Get ready to wrap your hands and step into the ring, as we talk about a cultural export from Thailand that has truly made an impact – a $1.25 billion impact, to be exact! That’s right, Muay Thai, the art of eight limbs, has taken America by storm, punching its way to a whopping 44.44 billion baht in industry value.
The Thai Foreign Promotion Office in Chicago, where they keep a keen eye on all things related to trade and cultural exchange, recently let the cat out of the bag with these staggering numbers. The office’s director, Suprathana Kamonvej, attributes the surge in popularity to the high kicks and elbow strikes we’ve seen lighting up the silver screen, gripping documentaries, and the viral whirlwind of social media.
Now, where in the US would you say the heart of this martial arts revelry beats the strongest? California, of course! The sunny state leads with an impressive count of 331 centres dedicated to teaching the knee and clinch game of Muay Thai. But the Golden State isn’t hogging all the fun – not by a long shot!
Texas proudly boasts 183 centres, while Florida punches above its weight with 135. New York, with its gritty reputation, comes in with 112 centres showing that concrete jungles are perfect for honing fighting skills. And let’s not forget New Jersey, playing a strong cornerman with 83.
What’s absolutely fascinating about this trend is that a bulk of these gyms and dojos are helmed by international aficionados of Thai boxing. These passionate souls aren’t just about throwing punches and kicks; they’ve embraced the culture and even trained in the humid gyms and rings of Thailand, returning with authentic skills and a deep respect for the discipline to share with eager American students.
And if learning the dance of Muay Thai wasn’t entertaining enough, these centres are spicing things up by throwing other martial arts into the mix. Anyone up for a side of jiu-jitsu with their teeps and elbows?
Alas, all this fighting fit fun does come with a gear list. In the past year, the US brought in $894,000 worth of Muay Thai equipment from Thailand – that’s a slight drop of 17.53% from the year before, but nothing to scoff at. Imagine the sea of gloves, the mountains of punching bags, the ocean of boxing shorts, and the soothing rivers of liniment flowing in to keep the art alive and kicking (literally) here in the States.
So next time you’re in California, don’t be surprised if you stumble upon a shindig of shins clashing – it’s just the Muay Thai craze making cultural waves, one roundhouse at a time.
Be First to Comment