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Focus | Striking, clinching |
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Country of origin | Thailand |
Famous practitioners | List of Muay Thai practitioners |
Parenthood | Muay Boran |
First played | Thailand, mid-19th century |
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Characteristics | |
Contact | Full contact |
Mixed-sex | No |
Type | Combat sport |
Presence | |
Country or region | Worldwide |
Olympic | No, but IOC recognized |
Paralympic | 2013-2016 |
World Games | 2017 |
Muay Thai (Thai: มวยไทย, RTGS: muai thai, pronounced [mūaj tʰāj] ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinching techniques.[1] This discipline is known as the "Art of eight limbs", as it is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.[2] Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the late 20th to 21st century, when Westernised practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing and mixed-rules matches as well as matches under Muay Thai rules around the world. The professional league is governed by The Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (P.A.T.), sanctioned by The Sports Authority of Thailand (S.A.T.).
Muay Thai is related to other martial art styles such as Muay Chaiya, Muay Boran, Muay Lao, Kun Khmer, Lethwei, Benjang[3] and Tomoi.[4] A practitioner of Muay Thai is known as a Nak Muay. Western practitioners in Thailand are sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning "foreign boxer".[5]