Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach with a degree in Athletic Training and more than 20 years of experience helping her clients get healthier and reach their goals!
Welcome. I'm a retired U.S. Army officer and former newspaper editor who embarked on my journey into Tai Chi while still in active service. Although my initial interest was piqued during my military days, my pursuit of Tai Chi was temporarily sidelined by time constraints and professional respons…
FAQs:
What is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "Art of eight limbs", as it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the late 20th to 21st century, when Westernised practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing and mixed-rules matches as well as matches under Muay Thai rules around the world.
What Do You Do at Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is generally practiced with punches, kicks, elbows, knees, grappling, and even head-butts. This art of fighting is considered extremely safe due to the fact that during training, pads are worn to keep the fighters in good shape in preparation for fights. Muay Thai is known for having a high cardiovascular load during training and fights. This style of fighting is used recreationally, in self-defense, in military and armed forces, and for sport.
Is Muay Thai Training for Everyone?
Just a few decades back, the only people training Muay Thai were competitors. Lean, mean, killing machines, covered in tattoos. Or at least, that was what most people pictured in their heads when they think of Muay Thai fighters. With the rise of mixed martial arts, and also the middle class, the paradigm shifted. People start to discover the benefits and fun of training Muay Thai and Muay Thai gyms are now found all around the world. I started Muay Thai in my 30s and befriended many who were also in their 30s. In my time training, I have encountered a wide age spectrum from 4-year-olds to 70-year-olds, and almost every age in between. Male, female, and every gender in between. Black, white, and every color in between. So, yes, pretty much everyone. If you can see, stand, move your limbs, jump, and run, you will do just fine. No special ability is required.
What to Expect When Learning Muay Thai?
Most classes will start with some sort of warm-up, which could include jogging around, squats, jumping rope, push-ups, etc. This will be followed by a light stretch (which you should repeat at the end of the class). Once you’re all warmed up, your instructor will run the class through a few techniques and drills. Rarely will your first class involve any sparring.
A typical class could be split like this:
- Warm-up (5-10 minutes)
- Shadowboxing (5 minutes)
- Beginner techniques and drills (20 minutes) *mostly punching combos*
- Advanced techniques and drills (15-20 minutes) *using both punching and kicking*
- Intense cardio session (5-10 minutes)
- Cool down and stretch (5 minutes)
Is Muay Thai Dangerous?
Muay Thai is quite dangerous, it can lead to broken bones, which will end a career quickly. The hits to the head are another reason why this sport is so dangerous. Even in professional matches, it is now against the rules to hit the head with an elbow from below. This is because it could cause a concussion, a broken skull, or a cut on the head. Head strikes are very common in Muay Thai, and most people who do it don’t wear headgear, so even training can cause a lot of health problems.
Muay Thai is generally dangerous because the knees and elbows are used as weapons in addition to the hands and feet. This gives you a much wider range of attacks and defenses than other martial arts, like the downward elbow. It also gives you many other ways to hurt your opponent. Another thing that Muay Thai does that most other forms of martial arts don’t do is climb an opponent.
Muay Thai is one of the few sports where you can literally climb on top of a standing opponent and hit them with several blows. Imagine someone climbing you like a jungle gym, sitting on your shoulders like a piggyback ride, and then hitting you in the head 15 times with their elbow in just 20 seconds. In Muay Thai, that’s just how things are done. Muay Thai was created during a time when brutality was needed to send a message to the invading Indian armies, and that message hasn’t changed in the sport it is today.
How Does Muay Thai Affect Your Body?
Muay Thai training is largely cardio-based. There is a mixture of low and high-intensity cardio in most training programs, which develops both your aerobic and anaerobic abilities. Classes can include hundreds of kicks and punches thrown. During the beginning weeks of training, your body will start releasing more endorphins, along with activating other hormones. These hormones will give you more energy, raise your metabolism, and improve your mental clarity. The longer you consistently train, the more your body will adapt. Within a couple of months, your level of fitness will have increased to the point where everyday life feels easy. As an added benefit, the same hormones activated through training can help combat depression, anxiety, or brain fog.
A Muay Thai training program is one of the best ways to lose weight. The sheer amount of physical activity involved helps to keep you in a caloric deficit, one of the most important aspects of weight loss. An hour of Muay Thai class can burn between 500 – 1000 calories, making it a highly efficient way of maximizing your time. You would need to double or triple the time spent exercising to burn an equal amount of calories if you did something else, such as jogging.
