For any beginner Muay Thai fighter who wants to clinch like Tony Jaa, that first punch on the pad may be more painful than their thoughts. But don’t be scared, every pro fighter was once there. It will take time to become an expert, but no one can defeat you if you're consistent.
Before we actually talk about practice you must know that Muay Thai is not just a fighting game. It helps you build self-confidence in society. Unlike other martial arts that provide a controlled environment, Muay Thai diversifies your skills and practices beyond ring fight.
If you want to get an overview of where to start the practice, don’t go anywhere else. In this blog, you’ll get a complete guide about Muay Thai from choosing a gym to training and becoming an expert. Every nitty-gritty will be covered here.
Let’s dive in!
What Makes Muay Thai Special?
If we talk about the specialty of Muay Thai the first thing is the use of eight limbs rather than four. It's also famous for its history and the classical performance before the competition. As Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand it presents the enriched culture and traditions of Thai people.
Muay Thai training is considered a full-body workout, so it offers many health benefits. It improves cardiovascular health and muscle tone and burns around 1000 calories in an hour of training. Moreover, research concludes that during training, the Nak Muay (Muay Thai fighters) utilize their full concentration, which improves their psychological abilities.
What's the Difference Between Kickboxing and Muay Thai?
Both kickboxing and Muay Thai are the most popular stand-up striking sports but there are some core differences between them.
Kickboxers use their four limbs while Nak Muay starts with a notch, then kicks, punches, knees, elbows, and finally, they hit a full-strength clinch.
The strikes in kickboxing are complex meanwhile in Muay Thai the strikes are simple and easy.
Muay Thai fighters usually strike with the middle shin while the kickboxers do strike with their foot on the lower shin.
Is Muay Thai Better Than Boxing?
There isn’t a single perspective by which we decide which sport is better. It purely depends on your preferences and abilities. Both Muay Thai and kickboxing have their advantages and disadvantages.
In one-on-one fighting, Muay Thai is always considered best. Because it gives more concentration power to the fighter. Also, the Nak Muay uses little head movement and gives an instant strike with full power. Additionally, they are trained to avoid dogging so this helps them during in-game competitions.
But if you want to defeat a random street opponent your boxing technique would help you more. Because in a random fight, you need instant actions and also you need to give a dodge to avoid a harmful kick. Moreover in street fights, sometimes you may not be able to make a powerful clinch as you aren’t wearing specific clothes. But this can be a rare situation.
So it depends on your expertise and your trainer’s advice to choose any.
Where to Start Your Muay Thai Journey?
Find the gym
After you’ve decided to learn Muay Thai the next pressing question might be, where can I learn it? So here comes the gym. Don't just focus on the outer look of a gym but make sure to analyse its hygiene and environment completely. The gym must have a good reputation in the community like the number of successful fighters they produce every year.
Now you don’t need to worry about all this because we have a good hygienic and supportive environment at South Bridge Fighters Club. Recently our student won the 2024 IFK United States Championship Tournament held only once a year so that’s a great victory. We as champions of 2 national titles, are considered one of the top schools in Massachusetts.
Choose your trainer
After choosing a gym you have to choose your trainer. Before any deal or contract make sure to have a tester session. This will help you analyze whether the trainer is eligible enough to excel in fighting games or not. Once you're satisfied with his training and guidance then sign out the contract.
At South Bridge Fighters Club you will be trained under the supervision of Mr. Jesus Feliciano and some other skilled trainers and champions. Coach Jay is a seasoned martial artist who is very skilled and dedicated. In 2023, he clinched the title of the United States Open Weight Champion at the renowned annual tournament IFK United States International Championship hosted by the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City.
Track the progress
This is important while learning Muay Thai or any other fighting game. Don't make impulsive decisions and dedicate proper time. Follow your trainer's instructions and keep tracking your progress. After 2 months analyze, if this game aligns with your health and fitness or not. If not, ask your trainer to make the necessary changes.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Muay Thai?
Usually, it takes 6 months to learn all the basics of Muay Thai. After 12-16 months of training, you will be ready for your first fight. And it takes 3-4 years for a Nak Mauay to fight at a reasonable level. If you keep practicing seriously every single day, you will become an expert in 10 years. And obviously, more practice will make you a champion.
Can I Learn Muay Thai by Myself?
Yes, you can learn Muay Thai by yourself. But you need to be dedicated and passionate about it. During self-training, you should track and maintain the record of training on a daily and weekly basis at your ease. There are some easy exercises like shadow boxing, cardio exercises, and footwork drills that you can try at home.
Limitations of self-training
During self-training chances of injuries are higher. Muay Thai is a very high-intensity striking game because all the limbs are being used. So self-fighters can get harmed. If you don’t have any expert guidance or someone noticing your moves, you must avoid it. The best practice is to join a gym where you would be under supervision.
Is Muay Thai Good for Self-Defense?
In 2023 the crime rate reported in the United States was 363.3 cases per 10,000 population. From child abuse to street crimes, this ratio is insane. Keeping this situation in mind many citizens are now more concerned about self defence.
Most people consider Muay Thai as an effective type of self-defense because of its all-around striking system. You can use your full body against the opponent. Moreover, you can end the fight too early with a powerful strike.
Another reason for making it more effective in self-defense is local training availability. You can master this skill easily from South Bridge Fighting Club where experts will guide you in a more friendly manner.
Join Us to Begin Your Muay Thigh Training
If you’ve decided that Muay Thai aligns with your desires and you want to start practicing, you can join our gym South Bridge Fighting Club. In our vicinity, you won’t feel drained, because we provide a sustainable learning environment where you can feel like a family.
In our gym we not only focus on physical training but we pay special attention to the mental health of fighters as well. We are considered the best martial arts school in Massachusetts because of the successful fighters we produce.
So what’s holding you back? Reach out to us without further delay.