WKO Thaiboxing & Muay Thai Rules
(Know the difference)
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Gala bouts are three or five rounds in duration, with each round lasting Two minutes.
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Open Tournaments will be:
Under 13yrs 3 x 60 Seconds Round 30 Seconds Rest
14yrs to 17yrs old 3 x 90 Seconds Round 45 Seconds Rest
18yrs+ 3 x 120 Seconds Round 60 Seconds Rest -
Head shots are age restricted per rules, see below
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Use of the elbow is also allowed from 18yrs+
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
The following equipment is mandatory:
Clothing:
The athlete must wear thaiboxing shorts.
For Gala events They must wear the sacred headband (Mong-Kon) for praying homage before the bout. A Krueng-Wrang (arm band) with an amulet or charm may be put on around the upper arm, biceps or waist but must be neatly covered. (not applicable for open tournaments, due to volume of fights to be completed in the course of the event)
HEAD-GEAR All amateurs must wear HEAD-GEAR. Only Adults 18yrs and above may opt out of wearing head gear. If adults opt out both athletes must have on or off.
Top Ten Head-guards aren't mandatory but are the recommend brand of head gaurd to wear.
GUM-SHIELDS are required at all levels.
BODY-SHIELDS are required for all juniors 15yrs old and under.
BREAST PROTECTORS are optional but recommended for all ladies.
COMPETITION QUALITY GLOVES:
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8yrs & under 8oz gloves are required
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9yrs+ 10oz gloves are required
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Elbow pads are requied where strikes are permitted
All protective equipment MUST be in an acceptable and safe condition for competitive bouts. Referees may request gloves to be changed if not correct size or in an unsuitable or safe condition as required.
WRAPS Hands may only be wrapped with bandage or cotton hand wraps. And only taped with Zinc Oxide tape, The tape MUST NOT cover the knuckles.
The use of GAFFA style tapes is NOT ALLOWED.
Attire and Protective Equipment:
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SHORTS - Thai shorts are required.
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GROIN-GUARD - for males is mandatory. (Females is optional)
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SHIN-INSTEP - protectors are also required but must not be ones with metal inserts within them.
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ANKLE-SUPPORTS - are optional
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HEADGAURDS - are required
WKO Amateur Thaiboxing Rules
Overview
WKO Thaiboxing follows the Western Thai boxing ruleset, combining the techniques of Muay Thai with a greater emphasis on safety for amateur competition.
WKO Thaiboxing includes punches, kicks, knees, clinching and sweeps, but does not permit elbow strikes.
Permitted Techniques:
✅ Punches
✅ Kicks to the legs, body and head
✅ Knee strikes to the body (only)
✅ Clinch fighting
✅ Sweeps and off-balancing techniques
❌ Elbow strikes
Head Shots: (Punches/Kicks)
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14yrs and under NOT permitted ❌
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15yrs & above are allowed ✅
Illegal Techniques:
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Headbutts
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Elbows
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Groin attacks
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Biting
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Eye attacks
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Throat attacks
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Throws or submission techniques
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Attacking after the referee calls "Break"
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Attacking a downed opponent
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Striking the back of the head
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Knee strikes to the head
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Passive holding or excessive clinching
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Unsportsmanlike conduct
Scoring:
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10 Point Must System
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Victory by:
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Points
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Knockout (KO)
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Technical Knockout (TKO)
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Disqualification
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Referee Stoppage
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Judges score effective:
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Punches
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Kicks
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Knees
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Ring control
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Effective aggression
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Defence
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Balance and technique
WKO Amateur Muay Thai Rules
Overview
WKO Muay Thai follows the authentic rules of Thailand's national sport, often known as the Art of Eight Limbs.
Unlike Thaiboxing, Muay Thai includes elbow strikes alongside punches, kicks, knees and clinch fighting.
All elbow techniques must be delivered whilst wearing approved elbow pads.
