MUAY BORAN : The traditional Thai martial art

Muay Boran regroups all the Thai traditional bare hand fighting techniques. It is the sum of the knowledge and experience of the Thai martial arts masters through the centuries. Its modern evolution gave birth to today's Muay Thai.

These traditional techniques are a precious cultural asset. In order to save them from oblivion, the Thai National Culture Commission was given by the Thai Ministry of Education in the early 1990's the assignment to gather and classify the technical repertoire of Muay Boran.
This task was completed by the greatest living Thai martial arts masters, under the supervision of the Honorary Chairman of International Muay Boran Academy (IMBA) : M. Payungsak Jantrasurin.
A complete official technical progression was devised, allowing serious study and practice of Muay Boran by students from all over the world.

The technical progression classifies the techniques of Muay Boran in four categories :

1. CHERNG MUAY : the principles of use of the natural human weapons (hands, feet, shins, knees, elbows, head) and their various combinations, to strike the vital areas of the opponent's body

2. KON MUAY KEE : the ways and techniques to defend (by evading, blocking, deflecting, anticipating) and counter the attacks of the fist category

3. CHAP KO : standing grappling and close quarter fighting using especially elbows, knees, the head, joint locks, throws and take downs

4. MAE MAI - LUK MAI : the fundamental forms of Muay Boran

15 Mae Mai Muay Thai : the 15 fundamental techniques of Muay Thai

15 Luk Mai Muay Thai : the 15 complementing techniques of Muay Thai

Practicing these forms develops four key fighting notions : timing, distance, targeting the vital parts of the opponent's body and using ones natural weapons with maximum efficiency.