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Garrison Wells This Page Left Blank Intentionally MuayKickboxing Thai

Garrison Wells

Lerner Publications Company • Minneapolis Copyright © 2012 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Lerner Publications Company A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.

Website address: www.lernerbooks.com

Content Consultant: Steve Milles, trainer and retired professional Thai boxer

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wells, Garrison. Muay Thai : combat / by Garrison Wells. p. cm. — ( sports zone) Includes index. ISBN 978–0–7613–8457–1 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) 1. Muay Thai—Juvenile literature. I. Title. GV1127.T45W45 2012 796.815—dc23 2011037346

Manufactured in the United States of America 1 – BC – 12/31/11

Photo Credits: Arthur Kwiatkowski/iStockphoto, 5; Tumar/Shutterstock Images, 6, 7; Patrick Aventurier/ Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images, 9; Bain News Service/Library of Congress, 10 (top); Sahamongkolfilm/ Photofest, 10 (bottom); Magnet Releasing/Everett Collection, 11; Globo/Getty Images, 12; Photofriday/ Shutterstock Images, 13, 28, 29 (top); Pedro Jorge Henriques Monteiro/Shutterstock Images, 15; Bjorn Svensson/Photolibrary, 16; Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Getty Images, 17; Nicholas Piccillo/Shutterstock Images, 18; Gary M. Prior/Getty Images, 19; Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images, 20; Paula Bronstein/Getty Images, 21, 24; Nicky Zhang/ColorChinaPhoto/AP Images, 23; Esther Lin/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images, 25; Forest Woodward/iStockphoto, 26–27; Richard Arthur/Alamy, 29 (bottom) Backgrounds: Aleksandar Velasevic/iStockphoto, Eduardo Miller/Shutterstock Images, Photogalia/ Shutterstock Images Front cover: © Imago/ZUMA Press (main); © iStockphoto.com/Aleksandar Velasevic (background). Main body text set in ITC Serif Gothic Std Bold 11/17. Typeface provided by Adobe Systems. Tableof Contents

Chapter One Overview of Muay Thai 4 Chapter Two History and Culture 8 Chapter Three Practicing Muay Thai 14 Chapter Four C ompetition 22 Techniques How-To 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32 Chapter One Overview Of Muay Thai

n the TV show Sport Science, Hardest , the power of a Muay Thai kick was measured. Many wanted to know a kick’s O exact force. Muay Thai champion Melchor Menor was on the show. He splintered a baseball bat with a rated at 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) of force. This is the same force as a hyena’s bite, which can easily crush bones. Menor’s kick was the most powerful ever measured on the show.

. of Buddhist Influen countryc e the Asian hai comes from religion. T Thai uddhist Muay the B oms people follow Thai’s cust The Thai of Muay into some is woven and mongkhon Buddhism the prajioud example, wears . For t a fighter and beliefs and tha and headb on, a armband puts them are the fighter efore a match. B . during a them monk blesses Buddhist

4 A Muay Thai kick is capable of breaking bones.

5 What Is Muay Thai? Muay Thai is a stand-up form of self-defense. It is a mysterious fighting style to many Americans. But it is becoming more known as a powerful martial art and striking sport. Muay Thai is known for its attacks using knees, elbows, fists, and . It is also called the Art of Eight Limbs because it uses so many body parts.

Boxers fight in a 2010 Muay Thai match in Minsk, Belarus.

6 What Is Muay Thai? Many professional fighters in (MMA) use Muay Muay Thai is a stand-up form of self-defense. It is a mysterious Thai. The martial art helps them in their stand-up fighting. Wanderlei fighting style to many Americans. But it is becoming more known as Silva and Ernesto Hoost are two MMA fighters with Muay Thai a powerful martial art and striking sport. Muay Thai is known for its backgrounds. The fighters compete in MMA tournaments, such as the attacks using knees, elbows, fists, and kicks. It is also called the Art of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), K1, and Pride. Some MMA Eight Limbs because it uses so many body parts. professionals travel to Thailand to learn from local masters of the sport. Why Study Muay Thai? Muay Thai is a useful form of self-defense. But it also gets its boxers in great shape. Muay Thai helps students build self-esteem and self-discipline. The martial art also has a spiritual side, with ties to Buddhism. Students of Muay Thai come together as part of a family.

