Muay Thai glossary

Twenty terms, with Thai script only where the spelling has been checked. This is not the full glossary on the live site. It is the set a new student meets in the first month, plus the style words commentators use.

Key facts:

Script we will print: มวยไทย, ไหว้ครู, รำมวย, นักมวย, ครู, ถีบ, ศอก, เข่า, เตะ, มงคล, ประเจียด, คาดเชือก, ไหว้.

Clinch, sarama, muay femur, muay mat and yodmuay do not get a Thai spelling here.

IFMA facts used in the entries were read from the rules PDFs on 10 Oct 2026.

No medical claims, no neck cranks, no fake belt grades.

Terms a new student actually hears

Muay Thai {#muay-thai}

Muay Thai (มวยไทย) is the striking art this directory is about. The name is the one used in Thailand and on IFMA bouts. In the UK, Thai boxing is the everyday search phrase for the same classes. The weapons are the fists, elbows, knees and shins, plus the clinch. A gym that does not clinch and does not throw knees may still be a good striking gym. It is a different product from the one these 671 UK listings are counted as. Nai Khanom Tom is a legend attached to the art, not a date.

Wai Kru {#wai-kru}

Wai Kru (ไหว้ครู) is the homage to the teacher. IFMA requires every athlete to perform it before the first round. The mongkon is worn for the ritual and taken off before the fight continues. IFMA coach guidance limits seniors to two minutes and youth to one minute. A gym class may teach a shorter version on a Friday. That is culture in the room, not the IFMA clock. Skipping it in a bout because you are nervous is not an option the rules offer.

Ram Muay {#ram-muay}

Ram Muay (รำมวย) is the movement that goes with the Wai Kru. People call it a dance. It is a set of steps the fighter's gym taught, performed in the ring before the bout. It is not a warm-up you invent on the night, and it is not a taunt. Different gyms teach different steps. We are not publishing a choreography. If you compete under IFMA, the time limit on the ritual applies to this movement as well as to the bow.

Nak Muay {#nak-muay}

Nak muay (นักมวย) means the fighter, the person who boxes. You will see it on shirts and in commentary. It does not mean you are a fighter because you own the shorts. In a gym it is a respectful word for someone who fights, or sometimes for anyone who trains, depending on the coach. We will not pretend there is a grading syllabus behind the word. There is no coloured belt in the IFMA rules we read.

Kru {#kru}

Kru (ครู) means teacher. Wai Kru is the homage to that teacher. In a gym the kru is the person who corrects your hip, not a title you collect online. Some gyms use ajarn for a senior teacher. We are not ranking those titles. What matters is whether the person teaching the 7pm class can explain a teep and will stop a drill that has turned into a neck pull. The beginners guide lists the red flags. A title is not one of the green flags.

Teep {#teep}

Teep (ถีบ) is the push kick. The ball of the foot meets the target. The hips push. It is not a shin kick. The full drill is on the teep page: knee up, foot pulled back, standing knee soft. A teep creates distance for the roundhouse or stops someone walking in. It is legal in Muay Thai and often legal in kickboxing too, which is why the rules page does not pretend the teep is the difference between the sports. The clinch and the elbow are clearer differences.

Sok {#sok}

Sok (ศอก) is the elbow. It is a short-range weapon. IFMA allows elbows within its target rules. Many UK beginner classes leave elbows until later, which is sensible in a crowded room. We do not teach an elbow to the spine or to the back of the head. If your gym's pad round includes elbows, the pad holder needs a pad, not a glove held up as a joke. The technique hub puts elbows last in the learning order on purpose.

Khao {#khao}

Khao (เข่า) is the knee. In the clinch the knee comes up the middle. The standing leg stays bent. A straight knee up the belly and a diagonal knee are different tools. Both need a partner who agreed to the drill. We are not writing a flying knee. Beginners earn the standing knee first. A knee to a bag is safer than a knee to a person who was not holding you. The clinch page is the position. This entry is only the weapon's name.

Tae {#tae}

Tae (เตะ) is the kick, the roundhouse family rather than the teep. The shin is the surface. The standing heel turns. The roundhouse page has the mistakes: instep slaps, a heel that did not pivot, a head that dived past the knee. Low kicks to the thigh are the version to learn first. High kicks are a coach's decision. A bruised shin can be ordinary. An ankle that will not take weight is an NHS question, and the ankle page has the wording we read.

Clinch {#clinch}

The clinch is the standing hold used to knee and to off-balance. UK gyms use the English word. We are not printing a Thai spelling, because we will not guess one. Inside position means your arms are underneath, so your elbows can work. The break command in the 2026 IFMA PDF is YAEK. When you hear it, you let go. Neck cranks are not the clinch. The clinch page stops at posture, knees and a tap that means stop. Stadium scoring does not come with a percentage for clinch work that we are willing to invent.

Mongkon {#mongkon}

The mongkon (มงคล) is the headband worn for the Wai Kru. It is taken off before the fighting starts. It is not a sweatband for sparring, and it is not a spectator costume at Rajadamnern, though nobody will arrest you for wearing one in the stands. The gym's kru traditionally holds it. We are not describing a blessing ceremony we did not attend. If you buy one, buy it as kit for the ritual, from a seller you trust, and learn when it comes off.

Prajioud {#prajioud}

The prajioud (ประเจียด) is the armband. Fighters wear it on the biceps, often with the mongkon, as part of the gym's marks. It is not protective equipment. It will not pad an elbow. We do not have a catalogue price for one. Treat it as a gym item, not as armour, and not as proof that a pair of shorts is authentic. The shorts page already refuses a fake price. An armband does not change that.

Sarama {#sarama}

Sarama is the English gym word for the music played with a live Muay Thai bout. Rajadamnern's own blog, dated 26 Feb 2026, calls that music the Pee Klong orchestra during the wai kru ram muay, with a woodwind and drums. We are not printing a Thai spelling, because the Muay Thai article we read on Thai Wikipedia on 10 Oct 2026 did not give this word as a headword. The music speeds up. It is not a playlist you need for a Tuesday class.

