Paul Metayo (Pon in Thai), provides Muaythai classes, which are similar to a boxing regimen, with the addition of elbows, knees, clinches, and kicks into the practice activities.

Muaythai is well known in Laos, Cambodia, and especially in Thailand where both private organizations and the government support the sport to be a national sport, and to expand it to the rest of the world.

Muaythai is developed from Muay boran.  The word Muay means boxing in Thai, and boran means old, old kind,
or in the old society.  Muay boran means Muaythai in the past before 1913.  Beginning in 1913, Muaythai has adopted
English boxing regulations by using a referee in the ring, boxing gloves, three judges, a set number of rounds, a set of rounds, and how fighters should fight.  The ground techniques and wrestling parts were cut off. In the past, Muay boran fighters or old style Muaythai fighters had to fight until one fighter surrendered, was injured, or death occurred, a lot of the time fighters didn't want to give up, so they fight to death.  As a result, it became war instead of sport. This affected their
family and property. There were no referees, judges, ring, gloves, etc.  Therefore, the fighters had to fight on the ground, lock joints, legs, arm, throwing, and every thing go as you can see parts of it in Mixed Martial Arts fights now.

When Muaythai officials adopted English boxing rules, the ground fighting was cut off, so the the audience could see the fighters actions in the ring better without resting on the ground, and based on the English boxing rules, the referee has to break up the
fight when one opponent is down on the ground, and does the 8 count to let the down fighter get a chance to get up and fight again.

However, I am not a historian, please search Muaythai history for yourself, and please come by our new style Muaythai gym and see it for yourself. You are the judge and patron.

Thank you,

Paul Metayo