Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing has been described as the world's toughest ring sport and is one the most lethal forms of martial art. Also known as "The Science of Eight Limbs", it's a hard-style of martial art that also employs the use of the head, elbows, knees and shins as weapons. Although most of the world knows it to be exclusively from Thailand, it comes from the term Muay Boran and is also practiced in other countries in the region of South East Asia and has different names depending on the country. Malaysians call it Tomoi, Muay Lao in Laos, Lethwei to Burmese and Pradal Serey in Cambodia.
Muay Thai has its roots in the Siamese Army in ancient times and bouts during those times had no time limit and few rules. Only in the late part of the 20th century were gloves, ring times and a clear set of rules were adopted.
Target points for Muay Thai punches include the area above the ear, the jaw, the area covered by the upper lip (philtrum), the clavicle, floating ribs and the solar plexus. Punching techniques or Chok are similar to Western boxing: the straight punch (Mud Trong), Mud Wiang San or hook, the swing- Mud Wiang Yao, the uppercut Mud Seuy, Cobra Punch or Kra-dod Chok, and the undercut or Mud Hook. One Muay Thai punching technique absent in Western boxing is the spinning backfist or Mud Wiang Glub and can be a very effective surprise attack.
Teh, or kicking techniques are an essential part of Muay Thai combat. It consists of the straight kick Teh Trong, the roundhouse Teh Tud, diagonal kick Teh Chiang, the shin-knee kick Teh Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao, the down roundhouse kick Teh Kod, the axe heel kick Teh Kao, jump kick Gra-dodeh Teh, step-up kick Kha Yiep The, and the spectacular spinning heel kick Teh Glub Lang. The dangerous Neb or pecking kick is an often executed Muay Thai kick and is very similar to the straight kick. The tip of the foot or ball is used to dig into the target area which can include the outer part of the thigh, the shins and the knee. It's mostly used to stop and opponent's forward moves.
Clinching in Muay Thai involves putting one's hands behind the head of the opponent and pulling it downwards. It is during these clinches that Tee Kao or knee techniques are used to strike the torso or more devastatingly, the jaw. The different knee strikes are the Kao Trong or straight knee strike, the Kao Chiang or diagonal knee strike, Kao Kong curving knee strike, Kao Tud horizontal knee strike, Kao Tod knee slap, Kao Youwn knee bomb, Kao Yiep step-up knee strike and the Kao Loi or flying knee strike.
Traditional Muay Thai training methods were grueling and literally took blood,sweat and tears to endure. It involved extreme conditioning of the legs by with repeated kicks against a banana tree. This toughens the shin area making it invulnerable to abuse in the ring.
The Martial art of Muay Thai has its own unique techniques. It consists of the use of nine weapons. The head, fists, elbow, knee and feet are collectively known as Na-wa arwud. But today the use of head is no longer allowed in the Muay Thai fights. In Muay Thai small amount of grappling is used (The Clinch) for both defending and attacking purpose. Muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: Mae Mai or Major techniques and Luk mai or Minor techniques. All techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip partially or fully with every punch, kick and block. This is the reason which sets Muay Thai apart from other forms of martial art.
Punching Techniques: ( Chok)
Straight punch = Mud Dhrong
Hook = Mud Wjang San
Swing = Mud Wjang Yao
Spinning Back fist = Mud Wjang Glab
Upper Cut = Mud Seub
Cobra Punch = Kra-Dod Chok
Over Head Punch = Mud Khouk
The judges in Muay Thai fights scores less to the fighters for the punching techniques as they are generally less effective and powerful than kicks or knee strikes. Body punching is also used less in Muay Thai as it exposes the fighters head to the strikes of knee or elbow from the opponent.