Kard chuek {#kard-chuek}

Kard chuek (คาดเชือก) is the rope binding used on the hands before gloves became standard. Thai Wikipedia's Muay Thai article, read 10 Oct 2026, says rope binding was still used early in the reign of Rama VII, and that gloves replaced it after a fatal bout. The article does not print a calendar year. You will still see rope-bound exhibitions. They are not the IFMA rule. Do not wrap your hands in rope for sparring. The hand-wrap page is the method for cloth wraps.

Muay femur {#muay-femur}

Muay femur is the English gym name for a technical, timing-based fighter, as opposed to a pressure fighter. We do not print a Thai spelling. The Muay Thai article on Thai Wikipedia, read 10 Oct 2026, uses ฝีมือ for skill in other sentences and does not define this style label. It is not a grade. A gym that uses the phrase should still be able to show you a teep and a clinch. Style labels are commentary.

Muay khao {#muay-khao}

Muay khao is the knee-fighter's style. Khao (เข่า) is the knee. The Roman phrase is the one commentators use for someone who clinches and knees. We are not printing a separate Thai spelling for the whole style beyond the word for knee, because the compound was not checked on a dictionary page. Training it means the clinch page, not a montage. Knees up the middle, standing leg bent, break on YAEK. A beginner does not need this label. They need a partner and a stop tap.

Muay tae {#muay-tae}

Muay tae is the kicker's style. Tae (เตะ) is the kick. Commentators use the phrase for someone whose score comes from the shin. Again, we are not certifying a dictionary form of the whole phrase. The roundhouse page is the technique: heel turns, shin lands, instep does not. A teep is a different kick and has its own page. Style nicknames do not change IFMA scoring. They are a way to watch a fight, not a curriculum.

Muay mat {#muay-mat}

Muay mat is the puncher's style, the fighter who scores with the hands. We are not printing a Thai script for the compound. Mat in gym English means the punch. The jab and the cross come before the elbow in our learning order. Boxing practice helps the hands and does not teach the clinch. The vs-kickboxing page says the same thing from the other direction. If your hands are the weapon you enjoy, still learn the teep, or every opponent will stand on the end of it.

Yodmuay {#yodmuay}

Yodmuay is an English gym word for a top fighter, a champion of the gym or of a stadium. We do not print a Thai spelling for it, because we did not check it as a headword on Thai Wikipedia's Muay Thai article on 10 Oct 2026. It is not a belt you buy. Rajadamnern and Lumpinee have their own championship fights. None of those titles are awarded by this website. If a camp markets you a certificate for a week of training, read the invoice twice.

Wai {#wai}

Wai (ไหว้) is the bow with the palms together, used as a greeting and inside the Wai Kru. You will do a small one when you enter many gyms, and when you finish a pad round with a coach. It is ordinary politeness, not a performance. The full Wai Kru is the longer ritual, with the mongkon, before a bout. Do not worry about getting the gym version perfect on night one. Hands together, a small bow, then train. The coach would rather see the jab.

The technique hub links the words that have a drill. The history page is the timeline. The near-me page is the 671 gyms.

Sources

Thai Wikipedia, Muay Thai, read 10 Oct 2026. https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A2 Checked for style-name headwords. Rope-binding sentence used on the kard chuek entry.
Rajadamnern blog, 26 Feb 2026, read 10 Oct 2026. https://rajadamnern.com/blog/what-to-expect-live-muay-thai/ Pee Klong orchestra.
IFMA ritual and commands. IFMA rules and coach guidance, fetched 10 Oct 2026 Wai Kru before round one. Two minutes seniors, one minute youth. YAEK breaks the clinch.
Spellings printed. Teaching gloss used on this page; uncertain compounds omitted rather than guessed.

FAQs

What does nak muay mean?

นักมวย is the fighter, the person who boxes. Gyms sometimes use it loosely for anyone who trains. It is not a belt grade. IFMA's rules, as we read them, do not award coloured belts. Owning the shorts does not make the word true. The glossary entry says the same thing at more length, and the beginners guide says what to do on night one instead.

What is the Wai Kru?

ไหว้ครู, the homage to the teacher, required before round one under IFMA. The mongkon is worn for it. Coach guidance allows up to two minutes for seniors and one minute for youth. Ram Muay (รำมวย) is the movement that goes with it. A gym may teach a short form on a class night. An IFMA bout uses the IFMA limit. The history page puts this next to the stadium dates.

What is a teep?

ถีบ, the push kick, ball of the foot, hips forward. The drill is on the teep page. It is not the roundhouse, which is เตะ and lands with the shin. Both are kicks. Commentators who say muay tae mean the kicker's style. We do not give that style name a Thai compound we have not checked. The Roman words are enough to follow a broadcast.

Which spellings are you unsure about?

We print Thai script for the headwords we have checked, listed in the key facts. For clinch, sarama, muay femur, muay mat and yodmuay we describe the English gym usage and we do not print a Thai spelling. Thai Wikipedia's Muay Thai article, read 10 Oct 2026, did not give those five as headwords. Rajadamnern's blog calls the pre-fight music the Pee Klong orchestra.

มวยไทย · Glossary

A plain-English dictionary of 305 Muay Thai terms, grouped by category.

Thai spellings and pronunciations vary between regions and transliteration systems; where they do, we list the common variants.

New to the vocabulary? Start with Muay Thai terms for beginners (47 terms).

Illustration: an open notebook of hand-drawn Muay Thai moves with a pencil, tea and index cards (generic, not a specific place)

