Kick Boxing has been practiced in many different forms throughout Southeast Asia for centuries. Thailand, like many countries in the area, was heavily influenced by the cultures of the ancient Khmer Empire, India, and China. Muay Thai itself can most directly be linked back to a more ancient style of unarmed combat practiced by Siamese soldiers, known as Muay Boran.

    Muay Boran was an incredibly effective fighting art that sought to maximize the amount of damage that every blow can inflict, and specialized in powerful knee and elbow strike combinations. Like many other traditional fighting arts, Muay Boran even included various fighting “forms” or “katas”, and was traditionally taught with Krabi Krabong, a complimentary weapon based martial art.

    Over time the combat driven art of Muay Boran began to develop into the sport of Muay Thai, becoming an integral part of Thai culture. Thai fights became staple events at many types of celebrations and festivals, especially those held at Buddhist temples. It may seem strange that fighting competitions were held at Buddhist temples, but the monks were often the most proficient teachers of the art. During this period, previously bare-knuckled fighters began wrapping their hands in lengths of rope.

   As the years progressed, Muay Thai began to become a means of personal advancement as nobles and other members of high society placed great esteem in skilled fighters, often selecting especially skilled Thai fighters to come live at their estates and teach Muay Thai. The most prestigious position belonged to those Thai fighters invited to live at the royal palace and train the King’s personal staff and guard.

   In the 1920s a codified set of rules was called for by King Rama the VII, including that fighters should wear “modern” western style boxing gloves and the prominent use of the rope ring. It was also about this time that the term Muay Thai came into popular use.

    Today, many members of Thailand’s lower economic levels see Muay Thai as a means to support their families through the fight money. However, due to the rigors of professional fighting and the training regimen (many fighters in Thailand fight every other week), professional fighters tend to have relatively short careers, most retiring by the age of 25 to teach the next generation.