Traditional Sports

The most famous of Thai traditional sports is Muay Thai, or Thai boxing. It is an ancient art of self-defense that is gaining popularity worldwide. It features the use and skill of different parts of the body as both defensive and offensive tools. Thai boxing allows the use of elbows, knees, calves, and feet. This is in contrast to international boxing regulations, which permit the use of only the fists. Another distinguishing aspect of Thai boxing which is highly attractive to visitors is the "Wai Kru" dance, performed before the tournament as an act of respect to the teachers. The "Pi" pipes, adding an element of drama and ritual to the art accompany the dance.

Thai boxing developed centuries ago from the survival instincts of migrating tribes-people. These skills have been transformed through the generations into what is now a unique form of martial arts identified with the Thai race. During the Sukhothai period, Thai boxing became not only a form of self-defense, but also a form of sport and entertainment, with tournaments taking place at various festivals.

Thai boxing has now developed into a sport with clear-cut regulations, team classifications, rankings and championship rules. It is a sport that has attracted the attention of professional boxers, promoters and stadium managers around the world, and has also been marketed internationally with great success.

As a result, the Muay Thai Institute was established in 1995 when the Thai Cabinet approved the setting up of the World Muay Thai Council. The Council's role is to promote the Thai art of self-defense at the national and international levels.

The Institute is located in, and operated by, the Rangsit Thai Boxing Stadium. It offers three Muay Thai programs including the fundamental Muay Thai program for sport, recreation, culture and profession, the Muay Thai program for instructors and Muay Thai for judges and referees.

Contact the Muay Thai Institute at 336/932, Thanyaburi, Patumthani Province 12130. You may also telephone the Institute at (662) 992-0099, or send it a fax at (662) 992-0100.


Other martial arts, although lesser known to the world, are still widely practiced in Thailand, including Krabi Krabong. This type of fighting involves a long sword or quarter staff and is a requisite skill for all of the king's bodyguards.

For non-contact forms of exercise, Thai people play Takraw, a type of volleyball using only the feet. Flying kites is also popular, and kite fighting is done in the air between 'male' and 'female' kites. Involving much more preparation, but equally as popular, is long boat racing. This takes place in any town or city with a river and pits 21 to 50 paddlers in a single boat carved from a tree trunk to compete against rival paddlers.