| Muay Thai มวยไทย |
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|---|---|
Ram Muay before an amateur Muay Thai match |
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| Also known as | Thai Boxing, Pahuyuth |
| Focus | Striking |
| Country of origin | |
| Parenthood | Muay Boran, Krabi Krabong |
| Famous practitioners | Nai Khanom Tom, Tony Jaa, Diesel Noi, Apidej Sit Hrun, Ramon Dekkers |
| Olympic Sport | No |
Muay Thai (pronounced [muāitʰāi]; Thai: มวยไทย) literally Thai Boxing and also known as The Art of the Eight Limbs. A strike is an attack with an inanimate object such as a Weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Muay Boran ( มวยโบราณ which translates to "Ancient Boxing" is the term Thai people called their fighting art and competition during the fists binding or "Kaard Krabi Krabong is a Thai weapon-based Martial art closely related to Burmese Banshay and Malay Silat. Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit Panom Yeerum (พนม ยีรัมย์ pʰanom jiːrɑm born on February 5, 1976 in Surin province Isaan Thailand better known in the West Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn, born Charin Sorndee in Tambon Huakoon on December 26, 1961, is a former Muay Thai fighter Ramon "The Diamond" Dekkers (born September 4, 1969) is a Dutch former professional Kickboxer famous for being an eight time Thai (th ภาษาไทย, transcription: phasa thai, transliteration:; pʰāːsǎːtʰāj is the national and The different styles of kickboxing in Southeast Asia are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the Malay world. Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Silat is an umbrella term used to describe the martial art forms practiced throughout the Malay Archipelago. The concept of the Malay World is based on the idea of a Malay race, and refers to a cultural and linguistic sphere of influence covering the archipelago of modern-day The Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit. Lerdrit is a Thai form of Martial arts taught and used by the Royal Thai Army. [1]
Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj A national sport is a Sport or Game that is considered to be a intrinsic part of the culture of a Nation. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies significantly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing. Muay Boran ( มวยโบราณ which translates to "Ancient Boxing" is the term Thai people called their fighting art and competition during the fists binding or "Kaard In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In the context of Unarmed combat or Melee, a punch is "a thrusting blow esp Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. An elbow strike (commonly referred to as simply an " elbow " is a strike with the point of the elbow the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow or A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike with the Knee, either with the Kneecap or the surrounding area A master practitioner of Muay Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts. A strike is an attack with an inanimate object such as a Weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to
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Various forms of kickboxing have long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia. As with most countries in the region, Thai culture is based on that of India and China. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National These countries had a hand in the development of local martial arts. Indian boxing forms like Musti-yuddha are remarkably similar to Muay Thai and it is often said that every move in Muay Thai has a similar equivalent in Shaolin kung fu. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery. Muay Thai's origin in Thailand can be traced back to its ancestor Muay Boran ("ancient boxing"). Muay Boran ( มวยโบราณ which translates to "Ancient Boxing" is the term Thai people called their fighting art and competition during the fists binding or "Kaard This was the form of unarmed combat used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style [1]. The Thai (or Tai) are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries Krabi Krabong is a Thai weapon-based Martial art closely related to Burmese Banshay and Malay Silat. The precedence Muay Thai and Muay Boran give to the kicks may be indigenous to Thailand and the surrounding area, since Indian boxing as well as southern Chinese styles use even low kicks sparingly. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Another influence from Thailand's weapon style can be seen in the pre-fight Wai Kru ritual which is based on the sabre dance of Krabi Krabong. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Wai khru ram muay (ไหว้ครูรำมวย is an action of respect in Thai culture that is performed by participants in Muay Thai competitions Krabi Krabong is a Thai weapon-based Martial art closely related to Burmese Banshay and Malay Silat. Eventually Muay Boran was divided to:
There is a phrase about Muay Boran that states, "Punch Korat, Wit Lopburi, Posture Chaiya, Faster Thasao. (หมัดหนักโคราช ฉลาดลพบุรี ท่าดีไชยา ไวกว่าท่าเสา)".
As well as continuing to function as a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, Muay Thai became a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators who went to watch for entertainment. This kind of muay contests gradually became an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. It was even used as entertainment to kings.
Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of rope wrapped around their hands and forearms. This type of match was called muay kaad chuek (มวยคาดเชือก).
Muay gradually became a possible means of personal advancement as the nobility increasingly esteemed skillful practitioners of the art and invited selected fighters to come to live in the Royal palace to teach muay to the staff of the royal household, soldiers, princes or the king's personal guards. This "royal muay" was called muay luang (มวยหลวง).
