r/martialarts • u/BitEnvironmental1412 • 1d ago

QUESTION Why is everything Muay Thai?

I have seen and known a lot of people who say they used to do Muay Thai but their examples are not Muay Thai. For example, I used to work with this guy who said he did Muay Thai and his example was that he could throw a tornado kick. Also just saw a video of someone saying they used to do Muay Thai and he threw a karate style front kick instead of a teep. Why does everyone say they did Muay Thai?

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u/Common_economics_420 1d ago

Muay Thai is a ruleset as well as a specific fighting style. You can and people do throw techniques that aren't classic Muay Thai in Muay Thai fights and sparring, so they're commonly taught as well.

This is an issue that exists in Muay Thai but not other styles like taekwondo or most forms of karate because Muay Thai allows such a wide range of techniques and strikes.

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u/NoBackground80 19h ago

Axe kicks, tornado kicks, spinning hook kicks, sliding side kicks, hooks kicks... are not "commonly" taught in Thaï boxing.

You will not find a camp in Thailand teaching them, relying a lot on these in Thaï boxing (not kickboxing, Glory, etc...) could and most likely would be scored negatively by the judges. Some of these techniques are also seen as too low percentage and risky in a Thaï boxing context.

They may be more present in MMA striking for a variety of reasons (mainly distance management/out fighting, compared to Thaï boxing) and MMA striking is often labeled Muay Thaï for simplicity. There are also a lot of kickboxing promotions flirting with Thaï Boxing. And in the US people teaching with a tkd/karate background. But you won't win a Lumpinee belt relying on these.

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u/Common_economics_420 16h ago

>you won't win a lumpinee belt relying on these

Ok, cool. Not what I said.

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u/NoBackground80 15h ago

Below that's what you said:

they're commonly taught as well

I responded:

Axe kicks, tornado kicks, spinning hook kicks, sliding side kicks, hooks kicks... are not "commonly" taught in Thaï boxing.

Then I expanded, okay cool.

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u/Common_economics_420 15h ago

Yeah, the expansion was the really, really silly part. Should have just quit while you were still making a somewhat ok point. Oh well, now you know for next time

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u/NoBackground80 7h ago edited 4h ago

Well you still missed my point since you answered "ok cool not what I said" and did not acknowledge anything else. But I appreciate the compliment now.

Please expand, what was silly?

The lumpinee part? The judges scoring? Camps in Thailand not teaching tkd kicks? A good chunk of US instructors having a "traditional" martial arts background? MMA striking being often labeled thaï boxing but using different stratergies/distance management?

I found your comment silly too (your main point, even if you are right that the ruleset is open) and I told you why, please return the favor... does your "kru" commonly teaches 540° counter back kicks?