The Basics of Muay Thai – The Art of Eight Limbs is a combat sport that has been around for centuries, evolving through the years, incorporating western boxing elements while discarding things that are deemed inappropriate in modern times. To participate in Muay Thai, whether as a trained fighter or just a passionate spectator, is to understand the basics of this mixed martial art. You need to know what the objective of Muay Thai is, what attire to wear, how to respect traditional customs, understand the weight classes, and how the scoring works. Let’s take your first steps into the basics of Muay Thai here!
The Objective of a Muay Thai Fight
In a modern Muay Thai match, the two fighters compete against each other within a square ring that is similar to a boxing ring. The objective is to beat your opponent by knocking them out or by outscoring them in points. This could be achieved by striking your opponent or by grappling them with a technique called clinching. There are eight points of contact in Muay Thai, which are the fists, elbows, knees, and feet. These parts of your body are the fighting tools at your disposal for use in a match. This is why Muay Thai is referred to as The Art of Eight Limbs.
There are five rounds in a Muay Thai match, each with a duration of three minutes and two-minute breaks in between. The World Muay-Thai Council (WMC), established by the Royal Thai government in 1995, is the authority that regulates and sets the rules for professional Muay Thai in Thailand and the rest of the world.
Muay Thai Weight Classes
According to the governing body’s rules, a professional fighter must be a minimum of 15 years of age and weigh a minimum of 100 pounds. They are allowed to compete according to the weight classes that range from the lightest Mini Flyweight at 105 pounds to the heaviest Super Heavy Weight at 209+ pounds. Since most Thai fighters weigh an average of 122 to 147 pounds, the most competitive matches are held in those weight categories.
There is a weigh-in process prior to the match that all fighters have to go through to ensure they are not overweight in their selected class. This is usually done the day before the match. The weight classification is taken very seriously so that no fighter has an unfair advantage over their opponent in weight. In tournaments, regular weight monitoring is done to make sure fighters maintain their appropriate weight for the class they’re competing in.
Muay Thai Attire
The basic Muay Thai attire includes boxing shorts, vests worn by women, gloves, groin guards, mouth guards, and ankle guards. The boxing shorts must be worn at a length of half-thigh and usually include a colored stripe to indicate which corner of the ring the fighter belongs to (red corner vs blue corner). The gloves worn by fighters are dictated based on the weight categories. Fighting is done barefoot, and therefore no footwear is allowed. Soft bandages are used to wrap the hands for protection, but nothing that can add thickness to the knuckles.
The Mongkol headdress can be worn during the sacred Wai Kru ritual before a match. The Prajioud armbands and amulets are allowed during a fight as long as they are covered appropriately to avoid the risk of injury. For safety reasons, metal jewelry and body piercings are not allowed. Long hair and beards are also greatly discouraged in professional martial arts matches. Female fighters tie their hair during a match.
Basics of Muay Thai: Wai Kru & Ram Muay Customs
Many traditional Muay Thai customs are still being observed in professional level martial arts tournaments. First there is the Wai Kru, where the fighter circles the ring three times in respect to the triple gem in Buddhism. They then kneel and bow in each corner to pay homage to their trainers. The Mongkol headdress fighters receive after completing their training is usually worn during this ritual. It will be removed by their teacher before the match starts.
The Wai Kru is followed by a ceremonial dance called Ram Muay where fighters show off their skills, their unique style and their physical attributes. By watching a Ram Muay, you may be able to distinguish which region of Thailand or which Muay Thai gym the fighter comes from. The dancing is accompanied by live music called Sarama, which is performed using an oboe-like woodwind instrument, drums, and finger-cymbals.
It is important to know how Muay Thai customs are carried out. Keep in mind that while the Ram Muay may be optional, the Wai Kru is a ritual that is considered an essential part of the pre-match routine. After these are completed, the fighters touch gloves in a sort of fist bump to agree to play by the rules and start fighting.
Scoring Points in Muay Thai
Points are awarded in Muay Thai based on the effective technical execution of Muay Thai techniques to strike your opponent. A strike is only considered effective if it makes contact and the opponent visibly reacts to being struck. Therefore, hits have to be clean and powerful to win points. Simply fighting aggressively does not guarantee more points. Defensive techniques are also important to deter your opponent from scoring.
The fighter that is judged to have fought the best in a round will receive 10 points. The losers will receive 9 points if they fought well but lost the round, 8 points if they lost with a clear margin, and 7 points if they fell to the canvas and were issued a count by the referee. There are cases where both fighters receive 10 points for a tie. Fighters behaving inappropriately will receive a warning, and each warning will cost them a point. Points are awarded by a panel of judges that are independent and neutral.
How a Muay Thai Match Ends
According to Muay Thai rules, a match can end in a few ways. The most exciting is a knockout, where one fighter is able to knock out their opponent with a powerful strike. The winner is immediately obvious in a knockout. They can be surprising and turn the tide of a fight instantly. However, these climactic moments don’t often occur in real life like they do in Hollywood boxing and martial arts movies.
Most Muay Thai matches end with a look at the scorecards after the five rounds are completed. If no one is knocked out, and there are no disqualifications, the fighter with the most points is declared the winner. The match becomes a draw if both fighters have scored equal points. If one fighter is unfit to continue, the referee can end the match with a technical knockout and declare the winner by default.
What’s Illegal in Muay Thai
Shots to the groin, headbutting, poking eyes and biting are considered clear violations of the rules. While sweeps and clinches are allowed, using grappling techniques from other martial arts like Judo or wrestling maneuvers against your opponent is prohibited. Holding the ropes, continuing to strike the opponent after the referee has ordered them to stop, or deliberately falling on an opponent are not allowed either.
Disgraceful conduct such as spitting on your opponent and using abusive language could also receive a warning. Displaying any of the above behaviors can result in a warning with points being deducted. Repeated violations could end up in a fighter being disqualified by the referee.
Begin Your Muay Thai Journey
There’s much more to the rules laid down by the WMC when it comes to violations, the referee’s duties, and medical inspections of the competing fighters. If you’re interested in learning more, there are an endless number of Muay Thai websites and blogs that offer more in-depth details about the rules of this popular martial art. However, the basics of Muay Thai are crucial for anyone that is beginning their Muay Thai training as a first-time fighter or even a casual fan that’s following the sport. Are you ready to begin your journey now?
When you first start learning Muay Thai, the stance and rhythm are two of the most important things to focus on. Your stance is your foundation, and it’s important to learn how to move around in it so that you can be well-balanced and prepared to strike at any moment. The rhythm is also important because it helps you to maintain your composure and control while you’re fighting!
Read more on What To Expect In Your First Muay Thai Lesson
Your Muay Thai training must start with building stamina. This means running for at least 30 minutes a day, as well as strength and conditioning work. It’s also important to spend time on the heavy bag, working on your strikes, and on the pads, focusing on your accuracy and power. And don’t forget the clinch work – this is an important part of Muay Thai. Finally, stretch and foam roll every day to prevent injuries.
