Muay Thai (Thai boxing, or Thai kick boxing) is Thailand’s national sport. It is a self-defence technique that was developed and tested in battle by the ancient warriors of the kingdom of Siam. A combination of kickboxing and stand-up grappling called clinching, it is often referred to as the ‘art of the eight limbs’ (the arms, elbows, legs and knees, all of which are used to strike the opponent). It is the oldest known style of kickboxing and the most deadly and effective. An adult Thai boxer will usually weigh not more than 55kg, yet again and again when put up against opponents skilled in other martial arts, the Muay Thai fighter has come out on top. Training is intensive and begins young, at six or seven years old, with a boxer’s first fight taking place at around age eight. Their dream, aside from earning money, is to fight in the legendary Bangkok stadiums, Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen, a glory reserved only for a few and watched on television every week by millions of Thai fans. However, they are not ‘for show’, as in some tourist areas – they are real fights, regularly attended by local Thai fans.