Search glossaryCategory

Showing 305 of 305

4 oz gloves equipment: /—/Open-fingered gloves used by ONE Championship for Muay Thai. They raise knockout rates and make punches as dangerous as kicks, which changes tactics away from the clinch-heavy stadium game. Also: MMA gloves, Four-ounce gloves. See: Gloves, ONE Championship.
7-Eleven slang: /—/The convenience chain on every Thai corner, a fixture of camp life for post-training food, electrolytes and late-night toasties. Also: Seven. See: Camp food.
Ajarnอาจารย์ culture: /AH-JAHN/Master teacher, a step above kru. Used for senior instructors with long lineages, and in wider Thai society for university lecturers and respected monks. Also: Arjan, Achan, Ajahn. See: Kru, Wai Kru.
Anklets equipment: /—/Elasticated cloth sleeves worn over the ankles. They keep the joint warm, cushion the top of the foot on pads and bag, and help grip on the canvas; WBC Muaythai lists ankle supports as required kit. Also: Ankle supports, Ankle guards. See: Shin guards, Thai shorts.
Aoเอา language: /OW/Take or want. Ao eek means again or one more; mai ao means no, not that. Also: Ow. See: Eek, Mai.
Aroiอร่อย language: /A-ROY/Delicious. Aroi mak is very tasty. Also: Aroy. See: Phet.
Art of eight limbs culture: /—/English nickname for Muay Thai that counts its eight striking surfaces: two fists, two elbows, two knees and two shins/feet. It distinguishes the sport from boxing (two limbs) and kickboxing (four). Also: Science of eight limbs. See: Muay Thai, Sok, Khao.
Axe kickเตะเข่า technique: /DTEH KOW/Leg raised high then brought straight down with the heel. Listed in Thai technique catalogues but seldom seen in the ring. Also: Te khao, Heel-drop kick. See: Te.
Bag workกระสอบทราย training: /GRA-SORP SAI/Rounds on the heavy bag (Thai: sand sack) for power, endurance and shin conditioning. Trainers often set 100 or 200 kicks per leg at the end of a session. Also: Krasop sai, Heavy bag rounds. See: Banana bag, Heavy bag.
Balance rules: /—/A core Thai judging concept: a strike that leaves the striker steady and the opponent stumbling scores; one that lands but leaves the striker off balance, or is answered by a sweep, scores against them. Also: Composure, Poise. See: Scoring criteria, Sweep.
Banana bag equipment: /—/Long, narrow heavy bag reaching almost to the floor so low kicks, knees and clinch work can be practised on the same bag. The standard bag in Thai gyms. Also: Long bag, Six-foot bag. See: Bag work, Teardrop bag, Heavy bag.
Baoเบา language: /BOW/Light, soft. Bao bao is the instruction to spar or clinch lightly. Also: Bao bao. See: Raeng, Sparring.
Belly pad equipment: /—/Padded vest or apron worn around the trainer's midsection so the fighter can drive full-power knees and teeps into the body during pad rounds. Also: Body pad, Abdominal pad. See: Thai pads, Khao trong.
Belt slang: /—/Shorthand for a championship title. In Thailand a Lumpinee or Rajadamnern belt is the career goal; abroad it usually means a WBC or WMC strap. Also: Championship belt, Strap. See: Title fight.
Blockบัง technique: /BUNG/General term for stopping a strike with the arms, shin or glove. Thai trainers call bang! when they want the guard raised. Also: Bang, Bat. See: Check, Long guard.
Blue cornerมุมน้ำเงิน rules: /MOOM NUM NGERN/The challenger's or underdog's corner by convention. Gamblers signal a blue bet with the little finger. Also: Mum nam ngoen. See: Red corner, Hand signals.
Body kick technique: /—/Roundhouse to the ribs, arms or torso. The bread-and-butter scoring kick in Thai stadiums because it visibly moves the opponent and lands on the largest target. Also: Te lam tua, Mid kick. See: Te tat, Scoring criteria.
Body lock technique: /—/Arms wrapped around the opponent's waist. Mostly defensive, used to smother knees and pin the hips, but it can set up a twist and dump. Also: Waist clinch. See: Double underhooks, Dump.
Body parts language: /—/Padmen name targets in Thai: hua (head), tong (belly), kha (leg), na khaeng (shin), jamuk (nose), mue (hand), tao (foot). Also: Hua, tong, kha, na khaeng. See: Body punch, Hands up.
Body protector equipment: /—/Corner-coloured padded vest required in IFMA youth and some amateur divisions; adults in elite divisions fight without it. Also: Chest guard, Body armour. See: Head guard, IFMA.
Body punchต่อยท้อง technique: /DTOY TONG/Punch to the stomach or ribs. Thai trainers say toi tong (punch the belly) when they want hands to the body rather than the head. Also: Toi tong, Dtoy tong. See: Hook, Uppercut.
Boxing Act 1999พระราชบัญญัติกีฬามวย พ.ศ. 2542 institution: /—/Thai law that placed professional boxing and Muay Thai under the Sports Authority of Thailand's Board of Boxing Sport, requiring bouts, promoters and officials to be licensed. Also: Boxing Sport Act, Muay Act. See: SAT.
Camp food culture: /—/Meals at Thai camps lean towards Isan (north-eastern) cooking because most trainers come from the region: sticky rice, grilled meat, som tam and clear soups. Also: Gym food, Ahan Isan. See: Khao niao, Som tam, Gin khao.
Catch and sweep technique: /—/Catching an opponent's kick under the arm, then sweeping or pushing them over. Rules limit how far you may walk them: IFMA allows no more than two steps without striking. Also: Kick catch, Leg catch. See: Sweep, Fouls.
Chaช้า language: /CHAH/Slow, slower. Used to bring a trainee back to technique. Also: Sha, Chaa. See: Reo.
Chanaชนะ language: /CHA-NA/To win. Phae is to lose and samoe is a draw. Also: Chanak. See: Phae, Draw.
Channel 7 Stadiumสนามมวยช่อง 7 institution: /—/Free-entry stadium beside the Channel 7 television studios near Chatuchak, Bangkok, staging televised Sunday afternoon fights. Its titles rank just behind Lumpinee and Rajadamnern. Also: Channel 7 Boxing Stadium, Muay Thai 7 See. See: Rajadamnern Stadium, Omnoi Stadium.
Chao mueเจ้ามือ slang: /JOW MEW/The bookmaker or bet-holder who matches wagers between gamblers in the stands. Also: Bookmaker. See: Sian muay, Gambling.
