MUAY THAI

Muay Thai or Thai boxing is the cultural martial art of Thailand. Thai Boxing known as "the science of eight limbs, " Muay Thai practitioner's will use all the natural weapons of the body The Hands, elbows, knees, punches and Kicks. Are all used with powerful percission. Care is taken to teach students proper form and body mechanics to gain maximum effectiveness.

The class places an emphasis on the physical conditioning and cardiovascular as well as flexibility and coordination benefits of Muay Thai.

The pao or thai pads are used to develop the penetrating knees and kicks and the banana bag is used to condition the shins to their legendary thoughness. In Scarborough Muay Thai has grown over the past decade many men and woman have found that Muay thai is an excellent way to stay in great shape Every year more and more people are being drawn into this Awesome Sport.

HISTORY

This 2000 year old martial arts system is an art Known for it's simplicity and effectiveness. Muay Thai Has become one of the most sot-after striking arts around the world Today. Muay Thai was developed By the Thai people to defend the land and people from constant invasion threats(Muay Boroan) as it was known them. Muay Thai has been an important part of Thai culture since ancient times. And even Today Thai Fights are used to honor there King.

The origins of Muay Thai was believed to have formulated national interest and status around 1774 when the defeated Siamese by the Burmese invaders challenged a local fighter namely Nai Khanom Tom to take on the Burmese fighters. The Siamese King Naresuen of Siam the Great 1555-1605 was an accomplished fighter and it was following the invasion by the Burmese in 1767 that Nai Khanom Tom was offered freedom in 1774 providing he could defeat the Burmese fighting champions. The Siam fighter had been taken captive but rose to the occasion and not only beat them, he defeated no less than 10 of the Burmese fighting champions and became a national hero and created tremendous pride in the Thai/Siam race and his fighting success was told in history and transferred to the creation of Thai Boxing as a national pastime and sport and inspired many of all ages to learn and perfect the art.

Muay Thai is in fact an adaptation of the Thai Military fighting art and still practiced today as a form of hand to hand combat. In early days there were few rules and no weight classes and fighters fought bare footed and the combat was brutal and fierce

The Ceremony is also steeped in the Buddhist religion and the initial ceremony prior to a fight which is still practiced today known as Ram Muay is a ceremony that protects the ring and its fighters from external influences and the fighters pay homage to the gods and pay respect to their parents, teachers, loved ones, country and most of all their gracious King. The ceremony is accompanied by a Traditional 4 piece Thai ensemble.

There has been some western influences over the past decades as boxing gloves, training techniques have been adopted and weight classes and the 3 minute round limits.

The toughness of the Muay Thai fighters has placed them high on the international fighting arena and many are respected martial artists internationally.