Some time during the Ayutthaya Period, a platoon of royal guards was established, whose duty was to protect king and the country. The kingdom of Ayutthaya (อาณาจักรอยุธยา was a Thai kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767 They were known as Grom Nak Muay (Muay Fighters' Regiment). This royal patronage of muay continued through the reigns of Rama V and VII. Chulalongkorn ( Rama V) (royal name Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว Prajadhipok ( Rama VII, พระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว Phra Pokklao Chaoyuhua) ( November 8, 1893 -
The 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. Chulalongkorn ( Rama V) (royal name Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Muay progressed greatly during the reign of Rama V as a direct result of the king's personal interest in the art. The country was at peace and muay functioned as a means of physical exercise, self-defense, recreation, and personal advancement. Masters of the art such as former fighters or soldiers began teaching muay in training camps where students were provided with food and shelter. Trainees would be treated as one family and it was customary for students to adopt the camp's name as their own surname.
After the occurrence of a death in the ring, King Rama the VII pushed for codified rules for Muay Thai, and they were put into place. These included the rules that the fighters should wear modern gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was also around this time in the 1920s that the term Muay Thai became commonly used while the older form of the style was referred to as Muay Boran. Muay Boran ( มวยโบราณ which translates to "Ancient Boxing" is the term Thai people called their fighting art and competition during the fists binding or "Kaard
At the time of the fall of the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya in 1767, the invading Burmese troops rounded up a group of Thai residents and took them as prisoners. Ayutthaya (full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, พระนครศรีอยุธยา aˡjutʰajaː also spelled "Ayudhya" city is the capital of Year 1767 ( MDCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Among them were a large number of Thai boxers, who were taken by the Burmese to the city of Ungwa.
In 1774, in the Burmese city of Rangoon, the king of the Burmese, King Mangra decided to organize a seven-day, seven-night religious festival in honor of Buddha's relics. Year 1774 ( MDCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The festivities included many forms of entertainment, such as the costume plays called likay, comedies and farces, and sword-fighting matches. Thai dance (รำไทย Ram Thai or th ระบำ Rabam) is the main Dramatic art form of Thailand. Swordsman redirects here For the comic book characters see Swordsman (comics. At one point, King Mangra wanted to see how Muay Boran would compare to the Burmese art Lethwei. Nai Khanom Tom was selected to fight against the Burmese champion. The boxing ring was set up in front of the throne and Nai Khanom Tom did a traditional Wai Kru pre-fight dance, to pay his respects to the Burmese king, as well as for all the spectators, dancing around his opponent, which amazed and perplexed all the Burmese people. Wai khru ram muay (ไหว้ครูรำมวย is an action of respect in Thai culture that is performed by participants in Muay Thai competitions When the fight began, he charged out, using punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, pummeling his opponent until he collapsed. [2]
The referee however stated that the Burmese opponent was too distracted by the Wai Kru, and the knockout was invalid. A referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many Sports Officials in various sports are known by a variety of titles including referee The King then asked if Nai Khanom Tom would fight nine other Burmese champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought them all, one after the other with no rest periods in between. His last opponent was a great boxing teacher from Ya Kai City, Nai Khanom Tom mangled him by his kicks and no one else dared to challenge him any further.
King Mangra was so impressed that he remarked, "Every part of the Thai is blessed with venom. This article is about the class of Biotoxins For other uses see Venom (disambiguation and Venomous (disambiguation. 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 would have been any good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen. "
King Mangra granted Nai Khanom Tom freedom along with either riches or two beautiful Burmese wives. Nai Khanom Tom chose the wives as he said that money was easier to find. He then departed with his wives for Siam. Other variations of this story had him also winning the release of his fellow Thai prisoners. His feat is celebrated every March 17 as "Boxer's Day" or "National Muay Thai Day" in his honor and that of Muay Thai's. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger
Today, some have wrongly attributed the legend of "Nai Khanom Tom" to King Naresuan, who was once taken by the Burmese. Naresuan ( 1555, April 25 - 1605 also sometimes called Naret or the Black Prince or Sanpet II, สมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช However, Nai Khanon Tom and King Naresuan were almost two centuries apart.
One of the most important traditions of Muay Thai is Wai Khru (Paying Respect to Teachers). In order to become a fully-fledged Muay Thai fighter, a person has to pass through a series of ceremonies. First comes the Initiation as a Trainee Fighter Ceremony (Kuen Khru), in which the khru muay accepts young fighters as his students and pledges to teach them to the best of his ability. After fighters have been accepted, they must demonstrate a good conduct, diligence and endurance, in addition to training as hard as they can, following implicitly all the teacher's rules.
