Muay Thai Kickboxing
Muay Thai, a martial art with a long and colorful history, is the national sport of Thailand. In recent decades it has also achieved massive worldwide popularity as a combat sport.
Muay Thai is sometimes referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs” because, unlike boxing (which uses the two fists) and most other martial arts (which use a “four-point” hands-and-feet approach), Muay Thai permits the use of hand, foot, elbow and knee strikes, giving the fighter eight different ways to attack opponents.
Muay Thai’s History
Muay Thai is a modern integration of Thailand’s many regional “muays,” often collectively referred to as muay boran, or “ancient boxing.” Originally, however, it was simply called muay.
Like other martial arts, Muay Thai originated from armed combat techniques, but over time, muay became a means of getting ahead for accomplished fighters. Thailand’s noblility held them in high regard, and would invite the best of them to live at the royal palace where they would teach muay to the king’s family, staff and soldiers. In this way, a cadre of royal guards was eventually created.
In the 19th century, muay made enormous progress during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) due to his own personal interest in it. In the absence of war, muay became a method of physical exercise, self-defense and recreation, and some fighting masters established training camps where students were given food and shelter and treated as families.
Thailand’s first boxing ring was built in 1921, and King Rama VII advocated for codified Muay Thai rules. Traditional rope bindings for the hands were still used in fights between Thai fighters (though modern gloves were increasingly used in training and in bouts with foreigners), until a death in the ring resulted in a new rule that fighters should wear gloves and cotton foot covers. This was about the time that the term “Muay Thai” entered common usage.
These days, Muay Thai is one of the world’s most popular competitive fighting styles, and has begun to influence other martial arts with its power, speed and “eight-limbed” flexibility.
Train with Team Nemesis!
We are proud and excited to have partnered with Team Nemesis, Melbourne’s premiere MMA fight team. Led by head coaches Denis Kelly and Phillip Lai, the team’s members have been featured all over Australia (KOTC, CFC, Brace for War) as well as overseas (ESPN’s martial combat in Singapore, Hong Kong Legends FC, England, Italy, Thailand).
Team Nemesis is highly regarded in Muay Thai circles because of its awesome track record and Phil Lai’s commitment to getting his fighters—including himself!—in fantastic fighting trim.
Our own Muay Thai classes will be run by Phivo “Superman” Christodoulou, an accomplished Muay Thai fighter with 4 professional fights under his belt (2 wins, 1 draw). Phivo has trained at various gyms across Thailand and is considered a very technical fighter. He has fought in some of the biggest promotions in Australia.
We’re thrilled to have Phivo in our corner of the ring!
What Can I Expect?
Muay Thai classes, like all others at IDF Training, are very physical but also quite safe at the same time. This is because you’ll receive constant supervision and guidance as you train. You’ll learn the rules and practice the individual moves thoroughly before you engage in any free sparring, which means you and your opponent will be trained not to hurt each other. However, the physicality will give you a real ‘hands-on’ feeling that will give you confidence as you improve your fighting skills.
Come on in and try out one of our Muay Thai classes and experience the power surge that comes with training in this dynamic discipline for yourself!
Check out the class timetable and the prices for more details.
