Welcome to Our Website!

Since 2000, Team Island Thunder has been providing instruction in Muay Thai and the martial arts in the Honolulu, area.

We hope you enjoy our website and will stop by and visit us if you are in the Waikiki area. This site is designed to give you information about our facility, our style of martial arts, our staff and provide you with information on how to contact us as well.

What is Muay Thai?

Sometimes called Muay Thai Boxing or Thai Kickboxing; Muay Thai differs from Western-style boxing most noticeably in its allowing the use of elbows, knees, feet, and certain holds and throws. Because a Muay Thai fighter uses hands, elbows, feet, and knees, it is called "the science of the eight limbs" - although Muay Thai actually involves all parts of the body. Muay Thai also permits a wider range of targets, to strike "below-the-belt" is not illegal.

Altho Muay Thai is generally regarded as a very hard, external style, some consider it to have a spiritual aspect as well because of its roots in heavily Buddhist Thailand. Thai boxers typically perform Buddhist rituals before beginning a match. Each boxer begins by performing the "wai kroo," or homage to his teacher. This is followed by the graceful "rum muay" which is part warm-up exercise and part exorcism ritual.

To an uninformed spectator, a Muay Thai bout may seem like a lawless brawl. However; with all of the allowances, there are certain tactics that are prohibited: choking, head-butting, and hair-pulling, to name a few. Muay Thai differs from Asian martial arts in its use of a boxing ring and uniforms, timed rounds, padded gloves, and in the grappling of sweaty opponents. Two articles of clothing are also unique to Muay Thai, both acting as charms against death. First is a band worn around the bicep throughout the match. The other is a cord worn about the head, which is removed before the bout begins.

Practicing Muay Thai is a vigorous workout and produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance. Practitioners learn about thirty basic techniques, mostly practiced by sparring. There are no forms in Muay Thai. In formal competitions, groin protectors and gloves are mandatory. Muay Thai's brutality is well-known. There have been many matches that have ended in the death of one or both of the contestants. That more matches haven't ended in that manner is a testament to the boxers.

Training is rigorous, similar to Western boxers. It includes running, shadow-boxing, and heavy bag work. Kicks are of primary importance in Muay Thai and the art is best known for its shin strikes. The characteristic Muay Thai round kick is delivered with the shin, therefore, there is shin conditioning. There is also a lot of emphasis placed on performing various drills with "Thai pads." A trainer wears the pads, and may hold them to receive kicks, punches, and knee and elbow strikes, and may also use them to punch at the Muay Thai trainee. However, full-contact kicks, knees, and elbows are typically not used in training. Much of their training consists simply in learning how to repress pain. Muay Thai is so difficult and dangerous that few boxers last more than five years.