During their apprenticeship, young fighters will experience the second type of Wai Khru ritual, the Annual Homage-Paying Ceremony (Wai Khru Prajam Pee). This annual ceremony is usually held on Muay Thai Day (March 17) for young fighters to pay respect to their teachers and souls of teachers long passed away. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger The ceremony then progresses to the students honoring all the teachers present, who will mark sacred symbols on the fighters' forehead in order to bestow prosperity and success upon them - a custom known as jerm. The ceremony culminates with the third form of Wai Khru, the Ritual Dance of Homage (Wai Khru Ram Muay) performed by the fighters as a mark of respect. Wai khru ram muay (ไหว้ครูรำมวย is an action of respect in Thai culture that is performed by participants in Muay Thai competitions
It is only when fighters have passed all these three milestones (initiation, training and participation in contests) that they are entitled to call themselves as real Muay Thai fighters. When fighters have satisfied their teachers on all these counts, then they can participate in the fourth Wai Khru ritual, the Initiation as a Teacher Ceremony (Khrob Khru), which bestows on them the rank of khru muay and again involves a performance of the Ritual Dance of Homage. [3]
In ancient times, Siamese people believed in the power of incantations and protective amulets, the common belief was that everything was ruled and inhabited by unseen spirits, and that places were either blessed or cursed. The Thai (or Tai) are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries An amulet ( the Elder|Pliny]] meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble" a close cousin of the talisman (from Arabic Because of these beliefs, it was necessary to perform special rites before a fighter entered the ring, asking the spirits' permission to do so.
Even today, before entering the ring many fighters perform rituals. It is very much a matter of individual preference these days, with no prescribed rules. Some may kneel before the ring, others might pray with their khru muay or perform a series of repetitive movements, such as touching the ring ropes 3 times and avoiding the bottom stair before taking the first step up to the ring.
Fighters always leap over the ropes into the ring, because the head is considered to be more important than the feet and therefore it has to stay always above the feet while entering the ring, then they will go to the center and pay respect (panom muae wai) in all four directions to the spectators.
Wai Khru Muay Thai is a tradition which goes back to ancient times, it is not an optional ritual or reserved for special occasions: the official Muay Thai regulations[2] specify that both fighters must perform the Wai Khru Ram Muay before each and every bout. It's a tradition in which fighters pay respect to their teachers, parents and things they hold sacred and pray for their safety and victory. The ritual has been developed in different ways, in different regions, even under different teachers and therefore it is theoretically impossible for two fighters to perform identical Wai Khru.
The Wai Khru is graceful and aesthetic ritual, both practical and spiritual. In a practical sense, it functions as a final pre-fight warm-up and gives the fighter some time alone before the fight to collect his thoughts. It can be divided into three main sections:
This was originally intended to show devotion to the King, going back to the days when fighters were selected to display their skills in front of him. It has three subsections: Prostration, Outstretched Arms and Act of Homage.
This section is performed in a kneeling posture, one knee on the ground and the other leg out in front. the fighter pivots around on the spot to repeat the same sequence facing all four sides of the ring, a tradition which comes from Krabi Krabong.
