Thai boxing is probably the toughest contact sport in the whole of the martial arts and its lethal techniques can penetrate even the best defenses. The west, however, was so wary of its reputation that the elbow strikes and other lethal characteristics were eliminated to create the new and safer sport of kick boxing. All new students are first taught foot work and leg movement as they dictate the range of the fighters attack and defense. It is well known that fighters are extremely fit and have great stamina.