Many people who engage in regular Muay Thai training are able to stay healthy due to the robust immune system training promotes.
Is Muay Thai Safer Than Boxing?
Any sport where the inherent goal is to hurt the opponent is bound to be very dangerous. The dangers of boxing and Muay Thai slightly differ, just like their rules and objectives.
The biggest safety concern in boxing has always been brain trauma since the head is the main target.
Not every pro boxer suffers from this problem, let alone regular practitioners, but brain damage is a topic every boxing enthusiast should research and be aware of the risks.
Muay Thai presents a real danger for brain damage, but because the whole body is open to attacks and the specific scoring, the head receives less punishment than in boxing.
But as a tradeoff, you need to worry about many more orthopedic injuries, like fractures, ligament damage, and countless bumps and bruises to the entire body.
Both boxing and Muay Thai are dangerous sports, and every practitioner needs to understand the risks. But they can also be practiced and enjoyed relatively safely when practitioners approach them correctly.
But based on versatility, Muay Thai wins as a self-defense tool. Kicking is an excellent way to keep a safer distance, and this is something Muay Thai is very good at.
Do You Need to Be Fit to Learn Muay Thai?
You don’t need to be in shape to start training Muay Thai. MuayThai is a skill-based sport. If you focus on the techniques you are being taught, and drill them with focus and patience you will naturally get more conditioned as you practice, being able to do things faster and harder as you get better.
How Many Rounds is a Muay Thai Fight?
In the internationally most important Muay Thai stadiums, Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, fights are sanctioned for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, with a break of 2 minutes between rounds. This can differ in amateur fights or other fight promotions with variations such as 2-minute rounds, 3-round fights, and 1-minute rest-time between rounds.
Does Muay Thai Hurt?
To Muay Thai beginners, common injuries typically serve as more than simple reminders of the physical nature of the sport. They also often serve as barometers of just how dedicated an individual is to the sport of Muay Thai.
Aching muscles is one of the most common injuries suffered by beginners - not just in Muay Thai but in almost any other contact sport. Muscle aches and pains are normal, but if it seems more than normal, then you might need to rest for a couple of days. Treat your aching muscles to a good massage or rub in some Thai liniment if you have access to any.
Knuckle bruises are among the very first injuries you will encounter in your Muay Thai training. This is a common bruise for practitioners of MT and boxing. The reason is that your knuckles are still not used to punching and its impact. Your skin is still tender around the area. As you train more, your knuckles are going to get harder.
Several rib injuries can be sustained by beginners in Muay Thai. It can be a rib muscle strain or it can be a fracture. This is usually caused by being kicked or punched hard during sparring. Recovery time for this type of injury varies. It depends on the severity of the rib injury. If it is a minor muscle strain then you should be able to train again after just a few days off. But if it is something more serious, such as an injury to your rib cartilage, it will take several weeks to heal.
Injuries are part of Muay Thai. They're a major part of it. Whether it's training or actual fighting, you should expect to deal with or more of the common injuries listed above. Some might find it strange but having to deal with injuries is an excellent way to know yourself better. How you react to the pain will reveal a lot and it will help you determine if Muay Thai and martial arts in general is for you.
Is There an Age Limit for Muay Thai?
There is no age limit when it comes to learning Muay Thai. You can learn how to fight at any age, but your chances of becoming a professional are much higher if you start before 15. It is not too late for anyone to start training, but it does become increasingly difficult with each passing year. If you don't have an instructor or trainer, you should start working on your conditioning and getting fit. It's also very important you learn how to form proper techniques before starting Muay Thai training, which most beginner students don't understand. There are multiple benefits of learning Muay Thai for kids, including building character, life skills, respect, discipline, fitness training, mental toughness, and goal setting.
Muay Thai History
The history of Muay Thai can be traced historically to the Sukhothai dynasty of Thailand around the 13th century. As recorded in Thai history, the first Thai army was born out of a need to defend the kingdom and soldiers were taught both armed and unarmed combat. Over time, the evolution of this martial art gave us Muay Boran and Muay Thai as we know it today.
