5 Things that People NOT In the Muay Thai Industry Don’t Know About Muay Thai (In Thailand) Posted on May 10, 2020August 7, 2023 By Angela Chang A huge show at the famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium early March became the source of a major cluster of COVID-19 infections in Thailand. When people who attended the show started testing positive for the virus (the most notable of these people was Muay Thai announcer and singer Matthew Deane), this quickly led to the shut down of Muay Thai gyms and fights. To date, gyms are still closed and fights are still not allowed to take place. In Thailand, a lot of people who aren’t involved in the Muay Thai industry started heavily criticizing Muay Thai amidst all the chaos – cities and airports being closed, a mandatory curfew from 10 pm to 4 am, mass unemployment, and just general fear. A lot of the criticism and insults aimed at the Muay Thai industry were most likely a result of looking for a place to blame. Here are some facts about the Muay Thai industry that those in Thailand criticizing Muay Thai and those outside the country don’t know about the art of eight limbs.Please support the continuation of content on Muay Ying via Patreon Photo by @gareth_harrisonThe following is a translation of a post that was originally in Thai, made by muayted789 on Facebook. The following images also belong to that media page.#1: Muay Thai stadia generate income for the country from a tourism perspective. There are no less than 200 foreigners in attendance on any given day in the major stadiums.#2: More than 100,000 people a year travel to Thailand to train and learn Muay Thai. Many of these people use their knowledge from their time here to open up gyms in their home countries.#3: Muay Thai is not just limited to being within Thai culture. It’s an important vehicle for people to know about Thailand and for them to want to go visit (and potentially bring money into the country).#4: Muay Thai is a career path for many born in less fortunate areas in the country.#5: Most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand. Many people have accused people for partaking this illegal activity during fights, but betting in Muay Thai is legal.If you want an in-depth guide to training in Thailand, I’ve got just the thing.If you enjoyed this or found this useful, and want to continue seeing Muay Thai news (with focus on ALL fighters, not just men), training and fighting tips, gyms reviews, and general/miscellaneous content,please consider becoming a donor on Patreon.With donors, I will be able to deliver high quality content consistently as well as continue my fighting goals in Thailand. Muay Thai Thailand
Fighting and Training Tourist Muay Thai Gyms vs. Fight Gyms in Thailand: Choosing the Right Training Environment Posted on July 9, 2023October 27, 2024In Thailand, Muay Thai gyms are categorized as tourist gyms or fight gyms, each serving different goals. Tourist gyms focus on casual training for beginners and cultural experiences, while fight gyms emphasize serious competition. Read More
Fighting and Training When a Win is Not a Win and a Loss is Not a Loss: Are Fight Records Important? Posted on October 13, 2021October 13, 2021Fight records can be overrated. With most countries not having a general cohesiveness in who’s who in the Muay Thai scene, always take fight records with a grain of salt. Read More
Fighting and Training Muay Thai Scoring Explained: Traditional vs. Entertainment Standards in Thailand and Beyond Posted on December 1, 2024January 22, 2025Muay Thai scoring can seem mysterious, especially since the criteria vary widely based on region and organization. It’s so complex that people, even those who have been involved in the sport for years, are constantly asking, “How do you score this fight?” This guide breaks down how scoring works in Thailand, where tradition shapes criteria, and how it contrasts with scoring abroad and in entertainment-focused bouts. Read More