People shout and pant tiredly as the sounds of fists and legs slamming against beaten-up pads echo throughout the gym. They kick, punch, knee, elbow, and grapple with each other, sweat pouring down their skin. This is Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, a physically taxing martial art that improves people’s lives, whether they are practitioners, fighters in the ring, or coaches who train others.
Muay Thai, also known as the art of “eight limbs,” is a martial art that emphasizes using more than punching and kicking to fight, according to Arthur Wong, a former Muay Thai fighter turned coach.
“I feel like with eight limbs, you can be more creative than with two limbs like boxing,” Derek Ahn, a practitioner in Muay Thai, says.
He says that, unlike boxing, a person is able to be more flexible, meaning that they can hit more than just the head and midsection of the body. Since Muay Thai focuses on almost every area of the body, it’s a very physically demanding sport.
“I felt that Muay Thai was one of the hardest martial arts I’ve ever done in my life. Compared to boxing, karate–Muay Thai was by far the hardest,” Wong says.
Kimmie Ahn, who also practices this sport, compares it to her experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She explains that the sport is“much slower paced than Muay Thai” and not as taxing on the body.
“Your body takes a beating, especially if you’re getting punched and kicked by other people, while sparring in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is much more controlled,” she shares.
Because it is tiring, practicing this martial art is also a good way to build mental and emotional strength.
“It did give me confidence, as a man, knowing that I could defend myself if I have to. It also made my body stronger, my mind stronger, and those things, for me at the time, were really attractive. I always wanted to get stronger as a person,” Wong says.
Ahn says Muay Thai builds confidence and character because it is so difficult, physically and mentally, and one has to “willingly do it every day.”
It’s a taxing sport, but it develops a powerful mind and body for those who practice it.
Depending on the person, their reason for starting the sport might be different.
“I saw a video, a fight from Thailand and I was so intrigued by it. It’s so brutal yet beautiful and I wanted to learn that,” Wong says.
That was his first peek at this intense martial art, his first inspiration.
Other practitioners, such as Derek Ahn and Kimmie Ahn, have slightly different inspirations. They were Wong’s students and look up to him even now, years later.
“He’s also always willing to teach, which is inspiring. Whenever we would hang out or train together, he’s always willing to work with me, and that’s motivation to be better and want to do better and improve because there’s always something to work on,” Kimmie Ahn says.
Derek Ahn agrees as well.
“Arthur inspired me. I was doing MMA and he came in and beat everybody up. I was like I’m training with that guy,” he says.
For Wong, a few of his main inspirations are the people close to him, such as his older brother. His own Thai trainers, “Johnsanan, N, and Ganyao,” also inspired him as well.
Even famous people are motivated. Bruce Lee inspired Wong to “become stronger, physically and mentally.”
