Muay Thai

Benefits of Muay Thai

MK Boxing Muay Thai class has a heavy focus on body conditioning. Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote the level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition. It is also perfect for self-defense.

Muay Thai classes in MK Boxing Gym

The Muay Thai training includes many rounds of various methods of practice (3-5 minute periods broken up by a short rest, often 1-2 minutes). Thai pad training is a cornerstone of Muay Thai conditioning which involves practicing punches, kicks, knees, and elbow strikes with a trainer wearing thick pads which cover the forearms and hands. These special pads (often referred to as thai pads) are used to absorb the impact of the strikes and allow the client to react to the attacks of the pad holder in a live situation.

Focus mitts are specific to training a fighter’s hand speed, punch conditioning combinations, punching power, defense, and counter-punching and may also be used to practice elbow strikes. Heavy bag training is a conditioning and power exercise that reinforces the techniques practiced on the pads. Sparring is a mean to test a technique, skills, range, strategy, and timing against a partner. Specific tactics and strategies can be trained with sparring including in close fighting, clinching and kneeing only, cutting off the ring, or using reach and distance to keep an aggressive fighter away.

Muay Thai in history

The first great upsurge of interest in Muay Thai as a sport, as well as a battlefield skill, was under King Naresuan in 1584, a time known as the Ayuddhaya period. Thai Boxing became the favorite sport and pastime of the people, the army and the King. Historical sources show that people from all walks of life flocked to training camps. Rich, poor, young and old all wanted some of the action. Every village staged its prize fights and had its champions. Every bout became a betting contest as well as a contest of local pride.

Muay Thai techniques are taken from the more lethal boxing technique, Muay Boran, which originated from the older fighting style of ling lom (air monkey) via the ancient mother art of krabi krabong (stick and sword fighting). It is known as the ‘Art of Eight Limbs’ as fighters are able to use fists, elbows, knees and shins against eight points of contact, six more than regular boxing.

Come and train at one of the best Muay Thai training programs around, and see how boxing promotes physical fitness, builds character, and is ultimately a way of life.