Many Muay Thai fighters pray before matches.

7

Chapter Two History and Culture

uay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. The martial art was first used more than 500 years ago as a form of wartime M hand-to-hand fighting. At that time, people also fought with swords, spears, and bows and arrows. As time passed, the martial art split into two forms. One form—krabi krabong—used weapons. The other—the hand-to-hand form—became Muay Thai. themselves and ordered its use by the military. The best fighters were Spread by Kings invited to the royal palace to teach nobles and the royal family. In Thailand is a monarchy, ruled by a king. Thai kings have been the 1500s, King Naresuan made Muay Thai part of military training. important to Muay Thai’s growth. They practiced the martial art Naresuan was a great martial artist himself. Beginnings of a Sport Muay Thai’s wartime beginnings made it a brutal sport. Early on, The Ring fighters sometimes died. Over time, Muay Thai became a two- to ring similar in a square person contest that took place in a square ring. Fighters prepared oxers fight Muay T hai b 18 square feet he ring is either by wrapping their hands with rope. Then they stepped into the ring. in . T or what is used (2.0 s q . m .), ), 22 square feet They punched and kicked their way to wins. The fighters did not wear (1.7 square meters ropes are . m .). Four parallel feet (2.2 s q the padding, and there were no time limits. 24 square hese help keep of the ring. T the outside is rubber strung along of the ring out. T he surface falling thickness boxers from canvas. T he covered in soft material ). or another to 5.1 centimeters inches (2.5 about 1 to 2 is between 8 Muay Thai is deeply rooted in Thai history and culture.

themselves and ordered its use by the military. The best fighters were invited to the royal palace to teach nobles and the royal family. In the 1500s, King Naresuan made Muay Thai part of military training. Naresuan was a great martial artist himself. Beginnings of a Sport Muay Thai’s wartime beginnings made it a brutal sport. Early on, fighters sometimes died. Over time, Muay Thai became a two- person contest that took place in a square ring. Fighters prepared by wrapping their hands with rope. Then they stepped into the ring. They punched and kicked their way to wins. The fighters did not wear padding, and there were no time limits.

9 Techniques How-To

Elbow A fighter drives the back leg into the floor and stands tall. The fighter bends the arm and swings the point of the into the opponent. The elbow can be swung up, down, or across the fighter’s body.

A

Front Kick A fighter stands on one leg and draws the of the other leg high toward the chest. Then the fighter extends the leg out from the hip and hits the opponent with the ball of the foot, striking either the head or the body.

28 A side clinch

Side Clinch A fighter passes one arm around the front of the opponent with the fighter’s shoulder pressed into the opponent’s armpit. The fighter passes the other arm around the opponent’s back. This allows the fighter to apply knee strikes to the opponent’s back or to easily the opponent.

A

Roundhouse Kick A fighter rotates on the ball of the foot of the supporting leg and turns the entire body to strike with the shin of the impacting leg. Targets may be the opponent’s thigh, midsection, or head. There are many variations of this kick—jumping and spinning can be added—but all build on these basics. 29

Glossary

Amateur Nobles an activity done for fun without people who were a part of a expectation of payment high social class by birth

Buddhism Professional a religion that originated in Asia something done as a job and that millions of people, for payment including most Thais, follow Strike Clinch a hit on an opponent a move that locks two fighters in close quarters Superstition a belief stemming from fear that some action will influence the on the mat outcome of an event