Chap khoจับคอ technique: /JAP KAW/Literally grab the neck: the Thai term for clinching. It covers the whole stand-up grappling phase where fighters fight for head and arm control to land knees, elbows and sweeps. Also: Jab kho, Djab ko. See: Clinch, Plum, Muay Khao.
Checkบัง technique: /—/Lifting the shin to block an incoming roundhouse so it lands shin-on-shin instead of on the thigh or ribs. The basic defence against kicks. Also: Shin block, Bang. See: Low kick, Block.
Chingฉิ่ง culture: /CHING/Small thick brass finger cymbals that keep time in the sarama ensemble. Also: Ching cymbals. See: Sarama.
Chokชก technique: /CHOK/To box or punch. It is also the referee's command to resume fighting after a break, and appears in the send-off phrase chok dee (good luck). Also: Chock. See: Mat, Chok dee, Yut.
Chok deeโชคดี language: /CHOK DEE/Good luck. The standard send-off before a fight and a common farewell. Also: Chok dii, Good luck. See: Chok, Dee.
Clinchจับคอ technique: /—/Close-range grappling phase where fighters control the head, neck and arms to land knees, elbows and sweeps. Judges reward the fighter who dominates position; referees break it when it stalls. Also: Chap kho, Plum fighting. See: Chap kho, Plum, Sweep, Muay Khao.
Clinch drills training: /—/Timed rounds of live clinch wrestling with a partner, usually with no strikes or only light knees. Thai gyms do this daily; it is where Muay Khao skills are built. Also: Clinching, Clinch rounds. See: Clinch, Plum, Muay Khao.
Conditioning training: /—/Hardening the body for impact: kicking the bag and pads to toughen the shins, and press-ups, sit-ups and knee drills at the end of a session. Also: Body conditioning, Shin conditioning. See: Bag work, Check.
Counter technique: /—/Striking immediately after, or during, the opponent's attack. Technical fighters (Muay Femur) build whole games on countering. Also: Counter-strike. See: Muay Femur, Feint.
Crossหมัดตรง technique: /—/Rear-hand straight punch thrown with hip rotation. Typically paired with a kick or knee in Thai combinations. Also: Rear straight, Mat trong. See: Jab, Mat trong.
Cross-face technique: /—/Forearm driven across the opponent's face or jaw to turn their head and break their posture in the clinch. Also: Cross face. See: Clinch, Frame.
Damage rules: /—/Judges look for visible effect: a fighter buckled, winded, cut or knocked down. Under ONE rules damage is the first criterion after knockdowns; in the stadiums it sits alongside balance and dominance. Also: Effect, Visible effect. See: Scoring criteria, Knockdown.
Decision rules: /—/A result decided on the judges' cards when the bout goes the distance. Announced as unanimous, split or majority; a draw is possible in most rule sets. Also: Points win, Judges' decision. See: Unanimous decision, Split decision, Draw.
Deeดี language: /DEE/Good. Dee mak is very good, the padman's highest praise, and mai dee is not good. Also: Dii, Dee mak. See: Suay, Chok dee.
Dernเดิน language: /DERN/Walk. On the pads it means walk forward and pressure; dern dern is keep coming. Also: Doen, Dern dern. See: Thoi, Muay Bouk.
Disqualification rules: /—/Removal from the bout for serious or repeated fouls, giving the opponent the win. Also: DQ. See: Fouls, Referee.
Double underhooks technique: /—/Both arms threaded under the opponent's armpits to lift and control the torso, opening the ribs for knees or setting up a turn. Also: Body clinch, Under-arm control. See: Clinch, Body lock.
Drawเสมอ rules: /SA-MER/A bout with no winner on the cards. Relatively rare in Thai stadium judging, which is expected to find a winner. Also: Samoe, Tie. See: Decision.
Dump technique: /—/Sending the opponent to the canvas from the clinch by turning and snapping their head and shoulders while stepping through. A well-timed dump scores as a sign of dominance. Also: Throw, Clinch throw, Off-balance. See: Sweep, Clinch, Scoring criteria.
Eekอีก language: /EEK/Again, more. Shouted after a good strike to demand a repeat. Also: Ik, Ao eek. See: Ao.
Eight count rules: /—/The referee's mandatory count to eight after a knockdown before allowing the bout to resume, used to check the fighter can continue. Also: Standing eight count, Count of eight. See: Knockdown, Knockout.
Elbow pads equipment: /—/Soft sleeves over the elbows, mandatory in IFMA amateur competition to reduce cuts, and used in some gyms for sparring. Also: Elbow guards. See: Head guard, Shin guards.
Entertainment Muay Thai culture: /—/Newer TV-oriented format pioneered by promotions such as Max Muay Thai and adopted in variations by ONE and RWS: three rounds, judging that rewards aggression and damage, and fewer clinch stalls. Also: Three-round Muay Thai, Modern rules. See: Stadium Muay Thai, Max Muay Thai, ONE Championship, RWS.
Face teep technique: /—/Push kick to the opponent's face. Beyond the physical effect it carries a cultural sting, because the foot to the face is a deliberate insult in Thai culture. Also: Teep to the face, Thip na. See: Thip, Trash talk.
Farangฝรั่ง language: /FA-RUNG/Westerner. Neutral in most contexts; also the Thai word for guava. Also: Falang. See: Nak Muay Farang.
Feint technique: /—/A deliberately incomplete strike or step that draws a reaction, opening a real strike elsewhere. Thai fighters feint heavily with the teep and lead leg. Also: Fake. See: Counter, Question-mark kick.
Fifth round rules: /—/In stadium Muay Thai the final round frequently slows down: the fighter ahead protects the lead and the one behind may accept the loss, reflecting judging that weighs the whole fight rather than each round equally. Also: Coasting round, Round five. See: Five rounds, Scoring criteria.
Fight camp training: /—/The period of focused preparation before a bout. In Thailand it doubles as the word for the gym itself, since fighters live and train on site. Also: Camp, Training camp. See: Khai muay, Weight cut.
