Thailand Movie - Bold Thailand Travel Adventure

Welcome to Thailand. The Land of Smiles.

Thai Boxing

Introduction

Thai boxing, also known as Muay Thai, is an intense competitive sport mixing the punches of boxing and the kicks of martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do. Its home base is Thailand, but the sport has attracted attention in the United States thanks to the popularity of mixed martial arts competitions.

History

Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is the national sport and cultural martial art of Thailand. It was developed several hundreds of years ago as a form of close-combat that utilizes the entire body as a weapon.

Today its definitive origins are debated by modern scholars, as much of the muay thai history was lost when the Burmese ransacked Ayudhaya, Siam’s capital city in Thailand, during the 14th century.
Most written muya thai history was lost when the Burmese looted the temples and depositories of knowledge held in Ayudhaya, and what volumes were saved are now national treasures that are preserved and protected as documentation for Thai culture and heritage.
Muay Thai is referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs”; and using eight points of contact the body mimics weapons of war. The hands become the sword and dagger; the shins and forearms were hardened in training to act as armor against blows, and the elbow to fell opponents like a heavy mace or hammer; the legs and knees became the axe and staff. The body operated as one unit. The knees and elbows constantly searching and testing for an opening while grappling and trying to spin an enemy to the ground for the kill.
The King of Thailand is an avid fan of Muay Thai. Since being crowned its popularity has grown more than in any other era in history.

Thai Boxing Techniques
Modern Thai boxers have an arsenal of eight weapons to choose from: fists, elbows, knees and feet. While it may be possible for a Muay Thai boxer to win a particular fight using exclusively just one of the weapons available to him, by properly mastering the use of each of his weapons he will be able to confidently face any opponent.

Punching

Forming the fist correctly and using the combined forces of the shoulder, hip and foot to put additional power behind the punch is a basic Muay Thai technique. It is the rear fist that has the greatest power and punching with your knuckles is most effective. When in the boxing stance don’t clench your fists tightly. Obviously when you actually deliver the punch your fist should be tightly clenched. The punch is usually aimed to hit the body or the face. You should pull the fist back immediately after punching.
Five techniques in punch:

Jab

Straight Punch

Swing

Uppercut

Hook

Elbow

The elbows provide a dangerous form of attack, used to cut and sometimes to knock out. It is delivered in a hooking, uppercut or overhand motion. Practice the elbow against a punch bag. When first practicing the elbow, swing your elbow straight up in the narrowest possible angle. Posture is important. Do not hit the target bluntly but see if you can scrape the target lightly with your elbow. Good technique uses the combination of delicacy and force; unless you are aiming for the nose or chin, in which case you should hit squarely with full force. Don’t clench your fists too tightly when using the elbows. Footwork is as for a kick. Take power from the movement of your shoulder not just your arm. When using the back elbow don't only spin. Lean back, otherwise you will end up simply slapping your opponent with the back of your hand.
It is about how can you properly use elbows to beat the opponent, Muay Thai elbow techniques mechanism, and eight types of elbow strikes in Muay Thai Boxing techniques:

• Sok Ti (Striking Elbow)
• Sok Tad (Perpendicular Elbow)
• Sok Hud (Levering Elbow)
• Sok Chieng (Diagonal Elbow)
• Sok Sab (Chopping Elbow)
• Sok Tong (Smash Downward Elbow)
• Sok Ku (Double Elbows)
• Sok Klab (Reverse Elbow)

Knees

In Muay Thai punches are rarely thrown to the stomach area, as the knee is a much more effective weapon. The proper way to throw the knee is to thrust it straight upwards; powerful and sharp. Stand up on your toes. Lift yourself up wth a straight leg. Step forward into the attack always keeping your hand high in guard. Fold your leg as tightly as possible and point the toes. Or the toes can point up, ready for a thrust kick. Send power from the hips in the same way you send power to the punch from the shoulder. This will make the strike more powerful. Pull your head back and lean out of punch range. Relax! First practice the straight knee. Practice against a bag or during sparring. Good knee technique in the clinch is vital. When using the long knees pull the body back and push the knee forward, turning on your foot slightly. This extends your range and makes the knee stronger. Deploy the knee as high as you can. If you can knee your opponent in the face, do it!
The way to efficiently use knees. Muay Thai knee techniques are divided into 7 types:

• Kao Tone (Straight knee)
• Kao Dode (Jumping knee)
• Kao Nui (Small knee)
• Kao Kratai (Rabbit knee)
• Kao La (Farewell knee)
• Kao Lod (Lower knee)
• Kao Loi (Flying knee)

Kicks

Muay Thai has many different kicking techniques. Kicking must be practised meticulously and is not simply a matter of kicking the bags. Power comes from the buttocks and the hips move forward. Raise yourself up on your toes, let the power go with the leg and remember to follow through, like swinging a baseball bat. Don’t jump off the ground when you kick.
There are 5 popular types of kick in Muay Thai Boxing techniques:

• Tae Tad (Side Kick or Round Kick)
• Tae Chiang (Diagonal Kick)
• Tae Kod (Hook kick or Down round kick)
• Tae Pub Nok (Kick to the outside of the knee joint)
• Tae Pub Nai (Kick to the inside of the knee joint)

Thai Boxing Techniques Video