| Muay Thai is a martial art that is the national sport | | | | Striking techniques have evolved in Muay Thai |
| of Thailand, however it is immensely popular in | | | | from the use of simple crosses and long circular |
| the U.S, especially in Maryland, Virginia and | | | | blows to techniques that incorporate more |
| Washington DC. This sporting competition takes | | | | traditional forms of boxing strikes. Jabs, crosses, |
| place in a ring similar to a boxing ring and the | | | | upper cuts, and hooks are not part of the Muay |
| competitors throw punches and use kicks. MTB is | | | | Thai repertoire. The elbow can be used as an |
| also called the "art of the eight limbs" because it | | | | effective striking weapon in many ways. One of |
| uses the knees, elbows, hands and shins in | | | | the most common ways to use the elbow is to |
| addition to the traditional four limbs (arms and | | | | strike the opponent on the eyebrow, where the |
| legs). | | | | skin is close to the bone. The skin can split open, |
| The origins of Muay Thai are not clear. Muay Thai | | | | causing your opponent to bleed. The blood flow |
| evolved from Muay Boran, an ancient form of | | | | can impair your opponent's vision and it can also |
| boxing used by soldiers in conjunction with the | | | | cause your opponent to lose focus and to think |
| use of weapons. Muay Thai continued to be a | | | | about being hurt, or the potential of being hurt |
| form of combat used in warfare, but developed in | | | | more. Single elbow moves are common, but a |
| to a form of competition used for entertainment | | | | follow up elbow can be used as well. Elbows are |
| for celebrations for kings and religious events. | | | | very effective means of blocking strikes by an |
| Muay became a means of social advancement, | | | | opponent. |
| where the nobility would take in skilled Muay | | | | There are two favorite kicks in Muay Thai, the |
| fighters as teachers for members of their | | | | Teh and the teep. The teep is a foot jab. The |
| palaces. | | | | Teh is an angle kick, a rotational move using the |
| Muay has continued to develop through present | | | | whole body. This kick gets its power from the |
| day. In the mid 1990's, Thailand renamed | | | | rotation of the body and often a counter rotation |
| Southeast Asian Kickboxing to Muay Thai. Other | | | | of the arms and upper body is used to increase |
| Southeast Asian countries did not want to follow | | | | the impact of the kick. Knees and feet are also |
| suit, and their forms of boxing are often called | | | | used in Muay Thai. Learning Muay Thai and |
| SEA Boxing. Muay Thai has become the stand up | | | | developing core muscle strength are essential |
| combat form of choice for mixed martial arts | | | | parts of mixed martial arts training. Learn these |
| competitors. Because of this, Kick Boxing has | | | | techniques safely from a qualified mixed martial |
| evolved even further to encompass some of the | | | | arts instructor in a qualified training school. |
| striking techniques used in boxing. Almost all | | | | If you live in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington |
| techniques in MTB use the rotation of the entire | | | | DC area, you can check out Lloyd Irvin's, Mixed |
| body when kicking or punching. With this constant | | | | Martial Arts Academies. They offer a 30 day free |
| rotation of the body's core, emphasis in training | | | | trial program on any of the mixed martial arts |
| should be on developing core muscle (abdominal | | | | programs. So, why not take advantage of this |
| muscle) strength. | | | | offer now!! |