Muay Thai for Self Defense

Muay Thai also known as Thai boxing is an ancient form of self defense developed on the battlefields of ancient Thailand.

Nowadays, Muay Thai is used all across the world. The powerful and devastating bone breaking techniques of this martial art are used by the Thai military, the United States Navy SEALs and also the CIA. There is no color belt grading system in Muay Thai, other martial arts use belts to show the advancement and skill level of students.
Muay Thai students test their skills in the Thai boxing ring; these full contact competitions can be very brutal.

The fighters are focused on winning the championship belts which show their dominant skill of Muay Thai fighting. The striking techniques taught in this style are very powerful. This martial art involves very little in the way of grappling techniques, the emphasis is more on bone breaking kicks, powerful punches and jarring knee and elbow strikes.
A student of Muay Thai boxing is trained so as to be able to put an opponent down with just one strike, usually breaking bones and in some cases killing them with just one lethal kick or elbow technique.

Because this powerful martial art was developed and shaped in ancient battlegrounds where there were always multiple attackers, it didn't utilize techniques that involved grappling on the ground or submission holds, it was developed to quickly kill an opponent in as fast and effective way as possible. These battlefield opponents were skilled in sword fighting, which made the need for a dependable and effective martial art essential.

In this type of situation, you didn't want the fight to go to the ground; this could prove to be lethal for a Thai fighter.An exponent of the time was skilled in the use of swords, spears, sticks, and powerful strikes. The strikes and weapon movements were constantly practiced making them fast, hard, and very accurate.
It was in these conditions and environment that Muay Thai was developed into a fast responsive martial art with an excellent weapons system.

Over the years it was planned to add elements of grappling and submission holds, but the martial art developed into more of a ring sport before grappling techniques could be added. A lot of martial artists from other styles have started using and implementing the striking techniques of Thai boxing into their own training.The devastatingly effective use of both elbow and knee techniques are feared and respected all around the world by other stylists. With kicking and kneeing being a major part of this style, it is essential that a fighter has conditioned and toughened their legs; the shins in particular are conditioned to withstand bone jarring impacts.

With years of training and conditioning, Muay Thai fighters' knees, shins, and elbows can become lethal and deadly weapons. Because of this Muay Thai is considered one of the most deadly and respected martial arts in the world.