In this section, the fighters go out from the center of the ring in one direction, to perform the Dramatic Interlude. Some fighters imitate the motions of "Rama Shooting an Arrow" from the Ramakien, a hunter, a soldier, or an executioner. Ramakien (รามเกียรติ์ is Thailand 's National epic, derived from the Indian Ramayana epic. Some fighters use this ritual to attempt to scare their opponents, commonly by stomping around them. But in a deeper sense, the fighter is expressing religious devotion, humility, and gratitude. Transcending both physical and temporal limitations, he opens himself to the divine presence and allows it to infuse his heart. [4]
After the Wai Khru is completed, the fighters return to their own corners for the Removal of the Head Circlet Ritual (Pitee Tod Mongkon). The fighter stands in his own corner, lowers his head and raises hands to his chest for panom mue wai pose, while khru muay standing outside of the ropes facing the fighter, raises his own hands to return the wai. A fighter maintains the posture while the teacher utters an incantation and blows three times on top of fighters' head before removing the Mongkon. Mong Kon is a type of Headgear worn by Muay Thai athletes The Mong Kon was given after the trainer saw that the student had become an experienced fighter and learned On the completion of this ritual and after a review of the rules by the judge and a glove shake, the contest may begin. [5]
In its original form, Muay Thai consisted of an arsenal of nine weapons - the head, fists, elbows, knees and feet - known collectively as na-wa arwud. A headbutt is a strike with the head typically involving the use of robust parts of the Cranium as areas of impact In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee Although in modern Muay Thai, both amateur and professional, headbutting an opponent is no longer allowed. Muay Thai is unique in the way it uses all parts of the body, including the elbows and knees, for both training and competitions. [6]
To strike and bind the opponent for both offensive and defensive purposes, small amounts of stand-up grappling are used: the clinch. Grappling refers to the gripping handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking, typically through the application of various Grappling holds Clinch fighting (also referred to as clinch work) is the part of Stand-up fighting where the combatants are Grappling in a clinch, typically Formal Muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: Mae Mai or major techniques and Luk Mai or minor techniques. Muay Thai is often a fighting art of attrition, where opponents exchange blows with one another. The ComBat was an Aluminium Cricket bat and the subject of an incident that occurred at the WACA cricket ground in Perth in December 1979. This is certainly the case with traditional stylists in Thailand, but is a less popular form of fighting in the contemporary world fighting circuit. With the success of Muay Thai in mixed martial arts fighting, it has become the de facto martial art of choice for competitive stand-up fighters. Stand-up fighting (sometimes referred to simply as " stand-up " is Hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are in a standing position As a result, it has evolved and incorporated much more powerful hand striking techniques used in western style boxing and the Thai style of exchanging blow for blow is no longer favorable. A strike is an attack with an inanimate object such as a Weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to Note: when Muay Thai fighters compete against fighters of other styles (and if the rules permit it), they almost invariably emphasize elbow (sok) and knee (kao) techniques to gain a distinct advantage in fighting. Almost all techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, and block. The rotation of the hips in Muay Thai techniques, and intensive focus on "core muscles" (such as abdominal muscles and surrounding muscles) is very distinctive and is what sets Muay Thai apart from other styles of martial arts. Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the
| English | Thai | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Straight punch | หมัดตรง | Mud Trong |
| Hook | หวัดเหวี่ยงสั้น | Mud Wiang San |
| Swing | หมัดเหวี่ยงยาว | Mud Wiang Yao |
| Spinning backfist | หมัดเหวี่ยงกลับ | Mud Wiang Glub |
| Uppercut | หมัดเสย ( หมัดสอยดาว ) | Mud Seuy |
| Cobra punch | กระโดดชก | Kra-dod Chok |
| Undercut | หมัดฮุก | Mud Hook |
The punch techniques in Muay Thai were originally quite simple 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. In Boxing, a cross (also commonly called a "straight" is a power-punch like the Uppercut and hook. A hook is a punch in Boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back thereby swinging the arm which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees The swing is a type of hook, with the main difference being that in the swing the arm is usually more extended The uppercut (sometimes also referred to as the upper) is a punch used in Boxing that usually aims at the opponent's chin A superman punch or cobra punch is a technique used in Muay Thai and Mixed martial arts fighting See also, uppercut A punch that usually hits the opposing fighters chin in an upwards fashion Cross-fertilization with Western boxing and western martial arts mean the full range of western boxing punches are now used (jab, straight right/cross, hook, uppercut, shovel and corkscrew punches plus overhand or bolo punches).
As a tactic, body punching is used less in Muay Thai than most other striking martial arts to avoid exposing the attacker's head to counter strikes from knees or elbows.
The elbow can be used in seven ways: 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 blood also raises the opponent's awareness of being hurt which could affect his performance. This is the most common way of using the elbow. The diagonal elbows are faster than the other forms, but are less powerful. The uppercut and flying elbows are the most powerful, but are slower and easier to avoid or block. The downward elbow is usually used as a finishing move.
| English | Thai | Transliteration | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elbow Slash | ศอกตี | Sok Tee | sɔ̀ːk tīː |
| Horizontal Elbow | ศอกตัด | Sok Tud | sɔ̀ːk tàd̥ |
| Uppercut Elbow | ศอกงัด | Sok Ngud | sɔ̀ːk ŋád̥ |
| Forward Elbow Thrust | ศอกพุ่ง | Sok Poong | sɔ̀ːk pʰûŋ |
| Reverse Horizontal Elbow | ศอกเหวี่ยงกลับ | Sok Wiang Glub | sɔ̀ːk wìːaŋ klàb̥ |
| Spinning Elbow | ศอกกลับ | Sok Glub | sɔ̀ːk klàb̥ |
| Elbow Chop | ศอกสับ | Sok Sub | sɔ̀ːk sàb̥ |
| Double Elbow Chop | ศอกกลับคู่ | Sok Glub Koo | |
| Mid-Air Elbow Strike | กระโดดศอก | Gra-dode Sok |
There is also a distinct difference between a single elbow and a follow-up elbow. The single elbow is an elbow move independent from any other move, whereas a follow-up elbow is the second strike from the same arm, being a hook first with an elbow follow-up. Such elbows, and most other elbows, 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.
