9 Reasons Why Muay Thai Is The Perfect Martial Art

The Muay Thai kick is a devastating weapon delivered via the shins. The kick is delivered from the outside, with the arm swung backwards along with the inside rotation of the hip to generate force. Kicks can be thrown to the opponent’s legs (known as low kick or leg kick), body, arms, the back or the head. Due to the ever-present threat of war or invasion, the Siamese people built training centres across the kingdom to ready young soldiers for combat. These early versions of Muay Thai gyms became focal parts of Siam communities and so Muay Thai became ingrained in Siamese culture. The aim is to simulate fighting scenarios, where the pad holder moves around and sets the pads up to be struck with punches, kicks, kneed and elbows by the attacker.

Without hesitation, Nai Khanom Tom said he would take the wives, because money was easier to find. In time, Nai Khamon Tom took his lovely wives to Thailand, where he lived with them until the end of his life. As soon as he matched with a fighter, Nai Khanom Tom began dancing around his opponent, which amazed and perplexed the Burmese spectators. The referee then announced that the dance was a Thai tradition (wai khruu) through which the boxer paid his respects to his mentor.

Fighters such as the legendary Dieselnoi, Petchboonchu FA Group, and Sagetdao Petpayathai are regarded among the premier knee fighters of all time. The hook is certainly one of the four main punches when it comes to Muay Thai, so you should certainly invest some time in perfecting it. As with any technique, plenty of practice and drills are necessary when making it work for you. 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.

Generally speaking, kickboxers focus more on footwork and punches while Muay Thai fighters focus on all weapons along with clinching with an emphasis on kicks which score more. Like many combat sports, both Muay Thai and BJJ can be effective as self-defense skills in real-life situations. 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.

If an opponent has maintained 3-point contact with the ring canvas (e.g. with both feet and one hand on the ground), no striking is allowed to the opponent. Accidents do occasionally happen due to the fast pace of the fight and this will be judged accordingly by the referee or ring officials. 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.

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.

• However, some renowned Thai fighters have competed with much success in both sports.
• The WTBA has now expanded to establish affiliate organizations in countries around the world.
• The minimum age to qualify for professional bouts varies from country to country.
• 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.
• Don’t try to learn a high kick or a spinning back elbow in your first session.

Stadiums were packed, the sport became known worldwide, and legends like Samart Payakaroon, Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtom, Ramon Dekkers, and dozens of others were made. Also around this time, gamblers didn’t yet have a stronghold on the sport. During the early years of the Ratanakosin era not much changed for Muay Boran. No one had yet established a formal set of rules, but fights continued to take place in village temples and at royal events. However, in the first half of the 1900s Muay Thai as we know it would change forever. Hard shins and tough skin were an important part of being a good Muay Thai fighter.

As you might guess, a judge will score the cleanest, most technical, and most damaging strikes higher. The shots that have a bigger impact on your opponent – whether they knock them down, make them wince, or visibly affect their ability to fight – will count considerably when scoring a fight. Combinations and spectacular strikes will also get the attention of the judges. When watching a https://sbotopbet.net/muay-thai-boxing/ fight for the first time, it might be difficult to understand the criteria for scoring a bout in favor of one fighter.

Are also important, but not as much as the titles from Rajadamnern and Lumpinee. What is the history of the sport and how often are international competitions held? However, Lord Mangra was so enthralled with Thai boxing that he summoned Nai Khanom Tom to reward him, asking which he would prefer, money or beauteous wives.

If you want to look the part and wear the ideal apparel, invest in some real Muay Thai shorts. These are usually made from nylon or satin, and are cut off about halfway up the thighs to reduce any friction to ensure you can kick with ease. Plus, there are infinite combinations of colors and styles available, so you can choose a design that suits your style and personality.

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. In Muay Thai, fighters can use punches to hit their opponent’s head or body, just like in boxing. They can use different kinds of punches such as jabs, crosses, hooks, overhands, and uppercuts. However, unlike in boxing, they are also allowed to use backhand and superman punches.