Friday, Feb 22, 2013
What is Muay Thai boxing?
Known as “the art of eight weapons,” Muay Thai is a combat martial art form originating from Thailand. It uses the fists, elbows, knees, shins and feet, which, although not adding up to eight, make for a very effective full-contact fighting technique. The sport dates back to the 1500s but gained worldwide popularity in the 1990s, when Thai fighters beat representatives of other martial arts forms.
What is kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a combination martial form the developed from Muay Thai, karate and Western boxing. It began in Japan in the 1960s because the actor Tatsuo Yamada wanted to play karate as a full-contact sport like Muay Thai, but this wasn’t allowed in Japan. He created a combination of both sports that was originally called karate-boxing and developed into kickboxing, becoming immensely popular in Japan. The sport took off in America and Europe in the 1970s and 80s.
By Nadia Eldemerdash, Web Producer
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
