ORIGIN STORY

In its original form, Muay Thai was deployed on the battlefield at a time when hand-to-hand combat was the standard defence (and attack) against the enemy. Its roots are believed to date back 600 years or more. Recognition increased in the 20th century and, when Muay Thai practitioners started defeating notable figures from other martial arts, the world began taking notice. Its rise in popularity outside of its homeland – both as a competitive sport and a firstclass physical conditioning pursuit – has resulted in the growth of an ancient discipline that keeps being touted for inclusion in the

Olympic Games, although that recognition appears a slow process.