Permitted Techniques:
✅ Punches
✅ Kicks to the legs, body and head
✅ Knee strikes to the body (only)
✅ Clinch fighting
✅ Sweeps
✅ Elbow strikes (subject to age restrictions & strike zones)
Head Shots: (Punches/Kicks)
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12yrs & above are allowed ✅
Elbow Regulations
Age Divisions:
Junior Years Athletes (12–17yr)
✅ Elbows to the body only
❌ Elbows to the head prohibited
Mandatory elbow pads to be worn
Adults Years Athletes (18+)
✅ Elbows to the head
✅ Elbows to the body
Mandatory elbow pads to be worn
Illegal Techniques:
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Headbutts
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Groin attacks
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Biting
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Eye attacks
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Throat attacks
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Throws or submission techniques
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Attacking after "Break"
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Attacking a downed opponent
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Striking the back of the head
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Knee strikes to the head
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Passive clinching
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Unsportsmanlike conduct
Scoring:
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10 Point Must System
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Victory by:
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Points
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KO
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TKO
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Referee Stoppage
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Disqualification
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Judges score effective:
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Punches
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Kicks
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Knees
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Elbows
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Clinch work
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Ring control
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Effective aggression
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Defence
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Balance and technique
What's the Difference?
Thaiboxing Muay Thai
Punches ✅ Punches ✅
Kicks ✅ Kicks ✅
Knees ✅ Knees ✅
Clinch ✅ Clinch ✅
Sweeps ✅ Sweeps ✅
Elbows ❌ Elbows ✅ (age restrictions apply)
Thaiboxing is the Western adaptation of Thai boxing and does not include elbow strikes.
Muay Thai is the authentic Thai ruleset and includes elbow strikes as one of the sport's defining techniques. At WKO amateur events, elbow use is controlled through age restrictions and mandatory elbow pads to promote safety.
WKO Thaiboxing & Muay Thai Scoring Criteria
All contests are scored using the 10 Point Must System.
The winner of each round receives 10 points, with the opponent receiving 9 points or less, depending on the level of dominance.
Judges must score each round using the following criteria, in order of importance.
1. Effective Legal Techniques
This is the highest scoring priority.
The winner of the round is the competitor who lands the greater number of clean, legal and effective techniques.
Authorised scoring techniques include:
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Punches
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Kicks
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Knees (body only)
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Sweeps (where legal)
Techniques should demonstrate:
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Accuracy
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Balance
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Timing
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Power
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Control
2. Effectiveness
Where competitors land a similar number of techniques, judges should award the round to the competitor whose techniques have the greatest overall effect.
Examples include:
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Clearly moving the opponent
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Breaking the opponent's balance
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Causing visible discomfort
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Forcing the opponent onto the defensive
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Knockdowns
Quality always takes precedence over quantity.
3. Ring Generalship
Judges should consider which competitor controls the contest by:
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Dictating the pace
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Controlling the distance
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Creating scoring opportunities
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Using superior tactics
4. Effective Aggression
Aggression only scores when it results in effective legal techniques.
Simply moving forward or throwing a high volume of ineffective strikes does not score.
5. Defence
Judges should reward effective defensive skills, including:
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Blocking
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Checking kicks
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Parrying
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Slipping
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Evading
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Counter-attacking
Judging Principles
Judges should remember:
✔ Clean techniques score.
✔ Effective techniques score higher than volume.
✔ Balance and control are essential.
✔ Knockdowns have significant scoring value.
✔ Ring control and effective aggression only become deciding factors when effective scoring is otherwise equal.
✔ Every round is judged independently.
10 Point Must System
10–10 – Even round
10–9 – Clear winner
10–8 – Dominant round or one knockdown
10–7 – Exceptional dominance or multiple knockdowns
Judges Must Not Score On
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Crowd support
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Fighter reputation
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Constant forward movement without scoring
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Number of strikes thrown
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Flashy but ineffective techniques
Only clean, legal and effective techniques should determine the winner of each round.