The one thing every family should know: Muay Thai has one world body recognised by the International Olympic Committee, , and IFMA's UK member is the United Kingdom Muaythai Federation, the . But no UK sports council recognises any Muay Thai body, so no UK body is a national governing body in the sports councils' sense. runs British Championships and publishes the fullest free rules and safety policies; the British Thai Boxing Council and the Master Sken Association run their own grades and events; professional titles come from the Thai stadiums, and others. Most clubs belong to no body at all. 7,20,30,31,41,46,47,49,90
Recognition in the UK, as of 26 October 2026
| Nation | Body recognised by the sports council |
|---|---|
| England | None: no Muay Thai entry on Sport England's recognised bodies page |
| Scotland | None |
| Wales | None: no entry on Sport Wales's recognised sports page |
| Northern Ireland | None |
| UK | None: no row on the September 2026 master list |
All rows from the councils' own lists. 49 Muay Thai does not sit under kickboxing either: the councils recognise Kickboxing GB and Kickboxing Ireland for kickboxing only. 49 So a body's own description of itself as "the" governing body, the only UK body or a national sporting body is its own claim. 40,41,47
World
IFMA, the International Federation of Muaythai Associations: a Swiss association with headquarters in Lausanne and an office in Bangkok, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until July 2019. 5,20
- Recognised by the IOC: provisionally on 6 December 2016 and fully at the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo, July 2021, as reported by IFMA and the International World Games Association; also by the Olympic Council of Asia in 1999 and GAISF in 2006, and part of the World Games family since 2013. 20,30
- One member per country. Its constitution allows only one national association per country; if two claim the place, it goes to the one recognised by the country's highest government sport body, or failing that the one IFMA recognises, and members may not affiliate with organisations IFMA does not recognise. 23
- UK member: the United Kingdom Muaythai Federation, Birmingham, on IFMA's own Europe directory on 26 October 2026. Ireland: the Irish Muaythai Council; whether it covers Northern Ireland is not confirmed. 20,48
- What it does: rules for full contact, semi contact and cultural events; world, continental and youth championships; the 15 level Khan grading system from May 2025; referee and coach education; anti doping under the World Anti-Doping Code. 20,21,27
| Body | What is known |
|---|---|
| World Muaythai Council, | Set up in 1995 by Thai parliamentary resolution and sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand; merged with IFMA in 2019 to represent professional Muaythai. The UKMF says it is the only UK body recognised by the WMC, its claim 6,20,29,40 |
| The World Boxing Council's Muay Thai division, established in 2004, based in Bangkok; ranks professionals, sanctions titles and runs amateur and youth events; names national chairs for England, Scotland and Wales. Muaythai GB sends a Team England to its world events. 31,41 | |
| World Muaythai Federation, WPMF | Formed in 1995 by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand; a professional body 6 |
| Kru Muaythai Association, | Thailand; registered with the National Culture Commission on 9 May 2003; a 19 level Khan register of teachers and masters with 31 UK members. Calls itself the highest governing body for Muay Thai and Muay Boran as a cultural art, its claim 32 |
| World Thai Boxing Association, | United States, founded by Ajarn Chai Sirisute; armband grades; a UK link since a Glasgow seminar in 1989 33 |
| ISKA, WKA International, ICO | Kickboxing bodies that also sanction Muay Thai rule bouts in the UK 52 |
UK
The United Kingdom Muaythai Federation, UKMF or UKMTF 20,40
- IFMA's UK member, confirmed on IFMA's own list. It says it is the only UK body that is a member of IFMA, which IFMA's directory confirms, and the only UK body recognised by the WMC, and that it aims to become the only national sporting body for the sport; those last two are its own claims. 20,40
- Gyms join directly; fighters need an individual licence for UKMF shows; member to member insurance; DBS check numbers required from gym members. 40
- A public directory of 86 gyms, from the Highlands to the South West, on 26 October 2026. 40
- It does not publish a named chair or board, a constitution, rules for domestic events, a safeguarding policy or a grading scheme. When it joined IFMA is not confirmed. 40,91
Muaythai GB, MTGB 20,41,42,43,44,45
- A community interest company registered in England and Wales, founded in 2022 "to build a strong, united, and transparent governing body"; an elected board, with a safeguarding lead, equality officer, medical officer and legal adviser. 41
- Not an IFMA member: IFMA's UK seat is held by the UKMF. Its own concussion statement says it would align with an international federation's policies if it gained membership of one in the future. 20,23,45
- British Championships since 2024, with 330 athletes from 63 gyms in 2026; University Championships, sanctioned shows, Team England selection for WBC events, coaching awards at levels 1 and 2, referee and judge courses, and free published junior, amateur and professional rules with safe practice, concussion and safeguarding policies. 41,42,43,44,45
- Affiliate gyms, and "verified" gyms that show a head coach DBS check, first aid, insurance and a safeguarding policy; its gym list is behind a member log in. 41,45
The British Thai Boxing Council, 46,47
- Says it is one of the oldest Muay Thai organisations in the world, founded in Manchester in 1979, its claim; the Master Sken Association's history suggests a later formation, around 1985. 46,47
- Offers safety advice, instructor training, seminars, rules for professional, amateur and junior semi contact events, and a grading structure for Muay Thai, Muay Boran and krabi krabong. 46
- Run from Sitsiam Camp in Stalybridge, a founder member; there is no public club list. 46
The Master Sken Association, 47
- Founded by Grandmaster Sken Kaewpadung; successor to SIMTA, which its own history dates to 1981 or 1986; the MSA since 2010; based in Herefordshire. 47
- Armband grading, MTQ instructor qualifications, online grading videos, club insurance and student licences (£50 a year per club and £14 per UK student in 2026), and academies across England. 47
- It says three bodies recognise it; that is its own claim. 47
| Others with a UK presence | What is known |
|---|---|
| Tiger Fight Academy and the WTBA | Two EveryDojo listings each; a gym brand, and listings carrying the WTBA's name with no WTBA link shown 70,90 |
How UK gyms are organised
Most UK Muay Thai gyms belong to no body. Of the 294 clubs listed under Muay Thai on EveryDojo on 8 October 2026, 224 were listed as independent, 66 under the UKMF, 2 under Tiger Fight Academy and 2 under the WTBA. 90
What a family should check
- Is the gym in a body, or independent? Use the body's own list where there is one: the UKMF's is public, Muaythai GB's is not. 40,41
- Which rules do its juniors compete under, IFMA's (head strikes from the year they turn 12) or Muaythai GB's (none under 16)? 21,42
- Are coaches DBS checked, first aid trained and insured, and is there a safeguarding policy and a welfare contact? 45,80
- A body's claim to be "the" governing body is not sports council recognition: none exists for Muay Thai in the UK. 49