Muay Thai History

Muay Thai is considered by some to be derived from a general martial art style native to Southeast Asia,[citation needed] and the first of these styles to be popularized outside of Southeast Asia.

Muay Thai began as Krabi Krabong, the Siamese weapon-based style [1]. When disarmed, Krabi Krabong practitioners resort to unarmed fighting techniques centred on kicks and wrestling -like throws. Developing through time and natural evolution of the art, it gave birth to Muay Boran, ancient style Muay Thai. As the basis of battlefield warfare evolved technologically, hand-to-hand combat was no longer required within the military. Muay Boran was divided to Muay ThaSao (North), Muay Thai Korat (Esarn or Northeast), Muay Thai Lobburee (Center region) and Muay Thai Chaiya (South).

There is a phrase about Muay Thai Boran that states, "Punch Korat, Wit Lobburee, Posture Chaiya, Faster Thasao. (หมัดหนักโคราช ฉลาดลพบุรี ท่าดีไชยา ไวกว่าท่าเสา)"

Muay Korat emphasizes strength. There is one technique called "Throwing Buffalo Punch", called this because it can supposedly defeat a buffalo in one blow. Muay Lobburee emphasizes clever movements. Its strong points are the straight and turned punches. Muay Chaiya emphasizes posture and defense, as well as elbows and knees. Muay Thasao emphasizes in speed, particularly in kicking. Because of their faster speed, this Muay Boran was called "Ling Lom" (windy monkey or Loris).

Muay Thai became a sporting martial art, kept alive in Thailand as a competitive sport, and for many, a way of life.

Traditionally in the past, Muay Thai was used as entertainment to kings. It is thought by some sources that the gloves were made out of wrapped twine, tar, and broken pieces of glass to ensure a bloody event, however it is still a subject of debate. Some argue that the notion of incorporating broken glass into the gloves of a Muay Thai fighter could have been taken from a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. Others suggest it was abrasives such as ground glass and sand that covered the gloves, rather than actual pieces of broken glass.