Muay Boran or Muay Thai?!

Muay Boran is different from Muay Thai, and is also less known.

That is because Muay Boran is tougher, more vicious form of Muay Thai and the techniques used are today not allowed in competitive sports. My personal tilt is towards Muay Boran, though of course I teach Muay Thai since it is more acceptable in today's world. Muay Boran cannot be taught to everybody.

Some important features of Muay Boran:

• In olden times, as with my own teacher, Muay Boran was not taught to all the students, but a few selected special ones. They had to have control. 
• It is more of a contact sport, involves more grappling and will take a shin kick with a shin, and free use of body parts, with no fear. 
• In Muay Thai, for instance, as happens with competitive Muay Thai, even though the fighter may be competent in the use of a body part he may choose not to use it, to keep it safe. For instance, he may be inhibited about using a shin kick, to protect his leg, because that could collapse him in the final run. A Muay Boran fighter, on the other hand, will throw caution to the winds, and use every part fearlessly. 
• In Muay Boran, certain techniques, like the head butt, etc were used. Today, because of competitive Muay Thai fights where this is not allowed in international championships, these techniques are not used. Kick to the groin, for instance, also not allowed. 
• Muay Boran has Indo-Chinese influences, and used a lot of jumps and leaps. 
• It also uses a low squatting mode since this position allows for high leaps and jumps. 
• It is an art form of fighting that is dying out since it it not in popular use any more. 

Soon, more on Muay Boran, for u fans:)