By Wanda Rosner
Thai fights are a kind of sport in Thailand that involve stand up striking combined with different grappling techniques. This traditional Thailand combat of fighting is famously known as the art of eight limbs since it involves the use of all limbs: fists, knees, feet, and elbows. There is a professional league in Thailand organized and governed by the World Thai Council.
The technique was used in the past as an actual fighting combat in actual warfare, after which it was later introduced as a sport to entertain spectators. The opponents would meet in the ring where the spectators would gather in the arena to watch them fight as a form of entertainment. As time passed, the fights became a crucial part of the local traditions and customs of the Thai. They were even held in the temples. The sport evolved, and a form of fight called the muay khat chueak was introduced where the fighters were given hemp rope that they used to wrap around their forearms and hands.
During the 19th century, with the rise of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), muay advanced to a great height, and the country became at peace, using the technique mostly as a means of leisure and sometimes in self-defense. The first boxing ring in Thailand was constructed in 1921, where referees were brought in and fighters were clothed with modern gloves and hard groin protectors.
Later on it was found that, when knots were tied on the ropes on the knuckles, the strikes were more deadly and caused severe injuries to the fighters. This kind of fight was known as muay boran. A fighter was once killed in a ring, thereby leading to the introduction of gloves and cotton coverlets to replace the hemp rope. This was banned and is only available as an exhibition form of art.
The latter is now practiced mainly as a presentation art form. There are two groups of muay Thai fighting combats: major techniques (mae mai ) and luk mai ( minor techniques). In any case, most of the techniques involve the movement of the whole body, circling the hip when taking every kick, punch, elbow or block.
Various techniques are used for protection against attack. There is blocking in which the defender resists a strike when fighting such that he stops it before reaching him. There is also redirection where the defender wards off the direction of a strike, thereby making it to miss him. In avoidance, the defender moves his body part away from the attacker to avoid getting hit, but in a short range so that he finds space to counter hit the attacker back.
The evasion technique is used by the defender by moving the whole body to prevent an attack, and the later moves it back to counter. A combination of the disruption technique, and the anticipation technique can be used when countering an attack, such as a roundhouse kick before it lands. This helps the fighter gain a positive advantage during the fight.
Traditionally, Muay Thai is specifically made to increase body fitness and toughness that is required in the ring when competing. The training exercises include running, body weight resistance exercises, jumping, medicine ball exercises, shadowboxing, abdominal exercises and weight training. These all rounded practices help the individual fighter a lot.
The technique was used in the past as an actual fighting combat in actual warfare, after which it was later introduced as a sport to entertain spectators. The opponents would meet in the ring where the spectators would gather in the arena to watch them fight as a form of entertainment. As time passed, the fights became a crucial part of the local traditions and customs of the Thai. They were even held in the temples. The sport evolved, and a form of fight called the muay khat chueak was introduced where the fighters were given hemp rope that they used to wrap around their forearms and hands.
During the 19th century, with the rise of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), muay advanced to a great height, and the country became at peace, using the technique mostly as a means of leisure and sometimes in self-defense. The first boxing ring in Thailand was constructed in 1921, where referees were brought in and fighters were clothed with modern gloves and hard groin protectors.
Later on it was found that, when knots were tied on the ropes on the knuckles, the strikes were more deadly and caused severe injuries to the fighters. This kind of fight was known as muay boran. A fighter was once killed in a ring, thereby leading to the introduction of gloves and cotton coverlets to replace the hemp rope. This was banned and is only available as an exhibition form of art.
The latter is now practiced mainly as a presentation art form. There are two groups of muay Thai fighting combats: major techniques (mae mai ) and luk mai ( minor techniques). In any case, most of the techniques involve the movement of the whole body, circling the hip when taking every kick, punch, elbow or block.
Various techniques are used for protection against attack. There is blocking in which the defender resists a strike when fighting such that he stops it before reaching him. There is also redirection where the defender wards off the direction of a strike, thereby making it to miss him. In avoidance, the defender moves his body part away from the attacker to avoid getting hit, but in a short range so that he finds space to counter hit the attacker back.
The evasion technique is used by the defender by moving the whole body to prevent an attack, and the later moves it back to counter. A combination of the disruption technique, and the anticipation technique can be used when countering an attack, such as a roundhouse kick before it lands. This helps the fighter gain a positive advantage during the fight.
Traditionally, Muay Thai is specifically made to increase body fitness and toughness that is required in the ring when competing. The training exercises include running, body weight resistance exercises, jumping, medicine ball exercises, shadowboxing, abdominal exercises and weight training. These all rounded practices help the individual fighter a lot.
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