How to Understand Muay Thai Kickboxing

Traditional Muay Thai kickboxing is the national sport of Thailand, but it has caught on worldwide. Fast-paced and exciting, it is easy to understand the allure of this intense fighting sport. With its use of elbows and knees, Muay Thai kickboxing is one of the most demanding standing fight styles in the world.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Listen for traditional Thai music. This unique music is a sign that Muay Thai kickboxing traditions, and probably rules, are being followed.

2. Watch for fighters entering the ring to perform the Ram Muay, or Wai Kru, a dance that pays respects to the teachers of Muay Thai. The Ram Muay ritual varies from school to school, with some being fairly basic warm ups to others that are elaborate dances that may even include swords. Some Muay Thai enthusiasts believe that a fight's outcome can be predicted by closely observing the combatants perform their Wai Kru ritual.

3. Determine if the rules are international, which do not allow elbows, or traditional in which elbows are permitted. Either way, knees are legal, as are throws from the clinched position, although throws do not count as knock downs in most events.

4. Enjoy the fight! It will be organized into rounds like a boxing match, but there are never more than 5 rounds. The rounds are 3 minutes with 2 minutes of rest between the rounds.

5. Expect a short, intense fight. Many Muay Thai kickboxing matches never get to the fifth round because of the use of the unpadded elbow and knee techniques.

Tips & Warnings

• Because of the elbow and knee techniques, traditional Muay Thai is not sanctioned in many parts of the world, including most U.S. states.

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