[Ironjim]

I read once that there were different styles of Muay Thai. In your opinion, what is the best style of Muay Thai and why?
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[HankidoHurricane]

There are different schools, but no differences large enough to make a different "style," i think, i could be completely wrong. I am interested to find out.

[8LimbsScientist]

There are slight regional differences in Muay Thai the sport, mostly based on coaches preferences and emphasis.

When we start talking about the barenuckle styles then they are are different styles depending on location. Currently I don't think anyone on this forum has experience enough in the barenuckle styles of Thailand to make any kind of educated comparison.

There are also combative forms of Krabi Krabong, but this is basically a different art.

Basically you have a single style based off of military effectiveness and then over years it branches off in different directions to fulfill different purposes...now you have regional styles, you have Krabi Krabong, you have Muay Thai, etc.

If you are looking for the "best" Thai style, I'd suggest learning Thai, moving to Thailand and start training. Look for the style that is least diluted from the original battlefield style.

Also, don't hold your breath, because its going to take a while.

[asag2]

I also read somewhere that the modern thai army practices a more reformed style of muay thai called lerd rit. I can not recall which site i read it on but as i remember it incorporated a wider range of throws, and also has some locks and ground techniques incorporated in it.

[thaiguy28]

any difference in style is just the particular coaches gym wisdom that he has picked up over the years. some have more emphasis on more knees and elbows and others try really to develop the low kick and improve punching since most of us thai practioners dont box very well it is kind of to fight out of the range most are used to.but there is astyle called burmese boxing that is a little more rugged

[Kinjo]

There are different styles, MT was created from Krabi Krabong and there was different MT styles created from this, a few that are illegal to practice today, at least from what I've heard, Have you seen Ong Bak? A trailer can be found at www.ongbak-lefilm.com he practice Muay Borna and that is suposed to be one of those "secret" versions of Muay Thai, but like 8LS said, the best (or only?) way would be going to Thailand to find out, I think that it would be allmost impossible to find more then articles in the rest of the world. You might even have to look through all of Thailand before you'll find anything, I would'nt know but I will try however

[8LimbsScientist]

I don't believe this is exactly correct. A better way to say it is that Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong share a common ancestor, not that MT came from Krabi Krabong.

Also, those other styles are regional styles of bareknuckle fighting, they aren't called Muay Thai. Muay Thai is the sport version that most people practice and Thaiguy is right, the only differences in Muay Thai are the coaches individual preferences.

The bareknuckle styles aren't really secret like no one knows of them, but they might not necessarily be taught to outsiders unless you win their trust first. Like I said, figuring out what Thai martial art is best would take a looong time.

[Kinjo]

Ok, well I guess you're right,, I just repeted what I've read

[The Axe Murderer]

i don't know this but isn't Krabi Krabong like a weaponary art like Kali,Escrima, and Arnis?

[binhdinhboy]

there are weapon aspects of the art, but i think there must be some hand to hand like the mano a mano in the phillipines.