Archive for November, 2009

The History of Muay Thai

With origins in Thailand, Muay Thai is a popular sport in many Eastern countries. Surprisingly, it began as a martial art known as Krabi Krabong (a Siamese martial art) in which weapons were used. This is quite unique, considering that in modern Muay Thai, weapons are not used at all.

Krabi Krabong soon morphed into the ancient Muay Boran, a martial art very close to the Muay Thai as it is known today. Again, with time, Muay Boran evolved yet again and was divided into four different art forms for different regions North, Northeast, Center Region and South and were called Muay ThaSao, Korat, Lobburee, and Chaiya.

Each of these different forms placed emphasis on a particular philosophy or technique the Center region (Muay Lobburee) took intelligent and quick movements to heart while the South (Muay Chaiya) preferred to emphasize a student’s defense techniques and proper posture. The most famous of stories belonging to the history of Muay Thai involves a Master by the name of Nai Khanomtom.

During a match with a Burmese martial artist, Nai Khanomtom performed his best for the king during that time King Mangra. King Mangra, however, was impressed and asked that Nai Khanomtom fight nine more Burmese opponents to prove himself. Although it is true that Muay Thai has had its hand in contributions to many martial arts that are, in fact, well known in other countries, such as kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts.

A.   Basic Muay Thai Techniques

The Martial art of Muay Thai has its own unique techniques.

Punching Techniques: ( Chok)
Straight punch = Mud Dhrong
Hook = Mud Wjang San
Swing = Mud Wjang Yao
Spinning Back fist = Mud Wjang Glab
Upper Cut = Mud Seub
Cobra Punch = Kra-Dod Chok
Over Head Punch = Mud Khouk

The judges in Muay Thai fights scores less to the fighters for the punching techniques as they are generally less effective and powerful than kicks or knee strikes. Body punching is also used less in Muay Thai as it exposes the fighters head to the strikes of knee or elbow from the opponent.

Elbow Techniques: (Dhee Sork)
Elbow Slash = Sork Dhee
Horizontal Elbow = Sork Dhad
Upper Cut Elbow = Sork Ngad
Forward elbow Thrust = Sork Poonk
Reverse Horizontal elbow = Sork wjang Glab
Spinning Elbow = Sork Glab
Elbow Chop = Sork Sap
Double Elbow Chop = Sork Glab Koo
Mid Air Elbow Strike = Gra-Dode Sork

The elbow is used in seven ways in Muay Thai, horizontally, diagonal upwards, diagonal downwards, uppercut, downward, backward spinning and flying.

Kicking Techniques: (Dhe)
Straight Kick = Dhe Dhrong
Nutcracker Kick = Dhe Paa Maak
Round house Kick = Dhe Dhad
Diagonal Kick = Dhe Chivang
Half-spin, half knee kick = Dhe Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao
Spinning hill Kick = Dhe Glab Lang
Down Round house kick = Dhe Kod
Axe Hill Kick = Dhe Khouk
Jump kick = Gra-Dode Dhe
Step Up Kick = Yiep Dhe

The most common kick in Muay Thai are Foot Jab (Theep) and the Kick (Tae), upward in the shape of a triangle targeting the ribs and arms (Chieng). A Muay Thai fighter is always taught to hit with his shin.

Knee Techniques: (Dhe kao)
Straight Knee Strike = Kao Dhrong
Diagonal Knee Strike = Kao Chijang
Curving Knee Strike = Kao Kouwng
Horizontal Knee Strike = Kao Dhad
Knee Slap = Kao Dhob
Knee Bomb = Kao Youwn
Flying Knee Strike = Kao Loi
Step up Knee Strike = Kao Yiep

Other Knee Techniques:

- Kao Dode: (Jumping Knee Strike) Jump on one leg and strike with that legs knee.

- Kao Tone: (Straight Knee Strike) Thrusts it forward.

Foot Thrust Techniques: (Theep)
Straight Foot Thrust = Teep Dhrong
Sideways Foot Thrust = Teep Kang
Reverse Foot Thrust = Teep Glab Lang
Slapping Foot Thrust = Teep Dhob
Jumping Foot Thrust = Gra-Dode Teep

It is also known as ‘Push Kicks’ and is commonly used in Muay Thai. There are several clinching techniques in Muay Thai including:
- Arm Clinch
- Side Clinch
- Low Clinch and
- Swan Neck.

Anticipation: Defender catching a strike or countering it before it strike.

B.   Muay Thai the Unbeatable Martial Art

Muay thai is the form of martial art which began its journey from the Kingdom of Thailand more than 2000 years ago. Muaythai is the art of fighting without the use of any weapon.

Thai boxing can be differentiated from the general form of boxing, as it includes the use of hands, elbow, feet and the knee. It’s not only an art of fighting; it is also a form of science, with discipline, knowledge and respect.

Thai boxing is an art which needs to be practiced with proper training. Practicing Muay thai is not only getting physical training but also includes the learning of moral values and disciplines in life. One of the unique features in Thai boxing is the music, which is known as the “Sarama”. This Sarama music or the wind music is played before the fight with a ceremony, which the fighter performs to pay his respect and gratitude towards those who insisted and helped him to become a boxer. You can find more information about music at Muay Thai Fighting Website.

Muay thai has given born to many great fighters who are now known all over the world. Samart Payakaroon is one of the best among legendry muay thai heroes; he held the title of “Baby Face Tiger”. He accomplished both Muay thai and World Super Bantamweight championship in his carrier. One of the most promising muay thai boxer is Buakaw Por Pramuk. He won the title of K-1 Max World Champion two times till now. In Atlanta Olympics 1996, Somrak Khamsing is the first Thai boxer who won a gold medal in feather weight class.

C.   Mixed Martial Arts Fighting, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai Fighting, Training Tips for Repetition Drilling of Techniques

When first learning a new mixed martial arts fighting technique whether at the fundamental level or the more advanced it is important that we chunk it down into smaller, easily learned units. Once easily assimilated chunks are obtained these must be practiced with repetition to learn them. The most useful method of repetition drilling to gain the most effective retention is to spread the repetitions over a number of sessions.

A method that has shown a great deal of effect is to carry out 7 to 10 repetitions of a particular technique in a training session. The first repeat session can be within the same session. The closer the review sessions are together the quicker the optimal retention is obtained.

Another common problem, that many of us experience in mixed martial arts fighting and Muay Thai Fighting, is that of boredom when training the number of repetitions required for drilling the techniques adequately. Bear in mind that this is for the learning and retention of a new technique, not the optimal refinement of it for the highest level of effectiveness that may be required for the rigors of competition in both mixed martial arts fighting and Muay Thai Fighting.

Taking your mixed martial arts fighting skill to this level requires many more repetitions and exposing the performance of the technique to increasing levels of risk through controlled and on to random sparring.

To ensure the best learning of the technique start by learning and drilling the technique under totally cooperative conditions to get it right, this is the
retention period discussed above.

Once a good level of efficacy is obtained, then try to use the technique in controlled sparring conditions or controlled performance drills in which your training partner presents moderate problems to deal with.