The History of Muay Thai Kickboxing

Traditional Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand as a martial art used by the military. The military style of Muay Thai is called Lerdrit, while today’s “Sport Muay Thai” slightly varies from the original art and uses kicks and punches in a ring and with gloves similar to those used in western boxing.Glen Burnie Muay Thai Kickboxing teaches the traditional art form. Muay Thai is referred to as “The Science of Eight Limbs”, as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A master practitioner of Muay Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight “points of contact,” as opposed to “two points” (fists) in boxing and “four points” (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts. Muay Thai kickboxing has been made popular by the recent interest in Mixed Martial Arts. Mixed Martial Arts combines several martial arts together including Mauy Thai Kickboxing. Glen Burnie Muay Thai is associated under Israel Gomez who is the head instructor and founder of the American Killer Bee Muay Thai association. Glen Burnie Muay Thai will help teach and promote the history of Muay Thai Kickboxing.

Techniques

Formal Muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: mae mai or major techniques and luk mai or minor techniques. Muay Thai is often a fighting art of attrition, where opponents exchange blows with one another. This is certainly the case with traditional stylists in Thailand, but is a less popular form of fighting in the contemporary world fighting circuit where the Thai style of exchanging blow for blow is no longer favorable. Almost all techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, elbow and block.

Instructors

Israel Gomez

Israel Gomez is a Brazilian Mixed Martial Artists and World Class Martial Arts Instructor. Israel has trained several professional MMA stars, including the current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “the spider” Silva.

He is the former head instructor for the famous Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil. Upon leaving the Chute Boxe Academy he along with Anderson Silva and Rodrigo Vidal formed the Muay Thai Dream Team and co founded the current Killer Bees MMA team.

Israel began training in Muay Thai at a young age and has since amassed impressive professional Muay Thai record as well as a Professional MMA record. Israel is considered the Top Muay Thai and MMA coach for professonal combat sports.

Israel holds a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He earned his black belt from the legendary Carlos Lima (Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu) and was promoted to 3rd degree from Helio Soneca (Gracie Elite Jiu Jitsu). Israel is certified by the Honorable Confederation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is licensed to give official rank and belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.

Dustin Groff

My names Dustin Groff. I train and teach Muay Thai kick boxing and MMA striking at Noel Smiths BJJ. Started training Muay Thai when I was 18. I actually wrestled for two years when I was younger, that was my first introduction into combative sports and the first time I ever did anything competitive. I liked it but but being that age I didn’t fully understand its meaning at the time.

Never could fully get into it, so I stopped right before high school.

Wasn’t until after high school I needed and found my new physical outlet. A co-worker of mine at the time told me about these Muay Thai classes he was taking and told me to check it out. I`ve always had an interest in martial arts since watching ninja turtles and old Bruce Lee movies as a kid. So I figured lets check it out, worst comes to worst I don’t like it right? Ive been obsessed ever since.

Muay Thai gave me a new focus and discipline that I didn’t have in my life at 18 yrs old. Honestly that’s all I could ask for at first, I had no interest in getting in a ring with another human being. The thought of that seemed crazy. But after 3 years I could notice that I was starting to miss something. I had these new skills Ive been training for sometime now but nothing else to compare them to outside of the gym. Slowly this competitive fire was starting to burn and I felt I had to challenge my skills.

I fought for the first time at the WKA tournament in VA. It was a tiring 3 round Muay Thai battle, and I came up short on the judges decision. Though losing my first fight, I couldn’t describe the feeling in that ring. I was amazing, and there was no feeling like it. From the entire experience I felt I was able to learn a great bit and I couldn’t wait for my next chance to get into the ring.

I`d eventually get back to competition in the ring at the end of the 2012 year and am currently working towards challenging myself in MMA. But I’m not looking to rush it right now. I’ll keep training and teaching to the best of my ability, and take on each challenge in life as it comes to me.

Muay Thai Rank