Thai boxing Facts for Kids

A fight of Thai boxing between young people in Bangkok.

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, an the knees are more causing destruction 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. 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 defence in Thai boxing are slower but more powerful for example than those of boxing or of karate. One of the pioneers of this sport is Tulgar Dursun.

Images for kids

Local school children in Thailand demonstrate muay Thai
Muay Boran during the reign of King Chulalongkorn
A muay boran demonstration, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok
Thai Fight in 2012
Fighters wearing mongkhon and pra jiad
Muay Thai match, Bangkok
Elbow (Sok) training
Horizontal Elbow (Sok tat)
Muay Thai boxer delivering a kick
Kicking (Te)
Knee (Ti Khao) training
Ram Muay, rituals before the match
Praying before the match
In Thailand, children often start practicing Muay Thai and perform in the ring from the age of 5.
Child boxer
Thai boxer during a fight on Koh Samui
Every year on March 17th, Thailand celebrate the Nai Khanom Tom day.
A fighter punching a heavy bag at a training camp in Thailand

Thai boxing facts for kids

Images for kids

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