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
Muay Thai The Importance of Taking Up Space as Women in Muay Thai Posted on July 2, 2023March 23, 2023As a woman in Muay Thai, it is important to recognize the barriers and challenges that women face in taking up space in the gym and in the presence of the sport as a whole. In this article, we will discuss the importance of women taking up space in Muay Thai, the impact of patriarchy and societal/cultural expectations, and some concrete steps women can take to overcome these challenges. (If you’re not a woman but would like to learn more about becoming an ally to women, it’s highly encouraged you read this article as well.) Read More
Fighting and Training Guide to Planning & Training in Thailand – Part 2: Preparing for Thailand Posted on September 19, 2019October 27, 2024In Part 1, we covered the initial steps of planning your trip. In Part 2, we will cover preparation prior to arriving to Thailand, from your suitcase to yourself. This is the part that many people don’t have any knowledge about, especially if they’ve never trained in Thailand. Being proactive will offset, or even avoid, a lot of issues that can come up during your trip. Read More
Fighting and Training The Science of Shin Conditioning: A Fighter’s Guide to Bone Adaptation Posted on August 29, 2025August 19, 2025If you’ve spent any time in a Muay Thai gym or scrolling through social media and fight forums, you’ve probably seen people smashing their shins with bottles, rolling pins, or even kicking trees in the name of “shin conditioning.” The idea is that you need to actively toughen your bones and deaden your nerves if you want to be able to kick hard and block kicks without breaking down. This is especially common among beginners. When their shins hurt from kicking bags, pads, or sparring, they might think the pain comes from having “weak shins,” leading them to believe that they need to actively make their bones tougher and their nerves less sensitive to improve. Read More