The Art Of Eight Limbs

Pack a punch with the traditional martial art form of muay thai

- Jim Welch

Muay Thai, otherwise known as ‘The Art of Eight Limbs’, is Thailand’s form of boxing that makes lethal use of eight contact points of the body, including the hands, shins, forearms, knees and feet. It has become one of the primary reasons for martial arts devotees to visit the country – from the serious practitioner training for the next fight, to the casual tourist looking for a little physical conditioning between days on the beach. The popularity of the sport has grown so rapidly that local economies have been founded – and are thriving on – Muay Thai’s new in vogue status, making it a booming, year-round highlight of Thai tourism. This brand has been successfully packaged and exported for worldwide consumption.

The exact origins of Muay Thai have been debated by the numerous scholars who have researched this martial art form. By some accounts, aspects of this fighting form are believed to have come from China, stemming from the outward flow of immigrants to the southeastern parts of Asia. Some believe that Muay Thai’s infancy originated from the Khmer Empire (the predecessor to modern Cambodia), from a martial art called Pradal Serey. What is certain is that the sport of Muay Thai was spawned from the many early Thai combat fighting styles located throughout the region. Muay Chaiya, Mae Mai Muay Thai, Muay Lopburi and Muay Korat were the several styles that, with time, merged to form the practice of Muay Boran, which translates to ‘ancient boxing.’ Further consolidation of fighting styles with the eventual veer away from its application as a combative practice towards a sport led to what we know today as Muay Thai.

The Sukhothai Era, 1180–1377