The origins of Muay Thai lie in the predecessor battlefield art of Krabi Krabong. This art encapsulated both weapons and unarmed fighting techniques and was practiced by the warriors of Siam (now Thailand). This battlefield art can still be studied today though it is far less popular than its sporting child.
More contemporary than Krabi Krabong is Muay Boran. Muay Boran is a generic term meaning Ancient Boxing and represents an evolutionary step between Krabi Krabong and Muay Thai. While some techniques were banned over the centuries (groin kicks, gouges, hair pulling and so forth) head butting was allowed (note that head butting is still allowed in Lethwei), which is banned in the modern sport version. Other Thai Boxing arts such as Lerdrit ('Extreme Power', the art used by the Royal Thai Army) were developed from Muay Boran.
One of the most interesting anecdotes in the history of Thai Boxing occurred during the heyday of Muay Boran. During the Burmese invasion of Siam in the mid eighteenth century a group of Thai were taken prisoner in a village and sent back to Burma where they awaited their fate. Hsinbyushin, the Burmese King, organized a festival in which various performances would be given, including a display of a Thai boxer against a Burmese Lethwei expert. A man named Nai Khanom Tom was selected to represent the Thais and he quickly demolished his opponent. He next faced nine more opponents and quickly defeated them with no rest periods in between. In return Hsinbyushin granted Nai Khanom Tom his freedom (along with the other captives according to some sources).
The still brutal art of Muay Boran went into decline in the early decades of the twentieth century and in its place, with new rules and codes of practice, emerged Muay Thai. No doubt influenced by the growing popularity of Western boxing, Thai boxers were required to wear gloves and groin guards and head butting was finally disallowed. With rules and better organized competition, the art has spread worldwide and is currently experiencing an even greater rise in its popularity as it is considered to be one of the four essential arts comprising the arsenal of many MMA fighters, along with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and Wrestling.
Muay Thai utilizes punches, elbows, knees and kicks, with the low round kick to the thigh using ones shin to make contact being a staple of the art. Training works on these attacks, first singularly, then in combination against the heavy bag, focus mitts and the Thai pads as well as in various sparring drills and free sparring (which tends to be carried out in a safe, controlled manner with the heavy contact saved for the ring, but this will vary from school to school). Obviously professional fighters must walk a thin line between being injured and being unprepared for the contact they will experience in a fight. For the amateur enthusiast there is no need to train without protective equipment or controlled contract. Muay Thai tends to focus more on aerobic fitness than anaerobic, and strength training is designed to be functional rather than being done to become buff. MMA fighters however tend to display far more musculature (and are therefore heavier) as they must also be prepared for wrestling and other groundwork.
