What does everyone think of Muay thai/Thai boxing? I had my base in Thai boxing which is the more western style method and has boxing added for striking where as traditional muay thai focuses more on elbows and knees(in my opinion)and the punching is not as effective. So what do you folks think of the savage ballet?

It's savage! But that's just my opinion.

Thai and western boxing are probably the best ways to get a young and fit person conditioned to the core problem of martial arts training -- in the real world, you get hit and it's how you react to getting hit that makes all the rest of the training useful.

Yes, grappling and throwing are also important and are also aspects of dealing with "being in contact' with another person.

The lack of contact to anything but the arms and legs is what destroys the martial potential of many modern martial arts.

Of course, the risk of injuries and the necessary physical skills limits who can practise such rigorous applications.

I'd say Muay Thai is the most efficient method (perhaps after Burmese boxing) for developing efficient stand up striking skills.

Agree!

Is burmese boxing similiar to muay thai?

Very similar, but headbutts are allowed, as well as any type of throw or takedown (including sacrifice throws).

Burmese boxing is also done bare knuckle.

Also, in Burmese boxing competition, the last round doesn't end until one of the fighters is knocked out or too injured to continue.

Those are interesting to watch, I have a few on DVD that was burned from an analog camera. Another effective stand-up is Savate in my opinion.

Savate is just kickboxing/karate
•••• that tip-tap ••••!
we kick with the shin in Muay-thai....ever been hit with a louisville slugger?
AHAHAHA!!!

Hmmm, because of the bare knuckles, I take it burmese boxing hand strikes may be done rather differently from Muay Thai?

Deburca, why don't you go tell that to Salem Assli. I don't think anyone can take a kick from him.

A good Savate school teaches you to kick with the shin as well as the toe. Toes hurt!!!! I'd rather fight a good muay thai fighter in Muay Thai than fight Savate with a good Savate fighter.

I agree with you on that one backarcher, plus Muay Thai is more about the clinch and using knees and elbows. If a Savatuer fought a Thai fighter, without knees and elbows I'd go with the Savatuer, but otherwise it would be pretty even.

However, it all depends on the individual fighters. I would have to say that Muay Thai fighters are probably the best conditioned fighters, though I would hardly say they are the best fighters.

do they wear savage ballet shoes?

I used to have a savage tu-tu.

Tim wrote: "I'd say Muay Thai is the most efficient method (perhaps after Burmese boxing) for developing efficient stand up striking skills."

Where does Xingyi fall in that list of efficient methods for developing efficient stand-up striking skills?

"Where does Xingyi fall in that list of efficient methods for developing efficient stand-up striking skills?"

As it is practiced by most people today, far down the list from Thai or Burmese boxing.

The reason is not inferior technique, but inferior training methodology.

Surely your confused Tim. Someone with your experience in Chinese Martial Arts must know that there is a perfect form out there somewhere, that will make you the greatest fighter in the world, if you only do it over and over again, and perhaps meditate on it's meaning diligently enough.

I'm convinced your just holding out on us. This sparring business is little more than a ruse. A fad, that will pass, not unlike the fighting experience or challenge match success before it.

But that's good. You almost had us there for a minute!

to me this subject is very interesting, it seems as though arts that express a high level of technique are being drowned out in terms of effectiveness due to the fact that other arts are more simple and effective, combined with rigourous conditioning and competition.
its also funny how people mistake forms for something as divine, because in a fight, a form is the last thing you would think of. i find that forms help to condition the body into a habitual state of readiness, either that or it is to make yourself look good while testing or demonstrating to an audience. knowledge is not equivalent to practice. and dont tell me that youve never faught bare nuckle, used a headbut, a knee or an elbow.

Jason,

I'm still searching.

Robert,

Simple and effective doesn't necessarily preclude a high level of technique.