Fight fixedล้มมวย slang: /LOM MOO-AY/Lom muay, literally to topple boxing, is the Thai term for throwing a fight for gambling money. It is a criminal matter under the Boxing Act and a persistent scandal in the stadiums. Also: Lom muay, Thrown fight. See: Gambling, Boxing Act 1999.
Fight night training: /—/The day of the bout. Typical Thai routine: weigh in the morning or the day before, rest, eat, light shadowboxing, then wrap and oil at the venue. Also: Fight day. See: Weigh-in, Nam man muay.
Five rounds rules: /—/The traditional professional format: five three-minute rounds. The first round is often a slow feeling-out phase, rounds three and four decide the fight, and the fifth may coast if the result is clear. Also: 5x3, Full rules. See: Round, Stadium Muay Thai, Fifth round.
Focus mitts equipment: /—/Small hand-held pads for punching speed and accuracy. Thai camps use them less than Thai pads but reach for them when working boxing. Also: Focus pads, Hand pads. See: Thai pads, Pad work.
Fouls rules: /—/Actions that draw warnings, point deductions or disqualification. Common to all Muay Thai rule sets: head-butts, biting, eye gouging, groin and spine strikes, striking a downed opponent, holding the ropes, judo-style hip throws, leg hooks and joint locks. Also: Illegal techniques, Prohibited techniques. See: Hip throw, Sweep, Referee, Disqualification.
Frame technique: /—/Using a straight forearm or hand on the opponent's shoulder, chest or bicep to create space and stop them closing into the plum. Also: Framing, Long guard clinch defence. See: Long guard, Clinch.
Gamblingการพนัน culture: /—/Betting is woven into stadium Muay Thai: odds shift round by round via hand signals, and the money shapes matchmaking and even fighters' pacing. Officially it is tolerated inside the stadiums rather than licensed. Also: Stadium betting. See: Sian muay, Hand signals, Kha yai.
Gin khaoกินข้าว language: /GIN KOW/Eat, literally eat rice. Shouted round the camp when food is ready. Also: Kin khao, Eat. See: Khao, Camp food.
Gin namกินน้ำ language: /GIN NUM/Drink water. The trainer's cue for a water break between rounds. Also: Kin nam, Drink water. See: Phak.
Glovesนวม equipment: /NOO-AM/Thai-style gloves are shorter in the cuff than boxing gloves with a more open palm for clinching. Pro bouts use 8 oz up to welterweight and 10 oz above; IFMA amateurs use 10 oz; training gloves run 12 to 16 oz. Also: Nuam, Boxing gloves. See: 4 oz gloves, Hand wraps, Kard chuek.
Groin guardกระจับ equipment: /GRA-JUP/Protective cup worn under the shorts. Thai fighters favour a hard steel cup held on with cord, tied at the hips, rather than a jockstrap-style cup. Also: Krachap, Steel cup. See: Thai shorts, Groin strike.
Groin strike rules: /—/Illegal strike below the belt. Under IFMA the hit fighter gets up to three minutes to recover; refusal to continue after that hands the win to the opponent. Also: Low blow. See: Fouls, Groin guard.
Gym name culture: /—/Thai fighters fight under a ring name plus their camp's name, so the camp is advertised with every result. Prefixes such as Sit (student of), Sor and Por are abbreviations that precede the camp owner's name. Also: Ring name, Camp suffix. See: Khai muay, Sit, Sor.
Gym rat slang: /—/Someone who practically lives at the gym. In Thailand the term fits the long-stay foreigners who train two sessions a day for months. Also: Lifer. See: Nak Muay Farang, Fight camp.
Haห้า language: /HAH/Five (5). Also: Haa. See: Thai counting.
Hand signals slang: /—/Gestures that carry stadium bets across the crowd: palm down for the favourite, palm up for the underdog, fingers for the odds, thumb for red and little finger for blue. Also: Betting signals. See: Gambling, Red corner, Blue corner.
Hand wrapsผ้าพันมือ equipment: /PAH PUN MEW/Cloth bandages wound around the hands and wrists under the gloves. WBC Muaythai limits them to six metres per hand; Thai cornermen often add tape over the knuckles for fights. Also: Pha phan mue, Pad meu, Wraps. See: Gloves.
Hands upมือ training: /MEW/Trainer's reminder to keep the guard high. In Thai the single word mue (hands) shouted from the pads means the same thing. Also: Mue, Meuu. See: High guard, Sung.
Hanuman Thawai Waenหนุมานถวายแหวน culture: /HA-NU-MAHN TA-WHY WAIRN/A Luk Mai technique: a double uppercut under the chin, named after the monkey god Hanuman presenting a ring in the Ramakien epic. Also: Hanuman offers the ring. See: Luk Mai, Uppercut.
Head guard equipment: /—/Padded helmet required in IFMA amateur bouts, worn without cheek or chin protection and removed before the decision is announced. Not used in professional Muay Thai. Also: Headgear. See: IFMA, Elbow pads, Body protector.
Head kick technique: /—/Roundhouse to the head or neck. High-risk, high-reward: a clean one often ends the fight, but a missed one leaves the kicker off balance. Also: High kick, Te hua. See: Te tat, Kradot te.
Heavy bagกระสอบทราย equipment: /GRA-SORP SAI/Generic hanging bag for power work. Thai gyms hang rows of them outdoors under a roof; the Thai name means sand sack. Also: Krasop sai, Punch bag. See: Banana bag, Bag work.
High guard technique: /—/Both gloves held at the temples with elbows tucked. Solid against punches and elbows but leaves the body open to knees and kicks. Also: Tight guard, Boxing guard. See: Long guard, Block.
Hip throw technique: /—/Loading the opponent over the hip to throw them, as in judo. Prohibited under IFMA, WBC Muaythai and most stadium rules; only balance-based sweeps and dumps are allowed. Also: Judo throw, Illegal throw. See: Fouls, Sweep, Dump.
Hokหก language: /HOK/Six (6). Also: Hohk. See: Thai counting.
Hong Hernหงส์เหิน culture: /HONG HERN/A Ram Muay style named for a soaring swan, performed with outstretched arms and turns towards each side of the ring. Also: Hongsa hern, Soaring swan. See: Ram Muay.
