Every region of the world is familiar with the traditional martial arts. However, not many people are known to the extremely useful and effective Muay Thai, which is also a form of martial arts native to the land of Thailand. In fact, gradually it is catching up on its share of popularity with many people experimenting with it to achieve a higher level of fitness along with using it as a means of self-protection and weight loss. Also, it is high on demand among people who travel to Thailand for leisure or other interests.
Traditionally, in Thailand, the Muay Thai training is imparted in training camps by tutors or experts of the field. The techniques of the art mostly revolve around the striking and clinching positions for attack and self defense. The art of Muay Thai uses the eight limbs of the body, fists, elbows, knees, and shin, together to perform a combat sport that enables a person to deliver a complete fighter blow to the opponent.
Generally, the Muay Thai combat sport training is accompanied with extreme cardio vascular workout session to improve the fitness and health of the aspirant. It is essential to have a healthy body to improve swiftness and agility of the body essential for the training of Muay Thai. Hence, many teachers encourage the training of boxing and other workouts along with the regular classes of Muay Thai.
The training of Muay Thai is essentially imparted in a group of two or more people, who are encouraged to learn and use the tricks together as a part of one family. Initially, in the traditional world, the Muay Thai was a sport which was enjoyed and viewed by people as a family sport or entertainment. But, in today’s world it is actively used by people for health and fitness purposes along with its traditional usage of self defense and combat.
TECHNIQUES USED IN MUAY THAI
The eight limbs of the body are actively used during the practice of Muay Thai, namely two fists, two elbows, two knees and two shins, to combat. These eight limbs together and separately produce different fight techniques or moves, which are…
- CHOK
- Chok is a Muay Thai technique that uses the fist for punching the opponent.
- SOK
- Sok refers to the movement and use of elbow in combat situation to deliver a strong blow.
- TE
- Kicking is also a traditionally a part of Muay Thai and is called Te.
- TI KHAO
- The use of knee to punch a blow to the opponent during the combat is called Ti Khao.
- THIP
- Thip is the use of Foot to thrust a blow or hit the opponent during combat.
- CHAP KHO
- The traditional one on one combat done in wrestling style is called as Chap Kho in Muay Thai. It is, in fact, one of the most popular techniques as well.
- DEFENSE
- The last segment of the training in the camp for Muay Thai concentrates on teaching their pupils the various self defense techniques by the use of blocking, punching and kicking to block and hurt the opponent.