Due to wars with neighboring kingdoms and tribes over the centuries, Muay Thai became a way of life for the people of Siam (as Thailand used to be called). One of the most famous stories of Muay Thai came from the great Nai Khanom Tom, during the Ayutthaya period. The tale narrates how Nai Khanom Tom defeated 9 Burmese fighters, one after another, during his imprisonment after the Siam kingdom was under siege. The historical event (half steeped in myth) is now celebrated as Muay Thai Day which takes place every year on March 17th.
During the Rattanakosin Kingdom era (around the 18th-early 20th century), Muay Thai formally became a national sport where rules and regulations were introduced.
Main Styles of Thai Boxing
Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is a martial art and combat sport that originated in Thailand. There are several styles of Muay Thai that have developed over the years, each with its own unique approach to training and fighting. Here are some of the main Muay Thai styles:
1. Muay Mat
Also known as "heavy style", this style emphasizes powerful strikes and kicks that are designed to inflict maximum damage on the opponent.
2. Muay Tae
Also known as "kicking style", this style emphasizes quick and precise kicks, often targeting the legs, hips, and midsection of the opponent.
3. Muay Sok
Also known as "elbow style", this style emphasizes the use of elbow strikes, which are some of the most devastating techniques in Muay Thai.
4. Muay Khao
Also known as "clinch style", this style emphasizes close-range combat and focuses on using clinching techniques to control the opponent and deliver devastating knee strikes.
5. Muay Femur
Also known as "technical style", this style emphasizes technical precision and finesse, often incorporating complex combinations and footwork to outmaneuver the opponent.
Training Structure of Muay Thai
The different elements of the training are each designed to sharpen specific areas of your Muay Thai game. Good gyms will incorporate many of these elements in training to ensure students develop a well-rounded game. This is an overview of the different things you will encounter in your Muay Thai training.
1. Road Work – Outside of your ‘official’ training hours when you dedicate time to road work, also known as running. This is designed to help you improve your energy systems and build up your general cardio. Running is completely optional in most gyms and requires you to be motivated to do it on your own. Adding running to your training will help you get in better shape, allowing you to feel less tired in training.
2. Shadow Boxing – At the start of most Muay Thai classes you will usually start off shadow boxing. Shadow boxing takes place in front of a mirror so you can look at your stance, footwork, and techniques. As a beginner, when you shadow box you should be trying to maintain the perfect stance, rhythm, and guard while throwing your techniques. Seeing yourself in the mirror gives you a chance to see how you look and what you need to work on.
3. Pad Work – Hitting Muay Thai pads are an essential element of Muay Thai training. In most gyms, you will have other students hold pads for you unless you are doing private lessons or training in Thailand. As a beginner, you should try to work with someone who is more advanced and knows how to hold pads. This will ensure that they can give you corrections and help you learn how to hit the pads.
4. Bag Work – Another area that is used in Muay Thai training is heavy bag training. The heavy bag is a piece of equipment that is designed to give you an opportunity to work on your techniques and conditioning on your own time. It’s hard to train on a heavy bag when you first start because you won’t know what you should be doing. The key is to keep everything simple and focus on single techniques to start. Throw a jab, reset, throw a right kick, reset, throw a knee, reset. Concentrate on trying to throw every strike with perfect execution and resetting yourself back to your Muay Thai stance. Don’t worry about trying to together combinations, just focus on the basics.
5. Partner Drills – One of the best ways to become comfortable punching and kicking an opponent is to work on drills with a partner. Drills can help you develop confidence in your guard and will teach you how to block incoming attacks. Since drills are performed with no power, it allows you to focus on your technique and eliminates any risk of being hurt.
6. Clinching – In Muay Thai there is striking, and there is clinching. Think of the Muay Thai clinch as the BJJ/Wrestling side of MMA. This is an area where you are locked in with your opponent and battle for control of the position. Clinching only involves arm control, sweeps, elbows, and knees. Your development in the clinch will depend on the gym you train at. A lot of Western gyms don’t focus on clinching because of time constraints and a lack of clinching experience. When you clinch, you should take off your gloves (when you are advanced you can clinch with gloves) and wear a mouthguard. You would be surprised how many head butts you get when you clinch, so protect your mouth.
7. Muay Thai Sparring – Sparring is the process of utilizing all of your techniques against a real opponent. It is in this stage of training that you will learn what works and what doesn’t work in reality. This is the element that most traditional martial arts are missing from their training regimen. This is what makes sports like Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing much more useful than other martial arts out there.
