| Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, is the national sport of | | | | Since its Westernizing, it has incorporated the punching |
| Thailand. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, but it can | | | | techniques of Western Boxing, adding to the list of |
| be agreed that it has existed for at least nearly the | | | | ways you can brutalize your opponent. It is the main |
| entire history of Thailand. In recent times, it has enjoyed | | | | Hard Style that survived the melting pot of Mixed |
| an immense amount of popularity, and some of its | | | | Martial Arts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and |
| techniques have been incorporated into other fighting | | | | PRIDE. For toe to toe non-grappling fighting, it is the |
| styles. | | | | hands-down winner. |
| | | | | |
| Muay Thai is classified as a “Hard Style” martial | | | | There are some problems with using Muay Thai as a |
| art, putting it in the same category as Western Boxing, | | | | self defense technique. These are primarily in that you |
| Karate and Tae Kwon Do. In distinction from “Soft | | | | have to spend hours of training and conditioning for |
| Styles” such as Judo and Aikido, the emphasis is on | | | | months before you become effective at it. The kicks |
| power and toughness, striking and being stricken, rather | | | | focus a great deal on using the shins as striking |
| than throwing and restraining. | | | | implements. Considered a weak point in most other |
| | | | | fighting styles, the shins are actually conditioned to be |
| As a Hard Style, Muay Thai can’t be beat. In its | | | | used as weapons. This means months of toughening |
| purest form, it uses 9 striking points: the head, both | | | | your shins. Needless to say, for the average person, |
| hands and feet, and both knees and elbows. In | | | | that’s months of excruciating torture. |
| competition, the head is removed as a striking weapon, | | | | |
| leaving 8 points to strike with. The striking techniques | | | | Also, as a Hard Style, you have to develop your |
| have been considered almost universally the most | | | | technique, speed and power in months of training. You |
| powerful of all the Hard Styles. | | | | may not have that long before you get attacked in the |
| | | | | street. You need something with immediate results. |