole heap of it. As it is closest to the target, you can use the jab to feint, disrupt your opponent’s rhythm, and measure the distance between you and the other competitor. You can use the jab to set up another punch, such as a cross, or to draw your opponent’s attention and guard up in order to land a low kick. You can also use a jab to move your opponent into the path of a head kick.

Endorphin rush refers to this state which is experienced after a workout which is almost guaranteed with each https://signalscv.com/2024/03/rising-stars-highlights-of-up-and-coming-thai-sportsmen/ training session. I aim to provide Muay Thai fans with helpful information for training along with honest reviews and buying guides for training gear. Hopefully this detailed guide has given you a good grounding on what Muay Thai is, it’s history, how it’s trained, and what you can expect from getting involved in it. It’s also a fun way to train, and should you leave you looking and feeling better after a few months of training. If you are training casually at a good gym (just doing pad work and bag work) then training Muay – You may come away with a few bruises at worst.

From short-range knee strikes to flying knee variants, the sheer power and effectiveness of these strikes have led to many mixed martial artists basing their standup game almost exclusively on Muay Thai. From stances and footwork to the various strikes and styles found in the sport, allow us to take you on a journey through everything you need to know to get you up and running. Another popular and effective method for strength training was digging a small pit from knee to waist deep to jump in an out of.

Statues paying homage to many mythical figures still adorn the Thai countryside. Thailand even commemorates these legends with a national day dedicated to their bravery. I bet many of you have idols among Muay Thai fighters, especially if you train Muay Thai and expect to take part in a competition one day. The ancient Siamese martial art is a bit harder to learn but when you master it, you’ll be able to defend like a professional. The coconut tree was also utilized in many creative ways when it came to training. The Thai fighters would often climb them to strengthen their legs, slowly pushing with their feet and contracting their thigh muscles.

With the right amount of training, these martial arts can deter the aggressor and disarm the situation. 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. Both are fundamentally different as a combat sport with one focusing on striking while the other on submissions. Both martial arts are also widely favored by mixed martial artists. As a combat art originating in military warfare, Muay Thai was designed to inflict pain to the enemy while protecting the user from physical harm. Its range of weapons like the elbow strike, knee strike and push kick can be used to disarm an attack.

Thai boxing fights are televised nationally, huge stadiums are regularly sold out, and Thai boxers are hailed as national heroes. Today Muay Thai is more popular than ever in Thailand, with children starting training as young as seven years old. Muay Thai also plays a huge role in the fighting style of most MMA fighters in organisations such as the UFC and Bellator. During WW1 and WW2 Muay Thai gained exposure across the world as soldiers from many countries came into contact with Thai fighters and watched them compete amongst each other.

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