Thai Boxing: The Art of the Eight Limbs

Thai boxing or what is also called Muay Thai is very popular in Thailand.  It makes efficient use of the hands, elbows, shins and knees – and thus the fighting science of the eight limbs where strikes can be executed on eight points of contact.  This is unlike Western boxing that only has two points of contact with the use of both fists.

Thai boxing has certain rituals before a fight.  It has the Wai Kru and the Ram Muay – these are done prior the actual fight. The Thai boxing fighters also wear armbands called Pra Jiad.  They believe it gives them good luck and will gain confidence by wearing one. 

The sport of Thai boxing is very exciting to watch as the fighters here are very well conditioned and will make full use of their body to unleash a devastating blow.  Traditional Thai boxing was even fiercer than today’s competition - as in the past, each would exchange devastating blows until one bows done to the much stronger opponent.  In contemporary fighting events, these have now become less popular and have evolved to a game of technique and strategy.

Such events are very pleasing to watch with the many striking options available.  They have the knee strikes as Kao Dode (jumping knee strikes), Kao Loi (flying knee strike), Kao Tone (straight knee strike), etc.  These knee strikes would perhaps amaze the audience and even other practitioners of other forms of martial arts - so would the elbow strikes that can be used in around seven ways. 

Some would even consider Thai boxing as a brutal and fatal sport.  Not many are able to stand up to such a sport and are willing to engage in such, which many consider to be dangerous events. 

Thai boxing practitioners focus heavily on conditioning to become extremely strong, gain high endurance levels and transform into effective fighters for such high level events.  With such excellent body conditioning, these Thai boxing fighters are able to show a good fight to the audience and strike fear in the eyes of other martial artists. 

Some who are involved in mixed martial arts competitions make it a point to train in the art of Thai boxing as they believe this will give them the edge over the other competitors.  This training will improve their stand up skills and will be able to give their opponent a good beating.

Especially those who are good in ground combat as judo, wrestling and jiu jitsu will try to improve their over-all fighting skills with some form of training in Thai boxing or a mellowed-version in kickboxing - making them the total and ultimate fighter in mixed martial arts events.