Thai boxing
Thai boxing (or Muay Thai) is a combat sport (martial art) that has been developed in Thailand. It is known also as "the art of eight limbs", because both hands, elbows, knees, and legs can be used to attack an opponent. Similar martial arts exist in Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Malaysia.
In the competition, the high kicks in the head can seem to make a stronger effect. In spite of this, the persons with special skills and knowledge of this sport declare that the low kicks, the elbows, and the knees are more effective or forceful for the persons who fight.
A person, who takes part in the competition, does the long ceremony and the act established by custom before the fight. They exist for religious reasons, and they serve as stretching the muscles and as preparation.
The training for Thai boxing is known for its being strong and its firmness, with modern workouts including both strength and cardio. Strength workouts include weightlifting and dumbbells, while cardio includes running. Some fighters will even train by kicking hard objects such as metal poles. It aims to harden the eight members of the body, so that being hit with the shinbone of the Thai boxer is often compared to being hit with a baseball stick. The Thai boxers usually kick with the shinbone instead of with the foot.
Thai boxing has influenced a lot on developing of kickboxing which afterwards has been created in Japan, in Europe, and in North America and some parts of Africa
Almost every act of moving in Thai boxing use the whole body, while turning the hip to every kick and every blow with the fist. As a result, the attacks and the defense in Thai boxing are slower but more powerful for example than those of boxing or of karate.
Other websites
- Thai Boxing
- FeelThailand Muay Thai Muay Boran
- world amateur kickboxing organization (W.A.S.K.O. Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine kickboxing & muay thai)
- Thai Boxing Archived 2012-02-29 at the Wayback Machine at Muay Thai NYC Camp