Muay Thai is considered by many to be the most powerful form of striking in the world. It’s fondly referred to as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because it allows fighters to utilise their fists, elbows, knees, and legs during matches. This sport, which holds a special place in Thailand’s heart as their national sport, takes great pride in its technical superiority among all stand-up combat styles.
Muay Thai techniques can be categorised into three main types: attack, defence, and counter techniques. Practising these techniques repeatedly until they become ingrained in muscle memory is necessary to become skilled in Muay Thai. Muay Thai has a long history dating back to the 13th century, initially developed for hand-to-hand combat in warfare. Over time, it has evolved into a martial art and competitive sport, even assimilating into popular culture. While it remains a full-contact sport, the popularity of Muay Thai has grown, with more people now participating due to the various benefits like fitness and recreational purposes and those who compete professionally.
Since its emergence in the mid-18th century, Muay Thai has played a significant role in nurturing exceptional athletes in the realm of combat sports. While there have been numerous accomplished Muay Thai fighters, only a distinguished few have earned the esteemed title of being an all-time great. These individuals have stood out, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
Nai Khanom Tom
Nai Khanom Tom is a legendary Muay Thai fighter whose name has become synonymous with sports excellence. He is also known as the father of Muay Thai. In 1774, Burma attacked Siam and captured several men, including Nai Khanom Tom. At a festival in Burma, the King wanted to watch their best fighters compete against those from Siam.
In fierce competition, Nai Khanom Tom was chosen to fight against the top fighter from Burma. Despite accusations of using black magic to distract his opponent, he quickly defeated him in their first match. The King then ordered more Burmese fighters to challenge Nai Khanom Tom, but they were all defeated one by one. Ten fighters went up against him that night, and Nai Khanom Tom emerged victorious. He exemplified the true spirit of Muay Thai fighting, displaying patience and giving his all until the end.
The King was so impressed with Nai Khanom Tom and granted him freedom, a morale booster for Siam as they had just badly lost to Burma. Nai Khanom Thom’s fight against all odds symbolises the belief that all Muay Thai fighters have. Today, each year, on the 17th of March, Thailand celebrates the “Nai Khanom Tom” day. He single-handedly beat ten Burmese fighters back to back and won him freedom while at the same time instilling fear and respect towards the Muay Thai martial art.
Buakaw Banchamek
Buakaw Banchamek, whose real name was Sombat Banchamek, is a famous Muay Thai fighter from Ban Ko Kaeo village. He started training in Muay Thai at the age of 7 under the guidance of his brother and participated in local fights within his village. His first victory earned him 100 Bahts, which is about 2.78 USD. Buakaw’s childhood was filled with watching fights in his hometown and nearby regions. His brother and father were his trainers and mentors until he was scouted and moved to Bangkok at 12.
He trained under the renowned camp Por Pramuk and won numerous competitions, earning several belts. Buakaw Banchamek gained fame after joining the K-1 Kickboxing World Max Grand Prix, using his Muay Thai skills to become a kicking specialist. He won his first K-1 championship in 2004 and was recognised as the White Lotus, capturing the attention of Thailand.
Buakaw fought against Dutch Muay Thai fighter Andy Souwer in the K-1 2005 match. Although the match was close, Buakaw lost against Souwer. However, he trained rigorously and faced Souwer again the following year, winning with a total knockout in the second round.
Like Nai Khanom Tom, Buakaw would fight multiple Muay Thai fighters per night, often requiring extension rounds. He had a strict regimen and intense training sessions, leading him to establish his own Muay Thai gym in his village eventually.
Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn
Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn comes from a small fishing village in south Thailand called Chaiya. He first got interested in Muay Thai when he observed his brother train and compete in Muay Thai fights. At eight years old, he started training and fighting in Muay Thai and won his first competition, earning 150 baht, equivalent to USD 4.17, which he gave to his mother. He started training in 2 camps in his small village, Camp Pon Pichit and Camp Sit Kru Pan.
