The name Muay Thai means “Thai boxing.” Also known as the “Art of the Eight Limbs”, this deadly martial art employs fists, elbows, knees, and feet to deliver powerful strikes and grapples while defending oneself or subduing an opponent.

Boxing has been an integral part of Thai culture for centuries and has been used to keep soldiers fit and agile. It is now a high-intensity, full-contact sport based on kicking and punching. You must knock your opponent to the ground to score points in the game.

Discover the beauty of Thailand with Indo Thai News-your one-stop-shop for the latest thailand culture news

National Muay Thai Day: Nai Khanom Tom Day

March 17th marks the celebration of National Muay Thai Day. It is a day that commemorates the legendary fighter Nai Khanom Tom, also regarded as the Father of Muay Thao. He was a prisoner of war during the Burmese-Siamese War in the 18th century.

According to the legend, Nai Khanom Tom was selected to fight against a Burmese champion in a boxing match, and he won the fight using his Muay Thai skills. He went on to defeat nine more Burmese fighters in a row, demonstrating the effectiveness of Muay Thai in combat.

To honour his legacy, March 17th was designated “Nai Khanom Tom Day” in Thailand. It is a day to celebrate Nai Khanom Tom’s contributions to Muay Thai’s development and promote and preserve the art of Muay Thai as an important part of Thai culture. It is celebrated with various events and activities such as Muay Thai demonstrations, competitions, and cultural performances.

Benefits of Muay Thai

This martial art is a physically and mentally taxing discipline that improves one’s fitness and strength. Some people believe that Muay Thai can help improve cardiovascular health, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Additionally, it can enhance overall stamina and endurance.

The benefits of practising Muay Thai are not only physical but mental as well. The workouts are challenging, but they also energise and motivate you. The combination of cardio exercise with muscle-building and balance training gives you an intense workout that benefits your entire body. It also widens your social circle while giving you an adrenaline rush. It’s also an excellent way to cope with anxiety and depression.

Basic Techniques of Muay Thai

Anyone can learn basic Muay Thai techniques by practising with a coach. However, there are many different techniques to learn, and the best way to find the ones that work for you is to test them out.

Experiment with combinations, strikes, and footwork until you find what works best. Here are some basic Muay Thai techniques to get you started:

1. The jab is a versatile strike that you can use to set up other attacks. Start by positioning your body close to your opponent, then reach out with your jab and touch your chin or nose. Keep your hands low to avoid getting hit in the face.

2. The cross is a powerful strike that can knock your opponent down. Extend your arm straight from your shoulder to execute the cross and swing it towards your opponent’s face. Again, keep your hand close to their head for maximum impact.

3. The elbow is the hardest point in the human body, and a devastating strike can break bones. To use the elbow, bend it and hit your opponent in the face or neck. However, be careful not to strike too hard, as it can cause serious injury.

Despite being such a deadly martial art, which has centuries of tradition, Thai boxing was unknown to most of the world till the late 20th century. Thai boxers then competed in kickboxing tournaments worldwide and crushed opponents using other martial arts styles like Karate, Kung fu, and Savat.

Like This Post? Pin it For Later!

Muay Thai was not developed to entertain a crowd; the moves are rarely choreographed. Instead, this boxing style was specifically designed to beat the opponent. It is a difficult art to master yet simple enough to be picked up by a novice. Thanks to this simplicity, anyone can pick up the basics of Muay Thai. It strengthens the mind, body, and spirit and is fun.

Follow Indo Thai News for the latest update on Thailand lifestyle and culture.

Four more must read articles on Indo Thai News

5 Basic Benefits of a Healthy and Active Lifestyle

Oscars 2023: RRR and The Elephant Whisperers Create History

5 Facts You Need to Know About the Oscar Winning Documentary: The Elephant Whisperers

Holi Festival Celebrations Bring a Splash of Colour in Pattaya

The post Muay Thai: For Physical & Mental Wellness appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

Whenever we see some form of martial arts going on in sports channel, we suddenly gets pumped up. There is a bit of physical fighter in everyone, and this is the reason why different types of fight forms, like martial arts and so, have become popular over centuries and have ideally evolved into different forms.While you may be familiar with kickboxing aspect, there is one un-denying popular form of this that has become the most popular and followed type of martial arts in Thailand – Muay Thay, the country’s national sport.

What is Muay Thai?

Muay Thai is a kind of Martial Arts form which is a bit more aggressive form. Unlike the western form of fight where the participants are allowed only two limbs to use, and unlike other martial art forms where 4 limbs’ use is permitted, Muay Thai makes use of varying parts including punches, kicks, elbow strikes and knees, as well as holding of the head. This is why it is also termed as ‘The Science of Eight Limbs’.

What Impact Does it Have on Someone’s Physical Shape?

There’s more to Muay Thai than simple fighting. While in a fight it may seem to be violent or belligerent, there are different benefits to the physical body of a person who undergoes Muay Thai training.

It leads to development of more stronger and lean muscle build with defined muscle form. As this form involves use of different parts of body and muscles, a few minutes of Muay Thai training is highly demanding, and therefore the results. This fight training has become a key form for many who want to lose weight or enhance their body’s metabolism. You also get to improve your fitness levels, power and speed, along with cardiovascular stamina.

On the mental level, Muay Thai helps in improving the syncing between mind and body, increasing focus and concentration.

For those who are looking at some highly significant and effective form of self-defence training, I would definitely pitch for Muay Thai.

Some Key facts Related to Muay Thai

• There are some form of Muay Thai competitions and bouts you can witness in Thailand, from small places to bigger stadiums.
• ‘The Science of Eight Limbs’ was coined as Muay Thai was meant to emulate weapons of war – kicks for spears, punches for swords, elbows for hammers, knees for daggers, forearm blocks for armor.
• The origin of Muay Thai is believed to be in 13^th century, when ‘Siam’, the first Thai army was formed to defend the city of Sukhothai against other kingdoms and warring tribes. They gained training in hand-to-hand combat to kill their enemies, which consequently evolved into a fight art known as Muay Thai today.
• While Muay Thai is popular in Thailand, it still has to pick the pace on a global level, a key reason why there is yet not grand money involved for fighters. A professional fighter would earn about $100 per fight, and the semi-pro ones less.
• Usually, in Thailand, children as small as 8-10 years start their training in Muay Thai and they become high professionals by the time they reach their teenage or twenties.
• Suan Kalap is the first modern Muay Thai boxing ring in Thailand, set up in 1921 in Suan Khoolab School.
• Two most popular places to catch a glimpse of Muay Thai fights or competitions are Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok (hub of this sport), run by Royal Thai Army and Rajadamnern Stadium.

Whether you want to get self-defence training in Muay Thai, or experience some fight competitions when in Thailand, the options are galore for you in numerous camps, gyms and stadiums.

Loved this post? Why not Pin it for later!

The post How Muay Thai, Thailand’s Own Kickboxing Form, is Different than Other Martial Arts appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.