| English | Thai | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Kick | เตะตรง | Teh Trong |
| Roundhouse Kick | เตะตัด | Teh Tud |
| Diagonal Kick | เตะเฉียง | Teh Chiang |
| Half-Shin, Half-Knee Kick | เตะครึ่งแข้งครึ่งเข่า | Teh Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao |
| Spinning Heel Kick | เตะกลับหลัง | Teh Glub Lang |
| Down Roundhouse Kick | เตะกด | Teh Kod |
| Axe Heel Kick | เตะเข่า | Teh Khao |
| Jump Kick | กระโดดเตะ | Gra-dode Teh |
| Step-Up Kick | เขยิบเตะ | KhaYiep Teh |
The two most common kicks in Muay Thai are known as the teep (literally "foot jab,"), and the Teh(kick)chiang (kicking upwards in the shape of a triangle cutting under the arm and ribs) or angle kick. A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a Kick in which the attacker swings his or her leg around in a semicircular motion It’s a round kick ( Roundhouse kick) to forty five degree roundhouse kick (or "diagonal kick" In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee The Muay Thai angle kick has been widely adopted by fighters from other martial arts. The angle kick uses a rotational movement of the entire body. The angle kick is superficially similar to a karate roundhouse kick, but omits the rotation of the lower leg from the knee used in other striking martial arts like Karate or Taekwondo. A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a Kick in which the attacker swings his or her leg around in a semicircular motion The angle kick draws its power entirely from the rotational movement of the body. Many Muay Thai fighters use a counter rotation of the arms to intensify the power of this kick.
If a round house kick is attempted by the opponent the Muay Thai fighter will normally block with his shin. Thai boxers are trained to always connect with the shin. While sensitive in an unconditioned practitioner, the shin is the strongest part of the leg for experienced Muay Thai fighters. 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.
Muay Thai also includes other varieties of kicking, such as the axe kick, side kick or spinning back kick etc. These kicks, are only used in bouts by some fighters. It is worth noting that a side kick is performed differently in Muay Thai than the traditional side kick of other martial arts. In Muay Thai, a side kick is executed by first raising the knee of the leg that is going to kick in order to convince the opponent that the executor is going to perform a teep or front kick. The hips are then shifted to the side to the more traditional side kick position for the kick itself. The "fake-out" almost always precedes the kick in Muay Thai technique.
| English | Thai | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Knee Strike | เข่าตรง | Kao Trong |
| Diagonal Knee Strike | Kao Chiang | |
| Curving Knee Strike | เข่าโค้ง | Kao Kong |
| Horizontal Knee Strike | เข่าตัด | Kao Tud |
| Knee Slap | เข่าตบ | Kao Tob |
| Knee Bomb | Kao Youwn | |
| Flying Knee Strike | เข่าลอย | Kao Loi |
| Step-Up Knee Strike | เข่าเหยียบ | Kao Yiep |
The clinch version of this move was scientifically proven recently to be the strongest blow using the legs in martial arts. The test subject delivered the strike to a high-tech dummy. On a person the blow would have fragmented the ribs, caused two inches of chest compression, and caused severe internal bleeding in the organs.
