Glossary
Muay Thai Terms & Techniques Glossary
9 min read·NAK LIFE Knowledge
From *teep* to *wai khru*, here's the vocabulary you'll hear in every Thai gym, defined simply.
Striking techniques
- Teep — the push kick. A straight, thrusting kick used to manage distance and disrupt an advance.
- Teep Trong — the straight teep, thrown from the lead leg.
- Kao — knee. Kao Loi is a flying knee; Kao Dode a jumping knee; Kao Tat a curved knee to the ribs.
- Sok — elbow. Sok Ti is a slashing elbow; Sok Ngad an upward elbow.
- Mat — punch. Mat Trong a straight punch; Mat Wiang San a hook.
Clinch
- Plum — the double-collar tie, hands clasped behind the opponent's head. Controls posture and sets up knees.
- Klin — the clinch itself; the close-range grappling that defines Muay Thai.
- DUMP — a sweep or throw from the clinch to score.
Scoring & culture
- Wai Khru — the pre-fight ritual that pays respect to teacher and tradition. Performed to sarama music.
- Sarama — the traditional music played during fights, paced to the action.
- Ram Muay — the fighter's individual dance within the wai khru, unique to each camp.
- Mongkol — the sacred headband worn by a fighter during the wai khru, never touched by the fighter themselves.
- Prajiad — the armbands worn in fights, often blessed for protection.
Training terms
- Pao — the Thai pads held by a trainer for padwork.
- Kaad chak — the heavy bag.
- Kru — teacher. Your coach is your kru.
- Nak Muay — a Muay Thai fighter.
Rounds & venues
- Lum — stadium. Lumpee is Bangkok's Lumpinee; Rajadamnern the other great stadium.
- Khao (round) — fights are typically five three-minute rounds.
- Interclub — a controlled sparring event between gyms; the first step toward competing.
Learn the terms and the gym starts to make sense. Speak the language and you belong to it.