8. Body Conditioning – One thing that separates Muay Thai fighters from other fighters is their toughness and conditioning. Fighters who have conditioned their bodies to take pain are able to withstand an enormous amount of damage without going down. As a beginner, your goal is to focus on slowly developing a strong body over time. You will notice your shins hurt like crazy when you first start. That is completely normal and something you have to live with. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to conditioning your body in Muay Thai. The more you kick and get hit, the tougher your body will become.
9. Fighting – Competing in the ring is the final stage of a Muay Thai training program. This is the ultimate goal because it allows you to test everything you have learned in training and see how it applies to a real situation. Less than 10% of people who train in Muay Thai ever end up competing. So don’t feel like you have to compete in order to train Muay Thai.
10 Benefits of Muay Thai
With roots dating back to the 13th century, Muay Thai was originally developed for hand-to-hand combat in warfare. Over time, it evolved to become a martial art and fight sport that we know today. Although it remains to be a full-contact sport, the times have changed with more and more people taking up Muay Thai for a variety of reasons. While many continue to compete in the ring, there is an increasing population training Muay Thai for fitness and recreational reasons. Today, Muay Thai is embraced by practitioners of all ages all over the world. Here’s a look at ten benefits of Muay Thai:
1. Calorie Burner
It’s all about burning those extra calories and Muay Thai training does it exceptionally effectively. Each Muay Thai session lasts about 1-2 hours and consists of warm-up, shadow boxing, drilling techniques, heavy bag work, padwork, before finishing off with strength training exercises. One 2-hour session can burn 1000 calories, making it a great and fun way to lose weight.
2. Self-defense
Muay Thai consists of both attacking and defense techniques. As a combat art originating in military warfare, Muay Thai was designed to inflict pain on the enemy while protecting the user from physical harm. Its range of weapons like the elbow strike, knee strike, and push kick can be used to disarm an attack. It is a great self-defense skill, making it ideal for everyone to learn especially kids and women.
3. Mental Toughness
Training Muay Thai helps to build mental fortitude by challenging limits both physically and mentally as it takes perseverance. So Muay Thai strengthens not only the body but also the mind. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Being mentally tough enables a person to succeed in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
4. Self-Confidence
Training Muay Thai makes one leaner and gets one into a better shape. And when a person feels good about the way he/she looks, the more confidence they exude. At the same time if one makes the effort to train Muay Thai regularly, he/she will get better at it, and seeing that improvement over time has a direct effect on the growth of self-confidence.
5. Endorphin Rush
Endorphins are a group of chemicals secreted within the brain and nervous system. The release of endorphins in the body is known to promote a sense of comfort and well-being which can help in stress management. Endorphin rush refers to this state which is experienced after a workout which is almost guaranteed with each Muay Thai training session.
6. Strengthens The Body
Muay Thai training is tough. Each session lasts from 1 to 2 hours and incorporates multiple rounds of shadow boxing, heavy bagwork, padwork, strength training, and conditioning exercises. Traditional training for fighters will even include a 3-5km run as a warm-up. A sore body today is a strong body tomorrow. Clearly, training in Muay Thai regularly will improve overall fitness and strengthen the body.
7. Widens Social Circle
There is always a strong sense of comradeship at every Muay Thai gym. There is a common interest in learning Muay Thai; everyone is working towards the shared goal of self-betterment; blood and sweat are shed during training; and this is how the deepest friendships are forged. Friends who slay together, stay together.
8. Fun
For all fitness enthusiasts who are sick of running on the treadmill or lifting the same old weights, Muay Thai is the antidote. Besides learning different techniques and combos, modern Muay Thai training incorporates a variety of exercises that makes training fun and effective at the same time. When the activity is interesting, there is more motivation and incentive to train. Whether for recreation or fitness, Muay Thai is an ideal activity that is fun and fulfilling.
9. Lowers Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular illness is the number 1 cause of death globally. One of the most common heart diseases is hypertension, or high blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications like stroke and heart failure. The first step to reducing the risk of developing heart disease is to make positive changes by engaging in regular cardiovascular exercises. As a cardio-intensive sport, regular training in Muay Thai can reduce blood pressure and strengthen the heart. Being healthy isn’t a fad or a trend, it is a lifestyle and Muay Thai can help to achieve it.
