What makes Muay Thai as a Martial Art different from Muay Thai as a sport or competition?
Muay Thai practiced as a Martial Art uses all the body parts as weapons. Not only does it include the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins, it also makes use of the tip of the shoulders, fingers, feet, chin as well as other parts of the body as weapons. Furthermore, Muay Thai as a Martial Art has many defensive techniques that are also used offensively. Nowadays, Muay Thai as a sport incorporates modern rules and regulations, different weight classes, the use of gloves, restrictions on certain techniques, and so on. Unlike the sport, which focuses on intensive cardio training, power hits, and non-stop attacks, Muay Thai as a Martial Art teaches one how to avoid hits, how to defend rather than just attack, how not to simply rely on power alone, how to be proficient without the use of gloves, and how to be a smart fighter. The goal of Muay Thai as a Martial Art is not to simply win a fight, rather, it’s to survive a real attack on the streets, to be fair, to respect others, to be respon