Hookหมัดเหวี่ยงสั้น technique: /MUT WEE-ANG SUN/Short arcing punch to the head or body. The Thai name means short swinging fist. Also: Mat wiang san, Mat tawad. See: Overhand, Mat.
IFMA institution: /IF-MA/The world governing body for amateur muaythai, founded in 1993 and based in Bangkok and Lausanne. Runs world championships and the World Games event under three-round rules with protective gear, and holds IOC recognition. Also: International Federation of Muaythai Associations. See: Sanctioning body, Khan, WMC.
Injection slang: /—/Cash pooled by gamblers and handed to a fighter who wins them money, often worth more than the official purse. Also: Tip, Gambler's bonus. See: Purse, Sian muay.
Jabหมัดแย็บ technique: /JAB / MUT YEP/Lead-hand straight punch. In Muay Thai it is more of a range-finder and set-up for kicks than a scoring blow, because judges weight punches lightly unless they cause visible damage. Also: Mat yaep, Mat na. See: Mat trong, Cross, Scoring criteria.
Jai yenใจเย็น language: /JAI YEN/Calm down, keep a cool heart. Said to fighters who rush or lose their temper. Also: Jai yen yen, Cool heart. See: Sabai.
Jetเจ็ด language: /JET/Seven (7). Also: Jed, Chet. See: Thai counting.
Jorakhe fat hangจระเข้ฟาดหาง technique: /JOR-A-KAY FAHT HAHNG/Spinning heel kick named after a crocodile swinging its tail. Listed among the fifteen Mae Mai of Muay Boran and occasionally seen as a showpiece in modern bouts. Also: Jarake fad hang, Crocodile whips its tail. See: Mae Mai, Te klap lang.
Judgeกรรมการ rules: /GUM-MA-GAHN/Official scoring the bout from ringside. WBC Muaythai and stadium bouts use three judges; IFMA amateur events use five. Thai kammakan covers both judges and the referee. Also: Kammakan, Ringside judge. See: Referee, Ten-point must.
Kaeoก้าว language: /GOW/Step. A padman calling kaeo wants the trainee to step in before striking. Also: Gaow. See: Dern.
Kaoเก้า language: /GOW/Nine (9). Sounds close to khao (knee), so listen for context on the pads. Also: Gao, Gaao. See: Thai counting.
Kard chuekคาดเชือก culture: /KAHT CHEU-AK/Fighting with hands bound in hemp rope instead of gloves, the pre-1930s norm. Gloves became compulsory after a ring death in the late 1920s; modern rope-bound bouts on promotions such as Thai Fight use thin gloves under the rope. Also: Kaad chuek, Khat chueak, Muay kard chuek. See: Muay Boran, Thai Fight, Gloves.
Kha manฆ่ามัน language: /KAH MUN/Kill it, finish it. Aggressive corner shout when the opponent is hurt; not literal. Also: Ka man. See: Dern.
Kha yaiขาใหญ่ slang: /KAH YAI/Big legs: the heaviest-betting gamblers who effectively act as the house, watching weigh-ins and setting opening odds. Also: Big legs. See: Sian muay, Gambling.
Khai muayค่ายมวย culture: /KYE MOO-AY/A Muay Thai camp or gym. Thai camps are residential: fighters live, eat and train there and often take the camp name as their surname. Also: Kai muay, Muay Thai camp. See: Gym name, Nak Muay, Fight camp.
Khanขั้น training: /KUN/Graded rank levels used by IFMA and Thai teaching bodies to structure a Muay Thai syllabus, similar in purpose to belts in other martial arts. Traditional Thai gyms do not use them; fight records matter instead. Also: Khan grading, Khan level. See: IFMA, Kru.
Khaoเข่า technique: /KOW/Knee, and the knee strike. Knees score heavily in Thai stadium judging, especially from the clinch, and define the Muay Khao archetype. Also: Kao, Kow, Khow. See: Khao trong, Muay Khao, Clinch.
Khao (rice)ข้าว language: /KOW/Rice, and by extension a meal. Khao pad is fried rice, khao niao sticky rice. Also: Kao, Khao. See: Khao niao, Khao pad, Gin khao.
Khao chiangเข่าเฉียง technique: /KOW CHEE-ANG/Knee angled inward on a diagonal, landing on the ribs or around a guarding arm. Also: Diagonal knee. See: Khao, Khao trong.
Khao kaengข้าวแกง culture: /KOW GANG/Rice served with your choice of pre-cooked curries from trays, the cheapest sit-down meal near most gyms. Also: Curry rice, Rice and curry shop. See: Khao.
Khao khongเข่าโค้ง technique: /KOW KOHNG/Knee that curves in from the side, used when the opponent covers the centre line in the clinch. Also: Curving knee, Round knee. See: Khao, Khao tat.
Khao loiเข่าลอย technique: /KOW LOY/Flying or jumping knee, launched off one or both feet at the head or chest. Also: Flying knee, Kao loy. See: Khao, Kradot.
Khao niaoข้าวเหนียว culture: /KOW NEE-OW/Glutinous rice steamed in a bamboo basket, the Isan staple eaten by hand with grilled meat. Also: Sticky rice, Khao neow. See: Camp food, Moo ping.
Khao padข้าวผัด culture: /KOW PUT/Fried rice, the safe post-training order at any roadside stall. Also: Fried rice, Kao pad. See: Khao.
Khao tatเข่าตัด technique: /KOW DTUT/Horizontal knee across the body, the knee equivalent of a hook. Also: Horizontal knee, Cutting knee. See: Khao, Khao khong.
Khao topเข่าตบ technique: /KOW DTOP/Slapping knee that lands with the inside of the thigh or knee, common in the clinch when there is no room to drive a straight knee. Also: Knee slap, Khao ti. See: Khao, Clinch.
Khao trongเข่าตรง technique: /KOW DTRONG/Straight knee driven upward and forward into the body or head, usually with the hips thrust in. The main clinch weapon. Also: Straight knee, Kao trong. See: Khao, Clinch, Muay Khao.
Khao yaoเข่ายาว technique: /KOW YAO/Long-range knee thrown from outside the clinch, stepping in as it lands. Sometimes translated as the knee bomb. Also: Long knee, Knee bomb. See: Khao, Khao trong.
Khao yiapเข่าเหยียบ technique: /KOW YEE-AP/Knee delivered after stepping on the opponent's thigh or hip to gain height, mostly seen in Muay Boran demonstrations. Also: Step-up knee, Climbing knee. See: Khao loi, Mae Mai.
Khayoep teเขยิบเตะ technique: /KA-YERP DTEH/Kick delivered after a small shuffle or step-up to close range, sometimes off the opponent's thigh in Muay Boran displays. Also: Step-up kick, Yiep te. See: Te tat.
