In the Muay Thai arena of Pattaya, a well-known tourist city in Thailand, an intense match between children aged 8 to 12 unfolds as night falls. The two young fighters, once close playmates in private, show no mercy once they step into the ring. In one match, a boy named Alan wins the bout and receives a 1,000 baht tip from spectators, his fists wrapped in bandages stained with his friend’s blood. Such brutal child fights are common across Thai cities, happening almost daily.

The competition scene.

In many Thai families, parents send their children to Muay Thai gyms at a young age, either to earn income or in hopes of them becoming professional fighters. These kids grow up training and competing in matches of various levels, often performing in night venues. But few make it to the professional stage. Most are eliminated in the harsh competition. For some young foreign trainees, Muay Thai represents not only a dream but a chance to lift their families out of hardship.

Children learning Muay Thai at a Muay Thai training center in Pattaya, Thailand.

After training, the bandages on the hand wraps are stained with the opponent’s blood.

A 11-year-old Muay Thai child getting ready to step into the ring.

Despite growing concerns, child Muay Thai matches remain widespread in tourist hubs like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai. Many of the fighters, barely ten years old, are remarkably skilled: their punches fast and precise. Boys and girls alike usually fight without headgear or proper protection, often striking with startling force. In this ring, what flows isn’t just sweat or glory, but the harsh clash of young bodies and uncertain fates.