Muay Thai
Muay Thai (Thai: มวยไทย, RTGS: muai thai, pronounced [mūa̯j tʰāj] (listen)
), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a martial art and combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.[1][2][3][4][5] This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs," as it is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.[6] 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 Musti-yuddha, Muay Chaiya, Muay boran, Muay Lao, Lethwei, Pradal Serey, and Tomoi.[7][8] Muay Thai developed from the traditional Muay Boran.[9][10] A practitioner of Muay Thai is known as a nak muay. Western practitioners in Thailand are sometimes called nak muay farang, meaning "foreign boxer."[11]
The history of Muay Thai can be traced at least to the 16th century as a peace-time martial art practised by the soldiers of King Naresuan.[12] An exhibition of Muay Thai was observed and reported by Simon de la Loubère, a French diplomat who was sent by King Louis XIV to the Kingdom of Siam in 1687, in his famous work and the Ayutthaya Kingdom Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767)[13] Muay boran, and therefore Muay Thai, was originally called by more generic names such as toi muay or simply muay. As well as being a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, muay became a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators who went to watch for entertainment. These muay contests gradually became an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of hemp rope around their hands and forearms. This type of match was called muay khat chueak (มวยคาดเชือก).
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. 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.[14]
1909-1910: King Chulalongkorn formalized muay boran ("ancient boxing") by awarding (in 1910) three muen to victors at the funeral fights for his son (in 1909). The region style: Lopburi, Korat, and Chaiya.[14]
1913: British boxing was introduced into the curriculum of the Suan Kulap College. The first descriptive use of the term "muay Thai."
