Muay Thai and Football (soccer) are the two the most followed sports in Thailand. Live fights are televised on national TV networks five days a week and national newspapers publish the fight results from all major stadiums. Details of all international championship fights in can be attained from the Muay Thai Magazine.

There are many Thai boxing stadiums, throughout Thailand local fights normally take place once a week, National, Asian and world championships title fights take place in Lumpini or Ratchadamnoen Stadiums, Bangkok. If you’re staying in Bangkok for a few days and enjoy the sport a night at one of the stadiums is well worth a visit.

Thai Boxing Bangkok

It’s every young Thai Boxers ultimate dream to fight at Lumpini or  Ratchadamnoen stadiums the biggest and most famous boxing stadiums in Thailand. The stadiums alternate their fight programs every night, tickets on an average evening cost between 220-440 Baht a 1,000 Baht for ringside seats. On big fight nights, the prices of ringside seats can double.

Ratchadamnoen Stadium offers special Sunday rates, ringside tickets sale for half price, 500 Baht. Fights normally start at 6:30 pm. featuring younger less experienced boxers and build up towards the main event, around 9:00 pm.

Muay Thai is often referred to as The Art of 8 Weapons (hands, elbows, knees, legs). This particular art form places an emphasis on the physical conditioning and cardiovascular benefits required to practice Muay Thai Boxing.

Muay Thai, emphasis on both offence and defense, as well as on stamina. It's a martial art that anyone can learn, young or old. Martial Art Schools worldwide have added it to their curricula. Some hire former Muay Thai champions as instructors, others have trainers who studied with Thai teachers.

In the old days, Muay Thai was a dangerous sport, with no safety gear, the fighters, had only lengths of cords to wrap around the fists in place of gloves. Over the years rules have been written along the line of international boxing regulations and today the sport has attracted a worldwide following.

In 1995 the World Muay Thai Council was set up to promote the national heritage of Muay Thai at national and international levels. At a conference held the same year, 78 member countries voted for a Training School in Thailand where all elements of Muay Thai would be taught. The Muay Thai Institute was founded in 1997 and is the only Muay Thai training school accredited by the Thai Ministry of Education.

Muay Thai Training Thailand

Various forms of kickboxing have long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia. As with most countries in the region, Thai culture is based on that of India and China. These countries had a hand in the development of local martial arts.

Indian boxing forms, like Musti-yuddha are remarkably similar to Muay Thai and it is often said that every move in Muay Thai has a similar equivalent in Shaolin kung fu. Muay Thai's origin in Thailand can be traced back to its ancestor Muay Boran.

Muay Boran was the form of unarmed combat used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with Krabi Krabong, the weapon based style. The precedence Muay Thai and Muay Boran give to the kicks, may be indigenous to Thailand and the surrounding area.

Indian boxing as well as southern Chinese styles use even low kicks sparingly. Another influence from Thailand's weapon style can be seen in the pre fight Wai Kru ritual which is based on the sabre dance of Krabi Krabong.