If you are interested in learning a martial art then you might be finding it difficult to choose which one to go for. There are so many, such as karate, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, and Muay Thai.
How do you know which one is going to be right for you?
Muay Thai, also referred to as Thai kickboxing, dates back to the 18th Century. It is a very popular form of martial art and can help you in lots of different ways.
Whether you are looking to improve your fitness, become stronger, get better at self-defense, or just learn a new skill, Muay Thai can give you what you are after.
If you want to know more about Muay Thai and whether it is a good martial art for you to learn as a beginner then you are in the right place. We have put together this helpful guide to tell you everything that you need to know.
What Is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is a form of martial art that originated in Thailand. It is strike based, with lots of aggressive moves that you can use on your opponent.
There are also some defensive moves, but pushing forward with your attacks and disabling your opponent from striking back is the main aim. Muay Thai focuses on forward moving, advancing towards your opponent rather than circling them.
Why Is Muay Thai Good For Beginners?
Now that you know what Muay Thai is, let’s take a look at some of the reasons it is a great martial art choice for beginners.
Striking
If you want to learn a martial art that gives you lots of striking options, then Muay Thai is the perfect choice for you.
It uses an eight point fighting system, which means that there are eight areas of your body that you can use to make contact with your opponent – both elbows, both knees, both hands/fists, and both legs/feet.
This is why it is often referred to as the most effective striking art.
History
Muay Thai has a rich history and is deeply embedded in Thai culture. This means that it has been tried, tested and perfected for a long time.
When you decide to learn Muay Thai, you are benefiting from years of experience that has been passed down through generations of fighters and teachers.
Variety
Muay Thai offers an interesting variety of movements to learn- punches, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, defensive moves, dodges, footwork, throws, holds and fight finishing combination moves.
This will keep your training sessions fun and varied so you won’t get bored or lose interest.
Simplicity
The core moves that you learn in Muay Thai are actually quite simple and easy to learn. The skill comes in practicing and refining those moves so that you can perform powerfully and in quick succession.
Muay Thai is considered to be one of the easier martial arts to pick up, so you will find yourself learning a lot very fast. However, you must be consistent and stick at it if you want to refine your skill.
Self-Defense
Muay Thai is a very aggressive martial art- if you are constantly striking your enemy then they will not get the opportunity to strike you.
However, there are also a lot of defensive moves that you need to learn to become proficient at Muay Thai, which will help to improve your confidence when it comes to self-defense in general.
The goal is to be so good at attacking that you rarely need to use these moves, but they are still very useful. You will learn how to throw your opponent, how to use their body weight against them, and how to make them submit.
Fitness
A Muay Thai training session is a very tough workout. You will be working on your cardiovascular fitness and stamina as well as your explosive power and precise muscle control. This will give you a full body workout which will leave you feeling lean and strong.
It is also great for weight loss as you can burn up to 1000 calories per hour in your Muay Thai training. Make sure that you stay hydrated and you eat a healthy, balanced diet to really see the full benefits of this intensive workout.
Resilience
Not only will Muay Thai make you fit and strong, it will also make you tough. You will need to be determined and exercise the power to push through your training, which will make you more resilient.
You will also need to learn how to take some hits, and to get back up when you have been knocked down. This will not only make you a better fighter, but it will make you a stronger and more courageous person in other aspects of your life.
This is one of the great benefits of committing yourself to a martial art discipline like Muay Thai.
MMA
If you are interested in MMA – Mixed Martial Arts- then Muay Thai is an excellent choice. It is one of the key foundations of MMA style fighting, so it is a great place to start if you want to become an MMA fighter.
A lot of the best MMA fighters use Muay Thai as their main martial art for striking their opponent.
Attire
One of the great things about Muay Thai is that you don’t need to spend money on a uniform to join a class.
Most classes ask that you wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing such as shorts and a t- shirt. You will be getting very hot and sweaty so you will want to make sure that you choose lightweight clothing.
If you decide to keep going with Muay Thai then you can buy yourself some Muay Thai shorts, but these are not too expensive.
Summary
If you are a beginner who is looking for a martial art that will make you fit and strong, improve your striking and self-defense skills, and is fun to learn, then Muay Thai is perfect for you.
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