Who doesn’t aspire to have a fit and strong body? And Muay Thai can be a perfect form of martial art to discipline your physique.
As a beginner, the iconic martial art of Muay Thai might seem a bit daunting. But, once you’re clear on this sport’s basics, many well-experienced and friendly coaches and trainers can help you master this beautiful craft.
And today, we’re here to talk about Muay Thai and offer an overall summary of the rigorous training regimen for Muay Thai beginners like you. So, without wasting more time, let’s put our gloves on and get started!
What Is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, and it translates into Thai Boxing. It is similar to western kickboxing, but the rules and scoring system are quite different. As Muay Thai is also called the Art of Eight Limbs, competitors can use their knees, elbows, fists, and legs, scoring based on these moves.
Even though Muay Thai has its historical roots as early as the 16th Century, it gained worldwide popularity as a combat art during the 1970s-80s. Since then, it has become a well-known martial art form to practice self-defence and train your body.
Complete Guide To Muay Thai For Beginners
1. Stance And Footwork
The first thing you need to know about Muay Thai is the proper Muay Thai stance and footwork of a professional Thai Boxer or Nak Muay. It would be best if you continuously worked on perfecting your stance and posture because they are fundamental to Muay Thai.
Also, follow the instructions and guidelines of your trainer while working on your stance. Once you’ve perfected the stance, it’s time to work on your posture and footwork. Your attack and defence movements depend primarily on these two aspects. Adjust your knees slightly to facilitate better activities while standing tall.
The correct posture and footwork will help you generate sufficient power and torque, allowing your hips to move freely. Plus, you can defend yourself from any incoming shot by keeping your posture tight.
2. Various Attacking Moves
When it comes to Muay Thai, you get several attacking moves using your fists, elbows, knees, and legs. You get the standard punches and kicks in kickboxing, but you also encounter several other attacking movements in Muay Thai.
You will learn different punching styles in your Muay Thai training, from the jab to cross and classic uppercut. Plus, you’ll learn to master different Muay Thai kicks, including the low kick, the body kick, the switch kick, and the head kick, which require some solid legwork.
Along with the standard boxing kicks, your Muay Thai training will also cover different styles of push kicks to strengthen your attack movements. Not only that, but you’ll also learn to use your knees and elbows for several attacking movements.
Some of the most popular knee and elbow movements in Muay Thai are straight knees, curved knee, long knee, flying knee, horizontal elbow, diagonal elbow, and upward elbow. Additionally, you will learn about the basic clinch attack and defence movements during your first Muay Thai lesson.
3. Defence Movements
The first defence movement you’ll learn as a beginner in Muay Thai is to stay on guard. There’ll be times when you need to block multiple incoming shots, and staying on guard can be your best defensive strategy.
Also, Muay Thai defence is about observation, anticipation, and playing with your opponent’s head. So, it would be best if you learned about the feints, switches, and fake movements to strengthen your defence.
4. Rules And Scoring
Before you start training for Muay Thai, it’s best to know all about the rules and scoring system of the sport. A Muay Thai fight consists of five rounds that last for three minutes each. You can score a maximum of 10 points in each round and a total of 50 points in each fight.
You earn points based on the Muay Thai skills and precision of your movements, both during attack and defence. If you land clean shots and strikes and display dominance with the knee and elbow movements, you’ll automatically score higher than the opponent.
5. Muay Thai Training Attire
Choosing the proper attire is crucial when training for the first time in Muay Thai. Wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes that’ll allow you to move freely. Go for shorts and loose T-shirts, or you can also wear tank tops or any other comfortable clothes.
You can also wear formal Muay Thai gear with gloves, shin guards, mouth guards, and groin guards. However, the entire ensemble might be difficult to carry if you’re a newcomer.
6. Tips For The First Class
While going for your first Muay Thai training class, it’s best to keep certain things in mind. For instance, tardiness is never encouraged, so always be on time for your class. Also, listen to your trainer and treat your fellow trainees with respect.
Please don’t be too scared to ask questions and give it your best shot. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. Take your time, and don’t get carried away or overwhelmed during your first class.
Get Ready For Your First Muay Thai Class
Muay Thai can be a physically challenging sport, and you might end up with bruises and recurring back pains as a newcomer. So, it’s better to do solid research about the sport before diving into it.
