MUAY THAI IN SCOTLAND

Scotland’s first introduction to Muay Thai came in 1983 when Robert McLaughlin opened the first class in fife, Rob trained with Master Toddy in Manchester 3 years later Ian Cox a former TKD coach opened in Motherwell and ran Scotland’s first Thai Boxing Show in Motherwell in a co-promotion with Master Sken, a year later they ran another and by the late 80s early 90s clubs and gyms from students from both these coaches had opened up across Scotland and John Craig had started off teaching in paisley under Master Sken.

Thai boxing shows at this time were run predominately by Kenny Burnett in the east (cross gates near Glenrothes) and in the west Stevie Mair in Craignuek near Wishaw.

As the 90s progressed John Craig’s SMTC grew and spread right across the central belt of Scotland from Edinburgh right across to Ayr, some of the other clubs folded new ones sprung up and were aligned with different clubs/associations from England.

In the late 90’s some of the senior instructors of the SMTC broke away and formed the STBA in 2001 the STBA met with the majority of the independent clubs and formed an alliance coming under the banner of the Scottish MuayThai Federation however within 18 months the SMF had fallen apart due to lack of direction at the top, the STBA stepped in and took over the void, now most of the independents (including Sit Ayuthaya) are affiliated to the STBA forming the biggest thai boxing association in Scotland.

The future for Muay thai In Scotland is looking great both orginisations regularly promote top class shows, and many fighters and coaches regularly travel to Thailand to improve their knowledge of MT.