Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and is one of the most popular sports in the world today. The history of Kickboxing in Thailand however, is clouded at best. When the Burmese army sacked and razed Ayuddhaya to the ground the archives of Thai history were lost, and along with them much of the early history of Muay Thai.

The first great interest in Muay Thai as a sport is documented to have come around the year of 1584 under the rule of King Naresuan. The King himself was well trained in the art of Muay Thai and so were his soldiers. Soon the art spread to the public and new fighting techniques began to evolve. Matches were held in every town and village on a daily basis.

The sport of Muay Thai made its way to Europe sometime around the 17th century where it was embraced with open arms. The sport was modified, primarily to outlaw the use of knees and elbows, and given the name Savate. Through the years official rules and regulations were developed and kickboxing has become one of the most popular sports in the world. The popularity of Kickboxing continues to grow today as people of all ages practice the art as a means of staying in shape. Kickboxing is also the premiere art form for striking in mixed martial arts competition.