I do think a large number of the posts on ax discuss valuable and interesting topics that need debating, and I am keen to contribute. It’s just at the moment I am very busy with work and don’t have the time to respond as often as I would like to. So, I intend to make this contribution, and then not respond to any comments that are posted as a result of the post.

Having read some of the threads posted it appears that some of the disagreements may be simply down to semantics. The word ‘throw’ is a linguistic label people attach to a concept; in this case to a particular group of techniques that involve one boxer causing their opponent to end up on the canvas. If you look at various versions of rules from Thailand, (or rather the English translations of them) some specifically identify throws as illegal (see below). However, it is the specific action involved in the ‘throw’ that determine if it is legal or illegal within the current rules. Whether you choose to call a particular technique a throw or not is down to interpretation, but there are both legal and illegal ways of putting an opponent down in MuayThai.

The written rules, or at least the English translations of the rules, in my experience, are not necessarily as comprehensively detailed, or as clearly translated as they might be. However, here are some rules on fouls associated with throwing techniques, from a variety of prominent Thai governing bodies, Amateur and Professional:

The World MuayThai Council Rules (WMC, 1995) do not explicitly mention throws as being illegal. In section 18 (the section that outlines foul and strikes violating the rules) rule 18.2 only suggests “wrestling, back or arm locks or any similar judo or wrestling hold” are illegal. However, in the Board of Boxing Sport Rules (Sport Authority of Thailand, 2002) rule 16.2 states that, “throwing, back breaking, locking opponent’s arms, using Judo and wrestling techniques” are all violations of the rules. The Amateur MuayThai Association of Thailand, the Federation of Amateur MuayThai of Asia, and the International Federation of MuayThai Amateur’s rules for Amateur MuayThai competition include rule 17 b (2) which suggests that “a throw on an opponent, a back breaking manoeuvre, an intentional fall over, a judo or wrestling throw to an opponent” are fouls.

By reading the rules detailed above the situation may appear confusing; particularly if you only have the written rules to inform a particular opinion. Howver, which methods of putting an opponent on the canvas are legal and which are illegal are clear cut to referees, trainers, fighters and the betting public in Thailand; even if they are not clearly explained in official rules.

The following “judo and wrestling” moves are fouls (Board of Boxing Sport, 2002):

a) A boxer wraps his leg around the leg of their opponent from the inside or the outside and forces their opponent to the floor.
b) A boxer locks an opponent’s neck and executes a hip to shoulder or hip throw
c) A boxer grabs their opponent’s hip in a waist lock and throws using a hip throw
d) A boxer grabs an opponent’s arm, turns and uses their calf and back of their thigh (hamstring muscle group) to sweep an opponent’s legs from under them.
e) A boxer grabs an opponent and falls backward to throw their opponent
f) A boxer attempts a rugby style tackle on the legs and waist of an opponent
g) A boxer grabs their opponent’s waist from behind, then, placing a leg between their opponent’s legs, pulls their opponent backwards over their leg and hip
h) A boxer grabs their opponent from below the waist, lifting and throwing
i) A boxer catches their opponent’s leg and uses their other arm to push them off balance while taking more than two steps
j) A boxer catches their opponent’s leg and uses their calf muscle to trip/sweep an opponent off their feet
k) A boxer ankle trips their opponent
l) A boxer leg sweeps their opponent using the calf or inside of their foot
m) A boxer traps their opponent’s arms in a waist lock, lifts their opponent and throws
n) A boxer grabs an opponent from behind, lifts and throws
o) A boxer grabs around an opponent’s lower spine and hyper-extends their back in a “back breaking” move

These fouls are possibly better illustrated visually so I have(hopefully, if I can upload them)attached some illustrations used to identify illegal techniques at the Board of Boxing Sport MuayThai Training course for Judges and referees.

As far as scoring goes, legal “throwing or off balancing“ techniques that are followed by a strong technique score (very good point), even if the attempted technique misses due to the boxer being falling to the floor before the technique lands (although not as good a score as if contact is actually made). Otherwise throws only score in the sense they show who is stronger. For example if two boxers were even going into the last round and things were even in that round, but then one boxer ‘threw’ the other boxer on the floor, that boxer would be winning, unless the other boxer could do the same.

Why are certain throws illegal in MuayThai?
It is my understanding that there are two reasons certain throws are illegal. The first reason concern safety; some throws offer the possibility of lasting or permanent damage (cuts from an elbow heal relatively quickly). Other throws are excluded because they are considered to be techniques from other martial arts and not MuayThai. This last point is a contentious issue, some trainers in Thailand feel that the art of MuayThai is being eroded and more and more techniques are being taken away by the rules. For example, Kon Khun Yak Pa Nang is a traditional technique that involves a hip throw; MuayThai not judo.

Hope this adds something to the debate.