Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, is a spectacular martial art originally from Thailand. A special feature of martial arts is the ability to strike with almost all available limbs – fists, feet, elbows, knees and shins. Thanks to the variety and effectiveness of strikes, Thai boxing techniques have been actively used by athletes in MMA.
There is an opinion that Muay Thai is one of the most traumatic sports, with a high mortality rate. But studies have refuted these facts, proving that the number of injuries in Thai boxing does not exceed the average rate in other martial arts.
Despite the fact that Muay Thai is not included in the Olympic program, many regional and international competitions are held every year. Initially localized exclusively at home, Thai boxing began to gain popularity around the world. Last but not least, it has to do with cinema. Consider the most striking films about Muay Thai:
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Ong Bak (2003)
Many movie lovers have learned about Muay Thai thanks to this film. Incredible Tony Jaa demonstrates spectacular Muay Thai moves! In the quiet Thai village of Nagpradu, grief happened – unknown people stole the head of Ong Bak, a stone deity who protects the village from harm. Someone must retrieve the stone head by going to Bangkok to retrieve the kidnappers. The choice falls on the young Thiang, a master of Thai boxing. He will have to face all the sins of the big city and show his best in order to return to the village with the head of Ong Bak.
Ong Bak 2 (2008)
The events of the second film have nothing to do with the first part. “Ong Bak 2” takes the viewer to medieval Thailand, during the reign of the powerful king Rama II. Harsh and cruel times, bloody battles for territories and the strengthening of the state of Ayuthai. Some time later, the city head Ratchasen, obsessed with thoughts of the throne, begins to kill objectionable military leaders who did not swear allegiance to Ratchasena. One of the victims was Singhadacho, whose young son Tian managed to escape. Years later, already matured and trained in the ancient art of Muay Thai, Tian searches all over the country for Ratchasen to commit righteous revenge.
Ong Bak 3 (2010)
Beaten by the king’s servants, Tian is placed in the royal dungeon. Every day the young man is subjected to terrible torture, but his spirit is not broken, and his eyes still burn with a thirst for revenge. Realizing that the guy cannot be broken, the king decides to execute him, but at the last moment, Tian is saved by the inhabitants of his native village. While recuperating at the local temple, Tian prepares to fight the royal black sorcerer.RELATED:
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Tom Yum Goong (2005)
Poachers kidnap an elephant and a baby elephant from a poor family from Thailand in order to resell them in Sydney. Young Ham is sent to Australia for criminals. He intends to punish the poachers, as well as return the elephant with the cub back to his family. Only Ham does not yet know that in this battle for justice, he will have to fight a dangerous crime syndicate. And the gangsters, in turn, do not yet know that Ham masterfully owns a variety of Thai boxing – Muay Koshasan.
 Fireball (2009)
As soon as he leaves the prison, Tai learns that his twin brother Tan is in a coma. The brother’s girlfriend tells Tai that Tang has been badly injured in a specific and dangerous game, fireball, a hell of a manor of basketball and Muay Thai. Tang participated in the games to earn money to get his brother out of prison. Enraged, Tai decides to get to the organizers of the death games in order to punish them, but he still does not understand that it is much more difficult to win in a fireball than to survive.
Born To Fight (2004)
For years, Dew and his partner have been working undercover to capture a dangerous Thai mobster, General Yang. Finally, the police succeed, but Dew’s partner dies in the hero’s arms. Eaten by guilt over the death of a friend, Dew struggles to cope with his depression. A sister, a Thai taekwondo champion, comes to the rescue, offering the policeman a charity trip with other famous athletes to a small village. Dew agrees, but during the visit, a group of terrorists seize the village, and threatening to blow up Bangkok with a nuclear missile, they order the Thai authorities to extradite General Yang. Dew and the rest of the athlete do not intend to give up, and give the bandits a fight, using all their unique skills.
Never Back Down (2008)
Jack Tyler’s family moves to Orlando so that his younger brother can devote more time to tennis. Jack in his previous school was a football star and a bully who never missed a fight. In Orlando, no one communicates with the guy, and in order to somehow integrate into the local society, Jack accepts the invitation of the charming Baya Miller to attend the party. But everything does not go according to plan – at the height of the party, Jack quarrels with local authority Ryan McCarthy, and the latter severely beats Jack. The humiliated guy ends up in a martial arts school, where an experienced teacher, Jean Rokua, agrees to teach the guy to fight without rules, but on the condition that Jack will never use the knowledge gained for personal purposes.RELATED:
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Kickboxer (1989)
Brothers Kurt and Eric Sloan come to Thailand to fight local Kickboxing masters. Eric, the world champion, chooses the champion of Thailand, Tong Po, as his opponent. In a tough fight, Tong Po beats Eric badly, and, despite throwing the towel, cripples the American, leaving him disabled. Driven by a thirst for revenge, Kurt learns the ancient art of Muay Thai from local master Zian in order to fight Tong Po and avenge his brother.
Beautiful Boxer (2003)
The film, based on real events, tells about the famous Thai boxer named Nong Tum. Since childhood, the guy liked to paint and dress in women’s clothes. Despite the oddities, Nong Tum had a talent for Muay Thai. Time after time, he enters the ring in makeup to earn money and fulfill an old dream – to have a sex change operation.