After going through our article, we hope you have a much better grasp of the fundamental concepts related to Muay Thai. A healthy fitness regime can help you shape your body to endure rigorous training Muay Thai. Also, look for the right trainer and Muay Thai gym to master this iconic combat art.
You can find all the apparel, gloves, and equipment you need at our online store. We have an extensive range of Muay Thai and combat sports products. If you need assistance, please contact us at any time. Our experienced staff are happy to help!
And with that, we’ll sign off. Keep training, and see you next time!
1. Strengthened Core
Fitness boxing comprises moves where you need to use your core muscles. You may not see abs in the first few months, but the core muscles will improve your health. That’s why practising fitness boxing alleviates back pain as it strengthens the lumbar spinal area.
Additionally, with proper use of kicks and footwork, you will be able to see changes in your leg muscles.
2. Better Heart Health
One of the surprising things is that fitness boxing is quite popular among the elderly. As this aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping, you can truly feel a change in your heart health.
It helps lower high blood pressure, which has become a chronic problem, irrespective of age. We also believe that following a regular fitness boxing regime may reduce one’s chances of having a heart attack or other cardiac issues.
3. Improved Hand-Eye Coordination
Like traditional boxing, hand-eye coordination is extremely important. You will seldom see boxers miss their targets because, with regular practice, hand-eye coordination and body movements become easier. After some time, you’re bound to feel that your punches or squats are far more synchronised than ever.
Some changes can be seen immediately as you get used to maintaining better body positions, especially if you have previously lived a sedentary life. So, even though fitness boxing doesn’t include sparring with an opponent, it can still transform your posture.
4. Better Joint And Bone Health
Do you suffer from painful joints? If yes, you may try boxing training routine, which reduces pain significantly due to using arms and legs while exercising.
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main reasons behind debilitating joint pains. Hence, the bones adapt to your daily activities once you start moving your body.
However, it’s essential to consult health Muay Thai practitioners before starting with fitness boxing. On top of that, most trainers will start you off with less strenuous exercises to slowly build your endurance. So, there’s no need to worry about the boxing exercises putting too much pressure on your bones.
5. Burn Calories
Fitness boxing is an excellent alternative to the usual exercises done by people to lose calories. A trainer can suggest a particular routine that helps burn calories depending on your endurance level.
Therefore, boxing automatically becomes an exercise choice for those on their weight loss journey. At the same time, it’s also great for those with a primarily sedentary lifestyle, like office goers or the elderly, to keep them active. And the best part is that it attacks the extra calories taken through food.
6. Get Your Cardio
Those who have been to the doctor must have been suggested to include cardiovascular exercises in their daily routines. The benefits of cardio are endless as it helps to build overall good health and decrease the potential of diabetes or heart ailments.
Usually, it’s done by completing several steps or walking around a block. However, these can be time-consuming, and you are just left with a sore body at the end of the day. But opting for a fun and energetic exercise routine like fitness boxing can help you reap cardio benefits and enhance your cardio endurance.
7. Better Mood And Less Stress
That’s right, partaking in fitness boxing and Muay Thai classes also has mental benefits! It is essential to refresh the mind and the body, which can be done by exercising like fitness boxing. Along with increasing your productivity, boxing reduces stress and alleviates your mood.
Besides, when you exercise, endorphins are released by your brain, making you feel more happy and more content. So, if you’re tired of leading a stagnant and sedentary lifestyle, joining a fitness boxing course may change things. You can also improve your mental health with a training session for the entire body and weight loss!
Should You Start Boxing?
That’s everything we had to tell you about the health and physical benefits of fitness boxing.
We know it can be intimidating to approach a high-endurance exercise like boxing. But rest assured, the exercises grow on you, and you will start having fun after a few days.
It’s best to include fitness boxing into your usual exercise schedule gradually. With the growth of your endurance, you will get more confidence to try out new moves. And, if you suffer from bone or muscle issues, do remember to consult a doctor before joining a class.
Being consistent is necessary to get the varied health and physical benefits of fitness boxing. We hope you’ll have fun adopting this new form of exercise in your Muay Thai journey to better health. You can also try using a punching bag for different Muay Thai workouts. You can get a boxing bag in many different types, so research which punching bag is right for you.
Please contact MMA Factory’s team if you need assistance purchasing boxing gloves or equipment. We are happy to help!
Good luck with your new sport!
