They call it the Science of Eight Limbs due to its combined use of a fighter’s fists, elbows, knees and feet/shins.
Thai Boxing, or Muay Thai as it is properly known, is one of the most physically demanding of all combat sports, and later this month there will be another chance to see some of the best local fighters in action in Galashiels.
For the town’s Volunteer Hall will again be the venue for the third fight tournament being staged by local Muay Thai instructor Toby Douglas.
The show on March 30 will boast a 16-card programme that includes fighters Michael Riddle, Conner Pearson, Tony Glover and Ross Miller, as well as a bout between Scottish and Irish champions.
Toby’s club, Siam Dornadair (Siam is the former name for Thailand and dornadair is Gaelic for warrior), which holds sessions at Galashiels Academy (Wednesday); the Gytes Centre in Peebles (Thursday) and Balmoral Primary School, Galashiels (Friday), has already staged two previous sell-out tournaments at the Volunteer Hall.
They attracted martial arts enthusiasts, fight fans and just the plain curious who flocked to the venue to see what all the hype was about.
They were not disappointed and Toby, from Galashiels, says he expects this month’s extravaganza to be the best yet.
“The guys have been spending a lot of time training, including gym work, hitting the bag and sparring to get ready for this,” Toby told The Southern during a break in last Friday night’s training session at Balmoral Primary School.
As loud music belted out from speakers, Toby’s students pounded focus mitts and each other as they worked to ensure they will be in the best condition possible, both physically and mentally, come the tournament on March 30.
“Some of them have fought a few times before and for some this will be their first time stepping into the ring for a competitive fight,” explained Toby, himself a former karateka who switched to Muay Thai after being somewhat painfully convinced of its effectiveness.
“They are all on good diets to get themselves to fighting weight. Although the bouts will only be a maximum of five rounds, we train for three times that many because the old adage ‘train hard, fight easy’, is very true.”
Toby’s been instructing for around six years and, even though he is moving into his late 30s, he is still testing himself in the ring and, in fact, could be lifting a Scottish championship title next month.
“That’s something I’m very excited about,” he told The Southern.
“The event is the UK MF (Muay Thai Federation) and takes place in Fife and both myself and my student, Ross Miller, will be fighting for Scottish titles.”
Toby’s students are a mix of those who want to climb into the ring, those who want to learn self-defence and those just keen on the fitness element.
And he says there is room in his classes for all of the above interests.
Toby already had a fairly substantial fight career in karate tournaments under his blackbelt by the time he switched the focus of his interest to Muay Thai.
That was after attending a class in which, as he puts it, he got roundly defeated by a Muay Thai exponent.
“I was no. 2 in Scotland at the time. But the first time I took part in a Muay Thai event I loved it.”
The Volunteer Hall contest will be a chance for fight enthusiasts to see some potential future world champions on show in Galashiels.
“Sophie Gallagher, who fought on the card at the first show in Galashiels three years ago, went on to win the King’s Cup in Thailand last year, becoming a world champion in the process. So these events are a great opportunity to see some top class fighters,” added Toby.
Selkirk’s Ross Miller has been learning the Science of Eight Limbs under Toby for the last four years.
He admits he does not come from a martial arts background: “I played rugby but felt I wasn’t much good at it and thought I’d give this a try. I love it and I’m really looking forward to my next fights. Toby’s a brilliant instructor, a good friend and a very tough guy who knows his stuff.”
For those students of Toby’s who become more advanced there is a chance to travel once a week at Meadowbank.
“I also show my students stuff they can work on like techniques they can work on in the house. They do a lot of roadwork, running to get wind in the sails, and I also encourage the students to go to other sports.
“Cross training is very useful, as learning techniques from other martial arts improves your arsenal. I learned a lot of techniques from karate that I still use.
“The thing about Thai boxing is it’s an ever-evolving sport. In competition it now sees fighters using western boxing and the legs from tae kwon do, as well as the knees and elbows that are predominantly the bread and butter of Muay Thai.
“To be honest, it’s the preparation that is the hard part – training day in, day out, watching your diet to get the nutrition right, sparring every day, hitting pads and so on.
“Actually, compared to all that, the fighting is the easiest part and it’s also really good fun. It’s the best adrenalin rush I’ve had by miles.”
FACT FILE
The word Muay comes from the Sanskrit word Mavya, which means to bind together.
Various forms of kick boxing have been practised for centuries throughout the countries of south-east Asia.
Originally devised as a practical fighting art for use on the battlefield, Muay Thai became a sport in which bouts would draw large gatherings of spectators. The first written historical record of Muay Thai dates from 1767 and the legendary fighter, Nai Khanom Dtom, who, after being captured by the invading Burmese, is said to have defeated 10 of their best boxers, one after the other.
Once upon a time Thai fighters would wrap their arms and hands in hemp rope and bouts were extremely brutal.
The modern version of the sport has its roots in the early part of the 20th century, when leather gloves, rounds per bout and weight classes were all introduced.
While it is hugely popular as a combat sport, the techniques of Muay Thai, originating from the ancient battlefield, are still regarded as so effective that military and police units around the world have adopted them into their self-defence systems.
Due to its emphasis on body conditioning and fitness, Muay Thai produces not only many of the toughest fighters in the world, but its training regimes are also sought out by those seeking an all-round fitness regime.
And with the success of Muay Thai in the mixed martial arts arena of massively popular fight events like the televised Ultimate Fighting Challenge, it has become the style of choice for competitive stand-up fighters.