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 Running for Muay Thai: The Benefits, Working Your Way Up to It & How To Prevent Injury Posted on March 17, 2021August 7, 2023There are many aspects to becoming more serious about Muay Thai that are non-negotiable to most coaches. The one that has been talked about by all, dreaded by many, yet tried-and-true, is running. At the top of the Muay Thai pyramid, professional fighters in Thailand do long runs every morning, and have been for decades. It seems like anyone who is to be taken seriously in the sport needs to run a lot, or, at the very least, is expected to at some point. Read More
Food Eating Kosher in Thailand Posted on November 11, 2020July 31, 2021While the term “kosher” is barely heard within Thailand, it’s not completely unknown within the country. In this Thai Language multi-article series, we explore the basics of Muay Thai and what you need to get around and get what you need while in the country! Welcome to Thai Language – Part 4d. Read More
Muay Thai Empowerment or Exploitation? Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Combat Sports Posted on October 6, 2024October 6, 2024We need to talk AND do something about something that’s somehow become so pervasive and normalized in combat sports spaces. It’s enraging how often people in positions of power protect abusers instead of holding them accountable. Incidents ranging from verbal microaggressions to outright violence are far too common, and it’s time to confront the toxic culture that enables this. When victims of sexual assault turn to gym owners or coaches for safety and support, they’re often met with indifference—or worse, loyalty to the abusers. It’s clear that, in many cases, connections and reputations are valued over the safety and dignity of their students. Read More