Thursday, June 5, 2014

The History Of Thai Fights

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.

Before being a sport, the combat was originally used as a fighting technique in real warfare, before being incorporated into a sport in which the opponents engaged each other in front of a crowd of spectators who gathered for entertainment. Eventually, these muay fights grew into an important part of the traditional celebrations, even at times being organized in temples. With time, a type of match called the muay khat chueak was introduced, in which the fighters were given hemp rope to tie around their hands and forearms for protection.

Muay grew widely in the 19th century with the advance of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), during which the country became at peace, such that the technique was only used for leisure, self-defense, recreation, physical exercise and personal advancement. A boxing ring was introduced; the first one in Thailand, in 1921, and referees were brought in. Modern gloves and hard groin protectors were introduced in the sport and given to the fighters.

When knots were tied on the ropes on the knuckles, the strikes became more severe and damaging to the fighters. This was evidenced when an opponent was killed in the ring, prompting the use of gloves and cotton coverlets as replacements. The previous version known as muay boran became extinct, and is modernly used as a presentation form of art.

Two types of Thai fighting exist; major technique (mae mai) and luk mai (minor techniques). All the techniques require the whole body to move, as well as the hip when taking kicks, punch, elbow and blocking. The fight has changed through years; for instance, a new sport famously called the muay Thai has emerged.

Several techniques are used to prevent attacks. Redirection is used when a defender wades off an attack by changing its direction, making it to miss its designation, or blocking to prevent a strike by stopping it before it reaches him/her. The defender can also use avoidance, in which he/she moves his/her body or part to avoid being hit, and then finds space to counter attack.

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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