Thailand
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
It is believed that the Thai people had their own styles of fighting, in each Kingdom a different style. These fighting systems have clearly been evolving for many hundreds of years and have been known under many different names such as "Arwut Thai" (meaning Thai Weapons), and "Pahuyut" (armed, unarmed combat).
Much later, at the end of the Ayuthaya Period, or around the beginning of the Thonburi Period, and after a long history of fighting against the Burmese, King Phra Thaksin "The Great" finally pushed all foreign agressors from the Kingdoms of Siam and with this the Chakri dynasty began. The Chakri dynasty with King Rama I on the throne, marked a period when nearly all of the separate Kingdoms of Siam joined together to become the country we now know as Thailand.
At the end of the 1700's wars against invaders began to decline and fighters began to compete locally, and often in front of the King whch was done to see who had the best style. Because of the rich tradition of struggles and wars, the Thai people developed systematic forms of combat that is practiced until now.
List of Thai Martial Arts
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