A Thai martial art also known as the science of 8 limbs because you use not only your fist/feet but also your elbows and knees. It's not the kind of thing you would go to be pampered and babysitted. It's supposely "brutal" and thats what makes it practical. "the harder you sweat in training the
less you bleed in combat" said some guy

Muay Thai is usually regarded as a very hard, external style. However, especially because of its roots in heavily Buddhist Thailand, some consider it to have a spiritual aspect as well. Thai boxers typically perform some Buddhist rituals before beginning a match. Practicing Muay Thai is a vigorous workout and produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance.

Incredibly brutal, violent and effective martial art originating from Thailand, originally taught to Thai soldiers as part of Krabi Krabong.

Famous for its mind-blowingly fast and powerful kicks.

Actually muay thai kickboxing is not known for speed at all, but actually the shear power that comes from each blow. If the moves happen to be fast its because a dude who IS fast is useing them. Muay Thai is called "the science of eight limbs" because the hands, elbows, knees, and legs are used to strike the opponent. Anyone not smart enough to realize an elbow or knee to the gut is gonna fuck you up is a retard. Don't believe me? Next time your beating the shit out of someone 30 pounds lighter than you let the kid elbow you in the face or neck before you hit him. He might just end the fight right there. Heres some stuff I copy and pasted from wikipedia, a source that I trust.

Because of the power involved with Muay Thai techniques, fighters do not often block strikes like in other martial arts. Fighters prefer to evade attacks by stepping out of range or moving toward their opponent in order to buffer techniques such as kicks.

Though the high kicks to the head appear spectacular during a competition, insiders of the sport claim that the elbows and the knees are most damaging -- sometimes deadly.

The low kick uses a circular movement of the entire body to kick the opponent's leg with the upper part of the shin. When not correctly defended against, this technique often leads to the end of the fight, as the opponent can not stand anymore after a few low-kicks.

getting hit with a shin kick from a Muay Thai fighter is often likened to being hit by a baseball...

Despite what some people have said. Muay Thai actually uses a lot of powerful techniques. Just people who think otherwise are ignorant. They have kicks that put most martial arts TO SHAME!

A martial arts developed in Thailand, even as a modern sport its very effective. developed from Krabi Krabong, it became Muay Boran and had a lot more moves in its arsenal. the system was based on the fact that if u lose ur weapons during war, u have to quickly dispose of ur opponent becuz there might be more comin towards u, which is why the moves were developed to be so powerful that it can kill the enemy in one strike. The practice was kept up largely by Buddhist monks who were the keepers and teachers of all arts both practical and spiritual. Temples began holding fights during festive occasions. As every Thai man is expected to live as a monk at least once in his life the art grew in popularity among common people, so much so that it was said that any man worth his salt would practice it.

now as a sport it is very popular, and a main source of income for sum familys in thailand. its name Muay Thai basically means Thai Boxing or Thai fist, its sumtimes viewed as an insult if u say kickboxing instead or Thai Kickboxing, though it is forgiven as ignorance is bliss (yet u look retarded to my ppl.. and asia.. and ppl who know about martial arts...)

Japanese kickboxing was developed from Muay Thai, just without the Thai parts (music, Ram Muay etc) and has kept the same moves and principle, famous praticioners are alot of the Japanese fighters in K-1 lol (MASATO!!!!)

it has nuthin to do wit american kickboxing, becuz that came from an american who "learned" karate, ...

Muay - originated from the Cambodian/Khmer number for "one". if you know Khmer, you should know this.

Thai - is a recently new made up name for Thailand in which was adopted less then 100 years ago. They were originally called the Siam, from which the term Siamese cat was derived from