10. Easy to learn
Unlike many martial arts that focus on katas (or forms), Muay Thai is straightforward and to the point. There is no elaborate or detailed choreography and the moves are not designed to be performed for entertainment purposes. Muay Thai is a stand-up striking style that was developed to hurt the opponent in the most efficient way. They are effective yet instinctive enough to be picked up easily. No need to memorize fancy, complicated movements. Easy as 1-2-3.
Rules and Regulations in Muay Thai
Here are some of the key rules and regulations that are common across various Muay Thai promotions and sanctioning organizations:
1. Age Limit
The minimum age to qualify for professional bouts varies from country to country. The age limit in Thailand is 15, and 16 or 18 in other countries. Many fighters start competing at a younger age in amateur fights which may prohibit elbows and strikes to the head. Protective gear like a head guard, elbow pads, and padded vest may be mandatory.
2. The Ring
Fights always take place in the ring (squared) on an elevated platform measuring between sizes of 4.9 by 4.9 meters (16 ft) to 7.3 by 7.3 meters (24 ft). Safety precautions are taken into consideration with the ring construction usually made up of ropes, 4 corner posts, and a floor covered with appropriate padding/cushioning material.
3. Boxing Gloves
For safety and fairness, professional Muay Thai promotions will always provide boxing gloves. Glove sizes between 6oz to 10oz are prescribed based on the weight divisions. There are now several promotions that sanction Muay Thai fights with MMA-style gloves (open-finger) between 4-6oz.
4. Competitor Attire
Shirts and shoes are prohibited for male competitors and only Muay Thai shorts are worn during fights. Most Thai boxers also wear the sacred armbands known as Prajiad, including at events outside of Thailand. Ankle guards are commonly worn but they are not mandated.
5. Weight Divisions
Like traditional boxing, Muay Thai fighters compete within their weight divisions. Weigh-ins usually take place a day before the fight or on the same day to ensure that the fighters meet the respective weight classes.
6. Length of Fight
Under professional full Muay Thai rules, fights are sanctioned for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, with a 2-minute break in between rounds. On a number of made-for-tv shows, fights are shortened to 3 rounds of 3 minutes to cater to the casual audience. For amateur events, fight durations are shorter with 2-minute rounds, and 1-minute rest time between rounds. Junior fights consist of 1-minute rounds.
7. Female Fights
Female fights differ little from their male counterparts. The most obvious would be the necessity of a top, usually a sports bra or sleeveless shirt. Women with long hair will also need to have their hair tied up. The length of fights differs between promotions but many female fights are timed the same as the male fights.
8. Scoring System
In the event that there is no knockout, the winner will be decided based on the scoring system. The system in Muay Thai favors the fighter who can land more shots effectively and inflict more damage. The more aggressive ones do not necessarily score more points if the strikes do not inflict damage. It is quality over quantity and this is a reason why casual fans often misinterpret the results of a fight. For scoring, the winner in each round is awarded 10 points while his opponent gets 9, 8 or 7 points depending on the performance of the fighters in the round. For example, the clear winner in a round will get 10 points while the loser will get 9 points but if the latter was given an 8-count once, he will get 8 points instead. In an evenly-matched round, both boxers get 10 points each. A fighter who is dominant in all 5 rounds can get a maximum of 50 points.
9. Stoppages
The referee can stop the fight in the event of a disqualification, knock-out, or if one fighter visibly outclasses his opponent. The on-duty doctor can also stop a fight on the basis that the fighter is unfit to continue. Corners can also throw in the towel to stop the fight if their fighter is hurt. In these cases, a winner is determined before the end of the bout.
10. Fouls
For safety reasons, some techniques and strikes are penalized and can result in a warning or disqualification. Headbutts, biting, groin shots, hitting the back of the head, kicking knee joints, and poking the eyes are not prohibited. If an opponent has maintained 3-point contact with the ring canvas (e.g. with both feet and one hand on the ground), no striking is allowed to the opponent. Accidents do occasionally happen due to the fast pace of the fight and this will be judged accordingly by the referee or ring officials. Disrespectful behaviors such as spitting or swearing will also be dealt with penalties including a warning, loss of points, or disqualification. While takedowns are allowed, Judo or wrestling techniques are prohibited. The throwing of opponents of the ring or back-breaking as seen in pro wrestling is also not allowed.
