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Thai Boxing: The Art of the Eight Limbs
Thai boxing or what is also called Muay Thai is very popular in Thailand. It
makes efficient use of the hands, elbows, shins and knees – and thus the
fighting science of the eight limbs where strikes can be executed on eight
points of contact. This is unlike Western boxing that only has two points of
contact with the use of both fists.
Thai boxing has certain rituals before a fight. It has the Wai Kru and the
Ram Muay – these are done prior the actual fight. The Thai boxing fighters
also wear armbands called Pra Jiad. They believe it gives them good luck and
will gain confidence by wearing one.
The sport of Thai boxing is very exciting to watch as the fighters here are
very well conditioned and will make full use of their body to unleash a
devastating blow. Traditional Thai boxing was even fiercer than today’s
competition - as in the past, each would exchange devastating blows until
one bows done to the much stronger opponent. In contemporary fighting
events, these have now become less popular and have evolved to a game of
technique and strategy.
Such events are very pleasing to watch with the many striking options
available. They have the knee strikes as Kao Dode (jumping knee strikes),
Kao Loi (flying knee strike), Kao Tone (straight knee strike), etc. These
knee strikes would perhaps amaze the audience and even other practitioners
of other forms of martial arts - so would the elbow strikes that can be used
in around seven ways.
Some would even consider Thai boxing as a brutal and fatal sport. Not many
are able to stand up to such a sport and are willing to engage in such,
which many consider to be dangerous events.
Thai boxing practitioners focus heavily on conditioning to become extremely
strong, gain high endurance levels and transform into effective fighters for
such high level events. With such excellent body conditioning, these Thai
boxing fighters are able to show a good fight to the audience and strike
fear in the eyes of other martial artists.
Some who are involved in mixed martial arts competitions make it a point to
train in the art of Thai boxing as they believe this will give them the edge
over the other competitors. This training will improve their stand up skills
and will be able to give their opponent a good beating.
Especially those who are good in ground combat as judo, wrestling and jiu
jitsu will try to improve their over-all fighting skills with some form of
training in Thai boxing or a mellowed-version in kickboxing - making them
the total and ultimate fighter in mixed martial arts events.
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