At yesterday’s Kiatpetch SKS Super Fight show, Lukchang Krapaolingkee secured a victory by knockout with a kick to the groin. The controversial finish left his opponent visibly upset, but under traditional Muay Thai rules, kicks to the groin remain legal, whereas knees to the groin are not.
While Muay Thai has been adapting to meet Western standards, certain traditional promotions still permit techniques that are considered problematic, such as the groin kick.
In the realm of mixed martial arts , groin kicks have been banned since the early days of the UFC, although they were initially allowed. Today, groin strikes are generally frowned upon in most martial arts disciplines. While knee strikes to the groin are widely accepted as illegal, kicks to this sensitive area are still tolerated in some traditional Muay Thai settings.
The bout took place at the renowned Omnoi Stadium in Thailand,
Can you believe it? Groin strike knock outs still allowed in Muay Thai
Groin strikes are prohibited in almost all combat sports organizations today. In boxing, such strikes were banned as far back as the implementation of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules in 1867. International Muay Thai organizations also began forbidding groin attacks around the 1980s. However, in Thailand, these strikes are still permitted, though male fighters wear protective cups to mitigate the impact. Despite this allowance, groin strikes are strongly discouraged in modern Muay Thai, albeit not punishable.
