Like people all over the world, the Thais struggled for their survival for centuries. Their fighting style has evolved from bare hands to the presently well-known forms such as "Thai Boxing" or Muai Thai, and sword Fighting or Krabi Krabong. The traditional forms of self defence have been handed down to the present generation and have become very interesting to foreign tourists.
Ability in Thai Boxing or Muai Thai was considered an essential quality of a King and brave Thai men in general. King Naresuan the Great was a topnotch boxer and made Muai Thai a compulsory activity in military training. Prize money and training camps were promoted by the "Tiger King" or Phra Chao Sua in the early 18 century. This developed the sport into its present form. Nai Khanom Tom became Thailand's first famous boxer who gained his freedom as a prisoner of war by defeating a dozen Burmese warriors before the Burmese court. King Taksin also exerted all his efforts and skills of Krabi Krabong and Muai Thai to fight his way out of Ayutthaya as it fell, and then chase the Burmese soldiers out of the land of the Siam Kingdom.