High kicks to the head, demonstrated by these two women fighters in Penrose, Auckland, in 2005, are a feature of Elite Thai (also known as Muay Thai) kickboxing. The national sport of Thailand, it developed as a form of unarmed combat for soldiers who had lost their weapons in battle. Elite Thai fighters wear boxing gloves, shin pads and padded boots.
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Reference: 130805NZHKICK05.JPG
by Ollie Day
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