On 22nd of May, the varsity championships took place at Salford sports centre. One of the most attended events of the day was Muay Thai, a rapidly growing sport in the UK. Originating in Bangkok, Thailand, the sport is now starting to become a household name in self-defence sports in the UK.
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Over the past 10 years the sport has become increasingly prominent in the country.
**data from 2nd September 2023 (https://muaythairecords.com/blog/the-rise-of-muay-thai-in-the-uk)
Because of the large increase in UFC viewership, it has significantly boosted the rise of MMA and Muay Thai in the UK.
Muay Thai’s growth as a sport in the western hemisphere could be partially down to the presence of social media in today’s society. The showcase of training and fight highlights alongside personal progress can entice people to grow, not just physically. London born professional Muay Thai fighter Jonathan Haggerty, is a great example for aspiring UK fighters, being so accomplished while still being relatively young. With over 780,000 followers on Instagram, his significance in the current UK fight scene speaks for itself.
Another reason the sport has gained so much attention is its accessibility. Upon a voxpop conducted outside Salford Mixed Martial Arts Gym with a member of the public who chose to remain anonymous, they told me that, ‘Due to my criminal past, I felt out of place in a lot of spaces. Muay Thai made me feel included and overlooked my past, letting me experience a fresh start’. This serves as a great credit to the accessibility of the sport, as it doesn’t look at who you are, it looks at who you can become. The interviewee continued, ‘Muay Thai gave me a new perspective on things and really helped move my life in the right direction’, showing the potential for psychological growth within the sport, as well as the obvious physical progress.
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The sports increasing popularity in the UK could also be due to its unique full body focus that improves strength, coordination and endurance. This attracts many seeking alternatives to traditional gym routines.
When interviewed outside Salford sports centre, a Muay Thai coach, Jamie Fellowes, stated that ‘I started when I was 14’, proving just how prominent the sport has become in the UK for the younger generation. This is due to the increase of amateur and youth programmes, which open more doors to younger people interested in the sport. Jamie, when asked how he fell in love with the sport, said ‘just how fun it was, learning a new skill, trying new things, pushing myself and challenging myself’. The aspect of the physical challenge Jamie highlights here in terms of pushing yourself hard is one of the key reasons people begin Muay Thai. Towards the end of the interview, Jamie was asked what he would say to anyone interested in starting, where he said, ‘give it a shot and push yourself’. If you’ve ever thought about starting Muay Thai, there’s no better time than now.