The Four Different Striking Weapons of Muay Thai

The crowd at Rajadamnern Stadium stands and cheers as a fighter quivers to his knees in semi-conscious defeat after a decisive elbow strike. Here the energy is always palpable and the knockout chance is high. Under scorching lights, two fighters unleash strikes – fists snapping, knees rising, elbows cutting air. The mastery of each striking limb is a spectacle to behold.

While martial arts often rely on swords, sticks, or nunchucks, Muay Thai weaponizes the human body itself. These weapons of Muay Thai – fists, elbows, knees, and shins – form the “art of eight limbs” that have been the pinnacle of combat sports for centuries. Each weapon serves different attack styles and strategies, giving fighters plenty of options for how to land a striking blow.

The Fists

Fists serve different purposes in Muay Thai than in Western boxing. While boxers throw in volume, Thai fighters use punches as tactical setups for their deadlier arsenal.

The jab probes distance and timing rather than causes damage. Fighters use it to measure range while concealing their true weapons – the kicks and knees that end fights. Hooks attack ribs and temples with rotational power. Unlike boxing hooks that rely on arm strength, Muay Thai hooks generate power from full-body rotation. And like boxing, uppercuts can exploit dropped guards and land with devastating precision.

The fist is a tool of deception as much as destruction, and effective hand combinations are used to create openings. Fighters string punches together to close the distance between them and their opponent, then unleash elbows, knees, or kicks at close range. Smart fighters use multiple Muay Thai weapons in sequence, starting with fists. Punches breach defenses, elbows cut through guards, knees pummel bodies, and shins finish what fists started.

The Elbows

Combat sports offer no sharper weapon than the elbow. This bone blade cuts through flesh and ends fights in heartbeats. That’s because horizontal elbows swing like axes as fighters pivot their hips to channel their entire body weight into the strike. Be warned – the attack targets temples, jaws, and ribs with surgical precision.

Spinning elbows, where the fighter whips around completely to generate momentum, create highlight knockouts. When they land cleanly, the lights go out immediately. But it’s clinch elbows that are the most dangerous, as they come in quickly from in close. At that range, where punches lose power, elbows slice through defenses.

The Knees

Knees deliver knockout power beyond any other Thai boxing weapon. When knees connect cleanly, opponents fold in half.

Straight knee thrusts drive upward with astounding force. And to add to the brutality, fighters grab opponents’ torsos and yank down while driving knees up, creating bone-crushing collisions, with the solar plexus, ribs, and face being the prime targets.

Other body shots include curved knee blows from side angles. Fighters step sideways while bringing knees up in arcs, finding liver and kidney shots that hurt, drain energy, and break fighting spirit. Much like spinning elbows, flying knees create spectacular finishes. Fighters launch forward, driving knees towards the head with full body weight powering the strike.

In close, clinch knees become relentless weapons. While fighters control head position and posture, they deliver repeated knee strikes to the trunk. With enough power to stagger, the close-range bombardment overwhelms opponents who can’t escape the punishment.

The Shins

Shins separate Muay Thai from other striking arts. Years of brutal conditioning – Thai fighters kick banana trees, heavy bags, and bamboo posts daily – forge these weapons of Muay Thai harder than baseball bats.

Low kicks target thighs with crippling force. In fact, a few clean shin strikes to the quadriceps muscles can end mobility completely. Fighters generate power from the ground up, pivoting on support legs while whipping shins like clubs.

Body kicks aim higher, for the ribs and liver. These strikes fold opponents when they connect, producing sounds like a heavy stick hitting leather. High kicks target heads but demand perfect timing and distance. Success yields instant knockouts – shin meets skull, fight over – but failure leaves fighters vulnerable. The technique requires flexibility and balance most fighters spend years developing.

“Teeps” use the foot’s ball to create distance and disrupt balance via thrusting kick. While less damaging than shin strikes, they control range and can set up devastating follow-up attacks. Smart fighters use teeps to manage distance before unleashing their heavier artillery, similar to jabs.

Witness the Complete Arsenal of Muay Thai Weapons in Action

The best way to fully understand the different weapons of Muay Thai and how they are used is to see them live in action at Rajadamnern. These are fights dripping with Thai boxing mastery of the fists, elbows, knees, and shins, and no martial art combines these weapons more effectively.

Experience fight night live at Rajadamnern Stadium, where Thailand’s best fighters demonstrate their mastery of the art of eight limbs. Book your Muay Thai experience at Rajadamnern today and prepare to be blown away by the sheer force of the Muay Thai weapons in action.