History of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)

Muay Thai (a.k.a. Thai Boxing) is martial art origionating in Thailand. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand called "Art of the Eight Limbs" (two hands, two shins, two elbows, two knees.)  In the past, Muay was taught to soldiers by the king and senior ranking soldiers for combat on battlefields. After these soldiers retired, they became Buddist monks and taught this self defense method to anyone who wanted to learn. Although it started as a martial art of soldiers, there were Muay Thai tournaments from its beginning. In the history of Muay Thai, national issues were decided by Muay Thai contests. The first great upsurge of interest in Muay Thai as a sport, as well as a battlefield skill, was under King Naresuan in 1584, a time known as the Ayuddhaya period. During this period, every soldier trained in Muay Thai and could use it, as the King himself did. Slowly Muay Thai moved away from its root in the 'Chupasart' and new fighting techniques were evolving.

The sport evolved over the years and some of its more dangerous strikes were banned from the sport. In the early 1930's the sport was moved to a boxing-like ring and wrapped hands were replaced with boxing gloves. Muay Thai has always been very popular in Thailand but has become much more poplular world-wide in the last 20 years. Today Muay Thai is an integral part of the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sport and has never been more popular. It is said that Muay Thai is the most punishing of all the martial arts. Almost all of the recent MMA champions were skilled Muay Thai fighters. In the future Muay Thai or "Thai Boxing" will continue to grow as more foreigners view the sport.