Ling Lom

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Ling Lom, also known as Air Monkey or Dancing Monkey, is a style of martial arts practiced in Thailand and Laos. Ling lom includes both striking and ground-fighting. Ground fighting techniques traditionally taught in Muay Thai, but rarely used in modern sport bouts, are sometimes referred to in Thailand as Ling Lom, though this is not technically correct.

The origin of Ling Lom is uncertain. Some sources indicate that it developed from Chinese martial arts along the border area between China and Southeast Asia (modern-day Laos and Myanmar). Other sources identify Ling Lom as Indian in origin, claiming that the movements and name of the style stem from the fighting techniques of the divine monkey Hanuman described in the Ramayana (and its Thai version, the Ramakien, and its Lao version the Pra Lak Pra Lam). Many of the individual techniques in Ling Lom have specific names, a practice common to several kung-fu(monkey styles).

Muay Boran is said to have split from Ling Lom in the 1700s. Some of the techniques displayed by Tony Jaa in the popular Thai martial arts film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior are taken from Ling Lom.