Muay Thai FAQ
SO WHY SHOULD YOU TRAIN MUAY THAI? BELOW ARE A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS WE ARE OFTEN ASKED IN REGARDS TO MUAY THAI
What is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai or “Thai Boxing” is a striking martial art that originated over one thousand years ago in the Kingdom of Siam, which is now present day Thailand. Muay Thai was originally developed as a military hand-to-hand combat fighting style used by soldiers who had lost their weapons in battle. In the early 1900’s, the government of Thailand established a specific standard of rules and regulations for Muay Thai and the art as we know it today was born. Now the national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai has since evolved into the most simple and effective striking martial art in the world. Known as the “Science of 8 Limbs”, Muay Thai practitioners learn to strike with 8 points of contact: punches, knees, kicks, and elbows. Aside from strikes, Muay Thai practitioners also learn stand up grappling techniques (“clinching”) as well as leg traps and dumps (traditional Muay Thai throws and/or takedowns performed from the clinch).
Having had its effectiveness proven in the ring, cage, and street for years, Muay Thai is now the primary striking art used by Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) practitioners worldwide and combined with Jiu Jitsu for grappling creates a total combat athlete.
What can Muay Thai do for me?
Muay Thai is a highly effective form of self-defense and is simple and easy to learn. Aside from helping you build confidence and improve your flexibility, balance, and coordination, Muay Thai is an intense but fun way to get in great shape and release stress. Although Muay Thai is a combat sport, it is still also a traditional martial art that promotes honor, respect, and friendship. And our Muay Thai program is not only designed to get you in “fighting” shape but also help you build a network or “team” of like-minded individuals that will both motivate and inspire you.
What is the difference between Kickboxing & Muay Thai?
The term “Kickboxing” is sometimes used as a generic term used to describe all striking sports where punching and kicking are involved, our Muay Thai and Kickboxing program refers to two specific disciplines: Muay Thai and Dutch Kickboxing. Muay Thai is the Thai striking art that incorporates punches, kicks, knees, and elbows while also allowing for clinching and throws from the clinch position. Dutch Kickboxing is a specific form of Kickboxing developed in the 1970’s in Holland where elements of Kyokushinkai Karate, Western Boxing, and Muay Thai were combined.
Dutch Kickboxing focuses on elements such as head movement, footwork, more elaborate boxing combinations, and heavy low kicks, whereas Muay Thai focuses on knee strikes, elbows, clinching, and body kicks. One other main difference is that there is no clinching or elbows in Dutch Kickboxing. Our Muay Thai and Kickboxing program at AMA focuses on traditional Muay Thai while also incorporating very effective Dutch Kickboxing techniques.
Do I need to be in shape to learn Muay Thai?
Our program is designed to cater to a variety of fitness levels. Some of our students did little to no exercise before starting Muay Thai & Kickboxing at AMA and have since gradually increased their fitness levels and are on target to reach their fitness goals. Getting in a great shape is just another added benefit to training Muay Thai. Our goal is not only to help you get in great shape but most importantly to help you execute all Muay Thai techniques correctly and effectively.
Our Muay Thai program is designed to gradually improve your technique, speed, and finally, power. As your technique improves so will your flexibility, coordination, balance, and endurance. When you begin to execute techniques confidently and can add more speed you will begin to build strength. Our Muay Thai program follows a very simple rule:
“Technique + Speed = Power”
So to put it simply, you don’t need to be in shape to start Muay Thai, you just need to start Muay Thai!
Do I have to spar or fight?
Absolutely not. Competition and sparring is completely optional and students are never pushed into it against their will. Only a small percentage of our Muay Thai students compete and therefore most are here to have fun, get fit, and learn some self defense. Sparring is only allowed on certain days and only those students who have been invited by an instructor are able to participate.
With that said we are a competitive school where both our instructors and many of our students have extensive experience in the ring therefore if you are looking to fight competitively, YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT GYM!. Our instructors have connections to a variety of amateur and pro Muay Thai & MMA promotions in the U.S., so if you are looking to compete we can definitely get you ready. Training for competition is not for everyone, fighters are a rare breed. The fight game is physically and mentally demanding, “you” have to want it, “you” have to train for it and “you” have to do the work! For this reason we are very selective of who we allow to fight. You have to show dedication and come to training consistently. Once an instructor feels you are ready to fight, we can begin the process of securing a fight for you.
Can women train Muay Thai?
Absolutely! Like any combat sport, Muay Thai and Kickboxing are male dominated sports, however many of the top Muay Thai athletes in the world are women. Muay Thai is great for self-defense, is simple to learn, and is also a great workout for any woman looking to get in shape. Whether you are looking to get fit or become a world champion, the Muay Thai program at AMA is all about building strong and confident female athletes that can give their male counterparts a run for their money. Women who train Muay Thai at AMA can expect to give a whole new meaning to “hitting like a girl”!