Thai fights are competition fights carried out as a sport in Thailand and that involves huge stand up striking, and use of different grappling methods. A professional league exists in Thailand controlled by the World Thai Council specifically for the sport. The use of all limbs, that is knees, fists, elbows and feet has earned it the popular title of the art of eight limbs.

Before being a sport, the combat was originally used as a fighting technique in real warfare, before being incorporated into a sport in which the opponents engaged each other in front of a crowd of spectators who gathered for entertainment. Eventually, these muay fights grew into an important part of the traditional celebrations, even at times being organized in temples. With time, a type of match called the muay khat chueak was introduced, in which the fighters were given hemp rope to tie around their hands and forearms for protection.

With the rise and advance of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during the 19th century, many changes were made to the fight. Back then at that time there was peace, and the technique could only be used mostly as recreation, physical exercise, personal advancement, and maybe self-defense. The first boxing ring was introduced in 1921, where referees were brought in and modern gloves and hard groin protectors introduced. These were safety precaution measurements to the fighters.

Later on it was found that, when knots were tied on the ropes on the knuckles, the strikes were more deadly and caused severe injuries to the fighters. This kind of fight was known as muay boran. A fighter was once killed in a ring, thereby leading to the introduction of gloves and cotton coverlets to replace the hemp rope. This was banned and is only available as an exhibition form of art.

The modern one is the one popularly known as muay Thai. Thai fighting is grouped into two: major technique (mae mai) and luk mai (minor techniques). In most cases, about all the techniques require the movement of the whole body, and moving the hip when taking all the kicks, punch, elbow and block.

Various techniques are used for protection against attack. There is blocking in which the defender resists a strike when fighting such that he stops it before reaching him. There is also redirection where the defender wards off the direction of a strike, thereby making it to miss him. In avoidance, the defender moves his body part away from the attacker to avoid getting hit, but in a short range so that he finds space to counter hit the attacker back.

The evasion technique is used by the defender by moving the whole body to prevent an attack, and the later moves it back to counter. A combination of the disruption technique, and the anticipation technique can be used when countering an attack, such as a roundhouse kick before it lands. This helps the fighter gain a positive advantage during the fight.

Traditionally, Muay Thai is specifically made to increase body fitness and toughness that is required in the ring when competing. The training exercises include running, body weight resistance exercises, jumping, medicine ball exercises, shadowboxing, abdominal exercises and weight training. These all rounded practices help the individual fighter a lot.