Monarchy a country ruled by a king or a queen

30 For More Information

Further Reading Delp, Christoph. Muay Thai Basics: Introductory Thai Boxing Techniques. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books, 2005. Donaldson, Madeline. Thailand. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2011. Krauss, Erich. Muay Thai Unleashed: Learn Technique and Strategy from Thailand’s Warrior Elite. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Websites International Federation of Muaythai Amateur http://www.ifmamuaythai.org The website of the world governing body of amateur Muay Thai features articles and news about amateur competition, as well as information on past and upcoming tournaments. U.S. Muay Thai Association http://www.usmta.com This website includes information about Muay Thai schools, instructors, and events across the United States. World Muaythai Council http://www.wmcmuaythai.org The website for the world governing body of professional Muay Thai features the history, rules, and news of the sport.

31 Index

Aldo, Jose, 12 Khanomtom, Nai, 12 Pride, 7, 27 kicks, 4, 6, 12–14, 17, 18–19, punches, 22 Bearden, Emily, 24 21, 22, 26, 28–29 , 21 Rama V, King, 10 Kitchen, Julie, 24 Brazilian jiujitsu, 13, 25 Rama VII, King, 13 knee strikes, 6, 13, 17, Buddhism, 4, 7, 21 ram muay, 21 20–21, 26 rings, 8, 9, 13, 24 Carano, Gina, 12 krabi krabong, 8 roundhouse kick, 19, 29 Chubong, Dan, 11 kru, 14–15 Rua, Mauricio, 12 clinches, 13, 20, 29 Menor, Melchor, 4 Ruas, Marco, 27 competition, 7, 12, 14, 22–26 mixed martial arts, 7, 12–13, , 25 de Randamie, Germaine, 24 16, 19, 22, 25, 27 self-defense, 6–7, 10, 27 Muay Thai Day, 12 elbow strikes, 6, 13, 17, 18, shins, 16, 19, 29 28 nak muay Thai, 14, 17 Silva, Wanderlei, 7, 12 equipment, 16–18 Naresuan, King, 9 Strikeforce, 25

Fairtex, Yodsanklai, 26 Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior, 10 Thailand, 4, 7–8, 12, 13, 14, Filipovic, Mirko, 19, 26 Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, 23–24, 27 10 training, 10, 14–17, 21 Garnett, Helene, 24 Ong Bak 3: The Final Battle, Ultimate Fighting Gonzaga, Gabriel, 19 10 Championship, 7, 12, Ooms, Linda, 24 history, 8–10, 12, 13 19–20, 25, 27 Overeem, Alistair, 25 Hoost, Ernesto, 7, 26 women, 24 Payakaroon, Samart, 26 Jaa, Tony, 11 Yanin, JeeJa, 11 popularity, 25, 27 K1, 7, 22, 25–26 Pramuk, Buakaw Por, 26

About the Author Garrison Wells is a third-degree black belt in Nihon jujitsu, a first-degree black belt in , a third-degree black belt in Goju-ryu , and a first-degree black belt in kobudo. He is also an award-winning journalist and writer. Wells lives in Colorado.

32 This Page Left Blank Intentionally Did you know that Muay Thai started out as military training for Thailand’s warriors? Hundreds of years ago, they used it for hand-to-hand combat. In modern times, Muay Thai is still powerful, challenging, and a great way to . Enter the Martial Arts Sports Zone to learn about the history, gear, moves, competitions, and top athletes connected to Muay Thai. You’ll discover: • What some of the top Muay Thai kicks and strikes are, including the roundhouse kick and the flying knee. is and how it honors the sport’s traditions. • What ram muay • What the main local, national, and international competitions are. • What role Muay Thai has in mixed martial arts competitions worldwide.

Are you into sports? Then get in the zone!

Combat on the Mat ts Amateur Wrestling: MARTIAL ar Ground-Fighting Combat zone s p orts Brazilian Jiujitsu: Karate: Japanese Empty-Hand Combat Ultimate Fighting Combinations Mixed Martial Arts: Muay Thai: Kickboxing Combat Tae Kwon Do: Korean Foot and Fist Combat