Muay thai words · Beginner

The combat sport of Thailand, fought with punches, kicks, knees and elbows, often called "the art of eight limbs". In IFMA contests two athletes from different nations meet in a ring, and each nation enters one athlete per division.

The world governing body for amateur Muay Thai. All competitions must be sanctioned by IFMA or a federation under it.

The full-contact discipline under the full IFMA rules, the top level of international competition.

The ritual of homage every athlete performs before the first round, wearing the Mongkon and bowing to the canvas three times, to Muay Thai music. In preliminary contests it lasts at most 2 minutes. It is also a separate solo performance competition.

Set by year of birth, using the age reached by 31 December: U8 to U16 in two-year bands, U18 (16 and 17), U24 (18 to 23), Elite (18 to 40) and Masters from 35. An athlete enters one pathway per competition.

Divisions by body weight. Elite and U24 men run from 45 to over 91 kg in 14 classes (45 kg only at some multi-sport events); women from 45 to over 75 kg in 11. Youth groups have lighter classes.

Every contest has three rounds. Elite and U24 rounds last 3 minutes with a 1-minute rest; youth and older masters groups have shorter rounds. Time stopped for warnings or kit is not counted, and no extra round is given.

A square ring 6 to 6.5 m inside the ropes, 1.2 to 1.5 m off the ground, with four ropes and a padded canvas floor. The corners are red, blue and two white neutral corners.

IFMA-approved 10-ounce gloves in red or blue; both athletes in a contest wear identical gloves.

A compulsory IFMA-approved head guard without cheek, chin or face protection, put on only after the Wai Kru and handshake.

A fitted mouthguard, not red or pink, worn every round. Spitting it out on purpose is a foul.

A punch, kick, knee or elbow struck with force and intent to cause an effect. One score is given for each one that lands on a target without being blocked and without breaking the rules.

Each round is scored on its own: the better athlete gets 10 and the other 9, 8 or 7, by the margin. A warning the judges agree with costs a point.

The decision when a contest goes the distance: the athlete chosen by most judges wins. A winner must be named in every tournament contest.

A win when the referee ends the fight: for safety when an athlete is taking too much punishment (RSCS), injury (RSCI), a hard head strike (RSCH) or a hard body strike (RSCB).

A win when a knocked-down athlete cannot carry on by the count of ten (SIB), recorded as KOH for a head strike or KOB for a body strike.

The referee's three Thai commands: "Yoot" (stop), "Yaek" (break, from a clinch, each athlete stepping back) and "Chock" (fight on).

Close-range grappling in which athletes hold each other, usually round the neck, to land knees and off-balance. The referee breaks it with "Yaek".

Banned actions, including biting, head-butting, throwing with the hip or tackling, locking joints, striking a downed opponent, striking the groin or back of the neck and passive defence.

When a strike puts an athlete on the floor with difficulty rising, leaves them hanging on the ropes or outside them, or leaves them dazed and unable to defend. The referee counts, and the fight cannot resume before eight.

The official in the ring who controls the fight, gives cautions and warnings, counts and can stop the contest; the athlete's care is their first concern. The referee does not score.