Foot-Thrusts also known as Push Kicks or literally "foot jabs" are one of the most common techniques used in Muay Thai. Teeps are different from any other Muay Thai technique in terms of objective to use. Foot-thrusts are mainly used as an offensive technique to block opponent's attacks, and get an opponent off balance. Foot-Thrusts should be thrown quickly but yet with enough force to knock an opponent off balance. [8]
| English | Thai | Transliteration | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Foot-Thrust | ถีบตรง | Teep Trong | tʰìːb̥ tròŋ |
| Sideways Foot-Thrust | ถีบข้าง | Teep Kang | tʰìːb̥ kʰâːŋ |
| Reverse Foot-Thrust | ถีบกลับหลัง | Teep Glub Lang | tʰìːb̥ klàb̥ làŋ |
| Slapping Foot-Thrust | ถีบตบ | Teep Tob | |
| Jumping Foot-Thrust | กระโดดถีบ | Gra-dode Teep | kràʔ dòːd̥ tʰìːb̥ |
In Western Boxing, the two fighters are separated when they clinch, in Muay Thai however, they are not. A front kick in Martial arts is widely regarded as the simplest possible Kick. It is often in the clinch where knee and elbow techniques are used. 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 backwards or elbow him or her, as the clinch requires both participants to be very close to one another. Additionally, the non-dominant clincher can try to "swim" his or her 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, including:
Defenses in Muay Thai are categorised in 6 groups:
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. A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a Kick in which the attacker swings his or her leg around in a semicircular motion High body strikes are blocked with the forearm/glove, elbow/shin. Mid section roundhouse kicks can also be caught/trapped, allowing for a sweep or counter attack to the remaining leg of the opponent. A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a Kick in which the attacker swings his or her leg around in a semicircular motion A takedown is a Martial arts and Combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground typically with the 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 most often blocked with a motion most often described as "combing your hair," raising the elbow forward and effectively shielding the head with the forearm, flexed biceps, and shoulder. More advanced Muay Thai blocks are usually counters, used to damage the opponent to prevent another attack being made.
Like most competitive full contact fighting sports, Muay Thai has a heavy focus on body conditioning. Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote the level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition. Physical fitness is used in two close meanings general fitness (a state of Health and well-being and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability 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. Running is a means for an animal to move on Foot. It is defined in Sporting terms as a Gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground Shadowboxing is an exercise used in the training for Combat sports, especially as its name implies in Boxing. A jump rope, skipping rope, or skip rope is the primary tool used in the Game of skipping played by Children and many Young adults Calisthenics form a category of Physical exercises closely related to but not a part of Gymnastics. Weight training is a common type of Strength training for developing the strength and size of Skeletal muscles It uses the Force of gravity
Training that is specific to a Muay Thai fighter includes training with coaches on Thai pads, focus mitts, heavy bag, and sparring. The 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 which involves practicing punches, kicks, knees, and elbow strikes with a trainer wearing thick pads which cover the forearms and hands. These special 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. 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 anytime during the round.
Focus mitts are specific to training a fighter’s hand speed, punch combinations, timing, punching power, defense, and counter-punching and may also be used to practice elbow strikes. Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit Punching power is a term that describes the amount of Momentum in a person's punches. 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 fighting and training regimen (some Thai boxers fight almost every other week) professional Muay Thai fighters have relatively short careers in the ring. Many retire from competition to begin instructing the next generation of Thai fighters. It is a common myth that Thai boxing causes arthritis, this is not true and is in no way more damaging to the body than other sports such as karate or even running. Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation plural arthritides is a group of conditions involving damage to the Joints of the body ( or is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese Kenpō. Running is a means for an animal to move on Foot. It is defined in Sporting terms as a Gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground Most professional Thai boxers come from the lower economic backgrounds and the fight money (after the other parties get their cut) is sought as means of support for the fighters and their families. Very few higher economic strata Thais join the professional Muay Thai ranks; they usually either don't practise the sport or practise it only as amateur Muay Thai boxers.
Muay Thai is practiced in many different countries. There are different rules depending on what country the fight is in and under what organization the fight is arranged. These rules, however, are gathered from the rules section of the World Muay Thai Council's web site. This is not the complete rulebook, but it contains a selection of the most important or most interesting rules.
