Country of origin | Thailand |
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Famous practitioners | Samart Payakaroon, Ramon Dekkers, Tony Jaa, Melchor Menor, Valentina Shevchenko, Apidej Sit Hrun, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Buakaw Banchamek, Yodsanklai Fairtex, Artem Levin, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, Diesel Noi, Kru Tony Moore, Rambaa Somdet, John Wayne Parr, Alexey Ignashov, Dany Bill, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky, Maurício Rua, Rafael Dos Anjos, Jose Aldo, Fabrício Werdum, Michael Bisping, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone, Ruqsana Begum, Imran Khan, Caity Lotz, Caley Reece, Tiffany van Soest, Saenchai Sinbimuaythai, Dave Leduc, Akshay Kumar, Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, Gina Carano. |
Parenthood | Muay Boran, Muay Chaiya, Krabi Krabong |
Olympic sport | No, but recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC); it is also included in the World Games |
Muay Thai (Thai: มวยไทย, rtgs: Muai Thai, pronounced [mūa̯j tʰāj] ( listen)) or Thai boxing is a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This physical and mental discipline which includes combat on shins is known as "the art of eight limbs" because it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, shins, being associated with a good physical preparation that makes a full-contact fighter very efficient. Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the twentieth century, when practitioners defeated notable practitioners of other martial arts. The professional league is governed by The Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (P.A.T) sanctioned by The Sport Authority of Thailand (S.A.T.), and World Muaythai Federation (WMF) overseas.
It is similar to related styles in other parts of the Indian cultural sphere, namely Lethwei from Myanmar, Pradal Serey from Cambodia, Muay Lao from Laos, Tomoi from Malaysia and Musti-yuddha from India.