{"id":1504,"date":"2018-09-03T20:50:19","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T03:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/?page_id=1504"},"modified":"2025-10-13T21:04:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T04:04:20","slug":"muay-thai","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/muay-thai\/","title":{"rendered":"Muay Thai (kickboxing)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tell us what you think about the story.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I – Muay Thai (kick boxing)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

(lessons – using modals<\/span>, definite<\/i> and indefinite articles, & measurement words<\/span> + <\/i>reading for understanding- I level<\/i>)<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For AI assistance – click on Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muay Thai made its first appearance in Thailand 700 years ago.  It is the<\/strong> \u201cart of eight limbs\u201d martial arts because one needs to use the<\/strong>fist, elbows, knees and shins apart from the<\/strong> four limbs of the<\/strong> body to defeat an<\/strong> opponent.  Muay Thai or Thai boxing is the<\/strong> national sport and cultural martial art of Thailand.  was developed several hundreds of years ago as a<\/strong> form of close-combat that utilizes the <\/strong>entire body as a<\/strong> weapon using eight limbs.  The word \u201cMuay\u201d is actually derived from the<\/strong> word \u201cMavya\u201d in sanskrit meaning \u201cto bind together\u201d or \u201cto make things united\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Muay Thai the<\/strong> body (1) mimics as a<\/strong> weapon of war.  In combat or in competetion the<\/strong> hands (2) are first used like a<\/strong> sword and dagger.  When the<\/strong> opponent attacks, the<\/strong> shins (3) and forearms (4) are used as a<\/strong> shield against any blows. To attack and to counter the<\/strong> attacks of his opponent, the<\/strong> Muay Thai fighter uses his legs (5) and knees (6) that become the axe and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because it is the national sport and cultural martial art of Thailand, many young children are drawn into the martial art at a very young age (7 or 8 years old) to become Muay Thai fighters.  Often, it is the child\u2019s parents who make the decision for their child to become a fighter.  The life of a Muay Thai fighter, especially as a child, is never easy.  On top of attending school (if he is even given the opportunity to attend school), he has to adhere to a strict training schedule and supplement it with strength and conditioning exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Thailand when Muay Thai fighters become very good at their skill, they will earn a lot of money which much is more than the average Thai worker who gets 10,000 Baht per month or $305 a month or $3660 a year.  A muay Thai or kickboxer can make over $31,000 a year which is more than enough money to feed their family members and live a very good life in Thailand. Becoming a muay Thai fighter has been a ticket out of poverty for many young kids.  Besides the money, children who become muay Thai fighters are admired in school and become very popular.  Once they decide to become fighters, they must follow a strict training schedule. The parents of children who train to be muay Thai fighters strongly believe that the<\/strong> training can help their children avoid trouble, drugs, and boredome, and become stronger physically, mentally and socially.  Ultimately, the<\/em> children improve their confidence and self-esteem as a<\/strong> person.   It is not uncommon to find 15 \u2013 20,000 young children in rural countryside all over Thailand training to become Muay Thai fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The<\/strong> training of young Muay Thai fighter is very rigorous.  Trainees must get up early in the<\/strong> morning to begin their regimen.  First, they have to do jump rope to start the<\/strong> day and then they must run 3 \u2013 5 miles around the<\/em> neighborhood and different areas of their rural village to warm up.  This takes about two or three hours.  After running they would do a<\/strong>combination of wind sprints, running up stairs, long jumps and other callisthenic activities.  Then the<\/em> trainees would do some shadow boxing and light bag work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A balanced diet of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates are needed for strength and endurance in Muay Thai fighting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"An<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Then they eat breakfast from 7 \u2013 10:00 a.m. Their breakfast is a<\/em> heavy meal.  Many times it becomes like lunch and dinner combined because they must train again for another 5 to 7 hours in the<\/em> afternoon and evening.  They usually eat food like  a plate of khao man gai(chicken and rice)<\/em> , a bowl of gra pao(any kind of<\/em> meat that is stir fried with Thai basil)  or a bowl of khao soi<\/em>(a soup-like dish with a mix of deep-fried crispy egg noodles and a serving of boiled egg noodles, several servings of pickled mustard greens, a cup of shallots, a tablespoon of ground chillies fried in oil and a big piece ofmeat in curry-like sauce containing coconut milk).  Muay Thai fighters\u2019 diet can change according to their region.  In poor regions the diet could be a bowl of fish soup, a plate of eggs, boiled vegetables, and a bowl of som tam<\/em> salad (salad made of shredded green papaya, several servings of chopped long beans, a tablespoon of garlic, a cup of tomatoes, a cup of green chillis, a half pint of lime juice and a dash of sugar with fish sauce). To hydrate they must drink 4 – 6 bottles of water every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the afternoon they continue their round of training.  The young muay Thai trainees must learn how to use both hands to punch like boxers using hanging punching bags and a pair of boxing gloves provided by their trainers. .  Most of their training must involve their legs, knees, and feet to strike an<\/strong> opponent.  To strengthen these parts of the<\/strong> body, they must use a punching bag to work on these techniques. Often times the trainer must use padded hand, elbow or arm guards while the<\/strong> trainee strikes at them in different positions and angles.  In the<\/strong> afternoon the<\/strong> trainees must do a<\/strong> combination Jump Rope, Shadow Boxing and hitting Thai pads with the<\/strong> trainer for 5 rounds.  Each day they need to spar with other trainees for 5 \u2013 10 rounds and later they need to condition their abdominals using different varieties and weights of medicine balls which they move back and forth while contorting their bodies in different kinds of positions and angles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Two<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From 12:00-5:00pm they need to workout doing different sets of squats, bench press, dead lifts, military presses, pull ups, push ups and various core exercises to strengthen the<\/strong> abdominal.   