Muay Thai in Brazil

Muaythai in Brazil

By Guilherme Bringel


Muay Thai was introduced in Brazil in the 70's by Trainer Nelio Borges in the city of Curitiba in Paraná. Trainer Nelio Borges trained in Muay Thai in several European countries. Quickly Muay Thai was brought to the city of Rio de Janeiro from where it expanded nationally throughout the whole of Brazil.

For a long time Muay Thai was one of the more well-known Martial Arts throughout Brazil, but mainly in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba.

In the beginning, most of the Muay Thai trainers were also teachers of Taekwondo and for that reason some kicks that these teachers taught suffered a strong influence of Taekwondo. Some kicks were added in the air and also some teachers did some demonstrations that were typical of the breaking of Taekwondo.

At one time some teachers modified some rules and they created in the city of Rio de Janeiro the version known as " Muay Thai Amateur ", a rules version in which blows of knees were not allowed and nor elbows strikes. With that, these trainers taught a lot for a long time a style similar to Kickboxing and that didn't resemble Muay Thai. But, at this same time, several trainers of Rio de Janeiro, of Curitiba, of São Paulo and of other states continued to teach true Muay Thai in the original way.

In the 90's Muay Thai began to be organized in Brazil around the coordination of the " Brazilian Confederation of Boxing ", the organization that coordinates the Boxing in Brazil. Departments were created inside of the " Confederation of Boxing " and there began to be created associations and regional federations. At this same time the " Brazilian Confederation of Muay Thai " was created.

Still at this time several trainers began their training of Muay Thai in several European countries and in Thailand. Two trainers were the pioneers in training authentic Muay Thai in Thailand, they were the Trainer Edson of Sousa of the city of São Paulo and the Trainer Guilherme Bringel of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

But, several Brazilian teachers were also training in several European countries, for example: Trainer Luís Alves (he trained Muay Thai in Holland), Trainer Roney Alex (he Trained Muay Thai in England), Trainer Paulo Nikolai (he trained Muay Thai in Holland).

Nowadays, Muay Thai in Brazil is at a good level if compared to Muay Thai practiced in the USA and in Europe. Very good fighters that have levels of international fight experience exist here.

In the last few years, the only bad thing that has happened with Muay Thai in Brazil was that several excellent fighters of Muay Thai of international fame are no longer fighting Muay Thai, having opted to fight Vallale-Tudo Championships. Due to this Muay Thai suffered a great lack of fighters and only now is recovering. At the moment, Muay Thai is rejuvenating and great fighters are again appearing in Brazil.

At the moment, several world organizations of Muay Thai and Kickboxing are present in Brazil, for example: USMTA (United States Muay Thai Association), WKL (World Kickboxing League), USKBA (United States Muay Thai Association), WAKO (World Associations Kickboxing Organizations), ISKA (International Sport Kickboxing Association). These associations are beginning to organize championships of a good level in Brazil and soon here in Brazil there should appear great fighters from Brazil that will be thrown in the ring to fight internationally for to entertain the MuayThai world.


About the author: Trainer Guilherme Bringel is a student of Kru Puk manager of the Muay Thai Academy of America, one of the oldest Muay Thai academies in the USA and he is one of the pioneers of training in Muay Thai in Thailand, having traveled to Thailand several times. To contact Guilherme Bringel email: gbringel@brhs.com.br