I started doing Muay Thai about a year ago. I’m not going to tell you that it changed my whole world, like some sort of soul cycle BS. But, it’s pretty awesome and you should know about it.

Almost every time I tell someone that I do Muay Thai, I get the same response: “what’s Muay Thai?” Essentially, Muay Thai is kickboxing, but you can use your elbows and your knees to strike. So you can strike with punches, elbows, knees, and kicks; which is why Muay Thai is referred to as “the art of eight limbs”. Think MMA without the ground game (which is constantly booed at UFC events because it’s “boring”). Ultimately, Muay Thai is the most elaborate competitive stand-up combat sport.

To me, it makes boxing a snooze. I don’t want to take anything away from boxing by saying that. Boxing is obviously an incredibly difficult sport and definitely takes some bad-assdome to practice. But, if you put the best boxer in the world in the ring with the best Muay Thai fighter in the world, the boxer is doomed. And, although kickboxing is a cousin to Muay Thai, it doesn’t include elbows and knees, making it less effective.

(Video 10/10 recommend…music paired with the video 2/10)

Despite being a superior sport and widely popular in other parts of the world, as well as the national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai is not nearly as popular as boxing/kickboxing in the US. The main objection to Muay Thai from Americans are the traditions associated with the sport that many say are hard for western culture to digest.

Prior to every fight, Thai boxers perform the wai kru ram muay, or simply wai kru, to pay homage to their teachers. Wai kru ram muay literally translates into war-dance saluting the teacher, which is inherently bad ass.

At initial glance, you’re probably not ready to run through a brick wall after watching the wai kru. After all, it’s not exactly Conor McGregor walking out to Hypnotize before a fight. However, if you understand the significance of the dance for the fighters and coaches, you have to appreciate it.

The fighter and coach (or kru, which translates to teacher) spend countless hours together and in some cases live together. Many Thais grow up training at a specific gym and may develop a relationship with a coach that lasts throughout their lives. Performing a dance and dedicating each fight to their teacher is the ultimate sign of gratitude.

Another obvious reason for Muay Thai not being as popular in the US the lack of coverage it receives. ESPN decides to cover much more enthralling “sports” such as: the Bassmaster Classic, Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (because, Merica), Horse Racing (I’ll admit fun to bet on), PBA Bowling (WHO IS WATCHING PBA BOWING EVERY SUNDAY?!?!?!?!), Billiards (same people that are watching bowling), Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (I don’t hate it…), the World Series of Poker (not a sport), Scripps National Spelling Bee (makes for great memes and makes the rest of us feel stupid), and Slow-Pitch Softball (team with the least home runs wins!). Thank you Bleacher Report for that list of stupidest sports on ESPN, which i was in total accordance with until they listed the number 1. stupidest sport on ESPN as the WNBA…total dick move.

The other things that throws a lot of Americans off is the music playing during a Muay Thai fight; known as the Sarama. The Sarama is played by four musicians and is a combination of drums, oboes, and symbols. It actually is akin to jazz as it all improvised on spot. The tempo of the Sarama follows the tempo of the fight. Round one is often slow paced, round two picks up, and round three is fast and furious.

I don’t see the music as being a detractor, personally. I think it actually adds to the fight. The steady crescendo to a round three melee is beautiful. Much like the wai kru, it’s something that an uneducated viewer would have to be made aware of prior to the fight. We spend all Sunday morning dissecting the NFL before any action, I don’t think it’d be a stretch to provide 10 minutes of basic information before a Muay Thai fight.

Ultimately, and I hate to say this because of the grace of the wai kru and the sarama, we could get rid of both for American viewers. Just because that’s the way Muay Thai has always been performed in the past, doesn’t mean it’s the way it always has to be. Although I think the traditions add to the fight, we could blast some Migos before a fight and Jay Z during. We could have typical weigh ins and fighters talking trash before the fight. Whatever it takes to get American eyes on the most entertaining stand-up combat sport in the world.

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If you’re interested in Muay Thai, I recommend a few Instagram accounts to follow: @muaythaiauthority, @Muaythaigram, @muaythaiathlete, and definitely follow the GOAT of Muay Thai, Saenchai, @Saenchaithailand. The guy is hilarious and incredible to watch.