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Legendary fighters
In the early 1700s,  King Pha Chao Sua  disguised himself as an ordinary person, so he could take part in muay Thai fights. The Thais say he used to go to village contests and beat local champions at fights. They call him the Tiger King.
Probably the most famous Thai kick boxer in history was called Nai Kanohm Tom. In 1774, he was captured by the Burmese,  who defeated the Thais and destroyed their royal capital - Ayutthaya. The Burmese king of the time asked him to fight Burma's most famous fighter. Tom quickly defeated him, and then fought nine more famous fighters in a row. He won every fight without taking a break.
Thai boxing
Muay Thai - or 'Thai boxing' - is the national sport of Thailand. It has become popular all over the world. It is also similar to other traditional fighting sports in Southeast Asia. For this reason, nobody is really sure where the sport comes from. 
However it evolved, it is very different from the western style - in which only fists are used - or from Chinese martial arts. In muay Thai, fighters use their hands, elbows, feet and knees. Thai people sometimes call it the 'art of eight limbs'.
From war to sport
In the old days, Thai soldiers used muay Thai for unarmed fighting. They still use it in training. But, today, muay Thai is more famous as a sport people go to watch for fun - a spectator sport. Thai historians say it has been performed as a sport since the Sukhothai period (1257-1377). 
The two most famous  muay Thai venues in Bangkok are Rajadamnern and Lumphini boxing stadiums. Fights are held on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Usually they start at 6.30pm. Lumphini Boxing Stadium is one of the only places in Thailand where people are allowed to gamble on the fights. Both stadiums were built after the second world war. Most muay Thai fights before this time were held on small temporary stages in villages.
now do this
1 The Thais sometimes call muay Thai the 'art of eight limbs' because ...
a. fighters use only their hands and feet
b. there are a lot of fighters in a contest 
c. fighters use their hands, feet, elbows and knees
2 Muay Thai stadiums came into existence ...
a. in the Sukhothai period
b. after the second world war
c. in Burma
3 King Pha Chao Sua is famous for ...
a. disguising himself as an ordinary person so he could box in villages
b. defeating the Burmese
c. beating nine champion Burmese boxers
Answers:
June 19
1. a, 2. a, 3. c



Muay Thai