He entered approximately 50 fights before finally moving to Bangkok. As a Muay Thai fighter in Bangkok, he was known as the Emperor and fought in multiple Muay Thai categories. He even won 95% of his matches. Numerous organisations awarded him the Fighter of the Year for various years. He is now retired and went into coaching to use his knowledge and success to help other Muay Thai fighters achieve their full potential.
Sagat Petchyindee
Sagat Petchyindee hails from the village of Nakhon Ratchasima. He comes from a family of Muay Thai fighters. In addition to him, his older and younger brother are also Muay Thai fighters.
He started Muay Thai training and fighting at 11 years old when his older brother introduced and trained him in Muay Thai. He later moved to Bangkok and joined Camp Petchyindee. Sagat Petchyindee is a feared striker in the Muay Thai arena and is even considered one of the top 10 Muay Thai fighters in history. Throughout his career, he gained a total of 11 belts.
He was the master of Knockouts (KO), and after a while, no one wanted to face him. He eventually took a break in his career. He attended competitions worldwide in countries such as Japan and the United States. He even entered kickboxing competitions and even won a title for that.
Apidej Sit-Harun
Apidej Sit-Harun is a Muay Thai fighter from Samut Songkhran. He began training at the young age of 12 to support his family financially. Even as a child, Apidej was recognised as a tough fighter and excelled in competitions. Eventually, he challenged himself in more advanced competitions to test his skills.
At first, his father wasn’t supportive of his career choice. However, that changed when he witnessed his son’s incredible Muay Thai skills firsthand. One match stood out: his son knocked out his opponent with a powerful kick in the second round. Then, his dad and everyone else knew he had something special. Soon enough, he was being called “The Golden Leg” and winning competitions left and right thanks to his devastating kicks. He eventually moved to Bangkok to pursue his dream of becoming a professional Muay Thai fighter, and his skills quickly earned him fame and a loyal following.
Apidej’s legendary status was cemented by two incidents that left spectators in awe. One was his fight with Danchai Yontrakit, where his powerful kicks echoed throughout the arena. The other incident was when he faced off against Sompong Charoenmuang, a feared Muay Thai fighter. Despite expectations, Apidej stunned everyone with a powerful kick that broke both of Sompong’s hands. This incident sent shockwaves through the Muay Thai community and the stadium.
Apidej’s remarkable success in the sport is evidenced by his 340 wins out of 351 fights and seven titles. He is often referred to as the “Man of 7 titles.”
Samart Payakaroon
Samat Payakaroon’s real name is Samart Thipthamai. He comes from eastern Thailand. Like most Muay Thai fighters on this list, he learned Muay Thai from his elder brother at age 10. He moved around Thailand and gained experience from the fights he participated in. He finally moved and joined Camp Sityodthong and stayed there.
One of his most significant achievements is capturing four classes of the Muay Thai championship belts in Lumpini Stadium, the main stadium where the professional Muay Thai competition is held. One of his famous nicknames is Jade-faced Tiger. He earned this nickname because he did not get a cut on his face throughout his career as a Muay Thai fighter. Did you know that Samart was so versatile that besides being a legendary Muay Thai fighter, he is also a successful actor and singer in Thailand?
Yodsanklai Fairtex
Yodsanklai Fairtex is a Muay Thai fighter who comes from Nong Bua Lamphu. At a very young age, his interest in Muay Thai stemmed from his brother. At the age of 8, he started his journey in Muay Thai. He underwent rigorous training and finally took on the Muay Thai stage. In his career, he won many competitions and fights. In his journey in Muay Thai, he earned the nickname “The boxing computer”.
This is due to his innovation and fighting style, which is rooted in discipline and unpredictability. Among his noted wins are the 2001 Lumpinee Stadium flyweight champion, the 2005 Lumpinee Stadium welterweight champion and the 2003 Toyota marathon tournament winner.
Have you ever considered learning Muay Thai? It’s a great way to improve your fitness and self-defence skills. Where to learn Muay Thai? If you’re interested, check out Superprof’s platform. They have a wide range of experienced trainers who can help you master the art of Muay Thai. Whether you’re looking to train for fitness or want to compete in matches, Superprof has a trainer who can cater to your needs.
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