Muay Thai

Though the exact origins of Muay Thai is unknown, it is believed that Muay Thai evolved from Muay Boran-ancient Thai Boxing, a system of unarmed combat method which may have been used by Siamese (Thai) soldiers after losing their weapons in battle. It is also believed that Siamese military developed Muay Boran, an early form of Muay Thai. The most famous folklore regarding Muay Boran is that of Nai Khanomtom, a famous boxer of 17th Century who won his freedom by successively defeating 9 Burmese kick boxers.

The history of Muay Thai was lost when the Burmese army sacked and razed Ayuthya to the ground. With them, much of the early Muay Thai history also went. The little we do know about Muay Thai comes from the writings of the Burmese, Cambodian, early European visitors and some of the chronicles of the Lanna Kingdom – Chiangmai.

Muay Thai is a form of ancient martial art and also a cultural martial art which has been practiced among brave people of Siam for centuries. Also known as Thai kick boxing, this combat sport has been gaining popularity around the world. Most of the practitioners admitted to being drawn to the “Raw” quality of Muay Thai where fighters are allowed to use all parts of the body including shin, elbows and knees. Needless to say it is a fantastic way to get in shape and learn self defence.

Learning Muay Thai is not all about violence and aggression. It requires a lot of techniques and skills along with quick wit and good body eye co-ordination. Some men and women have taken up this sport to lose weight, build strength and muscles while many feel that it is extremely viable as a self defence program.

What most of the sources agree on is that Muay Thai began as a close combat battlefield fighting skill. There are two main theories. One says that the art developed as the Thai people moved down from China; honed in the struggle for land. The other theory of the history of Muay Thai says that the Thai people were already here and that Muay Thai developed to defend the land and people from constant invasion threats.

From then on Muay Thai has come a long way down the history and has become one of the most popular combat systems.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, from a variety of other combat sports and martial arts. Various mixed-style contests took place throughout Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim during the early 1900s. In 1980 CV Productions, Inc. created the first regulated MMA league in the United States named Tough Guy Contest, later renamed Battle of the Superfighters, sanctioning ten tournaments in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Senate passed a bill in 1983 which prohibited the sport. The combat sport of vale tudo that had developed in Brazil from the 1920s was brought to the United States by the Gracie family in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).