Elbow Techniques: (Dhee Sork)
Elbow Slash = Sork Dhee
Horizontal Elbow = Sork Dhad
Upper Cut Elbow = Sork Ngad
Forward elbow Thrust = Sork Poonk
Reverse Horizontal elbow = Sork wjang Glab
Spinning Elbow = Sork Glab
Elbow Chop = Sork Sap
Double Elbow Chop = Sork Glab Koo
Mid Air Elbow Strike = Gra-Dode Sork
The elbow is used in seven ways in Muay Thai, horizontally, diagonal upwards, diagonal downwards, uppercut, downward, backward spinning and flying. The elbow is also used from the sides as a finishing move or to cut the opponents' eyebrow so that he bleeds. Bleeding blocks the vision and also affects the fighter's performance.
Kicking Techniques: (Dhe)
Straight Kick = Dhe Dhrong
Nutcracker Kick = Dhe Paa Maak
Round house Kick = Dhe Dhad
Diagonal Kick = Dhe Chivang
Half-spin, half knee kick = Dhe Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao
Spinning hill Kick = Dhe Glab Lang
Down Round house kick = Dhe Kod
Axe Hill Kick = Dhe Khouk
Jump kick = Gra-Dode Dhe
Step Up Kick = Yiep Dhe
The most common kick in Muay Thai are Foot Jab (Theep) and the Kick (Tae), upward in the shape of a triangle targeting the ribs and arms (Chieng). This angle kick in Muay Thai has been adopted by many other forms of martial arts as it is very effective. The round house kick is almost similar to the kicks used in karate or taekwondo. Many Muay Thai fighters also uses a counter rotation of his arms to enhance the power of his kick. A Muay Thai fighter is always taught to hit with his shin. Although the shin is very sensitive for an untrained person the shin is the strongest part of the leg than the foot as it contains fine bones and is much weaker.
Knee Techniques: (Dhe kao)
Straight Knee Strike = Kao Dhrong
Diagonal Knee Strike = Kao Chijang
Curving Knee Strike = Kao Kouwng
Horizontal Knee Strike = Kao Dhad
Knee Slap = Kao Dhob
Knee Bomb = Kao Youwn
Flying Knee Strike = Kao Loi
Step up Knee Strike = Kao Yiep
Other Knee Techniques: - Kao Dode: (Jumping Knee Strike) Jump on one leg and strike with that legs knee. - Kao Loi: (Flying Knee Strike) Take step(s), jump forward and off one leg and strike with that legs knee. - Kao Tone: (Straight Knee Strike) Thrusts it forward. Not upward unless the fighter is holding opponents head down in a clinch and intend to knee upward into the face. - Kao Noi: (Small knee Strike) Hitting the inside upper thigh (above the knee)of the opponent while clinching.
Foot Thrust Techniques: (Theep)
Straight Foot Thrust = Teep Dhrong
Sideways Foot Thrust = Teep Kang
Reverse Foot Thrust = Teep Glab Lang
Slapping Foot Thrust = Teep Dhob
Jumping Foot Thrust = Gra-Dode Teep
It is also known as 'Push Kicks' and is commonly used in Muay Thai. It is mainly used to attack opponents' attack, and get the opponent off balance.
Fighters in The Arm Clinch Position:
There is a difference in Muay Thai from the western Boxing. During the arm clinch position the fighters are separate in western boxing; however they are not in Muay Thai. There are several clinching techniques in Muay Thai including:
- Arm Clinch
- Side Clinch
- Low Clinch and
- Swan Neck.
Defensive techniques against attack:
It as categorized into six groups:
1. Blocking: Defenders hard block to stop a strike in its path, so preventing it reaching its target.
2. Redirection: Defenders soft parries to change the directions of a strike so that it misses its target.
3. Avoidance: Moving a body part swiftly out of the way or range of a strike, making the position of the opponent for a counter strike.
4. Evasion: Moving the body out of the way or range of a strike.
5. Disruption: Pre-aiming an attack.
6. Anticipation: Defender catching a strike or countering it before it strike.
Both Allen Owen & Jirasak Phuriphanvichai are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Allen Owen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Boxing, Boxing and Fitness. Allen Owen has been practicing martial arts of one form or another since he was in grammar school. Check out his eBay store at: