| The complete origin of this devastating martial art, and | | | | UFC and now is considered a necessary component |
| now respected athletic competition, is unclear. It is safe | | | | to a mixed martial artist's arsenal. The Chute Boxe |
| to say however, Muay Thai, or "Thai Boxing", was | | | | Team from Curitiba, Brazil, is famous for their punishing |
| developed in Thailand as a hand-to-hand combat | | | | and aggressive style of Muay Thai. One team |
| method to protect individual communities. At the time, | | | | member and expert at the art, Anderson "The Spider" |
| only short-range weapons like knives, clubs and spears | | | | Silva, has received a frenzy of media attention after |
| were used during armed combat. Loss of a weapon | | | | competing and winning easily against some of the best |
| during a battle was not uncommon. This is where | | | | MMA fighters in the world. The main techniques in |
| Muay Thai combat techniques proved their worth. This | | | | mixed martial arts training that are taken from Muay |
| art, as opposed to other hand-to-hand combat arts, | | | | Thai are from the clinch, a position in which fighters are |
| utilizes, not only fists and feet, but the head, elbows, | | | | in close contact and attempting to control their |
| knees, and shins, for debilitating strikes during the fight. | | | | opponent's body, especially the head. From the clinch, |
| During combat you would likely see a warrior | | | | some Thai Boxing techniques include, knees to the |
| incorporating crushing headbutts, violent punches, and | | | | body and head and elbow strikes. The clinch is also |
| crippling kicks to the legs, head and groin. It is one of | | | | used in mixed martial arts training to control the |
| the only unarmed combative styles that has been | | | | opponent in the ring and against the cage for, not only |
| considered just as brutal as the armed combat | | | | striking techniques, but also to set-up takedowns and |
| techniques it replaced. However, more recently, Thai | | | | throws to bring the fight to the ground. |
| Boxing has become a regulated sport recognized | | | | As previously noted, although Muay Thai originated in |
| around the world that uses safety equipment such as | | | | Southeast Asia, Muay Thai training has been |
| mouth guards, gloves and groin protection. And just like | | | | recognized around the world as an important |
| boxing, wrestling and MMA, Muay Thai competitions | | | | component of the martial arts community. With the |
| have weight classes for the competitors. When Muay | | | | popularity of mixed martial arts growing in the United |
| Thai competitions first began there were no weight | | | | States, martial arts schools in many major cities |
| classes. Competitors simply needed to display the will | | | | across the country host not only mixed martial arts |
| to fight. Furthermore, Sport Muay Thai no longer allows | | | | training, but also Muay Thai St Louis, Chicago, Los |
| the kind of strikes and attacks that other modern | | | | Angeles, Miami, and New York included. If you are |
| combat sports have made illegal, such as headbutts or | | | | interested in mixed martial arts training or simply Muay |
| strikes to the groin. | | | | Thai training, the Internet is a great resource for finding |
| Modern competitive Thai Boxing, an exciting and | | | | information about the schools and instructors in your |
| fascinating sport on its own, has also been an integral | | | | area. |
| part of mixed martial arts (MMA) events such as the | | | | |