30 COVER FE ATUREMuay Thai, otherwise known as
‘The Art of Eight Limbs’, is Thailand’s
form of boxing that makes lethal use
of eight contact points of the body,
including the hands, shins, forearms,
knees and feet. It has become one of
the primary reasons for martial arts
devotees to visit the country – from the
serious practitioner training for the next
fight, to the casual tourist looking for
a little physical conditioning between
days on the beach. The popularity of the
sport has grown so rapidly that local
economies have been founded – and are
thriving on – Muay Thai’s new in vogue
status, making it a booming, year-round
highlight of Thai tourism. This brand
has been successfully packaged and
exported for worldwide consumption.
The exact origins of Muay Thai have
been debated by the numerous scholars
who have researched this martial art
form. By some accounts, aspects of this
fighting form are believed to have come
from China, stemming from the outward
flow of immigrants to the southeastern
parts of Asia. Some believe that Muay
[Muay Thai] makes lethal
use of eight contact points
of the body, including the
hands, shins, forearms,
knees and feettop Many fighters
from the local Lamai
school train at the
Jidpakdee camp in
Koh Samui, one of the
oldest on the island
bottom Kumarndoy
S.Jitpakdee prepares
for a fight at his camp
in Koh Samui. He is
one of the strongest
fighters in Thailand