Muay Thai in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Where to Watch & Train

Their veins bulged, popping to the deep, guttural beat of the kicks and punches pounding against their flesh, their bodies beaten like drums. The last fighter’s purple swollen eye looked permanently seared together—sweat, blood, tears, spit pouring out in a puddle the color of watered down Kool Aid. This was my first time watching Muay Thai in Chiang Mai, and the fights were 100%, painfully real.

Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is a significant part of Thai culture. And Chiang Mai has some of the best Muay Thai camps in Thailand, with many notable fighters from the famed Lumpinee Stadium and Pinsinchai Gym in Bangkok coming to work as trainers. Thus, experiencing a live Chiang Mai Muay Thai fight is an essential part of Thailand nightlife you shouldn’t miss.

That’s why we’ve included watching Muay Thai in our Chiang Mai Itinerary (be sure to check out the full itinerary—it’s a banger).

We also highly recommend you refer to our free Chiang Mai travel guide before you visit—it has literally everything you need to know to visit this northern Thai city.

 

In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Muay Thai boxing.

The combat sport of Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is distinct from boxing. In fact, we’ll compare Muay Thai vs boxing in this post, as well as Muay Thai vs kickboxing, and Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves.

We will also go into where to watch Muay Thai in Chiang Mai: the top Muay Thai stadiums in Chiang Mai to get up close and personal with a live fight.

And finally, we’ll list the best Muay Thai camps in Chiang Mai so that you, too, can learn the art of 8 limbs for yourself.

 

 

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Before You Go

• Arrange pickup from Chiang Mai Airport
• Read our guide on how to score the cheapest flights
• Book your train or flight to Chiang Mai
• Search for discounted hotel stay or vacation rental
• Protect your travel plans with trip insurance
• Check phone plan for international data or get a SIM card for Thailand
• Consider renting a car in Chiang Mai
• Review our carry-on packing list 
• Learn everything you need to know about traveling through airport security
• Pack the right travel cameras and comfortable travel clothes

 

Muay Thai Boxing

Muay Thai boxing is a traditional Thai martial art often considered the “art of eight limbs,” as it weaves together a blended use of every part of the body, including fists, limbs, elbows, knees, and even shins.

The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai dates at least as far back to the 16th century, when it was used both in practical fighting for warfare and in sport for entertainment.

In fact, there’s an interesting tale that marks this moment in history for Muay Thai.

As the story goes, Nai Khanomtom, one of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world, was captured by soldiers of the Non Baung dynasty in the 16th century. He could be released, the soldiers said, but on one condition: he had to free himself relying solely on his mastery of Muay Thai.

With unbelievable strength and skill, Nai Khanomtom blew away the soldiers with his fighting. The fighter secured his spot in the books as a hero and famous Muay Thai fighter, and Muay Thai would continue to play an important role in Thailand’s cultural core ever since.

 

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Muay Thai Written in Thai

It can be helpful to know how to write Muay Thai in Thai in case you need to show it to a local to help you arrive at your stadium or Muay Thai camp in Chiang Mai.

Muay Thai written in Thai is มวยไทย

A Muay Thai fighter is called nak muay, or นักมวย

 

📱Hot Tip: take a screen cap of the Thai names on your phone so you can show locals for help finding stadiums or camps

Later in our Chiang Mai Muay Thai Stadium section we’ve also made sure to include each stadium name in Thai writing as well, so you can show them to your local driver if you need.

 

 

 

Muay Thai vs. Boxing

What is the difference between Muay Thai and boxing?

Whether you’re talking about Muay Thai or boxing, both offer intensive cardiovascular and endurance exercise. There’s no doubt about that. And while boxing reigns supreme in popularity across the world, Muay Thai takes the cake when it comes to versatility.

While boxing only uses fists, Muay Thai incorporates so much more of the body—fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

Another important distinction between Muay Thai and boxing is the use of clinch work, a method in which you hold your opponent while attacking, which is frowned upon in boxing.

