Thai Kickboxing

Muay Thai

Country of origin	Thailand
Famous practitioners	Samart Payakaroon, 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, Badr Al Khatib
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]) 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.

The history of Muay Thai can also be traced to the middle of the 16th century. During the battles between the Burmese of the Konbaung Dynasty and Siam, the famous fighter Nai Khanomtom was captured in the year 1767. The Burmese knew of his expertise in hand-to-hand combat and gave him an opportunity to fight for his freedom. Soon after winning the match, he was freed by his captors and allowed to return to Siam. He was acknowledged as a hero, and his fighting style became known as Siamese-Style boxing, later to be known as Muay Thai. This fighting style was soon to be recognized as a national sport.

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Wikipedia