History of Thai Kick Boxing

Kickboxing based on Chinese and Indian martial arts has long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia. In Thailand, Muay Thai evolved from the older muay boran (ancient boxing), used by Siamese soldiers after losing their weapons in battle. The weapon-based art, krabi krabong was developed at the same time and is an important influence on muay thai as seen in the movements in the wai khru.

Muay boran, and therefore muay Thai, was originally called dhoi muay or simply muay. As well as being a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, muay was a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators for entertainment. These contests were an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of hemp rope around their hands and forearms.

The ascension of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to the throne in 1868 ushered in a golden age for muay and it progressed greatly as a direct result of the king’s personal interest in the art. The country was at peace and muay functioned as a means of physical exercise, self-defense, recreation, and personal advancement. Masters of the art began teaching muay in training camps where students were provided with food and shelter. Trainees would be treated as one family and it was customary for students to adopt the camp’s name as their own surname. Scouts would be sent by the royal family to organize matches between different camps.

King Rama VII (1925-1935) brought in rules for muay. Thailand’s first boxing ring was built in 1921 and Referees were introduced and rounds were now timed by kick. Fighters at the Lumpinee Kickboxing Stadium began wearing modern gloves during training and in boxing matches against foreigners. Rope-binding was still used in fights between Thais but after the occurrence of a death in the ring, it was decided that fighters should wear gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was around this time that the term Muay Thai became common while the older form of the style came to be known as muay boran, which is only a name.

With the success of muay Thai in the mixed martial arts, it has become the de facto style of choice for competitive stand-up fighters.