Brief history of Kung Fu
Kung Fu meaning Skill through effort. Surrounded in mystery and legend the Shaolin temple in China is recognised as the birthplace of Kung Fu and origin of modern martial arts.

Legend has it that approx 520AD a Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma (Da Mo) travelled from India to China to teach Zen Buddhism. He travelled throughout China and finally came to Mt. Song where he found the Shaolin Temple. After seeing the monks fall asleep during meditation and their poor fitness Bodhidharma (Da Mo) developed a set of exercises that later became the foundation of Kung Fu as we know today.

Martial Arts were already widespread throughout China and many of the monks were retired soldiers. Thus existing martial arts exercises were combined with Bodhidharma's teachings to create the Shaolin version of Kung Fu.

Originally used as exercise to keep fit, the Kung Fu eventually had to be used against attacking bandits who were after the monastery's treasures. Shaolin eventually became famous for its warrior monks who were formidable Kung Fu warriors.

Appearing in films in the 1970's such as Enter the Dragon, one of the pioneers for bringing Kung Fu to the west was Bruce Lee.
These films dramatically increased interest in martial arts and sowed the seed of Kung Fu in the west.

Brief history of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
Thai Boxing has been developed from the ancient Siamese martial arts of Krabi Krabong and Muay Boran both used by Siamese soldiers. In early days, Muay Thai was mostly used as entertainment for the Royal Family and a Thai war prisoner named Nai Khanomtom (according to the legend) defeated ten skilled Burmese boxers in about 1774.

Muay Thai is now regarded as the national sport and children learn from a very young age. It is unsure the time of origin of Thai-Style boxing. It can only be assumed that Thai boxing originated in Southern China.

Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used in this art.