7 Muay Thai Styles
Have you ever wondered what are the key Muay Thai fighting styles or what are your favourite fighters’ go-to moves to win fights? Next time you watch a Muay Thai fight, see if you can identify any of these styles.
1. Muay Femur
A Muay Femur is a technical fighter who possesses a high fight IQ. They are well-versed in all the techniques and weapons of Muay Thai.
Muay Femurs rely on a multitude of techniques and can even alternate between different styles depending on the opponent. They typically excel in movement, and defence and win fights by outscoring the opponent. When the opportunity arises, they are just as quick swooping in to finish the fight.
The best Muay Femur fighters are known to possess a beautiful fighting style that is highly regarded by fans and connoisseurs of the sport.
Notable Muay Femur fighters include Samart Payakaroon, Saenchai and Superlek Kiatmoo9.
2. Muay Khao
A Muay Khao is a fighter who relies on knee strikes. Muay Khaos excel in knee techniques which can be delivered in different ranges. Knees can cause considerable damage to the torsos and even end fights.
Many Muay Khaos complement their knee-fighting style with superior clinching as it allows them to throw close-range knees to the torso. This style of fighting is very technical and also requires a lot of strength and cardio conditioning. One strategy is to wear down their opponents in extensive clinching and scoring with knees to the body.
Today, Muay Khao is a dominating style that has helped create many stadium champions in Thailand.
Notable Muay Khao include Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn, and Nuenglanlek Jitmuangnon.
3. Muay Mat
The Muay Mat is an aggressive and explosive style known for heavy punches and plenty of knockouts.
This is a relentless forward-moving style with hard punches and low kicks to boot. They can trade blow for blow as many Muay Mat come with a strong chin to back them up. The strategy is simple: go for the knockout. They don’t always win via judges’ decision but they will do whatever it takes to finish the fight.
Many Muay Mats do equally well in boxing or kickboxing. Notable Muay Mats include Sagat Petchyindee and Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
4. Muay Tae
A Muay Tae is a fighter who favours kicks. The roundhouse kick is one of the most devastating weapons in the Muay Thai arsenal and many fighters have built their fighting style around it.
Muay Tae kickers are all about building years of strong foundation through nothing but consistent hard training. They are able to generate immense kicking power through solid form, great balance and steel-like shins.
The Muay Thai roundhouse kicks are known to be among the hardest in martial arts, breaking ribs and arms is not uncommon.
Notable Muay Tae fighters include Samkor Kiatmontep and Singdam.
5. Muay Bouk
A Muay Bouk is all about aggression and non-stop action. They rarely retreat, always pushing forward and escalating the action to its peak. Fights featuring Muay Bouk are always exciting and entertaining. Their high-octane energy and style makes them favourites with the fans and crowds.
Muay Bouks employ all weapons, whatever it takes to bring down their opponents. In the process, they put themselves under direct fire taking hits but they never back down.
Muay Bouks are known to be among the most durable fighters with heart. When they step into the ring, it is always a war.
Notable Muay Bouk fighters include Ramon Dekkers, and Liam Harrison.
6. Muay Mud
A highly successful style for many strong, young fighters but one that also takes its toll on a fighters strength and conditioning – the punching style.
Muay Mud fighters are well known for possessing great knockout power in their fists and for their very aggressive attitude, especially in the early rounds of a fight. They come out from the first bell with all guns firing and generally look for an early KO. Spectacular if they get it, a true battle if the fight goes the distance!
Over the years many young Muay Mud have made a name for themselves with this style, more recently Rodtang Jitmuangnon has become internationally popular for his aggressive Muay Mud style.
7. Muay Sok
Muay Sok is possibly the most devastating and certainly the bloodiest of the seven styles highlighted here. Muay Sok fighters love to get in elbow range and viciously let loose on their opponents, causing major cuts, spectacular stoppages and often huge knockouts. Often counter fighters, Muay Sok fighters wait for opportunities to come knocking, then attack with extreme precision and devastating power. A well placed elbow or two can end a close fight in seconds, and often has! This style is not found too often but if your opponent happens to be Muay Sok, then watch out!
BONUS – Muay Plam
These fighters love to clinch. Clinch, clinch and more clinch! Knees, throws and sweeps tend to follow, often in combination with elbow control and elbow exchanges. Not for the weak, but definitely an essential part of the game. Weeks and weeks of clinch training alone go into the Muay Plams fight preparation and training, hours upon hours of strength training too. And when the fight happens, they go in for the clinch – again.
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