| Category | Weight (up to) |
|---|---|
| Super Heavyweight | 209 lb+ (95 kg+) |
| Heavyweight | 190 lb+ (86 kg+) |
| Cruiserweight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Light Heavyweight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Super Middleweight | 168 lb (76 kg) |
| Middleweight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Junior Middleweight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| Welterweight | 147 lb (67 kg) |
| Junior Welterweight | 140 lb (64 kg) |
| Lightweight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Junior Lightweight | 130 lb (59 kg) |
| Featherweight | 126 lb (57 kg) |
| Junior Featherweight | 122 lb (55 kg) |
| Bantamweight | 118 lb (54 kg) |
| Junior Bantamweight | 115 lb (52 kg) |
| Flyweight | 112 lb (51 kg) |
| Junior Flyweight | 108 lb (49 kg) |
| Mini Flyweight | 105 lb (48 kg) |
According to rule 8, section 2, the minimum weight to compete is 100 pounds (45 kg). In amateur Boxing, the super heavyweight division is a weight class division for fighters weighing in excess of 91 Kilograms (200 Heavyweight is a division or weight class, in Boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds (14 st 4 lb/91 kg are considered heavyweights by the major professional Cruiserweight is a weight class in Boxing between Light heavyweight and Heavyweight. In boxing the light heavyweight (above 168 pounds up to 175 pounds division is the weight division between Cruiserweight and Super middleweight. Super middleweight is a Boxing weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds Middleweight is a division or weight class, in Boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s Welterweight is a Weight class division in combat sports Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in Boxing, but other combat sports like Kickboxing LightWeight is a developer of Video games with Samurai themes such as the Bushido Blade series and the Kengo Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of Boxing and Wrestling (Greco-Roman The term bantamweight usually refers to a class in Boxing or boxers who weigh between 112 and 118 pounds (between 51 and 54 Kilograms Flyweight is a class in Boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb (51 kg but above 108 lb (49 kg
| Category | Weight (up to) |
|---|---|
| Junior Middleweight and upwards | 10 ounce (284 grams) |
| Featherweight - Welterweight | 8 ounce (227 grams) |
| Mini Flyweight - Junior Featherweight | 6 ounce (132 grams) |
A. BOXER'S ATTIRE
5. 1. Only boxing shorts are to be worn, the colour of which depending on the corner; red, pink, or maroon or with a red stripe for the red corner; blue, bright blue, black for the blue corner. The dressing gown will be as specified by the World Muay Thai Council.
5. 2. To ensure the boxer's safety, a groin protector must be worn and tied only at the back.
5. 3. Long hair and/or beards are prohibited. A short mustache is allowed but the hair must not extend over the lip.
5. 4. The Mongkol should be worn when performing the Wai Kru (paying respect to one's teacher), prior to the match start. Amulets are only to be worn on the arm or waist and covered by material to avoid injury.
5. 5. Single elastic bandages are allowed to be worn on the arm or legs to prevent sprains, however insertion of a shin guard, etc, is not allowed.
5. 6. No metalized material, decoration or jewellery are allowed to be worn.
5. 7. The use of Vaseline, fat or any similar substance by the boxer to gain unfair advantage is not allowed.
5. 8. Boxer may wear elastic ankle bandages to protect his feet.
B. Any infringement to the dress code may result in the fighter's disqualification. In the case of any problem with the boxing gloves themselves, the referee may temporarily halt the match until they are corrected.
Prior to the start of the first round, both fighters shall perform the Wai Kru (paying respect to the teacher), and Ram Muay (boxing dance), accompanied by the appropriate Thai traditional music, incorporating the Ching (cymbal), Klong khaek (tom-tom) and pi Java (Thai reed pipe). Pi (ปี่ is the generic term for any of a variety of quadruple reed Oboes used in the traditional Music of Thailand. A Muay Thai match shall consist of five rounds, 3 minutes per round with a 2 minute break between each round. Any stoppage during the match for any reason, will not be counted as part of the 3 minute round time.
The standard scoring practice is as follows :
A: A strike either by a punch, kick, knee or elbow.
1. Scoring from a strike:
1. 1. Points will be awarded for a correct Thai Boxing style, combined with hard and accurate strikes.
1. 2. Points will be awarded for aggressive and dominating Muay Thai skill.
1. 3. Points will be awarded for a fighter actively dominating his opponent.
1. 4. Points will be awarded for the use of a traditional Thai style of defense and counter-attack.
1. 5. Points will be deducted from a boxer who fouls or breaks the rules.
2. Non scoring strikes:
2. 1. A strike which is against the rules.
2. 2. A strike in defense against the leg or arm of an opponent.
2. 3. A weak strike.
B. Fouls.
1. The judges will deduct points for any foul as directed by the referee.
2. Any foul observed by the judges but not by the referee, will be penalized accordingly.
C. Method Of Scoring
1. The maximum score for each round is 10 points, the loser scoring either 9, 8 or 7.
2. A drawn round will be scored as 10 points for both boxers.
3. The winner and loser in an indecisive round, will score 10:9 respectively.
4. The winner and loser in a decisive round will score 10:8 respectively.
5. The winner and loser in an indecisive round with a single count, will score 10:8 respectively.
6. The winner and loser in a decisive round with a single count, will score 10:7 respectively.
7. The boxer scoring 2 counts against his opponent will score 10:7.
8. Any boxer who commits a foul will have points deducted from his score.
18. 1. Biting, eye gouging, spitting, or head butting.
18. 2. Wrestling, back or arm locks or any similar judo or wrestling hold.
