Muay Thai, the national sport, is a martial art that uses fists and feet in combination with striking and grappling techniques. Muay thai fighters must be physically fit and conditioned to compete at the highest level. They train hard to develop strength, stamina, flexibility, and reflexes. They also learn to control their anger and focus on the task at hand.

Muay thai fight typically begin their preparation by practicing basic boxing techniques. They then learn how to defend against punches and kicks with blocks and parries. Next, they work on their combinations by practicing combos against stationary pads or other practice partners. Fighters also polish their skills in sparring sessions against opponents who are taller, heavier, or slower than they are.

In order to improve their fighting accuracy, fighters often use kickboxing pads that make it easier to strike targets at a distance.