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The History of Muay Thai
Muay
Thai is a highly sophisticated martial art born out of conflict
and war. The first historical account of Muay Thai dates
back to 1767 and the legendary Nai Khanom Dtom. While a
captive of the Burmese, he was ordered to fight ten consecutive
matches against the best Burmese boxers. Dtom defeated
them all, and was commended by the Burmese king for his bravery
and skill. His extraordinary exploit is recorded in school
textbooks and is known to every Thai child today.
The modern form of Muay Thai was born in 1930 when leather
gloves, rounds per bout, and weight classes became
standard. In 1964, the Japanese adopted Muay Thai,
modified it, and called it "kickboxing." Today,
the Thai military, U.S. Seal teams, and the CIA continue to use
its effective striking techniques. It is also the national
sport of Thailand.
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© Vichai Supkitpol 2001
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