18. 3. Deliberately falling on his opponent.
18. 4. Holding the ropes for any reason.
18. 5. Swearing or the use of abusive language during the match.
18. 6. Knocking out or injuring his opponent after the referee has ordered the match to stop for any reason.
18. 7. Deliberately striking the groin area.
To be penalized by the deduction of 1 point for each time committed.
A boxer who has been hit in the groin may request a 5 minute break before continuing the match.
22. 1 All boxers will be certified by the doctor prior to the start of any fight and must not be suffering from any sickness or exhibit any prohibited symptom or disease, as specified in the medical manual of the Council.
22. 2 Any boxer due to fight in a foreign country, will be physically examined by a doctor appointed by the Council Committee. He must also conform to the medical regulations of that country.
23. 1 If a boxer is knocked unconscious or injured, only the doctor and the referee are allowed in the ring. Any others may only enter at the doctor's discretion.
23. 2 A boxer losing by a K. O. or T. K. O. will be immediately treated and undergo a physical examination by the doctor.
23. 3 Recovery Period - After a match, a boxer is required to rest for a minimum of 21 days prior to fighting again, with the following exceptions:
23. 3. 1. A winner in the first round is required to rest a minimum of 7 days prior to his next fight.
23. 3. 2. The winner in the third round is required to rest a minimum of 14 days prior to his next fight.
23. 3. 3. A boxer losing by T. K. O. or K. O. must rest for a minimum of 30 days prior to his next fight.
23. 3. 4. A boxer specified under Items 23. 3. 1 - 23. 3. 3, must be examined by the doctor at the end of each fight, who will then specify his rest period.
The use of drugs or stimulants, either before or after the fight is strictly forbidden. Any user will be disqualified. The sole drug allowed for the prevention of bleeding is epinephrine 1:1000 topically and must be administered under doctor's directions.
Muay Thai, along with savate, karate, and taekwondo heavily influenced the development of kickboxing in Japan, Europe, and North America. Savate (pronounced savat also known as boxe française, French boxing, French Kickboxing or French Footfighting ( or is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese Kenpō. Taekwondo (Korean태권도thɛʔkwʌndo Englishˈteɪˈkwɒnˈdoʊ is a Korean Martial art and the National sport of South Korea However, unlike Muay Thai, many kickboxing competitions do not allow elbow strikes, knee strikes, or kicks below the waist. These rule changes have led some martial artists to consider practicing a 'watered down' version of Muay Thai.
Starting in the 1990s, Muay Thai has enjoyed a boost in popularity worldwide as it has been very effective in mixed martial arts training. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Mixed martial arts (MMA is a full contact Combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques from a mixture of Martial arts traditions and MMA artists such as Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Wanderlei Silva, and Anderson Silva have combined many striking elements of Muay Thai with grappling, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into a hybrid synthesis that has been highly effective in their fights. Mixed martial arts (MMA is a full contact Combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques from a mixture of Martial arts traditions and Mauricio Milani "Shogun" Rua (born November 25, 1981 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Mixed martial arts fighter and the winner Wanderlei Cesar da Silva ( pronounced vahn-der-LAY) (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian Mixed Anderson "The Spider" Silva (born April 14 1975 is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and mixed martial artist. Grappling refers to the gripping handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking, typically through the application of various Grappling holds Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ( BJJ) is a Martial art and Combat sport that focuses on Grappling and especially Ground fighting with the goal For the combat sport see Mixed martial arts. Hybrid martial arts (also known as hybrid fighting systems) refer to Martial arts Other fighters that have used Muay Thai as their primary style in mixed martial arts include Rob McCullough, Duane Ludwig, Melvin Manhoef, Alistair Overeem and Gilbert Yvel. "Razor" Robert Alexander 'Rob' McCullough IV (born May 26, 1977) is an American Muay Thai fighter and Mixed martial arts Duane Paul "BANG" Ludwig ( August 4, 1978 in Denver Colorado) is an American kickboxer and MMA fighter Melvin "No Mercy" Manhoef (born May 11, 1976) is a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and former mixed martial artist, trained by Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem (born May 17, 1980 is a professional Dutch Mixed martial artist and current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel ( June 30, 1976 - is a Dutch Mixed martial arts fighter Shoot-fighters and professional wrestlers who have trained and been influenced by Muay Thai include Satoru Sayama and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Shootfighting is a Combat sport and Martial art, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association (ISFA Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese Professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. is a Japanese Actor, and professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling
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