Art. Science. Muay Thai has been referred to as both.

The centuries-old combat sport from Thailand uses eight points of contact — punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes — when practiced.

It is gaining popularity in fitness programs with its focus on body conditioning. Running, resistance exercises, jumping rope and shadowboxing are all part of the training routine.

But it is so much more, says Rich de los Reyes, fitness director for Powerhouse Gym in Kakaako.

“Some fight schools teach the fight but not the art, not the culture of Muay Thai,” de los Reyes said. “What I do is share the art. I teach the traditional Thai greeting to my students and the culture.

“Fitness-wise, nothing will make you more flexible than this. You use your body in the manner you’re supposed to move. It really tones you up and you gain healthy muscle. There are lots of cardio benefits. The most important muscle in your body is your heart.”

Born in the Philippines and raised on Kauai and in Connecticut, the 30-year-old eschewed law school in favor of going to the source of Muay Thai. He lived and trained in the camps in Thailand, learning the language and spirituality of the sport.

“Some people say it’s violent, but this is self-awareness,” said de los Reyes, who sold his gym in Connecticut and moved to Oahu this year. “I try to keep it as non-religious as possible, but it is very spiritual. There is a spiritualness to every martial art, a type of meditation.

“Muay Thai is a skill on top of fitness. It’s more than a fitness skill; it’s a life skill.”

Joe Perez takes a weekly class from de los Reyes.

“I think it’s a great workout, No. 1,” Perez said. “It’s one of those things you don’t get bored at because it’s constantly changing. I just started training with Rich, but I’ve been doing Muay Thai for five years. I still don’t know what I’m doing.

“I like that he puts you through a hard-core routine. This is an overall cross-training workout. This class is not about fighting, but it is the kind of training you would do if you were preparing for a fight. You see that (de los Reyes) comes from that fighting mentality.”

“It’s helped to motivate me,” said Thaddeus Striker. “I really like the variety of the workout. It’s a different type of conditioning, different from lifting weights.

“It’s been good, but he’s pretty hard-core.”

“Just keeping it lively,” said de los Reyes, who also has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “I’ve had students say it’s really hard, but it’s supposed to be. It’s a good hard.”

The translation of Muay Thai is “Art of Eight Limbs” or “Science of Eight Limbs.” Where boxing uses two points (fists), the national sport of Thailand uses eight: hands, feet, elbows and knees.

De los Reyes is 8-2 as a Muay Thai fighter. He is planning to go to Thailand in November to compete in muay boran or “ancient boxing.” It involves wrapping the hands with hardened hemp ropes, creating a cast-like glove.

“It’s something that one has to do if you are Muay Thai,” de los Reyes said. “Just to say I did it once.”

Other places that offer Muay Thai in Hawaii include:

>> Hawaii Martial Arts Center in Honolulu (841-5144)

>> Tiger Muay Thai in Aiea

>> M-1 Martial Arts & Fitness in Honolulu

>> Team Island Thunder Muay Thai in Waikiki

>> Laupahoehoe School of Muay Thai at the University of Hawaii and on the Big Island

>> Oahu Muay Thai at Ainakoa Park

>> Lionhead Academy of Fighting Arts in Honolulu (782-9881)

>> Giraldi Muay-Thai, Hawaii in Aiea (487-0678)