Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Muay Thai Kickboxing - History and Overview
Muay Thai Kickboxing - History and Overview
by David Di Cristo
Muay Thai is an international professional sport and a fighting art. Known as the "King of the Ring" in kickboxing circles, Muay Thai is an art of fighting that originates from Thailand and is their national sport.
Whilst still very much a sport based in Thailand, Muay Thai Boxing is now gaining acceptance in America and the rest of the western world, with local and international tournaments hosted a lot more frequently. The Thai fighters are very tough opponents to beat due to their technique and conditioning, however the rest of the world is catching up, claiming victories against some of Thai's best.
Modern Muay Thai fights are fought in a ring, very similar to the western boxing matches. Perhaps the most attractive and interesting aspect of Muay Thai is the crowd of spectators that gathers to see a match. With techniques including kicks, punches and the extensive use of knees and elbows, Muay Thai is often referred to as the science of 8 limbs.
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and it dates back 3000 years Muay Thai was used by the Thai military for unarmed combat training. Many modern Muay Thai fighters have taken up the sport as a career path. I think it has gained such popularity, especially in Thailand, because many Thai national people saw it as a way to make a good living if they were successful at it. You have to remember the average income in Thailand is pretty low, so the attraction to earn a lot more money doing something they love and are good at was strong.
Fighting Strategies of Muay Thai is the first book to reveal actual fighting strategies and tactics as taught in the boxing camps in Thailand. As you may expect, the conditioning regimen in Muay Thai is legendary for its intensity and rigorous demands. This is an age old question; which fighting style is better? Everyone who practices Muay Thai will say Muay Thai is better and the same with Karate.
Muay Thai kickboxing is no longer a man's sport, with many women nowadays coming to boxing gyms to train for fights, get fit, tone up and learn self defense. Muay Thai is not about throwing wild punches. It teaches crisp strikes that are fast and dangerous. If you have watched a Muay Thai fight in real life or on TV, you would know that while Muay Thai is famous for its leg kicks, the great fighters turn to the neck kick for knockout power. The key to beating the opponent in a Muay Thai fight is shin kicks, delivered in roundhouses to the legs, ribs, and head.
Thai Sport - Muay Thai
Thai Sport - Muay Thai
by Pauline Go
The most well known sport in Thailand is the Thai boxing or Muay Thai. It is a sport which needs a lot of strength, stamina and adaptability. It has a spiritual element too which is normally not linked with sports.
It is a form of combat between two fighters. Records show that this sport existed as early 1411, but it is possible that Muay Thai was in existence even before that. In 1920, Muay Thai was banned as it had become extremely violent and dangerous for the fighters. However, in 1937, the sport was revived and the fighters had to wear protective gear as the new rules and regulations that were laid down.
The spiritual aspect in Muay Thai can be seen before the sport starts. The fighters kneel down to pray to their wai kru or teacher before the event begins and they also perform a dance which is a bit of warm up besides being a ritual. This dance form is called Ram Muay. Ram Muay differs according to individual training camps. The dance is accompanied by music played by the band. The music is also known as phipat music.
The participant wears a tennis racket-like hoop on the head during the dance ceremony and then the coach removes it to indicate the start of the fight. Fighters wear bands containing a Buddha amulet and / or some kind of herb to bring good luck to them.
The actual boxing has five rounds and each round is for 3 minutes. There are three judges, who are seated in three different boxes on three different sides of the boxing ring. Points are given for each punch that lands on the opponent. In between the rounds, fighters can rest. Trainers use the rest as an opportunity to soak the fighters with water and advice them.
Muay Thai is considered to be a difficult sport and requires the fighters to be in peak physical condition.
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