How to Improve in Muay Thai
There is no shortcut to becoming good at Muay Thai. Professional fighters in Thailand train twice daily, six days a week, and compete almost every month. Many of them accumulate hundreds of fights on their record over their career as they started training as young as four or five.
Muay Thai techniques are simple and it is all about drilling; grinding the same techniques over and over again on a daily basis until they become second nature. Besides working on techniques, cardio, and strength are important elements to becoming good in Muay Thai. This is why running and strength training exercises are also done every day in a fighter training program.
Trainers are addressed as “Kru” in Muay Thai which means teacher. Krus is respected and always trusted for doing what is best for a fighter. Be it that push during training or the advice given, students must always give 100% trust as Kru knows what is best. Even fighters with many titles to their names listen to their trainers.
Most importantly, giving your best during every training is the way to progress. Push yourself and give all you have got. In short, show up and train as regularly and frequently as you can.
How to Prepare for Your First Muay Thai Training
Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare for your first Muay Thai training session. Expect muscle soreness but a lot of fun! Trying out a class before you fully commit to training is a good way to get a feel for the space and your instructor’s style of teaching.
1. Don’t Eat Beforehand
It’s better to exercise with as little in your stomach as possible. If you eat and attempt to do a lot of physical, strenuous activity, you might run the risk of throwing up. If you want some energy before your class, eat a banana 30-45 minutes before you get started.
2. Arrive Early
Especially with your first class, it’s good to arrive nice and early so you can get acquainted with your instructor and get familiar with your surroundings. It’s important to arrive on time for any class as you don’t ever want to be late for a training session. It’s disrespectful to the other students in the class and not nice to waste their time or your instructor’s time.
3. Wear Appropriate Clothes
You’re going to sweat a lot during your training session so it’s good to come wearing the right gear. Clothing that has sweat-wicking material is important. You don’t have to have Muay Thai shorts for your first session, but comfortable gym-style clothes are an absolute must for any kind of martial arts class. Bring an extra shirt and towel just in case. Luckily footwear isn’t a concern as you won’t be wearing any for your session.
4. Bring Plenty of Water
Because of how much you are going to be sweating during your training session, it’s crucial that you bring enough water to hydrate yourself during class. Your body absorbs water best at room temperature so make sure your water bottle is full and not too hot or cold.
Muay Thai Training
Muay Thai training is a rigorous and challenging process that requires discipline, dedication, and hard work. Training is essential for anyone who wants to become a skilled Muay Thai practitioner, whether they are a professional fighter or an amateur enthusiast.
The training process typically begins with learning the basics of Muay Thai, including footwork, strikes, and defensive techniques. This involves practicing movements and techniques repeatedly until they become second nature. It also involves developing the necessary physical strength and conditioning through exercises such as running, weightlifting, and bodyweight exercises.
As the practitioner progresses, they will typically move on to more advanced techniques, including combinations, clinching, and sparring. Clinching is a particularly important technique in Muay Thai, as it allows practitioners to control their opponents and deliver powerful knee strikes and elbows.
Sparring is also an essential part of Muay Thai training, as it allows practitioners to practice their techniques against a live opponent. During sparring sessions, practitioners will typically wear protective gear such as gloves, shin guards, and headgear to prevent injuries.
In addition to physical training, many Muay Thai practitioners also incorporate mental training into their practice. This can involve meditation, visualization, and other techniques to help practitioners stay focused and calm during fights.
Muay Thai training can take place in a variety of settings, including traditional training camps, specialized Muay Thai gyms, and even personal training sessions with a qualified instructor. Many training camps in Thailand offer intensive training programs that allow practitioners to train alongside professional fighters and learn from experienced trainers.
Overall, Muay Thai training is a comprehensive process that requires a significant commitment of time, effort, and energy. However, for those who are willing to put in the work, it offers a challenging and rewarding way to stay fit, develop self-discipline, and gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture and martial arts.
Five Signs of a High-Quality Muay Thai Trainer
Here are some signs of a high-quality Muay Thai coach. If you can’t think of your trainer and confidently check off the following five signs of a good trainer, then you may need to switch gyms.