 

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Muay Thai vs. Kick Boxing

What is the difference between Muay Thai and kick boxing?

Since both of these martial art forms incorporate kicks, Muay Thai and kick boxing have more in common than Muay Thai and boxing. There are definitely elements of kick boxing in Muay Thai. In fact, you could include Muay Thai under the umbrella term of “kickboxing.” However, there are still important distinctions.

When comparing Muay Thai vs. kick boxing, the main distinction we’ll go into is their different striking systems.

Muay Thai uses an 8-point striking system which incorporates kicks, punches, as well as knees, elbows, and upper body grappling.

On the other hand, kickboxing is a 4-point striking system that only uses kicks and punches.

Watching a Muay Thai fight is a different experience than watching a standard kickboxing fight. You’ll notice far more circling and weaving in boxing than in Muay Thai, as Muay Thai training is based more on a philosophy of patience and waiting for an opportunity to attack your opponent. If you get the chance to watch Muay Thai in Chiang Mai, notice how counterattacks play an important role in a Muay Thai fight.

 

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Muay Thai Gloves vs. Boxing Gloves

Did you know that Muay Thai fighters used to wrap hemp ropes around their hands and forearms? 

And before that, they were bare fisted! Pretty gnarly, right?! Interestingly, boxing gloves weren’t introduced into Muay Thai until the 1920s, but are now universally adapted as part of Thai boxing.

Still, the gloves used in Muay Thai are different than traditional boxing gloves. As we continue distinguishing between the Thai martial art of Muay Thai and the more familiar western styles, let’s take a look at the difference between Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves.

 🥊 While the differences between Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves might not be noticeable to the casual observer, there are two main differences: the padding and the palm design.

 

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Different Padding

The first main difference when comparing Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves is the padding.

Muay Thai gloves have padding evenly distributed throughout the glove, whereas traditional boxing globes concentrate their padding around the knuckles. This has to do with the different rules regarding the different fighting styles.

Since boxing only allows punches, it makes sense that the majority of the padding would be concentrated in the knuckle areas.

Conversely, the Thai martial art of Muay Thai includes a bevy of motions of all kinds that require blocking using various parts of the hand. Therefore padding is needed across the glove.

 

Different Palm Design

The second difference when comparing Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves is the palm design—that is, the structure of the glove itself.

As you might suspect, traditional boxing gloves are more rigid and designed to easily keep the hand in a tightly closed fist.

Alternatively, the more dynamic moves permitted in Muay Thai require a more flexible glove. As we’ve gone over earlier, the clinch work frowned upon in traditional boxing is fair game in Muay Thai, begging for a glove that has more flexibility and grip strength to be able to catch and hold kicks.

 

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Muay Thai Boxing Shorts

Muay Thai boxing shorts are cut for kicking and fighting and can be readily found around tourist markets in Chiang Mai, such as the Night Bazaar.

More Chiang Mai activities to incorporate into your Thailand trip: Take a Thai cooking class Join a Night Market Foodie Tour Get your photo taken in traditional Thai clothing Visit Doi Suthep and Wat Umong at night Experience Chiang Mai on Tuk Tuk

 

Muay Thai in Chiang Mai

Now that we respect and are educated on the martial art of Muay Thai, let’s delve into:

•  where you can watch Muay Thai in Chiang Mai,
• and where you can train to learn Muay Thai in Chiang Mai for yourself.

 

Where to Watch Muay Thai in Chiang Mai

A Chiang Mai Muay Thai fight is an integral part of Thailand nightlife that you shouldn’t miss out on. After all, Muay Thai is one of the things Thailand is famous for!

If you’re looking to watch Muay Thai in Chiang Mai for yourself, here are the stadiums you can choose from:

• Thaphae Boxing Stadium
• Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium
• Anusarn Boxing Stadium
• and Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium