How is Kyokushin Karate different from Muay Thai?

He was a very practical man who saw that karate at the time had no way to test and improve real combat ability. In response to this issue, he developed the Kyokushin fight rules, which allowed contestants to fight full-contact without gloves or protection. read more

Muay Thai also emphasizes fighting at extremely close ranges (the clinch) more than Kyokushin Karate. In a Muay Thai match the clinch is an offensive tool rather than a re-positioning tool like it is in most other sports. read more

Muay Thai, like karate, is primarily a striking style. In Muay Thai, both a self-defense art and sport, the focus is on using the limbs--shins, elbows, knees, and hands--as weapons. Muay Thai fighters are highly adept at elbow strikes, boxing style movement (side to side), and a variety of kicks. read more

The Kyokushin and Muay Thai kicks are similar in that both kicks generate the power from the hip and use the entire body to add power to the kick rather than just leg power. The Kyokushin kick adds a more pronounced "snapping" motion to the kick than Muay Thai does. read more