| With origins in Thailand, Muay Thai is a popular sport | | | | ThaSao) placed much more importance on kicking |
| in many Eastern countries. Surprisingly, it began as a | | | | speed and although each of these groupings |
| martial art known as Krabi Krabong (a Siamese | | | | symbolize and utilize different teachings, movements |
| martial art) in which weapons were used. This is quite | | | | and philosophies, modern Muay Thai encompasses |
| unique, considering that in modern Muay Thai, | | | | almost all of them as one. |
| weapons are not used at all. Krabi Krabong students | | | | Also in its roots, Muay Thai was considered a form |
| will, however, use similar hand to hand combat | | | | of entertainment to be performed by players in the |
| techniques after they or their opponents have lost | | | | homes and kingdoms of Thailand royalty. The most |
| their weapons. This can be considered the true | | | | famous of stories belonging to the history of Muay |
| origins of Muay Thai. | | | | Thai involves a Master by the name of Nai |
| Of course, with all martial arts, time and different | | | | Khanomtom. During a match with a Burmese martial |
| generations have an effect on a particular art and it | | | | artist, Nai Khanomtom performed his best for the |
| will often evolve or change with the world around | | | | king during that time King Mangra. He began the |
| them. Krabi Krabong soon morphed into the ancient | | | | match by doing a strange war-like dance that |
| Muay Boran, a martial art very close to the Muay | | | | bewildered and confused the Burmese opponent |
| Thai as it is known today. Again, with time, Muay | | | | allowing Nai Khanomtom to defeat him fairly quickly. |
| Boran evolved yet again and was divided into four | | | | Unfortunately, the mediator of the match decided |
| different art forms for different regions North, | | | | that the dance diverted the Burmese fighter's |
| Northeast, Center Region and South and were called | | | | concentration and the move was considered out of |
| Muay ThaSao, Korat, Lobburee, and Chaiya. | | | | bounds and therefore did not count at all. King |
| Each of these different forms placed emphasis on a | | | | Mangra, however, was impressed and asked that Nai |
| particular philosophy or technique the Center region | | | | Khanomtom fight nine more Burmese opponents to |
| (Muay Lobburee) took intelligent and quick | | | | prove himself. Of course, Nai Khanomtom fought and |
| movements to heart while the South (Muay Chaiya) | | | | won against every single one of the Burmese |
| preferred to emphasize a student's defense | | | | opponents, impressing King Mangra and in turn, buying |
| techniques and proper posture. The North (Muay | | | | his own freedom. |