1. YOUR TRAINER FREQUENTLY CORRECTS YOU
You signed up at the Muay Thai gym to learn. Even if you’re not planning on fighting, having good form and technique allows you to push harder as you get better while avoiding injury. That said, you are not perfect and are basically there to have someone tell you what to do – correctly. If you and someone else are doing something with completely different techniques and mechanics (say, throwing a jab) yet the trainer gives you both a thumbs up, see this as a potential red flag.
You should be corrected more often than not instead of being told you are doing something correctly, when in fact, you aren’t. Constructive feedback is the best way to learn.
2. YOUR TRAINER FREQUENTLY CHALLENGES YOU
In addition to being corrected, trainers should also be putting you to the test and encouraging you to go further. It’s one thing to get the basic techniques down, but it’s another completely when what you’re doing is way below the level at which you are. A good trainer will push you by working on your weaknesses, encouraging you to use more power, telling you to do something faster, etc. Whatever level you are now, you could always be better.
3. YOUR TRAINER DOES MORE THAN HOLD PADS
Anyone can do a belly pad and physically hold Thai pads. That certainly doesn’t mean you’re getting in quality work. Good trainers don’t just simply hold and tell you what to do. They’re teaching you at the same time. This can be done in a number of ways, from repeated reminders of how to do something correctly to showing you a new technique. Without imparting valuable information to you, how can one be called a “trainer”? If all you’re getting from your trainer is a sweaty workout, you’re getting scammed.
4. YOU CAN SEE YOUR PROGRESS
If a trainer has the ability to effectively communicate their knowledge, you can and will get better with time. If your trainer is not doing that, expect to get discouraged really fast. Progress isn’t just about how you’re feeling with your conditioning; it’s things like finally blocking kicks when you spar or using that technique you’ve been drilling on the Thai pads and finally landing it! If you’re working with a trainer for some time, expect to see results from yourself or ditch the dead weight.
5. YOU HAVE A TWO-WAY, POSITIVE, NON-TOXIC RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR TRAINER
Above all, the relationship you have with your trainer should generally be a positive one. While you may not become best friends with your trainer, he/she should be someone you feel you can confide in when it comes to your aspirations and goals; they, in turn, should be able to give you constructive criticism on how you can get better. Of course, it shouldn’t all be criticism. Good trainers know when to praise and when to criticize. These trainers also don’t take out their bad day on you physically, verbally, or mentally, or make you feel incompetent because you don’t understand something the first time around.
This should go both ways – your trainer looks out for you and you, when you can, look out for your trainer. Give them some of your water between rounds. If you’re headed to the gym and have extra time, ask them if they’d like you to bring them some coffee beforehand. A bit of kindness goes a long way. You two looking out for each other on some level, no matter what your goals are in the sport, from meeting your fitness goals to getting a few fights in – this is the person you want to have your back.
How to Find Muay Thai Gyms Near You
Muay Thai is becoming increasingly popular around the world. You will be able to find many Muay Thai training options in most cities. The best ways to find them are as follow:
1. Ask for Recommendations on Facebook
Family and friends are your best and most trustworthy sources. If you have friends or family members in your area who happen to train in Muay Thai or know someone who does, they can point you in the right direction. You can do this very simply and quickly by using the “ask for recommendation” functionality on Facebook. Most people would have done their own share of research to find the best gym possible. The added benefit is knowing people at a gym that you can train with.
2. Google search “Muay Thai Near Me”
If you got nowhere after asking for recommendations, then Google is your best friend. Simply search “Muay Thai near me” which should show you a long list of gyms in your area. Remember to share your location to get the most accurate answers.
3. Check Out Review Websites
After shortlisting the gyms from (1) and (2), it’s time to do more research on them. Any self-respecting Muay Thai gym will have its own website, Google Business page, or Facebook page. If you do a Google search on a particular gym, you will usually see an info box on the search results. This is a Google Business feature. You can find reviews about a gym in this section.
4. Do A Background Check
If you got this far, it’s time to do a background check on the instructor(s). Start with the gym’s social media pages to look at their training videos. You should also check the instructor’s personal Instagram accounts to look up their credentials. The level of engagement is also a good gauge. Students who enjoy their classes are more likely to like and comment on their gym/instructor’s social media pages.
5. Set up a Trial Class
Now for the final test. If everything is looking good so far, call up for a trial session. Almost every gym offers one free or paid trial session. You can take advantage of this to check and compare a few gyms. Some gyms also don’t publish their membership prices online so you need to inquire in person.
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