Crescent and starMuay Thai cutSolid red groundXS to 4XL
In short: Since 1346, every summer, wrestlers have faced each other in Edirne coated in olive oil: the Kırkpınar is the oldest sporting competition in the world still held without a break. Solid red shorts with the crescent and star on the left leg. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39 in XS, €44 from S to 4XL.
The oldest sporting competition in the world
At Edirne, in Turkish Thrace, the Kırkpınar has been held since 1346: a tournament of yağlı güreş, oil wrestling. The competitors wear buffalo-hide trousers and coat themselves in olive oil before they step out, which makes every hold slide and turns the bout into a test of endurance as much as of technique.
No other sporting competition anywhere can claim that run of continuity. UNESCO added it to the intangible cultural heritage list in 2010. The winner takes the title of başpehlivan, chief of the wrestlers.
Turkey also has a solid amateur boxing and kickboxing tradition, and a wrestling school that has turned out a long line of Olympic champions. A fighting country in the oldest sense of the word.
What the shorts look like
Solid red across the whole garment, no panels and no colour splits. On the left leg, the crescent and the five-pointed star in white, as a solid block and at a large scale — they take up half the leg.
The wide elastic waistband repeats the body red. No lettering anywhere: red and white, nothing else. 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: a plain red ground with one white symbol makes this one of the two most legible shorts in the range at distance, alongside the Swiss cross. The dominant red also works in your favour in the red corner; check your association’s rules before a sanctioned bout.
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.
What is the oldest sporting competition in the world?
The Kırkpınar oil wrestling festival at Edirne in Turkey, held every summer since 1346 without interruption. UNESCO listed it as intangible cultural heritage in 2010.
Why do the wrestlers use olive oil?
It makes every grip slide, so holds cannot be locked in the usual way. The bout becomes a contest of endurance and positioning rather than of raw grip strength, and it can run for hours. The winner is called the başpehlivan.
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.
