Muay Boran

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Muay Boran (Thai: มวยโบราณ), which translates to "Ancient Boxing", is the predecessor to Muay Thai. Its age makes it hard to trace Muay Boran's origins. Archeological evidence suggests that martial arts similar to Muay Boran have been practiced in several Southeast Asian countries as much as 2000 years ago. These were most likely aided in their development by Indian and Chinese martial arts brought through the general flow of culture into Southeast Asia from China and India. The training regime was probably developed by or borrowed from the ancient military. The aim of Muay Boran was to help a warrior survive a battle after he has lost his weapons (Krabi Krabong); its style is quite efficient, in that it maximizes the amount of damage that each blow can inflict, and effective, in that it can easily lead to the death or serious injury of the opponent. Most notably, Muay Boran emphasizes the use of extremely powerful elbow and knee techniques, and combinations thereof, always thrown at full force and speed, with the intent to overcome one's adversary as quickly as possible, because another one might already be coming close or attacking. Muay Boran styles were categorized into Muay Thasao (North), Muay Korat (Eastern or North-East), Muay Lopburi (Central) and Muay Chaiya (South). There is the phrase "Punch Korat, Wit Lopburi, Posture Chaiya, Faster Thasao" (หมัดหนักโคราช ฉลาดลพบุรี ท่าดีไชยา เร็วกว่าท่าเสา)

Various techniques in Muay Boran are forbidden in present-day Muay Thai tournaments and competitions. Even in Thailand it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a school willing to teach it; they prefer to focus on "modern" Muay Thai, as this is more easily exploitable as a form of income. Today many schools who claim to offer Muay Boran just teach Muay Thai and sell it under the name of Muay Boran.

Traditionally, Muay Boran was not well-known in the West outside a small circle of practitioners. The art was featured in the 2003 Thai film Ong Bak starring Tony Jaa. Tony Jaa has learned Muay Korat (A form of Muay Boran) and Tomoi (the Malaysian version of Muay Thai).