Khop khunขอบคุณ language: /KORP KOON/Thank you. Add khrap or kha for politeness. Also: Kop kun, Khob khun. See: Sawasdee.
Khrap / khaครับ / ค่ะ language: /KRUP / KAH/Polite particles ending a sentence: khrap for male speakers, kha for female. Also serve as yes. Also: Krap, Ka. See: Sawasdee.
Khunคุณ language: /KOON/Polite Mr/Ms prefix for adults you do not know well. Also: Koon. See: Phi, Nong.
Khwaขวา language: /KWAH/Right. Called on the pads to request the right-side weapon. Also: Kwa, Quaa. See: Sai, Pad work.
Kick shield equipment: /—/Large curved pad held against the body with two straps, used for repetitive power kicks and teeps when a single holder cannot use Thai pads safely. Also: Kick pad, Curved shield. See: Thai pads.
Klong khaekกลองแขก culture: /GLONG KAIRK/The pair of long double-headed drums that set the sarama's tempo. Also: Glong khaek. See: Sarama, Pi chawa.
Knee block technique: /—/Placing the thigh or knee across the front of the opponent's hips in the clinch to stop them stepping in to knee. Also: Knee bar in clinch, Hip check. See: Clinch, Frame.
Knockdown rules: /—/A fighter sent to the canvas by a legal strike, prompting the referee's count. IFMA distinguishes a knockdown (from a scoring strike) from a mere down (slip or push). Also: Down, Count. See: Eight count, Knockout, Three-knockdown rule.
Knockoutน็อก rules: /NOK/Victory when the downed fighter cannot beat the referee's count of ten. IFMA also records KOH (knockout from a head strike), which triggers a longer medical suspension. Also: KO, Nok. See: Knockdown, TKO, Medical suspension.
Kom Krabก้มกราบ culture: /GOM GRAHP/The three bows to the canvas performed kneeling during the Wai Kru, honouring the Buddha, the teachings and the teachers. Also: Krab, Prostration. See: Thep Phanom, Wai Kru.
Kradotกระโดด technique: /GRA-DOAT/To jump. Prefix that turns any strike into its leaping version: kradot te, kradot sok, kradot thip, kradot chok. Also: Gradot, Kra-dote. See: Kradot te, Kradot sok, Kradot thip.
Kradot sokกระโดดศอก technique: /GRA-DOAT SORK/Leaping downward elbow, often thrown off the ropes or a clinch break to bring weight down onto the opponent's head. Also: Jumping elbow, Flying elbow. See: Sok ti, Kradot.
Kradot teกระโดดเตะ technique: /GRA-DOAT DTEH/Leaping roundhouse, usually to the head, used to close distance dramatically. Scores well when it lands cleanly because it shows commitment and balance. Also: Jumping kick, Flying kick. See: Te tat, Kradot.
Kradot thipกระโดดถีบ technique: /GRA-DOAT TEEP/Jumping push kick, driven through with the whole body weight, typically aimed at the chest or face. Also: Jumping teep, Flying teep. See: Thip, Kradot.
Kruครู culture: /KROO/Teacher or trainer. The word descends from the Sanskrit guru and carries real weight in Thai culture; students wai their kru and honour them in the Wai Kru. Also: Khru, Kroo. See: Ajarn, Wai Kru, Phi liang.
Kru Muaythai Association institution: /—/Thai association that certifies Muay Thai instructors and maintains a grading structure for trainers, giving foreign gyms a formal route to recognised kru status. Also: KMA. See: Kru, Khan.
Kumกุม technique: /GOOM/The boxer's hunch: chin tucked, chest hollowed, shoulders rolled forward so the head sits behind the guard. Trainers call it out when a fighter stands too upright. Also: Goom. See: High guard, Stance.
Lean backหลบ technique: /LOP/Slipping a head kick or elbow by leaning the upper body back out of range without moving the feet. Thai lop means to dodge or evade. Also: Lop, Evade. See: Parry, Counter.
Lock slang: /—/Informal sections of the stands where the serious gamblers gather. Casual spectators are steered away. Also: The locks. See: Sian muay, Gambling.
Long guard technique: /—/Defensive posture with one or both arms extended toward the opponent's head and shoulders, used to control range, smother punches and frame off the clinch. Also: Extended guard, Thai guard. See: Frame, High guard.
Low kick technique: /—/Roundhouse to the thigh or calf. In Thai rules it scores modestly unless it visibly damages or buckles the leg; it is a favourite of pressure fighters and Muay Mat. Also: Leg kick, Te kha. See: Te tat, Check, Muay Mat.
Luk Maiลูกไม้ culture: /LOOK MY/The fifteen minor or advanced techniques of Muay Boran that build on the Mae Mai, including Hanuman Thawai Waen and Sok Phuang Malai. Also: Look Mai, Child techniques. See: Mae Mai, Muay Boran.
Lumpinee Stadiumสนามมวยลุมพินี institution: /LOOM-PIN-EE/The Royal Thai Army's stadium, opened 8 December 1956 on Rama IV Road and relocated to Ram Inthra Road in 2014. A Lumpinee belt is one of the sport's two most coveted titles; since 2023 it also hosts ONE Friday Fights. Also: Lumpini Stadium, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. See: Rajadamnern Stadium, ONE Friday Fights, Title fight.
Mae Maiแม่ไม้ culture: /MAIR MY/The fifteen mother techniques of Muay Boran, mostly counters, taught as the foundation of the traditional syllabus. Names are poetic (Salab Fan Pla, Paksa Waeg Rang, Hak Kho Erawan). Also: Mae Mai Muay Thai, Mother techniques. See: Luk Mai, Muay Boran, Jorakhe fat hang.
Maiไม่ language: /MY/No, not. Placed before a verb: mai thoi (don't back up), mai ao (don't want), mai dee (not good). Also: Mai (negative). See: Ao, Thoi.
Mai pen raiไม่เป็นไร language: /MY BPEN RYE/No problem, never mind. Heard constantly in Thai gyms when something goes wrong. Also: Mai bpen rai. See: Sabai.
Mai tong reepไม่ต้องรีบ language: /MY DTONG REEP/No need to hurry. A reminder to set up strikes rather than rush. Also: Mai dtong reep. See: Jai yen, Cha.
Matหมัด technique: /MUT/Thai for fist, and the general word for a punch. Trainers shout it as a one-word command to throw hands; the specific punch is usually added (mat trong, mat soei). Also: Mad, Mahd. See: Chok, Toi, Mat trong.
Mat trongหมัดตรง technique: /MUT DTRONG/Straight punch. Covers both the lead jab and the rear cross when a trainer wants a straight line rather than an arc. Also: Mad trong, Mat dtrong. See: Jab, Cross, Mat.
