Muay Thai did not develop a ground grappling component because it was developed in the ancient battle fields where there were multiple assailants, who were very adept in the art of sword fighting. With swords, spears, sticks, and hard strikes flying from a multitude of directions, the ground was the last place that you'd want to end up. Strikes and slashes had to be quick, hard, and decisive. In such conditions, Muay Thai was used with Krabi-Krabong - a very fast Thai weapon system. Muay Thai then became a ring sport before grappling components could be perfected. As a striking art, most people who have fought against Muay Thai boxers have converted to the system. This is testimonial to it's effectiveness. As a good example, an American Kickboxer by the name of Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham, who trained with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez in Full-Contact Karate, turned around and became one of the most avid promoters of Muay Thai. Click here to see the article he co-authored with Fredia Gibbs about the street applications of Muay Thai. Most critics of the system have never been in the ring against a Thai boxer. Powerful strikes may not look as impressive as flying kicks to observers. However, if you get kicked, kneed, or elbowed by a Thai boxer, you will respect the art!

How does Muay Thai differ from other forms of kickboxing? For one, there is an effective use of knees and elbows. These arsenals are the objects of fear for other kickboxers around the world. Matter-of-fact, famous fighters like Benny "The Jet" Urquidez have totally avoided any confrontation with a Thai Boxer in Bangkok under the rules which would permit the use of knees and elbows. He knows that he would not have a chance. It has nothing to do with the Thai Race. The Dutch fighter Ramon Dekker have beaten many Thai Champions in bouts with knees and elbows. And even when he loses, he continues to fight according to Thai rules. He deserves much more respect than "The Jet". However, due to the physical stature of Thai fighters, good fighters are rarely over 150 pounds. This is the reason why the Heavyweight Champions have not been Thai. Not surprisingly, the Dutch have also been successful at the higher weight class.

Another major difference between Muay Thai and other kickboxing styles is the Thai Roundhouse kick. It is a rear leg kick, drawing power from the hips, and striking it's target with the shins. Conditioning the shins is no fun task, but once the nerves have been conditioned for impact, the shins can be used like a club. You have to experience it to realize the power and the superiority of the Thai kicks to the roundhouse kicks of other systems, which are usually frontal-leg snaps with the instep employed as the striking surface. The Thai kick is so effective that it is the only kick really used by Thai boxers in full-contact bouts. Watching two experienced Thai boxers fight may not seem like much, because they are so adept at defending against each other's tactics. However, what looks like a simple knee clinch requires a high level of skills. Karate fighters who first observed Thai Boxing matches thought that they would have a chance at beating a Thai Boxer. On Tuesday, September 6, 1977 at Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Karate fighters representing Japan, South Korea, USA, and Europe had their opportunity. They were completely annihilated by the Thai fighters. Matches afterwards drew similar results. This is why by the time Muay Thai arrived in the USA, knees and elbows were outlawed. Yet, the Thai kicks alone have sent many fighters like Rick Roufus to the hospital on a stretcher. Had knees and elbows been permitted in that fight, Roufus would have been beaten even more severely.

Earlier in 1974, kung fu stylists from Hong Kong were all knocked out in the first round against their Muay Thai opponents in Bangkok. Indeed, Muay Thai have consistently conquered other striking arts. I'm not talking about just one or two matches when I say consistent! Here is how the April 1996 issue of Inside Kung-Fu magazine described another historical match in the United States between a Muay Thai Boxer and a Western Boxer: "The crowd was silent; it could not believe what it had just witnessed. The small arena was packed with fight fans and the curious. They had come to see their boxing champion destroy the challenger, some guy from Thailand. They expected a slaughter. Where the heck is Thailand, said someone. These guys don't know how to fight, said another. But bone-crusher Murphy, all 185 pounds of him, lay face up on the canvas. His opponent walked triumphantly to his corner without glancing back. Twenty-two-year-old Sow from Chiang Mai, Thailand, had knocked out Murphy with a left hook to the jaw 30 seconds into the first round despite a 30-pound weight disadvantage." Indeed what the Muay Thai stylist did was bombard the Western Boxer with so many weapons from all limbs, that the boxer had to go on the defensive from the pain and opened himself up for a punch - an arsenal that he was supposed to be more effective with. It's funny how people later tried to fight against Muay Thai by limiting the use of knees and elbows. Makes me wonder whether they were more concerned with beating Muay Thai or someone of Thai ethnicity. If you want to fight against Muay Thai, then Muay Thai is an art that employs knees and elbows. Otherwise, it's not really Muay Thai! Full-Contact Karate and Western Boxing stylists are not prevented from using their techniques during their match against Muay Thai boxers. Old pictures from the classic confrontation at Lumphini are shown below.

Finally, let me say that although I am extremely displeased by the WKA's coverage of the history of kickboxing, I am in no way criticizing the skills of many fine modern Muay Thai boxers who are currently fighting WKA tournaments. I have several favorite Muay Thai fighters who are associated with the WKA. I just hope that when you put on those Muay Thai shorts and throw the Thai roundhouse kick, you will at least acknowledge where your skills really came from. For example, Maurice Smith throws more Thai kicks than any of the WKA Heavyweights; yet, people call his art kickboxing. I guarantee you that the skills of Maurice Smith is more like Muay Thai than any other form of fighting! I also believe that before any of the lighter-weight class fighters from the WKA can claim World Championship, they should definitely have to go through Lumphini Stadium more than just once or twice. In the heavier weight class, K-1 is a tournament that offers some of the most exciting match-ups in Muay Thai. But even in K-1, its Japanese promoters have never mentioned one word about Muay Thai. Just click and see for yourself. Any experienced fighter watching K-1 knows that these fighters are using Muay Thai exclusively. I have no idea why the truth is so hard to come by.

We've been talking about styles and techniques here. In the ring, techniques will often dictate the outcome of the fight because two fighters are usually equal in terms of weight, size, and conditioning. In contrast, street matches are often determined by technique + size + agility + endurance + match of styles given the previous four variables. What I mean by match of styles is how well a certain style can be applied given the opponent's size, agility, endurance, and style relative to those of your own. If a very large opponent is very difficult to take down with grappling, then low Muay Thai kicks may be more applicable. This was apparent in the Marco Ruas vs. Paul Varelans match in Ultimate Fighting Championship VII. In that match, Marco Ruas had a good match of styles between his Muay Thai techniques and a large fighter like Paul Varelans who was not a good grappler, but difficult to take down. In contrast, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylist Joe Moriera did not have a good match of styles with Varelans in UFC VIII because although Moriera is great on the ground, Varelans was so big relative to him that a successful take-down could not be executed. In conclusion, you better be prepared for all types of fighters. And if the situation becomes too dangerous, then you should either learn to talk it out or use a weapon correctly.