Šahovnica shieldMuay Thai cutThree horizontal bandsXS to 4XL
In short: Mirko Filipović, known as Cro Cop, put Croatia on the map with a line everybody still quotes: right leg hospital, left leg cemetery. These shorts carry red, white and blue in horizontal bands, with the national chequy shield on the left leg. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39 in XS, €44 from S to 4XL.
Cro Cop, the policeman who became a K-1 legend
Mirko Filipović was born in Vinkovci in 1974. A member of a Croatian police anti-terrorist unit — hence the nickname, short for Croatian Cop — he made his name in K-1 and then in PRIDE, the Japanese organisation that defined MMA through the 2000s.
His weapon was the left high kick, one of the most feared strikes in the history of combat sports. He won the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix, the toughest tournament of its era. The line about his two legs has outlived most of the fights.
Croatia has produced champions in kickboxing and boxing besides, in a region where people walk into a gym young. The red and white chequy is a regular in cages and rings.
What the shorts look like
Three horizontal bands: red on top, white through the middle, blue below. On the left leg, the red and white chequy shield — the šahovnica — under the crown of five smaller shields for the historic Croatian regions. The motif runs across all three bands.
The wide elastic waistband is solid red and continues the top band. Satin finish.
The Muay Thai cut, and why it matters
Every country short in this collection shares one cut: short leg, high side split over the hip, wide elastic waistband. That is not styling. The high split clears the hip completely, which is what a head kick and a clinch need — the two movements Muay Thai is built around.
In practice these work for Muay Thai, kickboxing, K-1 and MMA training, and they are just as usable in boxing for gym work and club shows: the leg stays free and nothing catches during footwork.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: the chequy shield is the most graphic emblem in the range — a grid of alternating squares reads even in movement, where a fine crest blurs. For sanctioned amateur bouts, check the corner colour your association assigns.
Getting the size right
European cut — take your usual size. Most Muay Thai shorts on the market are Thai-made and sized accordingly, which is why almost every seller tells you to order one size up. These are cut to European sizing, so that correction does not apply. Eight sizes, XS to 4XL, where the bulk of the market stops at XXL. The elastic waistband absorbs a swing in waist measurement, which helps through a fight camp. If you train in a groin guard, go one size up.
Also worth a look
Frequently asked questions
Do Muay Thai shorts run small?
Thai-made shorts do, which is why the usual advice is to order one size up. These are a European cut — take your usual size. Eight sizes run from XS to 4XL. Between two sizes, or if you wear a groin guard, take the larger one.
What is the difference between Muay Thai shorts and boxing shorts?
Muay Thai shorts sit above the knee with a high side split and a wide elastic waistband, which clears the hip for kicks and clinch work. Boxing shorts run longer with the waistband above the navel, marking the low-blow line. These are the Muay Thai cut, and they carry over to boxing training without trouble.
Who is Cro Cop?
Mirko Filipović, a Croatian kickboxer and MMA fighter born in 1974, formerly of a police anti-terrorist unit. He won the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix and was known above all for his left high kick.
What is the šahovnica?
The red and white chequerboard shield at the centre of the Croatian flag, made of alternating squares. Above it sits a crown of five smaller shields standing for the historic Croatian regions. On this short it is printed on the left leg, across all three bands.
How do you wash Muay Thai shorts?
Machine wash inside out at 30 °C / 86 °F, no tumble dryer, and never put an iron directly on the panels. Skip the fabric softener: it coats the weave and slows how fast sweat moves through it.
Are these unisex?
Yes. The cut is the same for men and women — only the size changes, and the range opens at XS, which is not true everywhere.
