Muay Thai is the martial art of fighting with one's bare fists, utilizing elbows, knees, and feet as weapons.
"Nawa-attawut" or the 9 principal weapons in Muay Thai include head, two fists, two elbows, two knees,
and two feet. In addition, there are combination weapons which are two shoulders, arms, bottom and outer
parts of the ankle. The practice of using both the principal weapons and the combination weapons in Muay
Thai requires not only hard work, but the proper steps and great endurance.

The training involves rigorous physical training, similar to that practiced by Western boxers. It includes
running, shadow boxing, and heavy bag work. Much emphasis is also placed on various drills with the
so-called "Thai pads". These pads weigh five to ten pounds, and cover the wearers forearms. In use, the
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 trainee. This training is vaguely similar to the way boxing trainers
use focus mitts. The characteristic Muay Thai round kick is delivered with the shin, therefore, shin
conditioning is also done.

Little or no free-sparring is done in training, due to the devastating nature of the techniques employed.
Thai boxers may box, hands only, with ordinary boxing gloves. Another training drill is for two fighters
to clinch, and practice a form of stand-up grappling, the goal of which is to try to land a knee strike.
However, full-contact kicks, knees, and elbows are typically not used in training.