Lunch can vary depending on their schedule of the<\/strong> day, but they need to take an<\/strong> afternoon nap to rest their bodies.  After the<\/strong> nap, the<\/strong> trainees have to do more strength workouts combining military presses, squats, bench presses, deadlifts, and more pull ups, pushups and various exercises to strengthen the abdominal.  Generally, the exercises must be repeated over and over so that the exercises become a routine for the trainees.  Usually, the trainees trade off doing the exercises.  That way not everyone is doing the same thing at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Muay Thai fighters must spend countless hours conditioning their bodies to withstand the tremendous strikes their opponent will unleash upon them. In addition to being mentally and physically tough, Thai fighters need to be extremely athletic. Muay Thai requires the athlete to acquire a<\/strong> large range of athletic qualities like agility, speed, power, strength, coordination, balance, timing, and visual acuity.   In general, fighters must train 2-3 times per day for periods of up to 2-3 hours per session. Due to the<\/strong> lack of on- and off-seasons, fighters need to train year-round if they want to have a successful career and get the big title fights.  Training starts at 5am and could last until 8pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreigners or visitors who come to visit Thailand have the opinion that Muay Thai fighting impedes the<\/strong> children\u2019s education.  Outsider say it can expose children to bad people who gamble and break the<\/em> law.  Others say it encourages parents to rely on their child\u2019s income when the child starts making good money. Their primary argument is that it violates the<\/strong> rights of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 12:00-5:00pm they need to workout doing different sets of squats, bench press, dead lifts, military presses, pull ups, push ups and various core exercises to strengthen the<\/strong> abdominal.   Lunch can vary depending on their schedule of the<\/strong> day, but they need to take an<\/strong> afternoon nap to rest their bodies.  After the<\/strong> nap, the<\/strong> trainees have to do more strength workouts combining military presses, squats, bench presses, deadlifts, and more pull ups, pushups and various exercises to strengthen the abdominal.  Generally, the exercises must be repeated over and over so that the exercises become a routine for the trainees.  Usually, the trainees trade off doing the exercises.  That way not everyone is doing the same thing at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Strength training to develop core muscles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Muay Thai fighters must spend countless hours conditioning their bodies to withstand the tremendous strikes their opponent will unleash upon them. In addition to being mentally and physically tough, Thai fighters need to be extremely athletic. Muay Thai requires the athlete to acquire a<\/strong> large range of athletic qualities like agility, speed, power, strength, coordination, balance, timing, and visual acuity.   In general, fighters must train 2-3 times per day for periods of up to 2-3 hours per session. Due to the<\/strong> lack of on- and off-seasons, fighters need to train year-round if they want to have a successful career and get the big title fights.  Training starts at 5am and could last until 8pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreigners or visitors who come to visit Thailand have the opinion that Muay Thai fighting impedes the<\/strong> children\u2019s education.  Outsider say it can expose children to bad people who gamble and break the<\/em> law.  Others say it encourages parents to rely on their child\u2019s income when the child starts making good money. Their primary argument is that it violates the<\/strong> rights of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, Thai people say Muay Thai provides children a<\/strong> process of acculturation by teaching them the<\/strong> history of their country and the<\/strong> value of muay Thai fighting.  They also say that it teaches them values of perseverance and self-reliance.  In many cases young children who become successful in muay Thai martial arts earn a lot of money which is far more that the<\/strong>salary of a rice farmer in Thailand.  It is a<\/strong> fact that many of the<\/em> young muay Thai fighters come from impoverished rural families and their success as muay Thai fighters help them to provide the<\/strong> income they need to survive and live a<\/strong> better life away from their poor environment. For the<\/strong> men, muay Thai is a<\/strong> way to show their masculine dignity.  Most foreigners or visitors don\u2019t understand the<\/strong> value of muay Thai fighting because to them it is brutal and devastating.  But, for the Thai people, muay Thai is the<\/strong> core symbol of diginity and pride of the<\/strong> Thai people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When I was in Bangkok, I was very fortunate to have seen and witnessed how hard muay Thai fighters train to become skilled at their craft.  During my visit, I got to see how and when they use their legs and feet to make a <\/strong>strike at their opponent.  I was even given the<\/strong> opportunity to train with the <\/strong>fighters.  They often use punching bags to strengthen their leg and feet muscles and do repetitious kicks on the<\/strong> bags to acquire agility, strength and speed. They trade off from training on the<\/strong> punching bags, doing abdominal exercises using medicine balls, jump rope and later sparring on the ring with their colleagues to simulate combat on the ring.  Their focus, demeanor and endurance were always spot on as they trained meticulously and methodically.  What impressed me the most was their camaraderie, mental and social acuteness, and their determination to become good muay Thai fighters.  No doubt, as trainees in this art of muay Thai fighting, they are very proud and feel dignified to be Thai fighters in this marital arts of muay Thai fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A.  Answer the following questions based on the reading<\/em><\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rubric for self-grading this quiz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

0 – 3 mistakes A. – Student has little or no problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 – 5 mistakes. B- Student has a couple of problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 – 8 mistakes. C – Student shows problems understanding the concepts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 – 11  mistakes. D – Student shows significant problems understanding the concept<\/p>\n\n\n