Over a thousand years ago Thai warriors fought with crossbows, knives, swords, spears and battle-axes. When the time came to teach the young men the art of combat, the warriors used the body instead of the weapons. The shinbone became the spear used to block and strike. The arms became the twin swords of defence, the fist the stabbing tip of the spear. The elbow and the knee, the battle axes to smash and crush. The foot a spear, arrow and knife. Each part of the body became a weapon and a new close combat fighting skill emerged. A new martial art... Muay Thai was born.

 

Today Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and this martial art has become popular all over the world; more recently it became accepted as an Olympic discipline. Also known as Thai Kickboxing Muay Thai is much faster than traditional boxing, and in Muay Thai fighters can utilize their fists, elbows, knees and feet. It is because of the use of the various parts of the body that Muay Thai is called "the art of the eight limbs".

 

Not a sport for the faint hearted, full contact Muay Thai is known as "The most brutal ring sport in the world", but the training this martial art form requires makes it a fantastic fitness routine for those who are interested in losing weight, toning up and keen to learn a brilliant form of self-defence.

Practicing Muay Thai is an intense workout and results in incredible cardiovascular strength. Training includes running, shadow-boxing, pad work, body weight resistance exercises, skipping, medicine ball, abdominal exercises and weight training. Muay Thai has proven to be an excellent fitness, toning and weight control method with the added benefit of learning a genuine Martial art which is almost unsurpassed.

 

Should you be interested in learning the art of Muay Thai you can contact the following gyms:

 

 

Pretoria - FightingFit

www.fightingfitgym.co.za

071 682 8644

 

Cape Town - DragonPower

www.dragonpowerco.za

021 5119888

 

Durban - Domination Gym

www.dominationgym.co.za

031 811 4462