To people who don't know anything about martial arts they might think that all martial arts look tough…that everyone fights like Jackie Chan and that they really do jump and hurdle themselves from building to building…..and although it's not true about the Jacki Chan part....martial arts fighting is tough but some are more tough than others. 

Muay Thai is one of those.  Sometimes referred to as Thai Boxing or Kickboxing,  Muay Thai has a rich history with a strong following in eastern countries but only recently popular in the West.  Muay Thai martial arts is practiced in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia and also goes by the name of Thai boxing or the art of the eight limbs (hands, shins, elbows, knees).  

Muay Thai martial arts is hand-to-hand combat whose roots extend to the ancient battlefields of the Siamese and is used today in the Thai military in a modified form called Lerdrit.  Muay Thai is used by the military mostly because it is a martial arts styles that is versatile, brutal and straightforward

Due to the fact that traditional Muay Thai focuses on eight limbs, this distinguishes it from Western forms of kickboxing or other styles of martial arts which focus on either two points (the fists in western kickboxing) and four points (in other forms of martial arts).

Muay Thai fights start with the Ram Muay ceremony which is a dance that honors the fighter's teachers or Kru. This ceremony is usually performed in silence and starts in the middle of the ring and as the fight begins the fighters pay tribute to their homeland.  The purpose of the Ram Muay is to pay respect but also to intimidate the opponent. 

Prior to the Ram Muay ceremony,  the Ajarn (master or trainer) adorns the Muay Thai warrior with a Mongkol before entering the ring.  This is a headdress worn by the fighter which is only worn in the ring.  

The Muay Thai student is never allowed to touch the Mongkol,  only the Kru or Ajarn is permitted and the Mongkol is never, ever allowed to fall on, be close to or held near the ground.

Muay Thai is a style of martial arts characterized by a wide array of kicks, punches and elbow techniques.  The movements are as graceful as they are balanced and powerful.  Muay Thai boxing is often compared to Western kickboxing however they are very different.  Unlike Muay Thai,  modern kickboxing is restricted to specific areas and targets on the body and is evaluated by the amount of points scored.... but the gear and stance are similar to Muay Thai.

In Muay Thai kickboxing,  The Nak Su (Muay Thai warriors)  wrap their hands or wear light gloves, wear only shorts in the ring and often don themselves with arm rings for decoration.

These arm rings are called  Pra Jiad and in some Muay Thai gyms,

colored Pra Jiad show rank as well... similar to belts in other martial arts styles.

In Muay Thai fighting a "wall of defense" is used to ward off attackers.

This is where the shoulders, arms and legs are all used to prevent an attacker from successfully executing his martial arts techniques. This wall of defense consists of blocking in many different way including knees, kicks etc….

Interestingly enough, before the Muay Thai warrior enters the ring to fight a fierce violent battle,  he is adorned with floral wreaths by friends and/or fans.  I've heard of flowers at mother's day or flowers on a first date.... but flowers before fighting?  I guess anything makes sense !!

Puang Malai - floral wreaths given to a fighter before a fight by friends or fans - looks like an Hawaiian Lei