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Kickboxing is a blanket term for several combat sports:

 

American Kickboxing: a mix of Karate kicks and Boxing punches, in most rules the target area is only the front torso and head. Several sets of rules: Full contact (to knockout), Light contact, Semi contact (point sparring). Punches and kicks with the feet are allowed.

 

Muay Thai: full contact only. Smaller variety of kicks than in American Kickboxing. Target area is the whole body. Strikes can be made with hands, elbows, feet, knees (head?).

 

Savate - Boxe Francaise: french kickboxing - done wearing shoes (can someone more knowledgeable fill in more details?)

Currently: Kickboxing and variants.

Previously: Karate (Seido, Shotokan, Seidokan), Ju Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Fencing.

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The rules of "Full Contact Kickboxing" generally mean that the participants wear shin / instep guards and boxing gloves and are only permitted to strike with the feet and hands above the waist. In these rules, the fighters usually wear long trousers and no top. You can win by referee stoppage, points and also knockouts.

 

As previously mentioned, there are also light contact versions, which most people call Freestyle Sparring. It is uncommon for kickboxers to compete in point stop sparring, where when a punch or kick is scored by a referee the fighters return to their positions and start again.

 

There are also "Low Kick" rules which allow kicks to the outer and inner thigh area (not to the knees). These fighters usually wear shorts and no top.

 

Muay Thai allows sweeps, elbows, punches, kicks and knee strikes with no protective boots, although gloves are worn. Groin strikes are not allowed. The fighters usually kick with their shins rather than the instep. In traditional muay thai matches, music is played during the fight and before the bout starts a traditional dance called the Ram Muay is performed which is different for each fighter and each gym as it represents digging the grave of your opponent and is used to pay homage to the fighters instructor and his instructor before him. The competitors are allowed to wear buddhist charms on their arms and before a fight will wear a special head piece made from rolled up buddhist scrolls given to them by their instructors which are intended to protect the fighter from harm. Clinching is allowed in Muay Thai where a lot of knees and elbows are thrown.

 

The fighters in a muay thai fight may wear a traditional skirt type thing (sorry, I don't know the name) or wear shorts.

 

There are also other variations on these rules, for instance, you will often see "Full Thai Rules" which means all strikes are allowed, or "Full Thai Rules with elbow pads" for younger fighters etc. etc.

 

However, I wouldn't say that Muay Thai has a smaller variety of kicks than in Kickboxing, you will see hook kicks, jump spinning back kicks, spinning hook kicks, axe kicks, roundhouses and front kicks in Muay Thai just as you would in kickboxing. You may also see a flying knee knockout!

 

Obviously boxing doesn't allow kicks - it allows punches to the head and torso only.

 

I hope that helps.

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music is played during the fight and before the bout starts a traditional dance called the Ram Muay is performed

 

err... what? i didnt know dances were part of this brutal stand up fighting art. :dodgy: do they do this in thailand only?

 

 

There are also other variations on these rules, for instance, you will often see "Full Thai Rules" which means all strikes are allowed,

 

groin strikes as well :o

 

btw: what makes Muay Thai so brutal and effective? what is the belt system like? and how long do you need to train to get of those well-trained MuayThai guy bodys ;) :brow:

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there r no belts in MT, but some instructors might test their students and maybe give away belts...

and how long do you need to train to get of those well-trained MuayThai guy bodys

 

yes, i'd like to know this as well ;)

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I was born in Thailand and did not train Muay thai oh they don't have belt system.

I am still training however, having dabbled in Shotokan and Shotokai Karate. I am please to report that Kenshukai is one of the strongest and most disciplined styles ( i did not write this)

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err... what? i didnt know dances were part of this brutal stand up fighting art. :dodgy: do they do this in thailand only?

 

Without the Ram Muay/Wai Kru, it isn't muay Thai. It's Thai rules kickboxing. Real muay Thai involves the "dancing". Fighters in Thailand are even known to get "magic" tattoos, and put curses on thier opponent's before a fight.

 

 

groin strikes as well :o

Groin strikes being illegal is a given.

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