Muay Lao

Muay Lao
Muay Lao boxers training during the colonial period
Also known asLao Boxing, Lao Kickboxing
FocusStriking, Clinching
HardnessFull contact
Country of originLaos Laos
Olympic sportNo

Muay Lao (Lao: ມວຍລາວ, lit. "Lao boxing") is an ancient combat sport from Laos.[1] It incorporates punches, kicks, elbow, and knee strikes. It can be traced back to the 15th century[2] when it was used for military combat during the Lan Xang dynasty. It is similar to Muay Thai from Thailand and Pradal Serey from Cambodia.[3] [4] Muay Lao was an event at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane.

The bouts are five rounds and each round is three minutes.[5]

The martial art is related to other forms of martial arts found in other parts of the Angkor cultural sphere including Pradal Serey in Cambodia [6][7]

  1. ^ Trans World Sport. "Brutal Sport of Muay Lao Kick Boxing". Retrieved 5 February 2019 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "Unesco Icm".
  3. ^ Mansfield, Stephen; Koh, Magdalene; Nevins, Debbie (15 December 2017). Laos. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC. ISBN 9781502632333. Retrieved 5 February 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Allen, D. (n.d.). Fighting Fit: Lao boxers kick it up a level on the banks of the Mekong. Beijing Visitor. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from https://www.beijing-visitor.com/laos/muay-lao-kick-boxing-laos
  5. ^ Brutal Sport of Muay Lao Kick Boxing. (2014, July 30). Trans World Sport.
  6. ^ Kislenko, Arne (5 February 2019). Culture and Customs of Laos. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313339776. Retrieved 5 February 2019 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Aves, Edward (3 November 2014). The Rough Guide to Laos. Rough Guides Limited. ISBN 9780241014516. Retrieved 5 February 2019 – via Google Books.