Max Muay Thai institution: /—/Pattaya-based promotion founded in 2013 that pioneered the three-round entertainment format rewarding aggression and damage. Its stadium burned down in 2016 and was rebuilt. Also: MAX. See: Entertainment Muay Thai, Three rounds.
Medical suspension rules: /—/Enforced recovery period after a bout. IFMA sets seven days after a one-round win, up to 28 days after ten or more rounds, and 30 days after a head-strike KO or RSCH. Also: Mandatory rest. See: Knockout, RSC.
Mongkhonมงคล culture: /MONG-KON/The sacred headband worn during the Wai Kru. It belongs to the camp, is placed on the fighter's head by the kru and removed before the first bell. Under IFMA rules the mongkhon is mandatory for the Wai Kru. Also: Mongkol, Mongkon. See: Wai Kru, Prajiad, Kru.
Moo pingหมูปิ้ง culture: /MOO BPING/Marinated grilled pork on sticks sold from morning street grills, eaten with sticky rice after the run. Also: Muu bping, Grilled pork skewers. See: Khao niao.
Mouthguardฟันยาง equipment: /FUN YAHNG/Rubber guard over the teeth, mandatory in all competition. Spitting it out deliberately is a foul under IFMA rules. Also: Fan yang, Gum shield. See: Fouls.
Muayมวย language: /MOO-AY/Boxing or fighting in general. Combines to make muay Thai, muay sakon (Western boxing) and muay boran. Also: Boxing. See: Muay Thai, Muay Boran.
Muay Boranมวยโบราณ culture: /MOO-AY BO-RAHN/Umbrella term for the pre-modern Thai fighting arts from which ring Muay Thai was codified in the early twentieth century. Includes regional styles such as Muay Chaiya, Muay Korat and Muay Lopburi. Also: Muay Boraan, Ancient boxing. See: Mae Mai, Luk Mai, Muay Chaiya, Kard chuek.
Muay Boukมวยบุก archetype: /MOO-AY BOOK/The pressure fighter: buk means to charge or invade. Constant forward aggression with all weapons, accepting shots to give them. Some English articles reverse this into a defensive label; the Thai meaning is offensive. Also: Muay Buk, Pressure fighter. See: Muay Mat, Muay Khao.
Muay Chaiyaมวยไชยา culture: /MOO-AY CHY-YAH/Regional Muay Boran style from Chaiya in southern Thailand, known for its low stance, tight triangular guard and hard elbow and forearm defences. Also: Chaiya style. See: Muay Boran, Muay Korat.
Muay Femurมวยฝีมือ archetype: /MOO-AY FEE-MEU/The skilled technician: a fighter who wins on timing, feints, counters and ring craft rather than raw aggression. Thai fi mue means skill or craftsmanship; the Femur spelling is a Western corruption that stuck. Also: Muay Fimeu, Muay Fimue, Technician. See: Counter, Feint, Muay Khao.
Muay Khaoมวยเข่า archetype: /MOO-AY KOW/The knee fighter: relentless forward pressure into the clinch, then knees to the body and head. Physically the most demanding style and one of the most rewarded by Thai judges. Also: Muay Kao, Knee fighter. See: Khao trong, Clinch, Muay Plam.
Muay Koratมวยโคราช culture: /MOO-AY KO-RAHT/Regional Muay Boran style from Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) in the north-east, traditionally associated with heavy swinging punches and kicks. Also: Korat style. See: Muay Boran, Muay Chaiya.
Muay Lopburiมวยลพบุรี culture: /MOO-AY LOP-BOO-REE/Regional Muay Boran style from Lopburi in central Thailand, reputed for clever, boxing-like hand work. Also: Lopburi style. See: Muay Boran, Muay Korat.
Muay Matมวยหมัด archetype: /MOO-AY MUT/The puncher: heavy hands, usually paired with low kicks, and a forward-moving knockout-hunting style. Thai punchers often add boxing to their base. Also: Muay Mad, Puncher. See: Overhand, Low kick, Hook.
Muay Plamมวยปล้ำ archetype: /MOO-AY PLUM/The clinch wrestler: plam means to wrestle. Describes a fighter who wants to tie up, control and throw rather than strike at range. Often folded into Muay Khao; one Rajadamnern article uses Muay Plum for an elusive feinter instead, which is not the usual reading. Also: Muay Plum, Muay Bplam, Clincher. See: Clinch, Muay Khao, Dump.
Muay sakonมวยสากล language: /MOO-AY SA-GON/Western-rules boxing, literally international boxing. Many Thai punchers cross over to it after their Muay Thai careers. Also: Western boxing, International boxing. See: Muay, Muay Mat.
Muay Sokมวยศอก archetype: /MOO-AY SORK/The elbow specialist: a fighter who hunts cuts and knockouts at close range with elbows. Less common as a whole identity; more often a trait within a Muay Khao or Muay Bouk. Also: Elbow fighter. See: Sok, Sok ti.
Muay Taeมวยเตะ archetype: /MOO-AY DTEH/The kicker: a fighter whose game revolves around the roundhouse, usually to the body, thrown in volume from the outside. Also: Muay Te, Kicker. See: Te tat, Body kick.
Muay Thaiมวยไทย culture: /MOO-ay TIE/Thailand's national combat sport, fought standing with punches, kicks, knees, elbows and clinch work. Often called the art of eight limbs because both fists, both shins/feet, both knees and both elbows are legal weapons. Also: Muaythai, Thai boxing. See: Art of eight limbs, Nak Muay, Muay Boran.
Muay Thai Institute institution: /—/Training and certification school at Rangsit Stadium that runs structured courses and instructor gradings for foreign students. Also: Rangsit Muay Thai Institute. See: Rangsit Stadium, Khan.
Nak Muayนักมวย culture: /NUCK MOO-AY/A Muay Thai fighter or practitioner. In Thailand it implies someone who competes; foreign trainees are often called nak muay farang. Also: Nakmuay, Nak muay Thai. See: Nak Muay Farang, Kru, Khai muay.
Nak muay dekนักมวยเด็ก culture: /NUCK MOO-AY DEK/Child fighter. Thai children commonly start competing well under ten; IFMA youth rules ban head strikes under twelve and elbows or knees to the head under sixteen. Also: Child boxer. See: Nak Muay, IFMA.
Nak Muay Farangนักมวยฝรั่ง culture: /NUCK MOO-AY FA-RUNG/A foreign (Western) Muay Thai fighter. Farang is the everyday Thai word for a white fo

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