| Muay Lao | |
| Aka: | Lao Boxing, Lao Kickboxing |
| Focus: | Striking, Clinching |
| Hardness: | Full contact |
| Country: | Laos |
| Olympic: | No |
Muay Lao (Lao: ມວຍລາວ, lit. "Lao boxing") is an ancient combat sport from Laos.[1] It incorporates punches, kicks, elbow, and knee strikes. It can be traced back to the 15th century[2] when it was used for military combat during the Lan Xang dynasty. It is similar to Muay Thai from Thailand and Pradal Serey from Cambodia.[3] [4] Muay Lao was an event at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane.
The bouts are five rounds and each round is three minutes.[5]
The martial art is related to other forms of martial arts found in other parts of the Angkor cultural sphere including Pradal Serey in Cambodia [6] [7]
Traditional style is called Muay Lai Lao. Lao boxing comes from an ancient boxing style known as "Mas Lak Hang". The martial art used to be performed at different festivals such as the fireworks festival. People referred to this martial art in ancient times as "tiger tail boxing".[8]