One of the significant changes King Rama VII introduced was the requirement for fighters to wear gloves. This move was intended to reduce injuries and make the sport less hazardous for participants. The use of gloves also paved the way for Muay Thai to be perceived as a sport rather than just a martial art.

Bangkok’s Lumpini Stadium is now almost considered the “holy ground” to the masses of Muay Thai fighters, local and foreign. An integrated system of weight-classes, absolute rules and championships was brought to life in the years ahead as the organization of the sport began to resemble boxing. In Muay Thai, fighters can use their legs to kick their opponent in different parts of their body, like the head, stomach, leg, or calf. There are many types of kicks, but the most popular ones are the teep kick and the roundhouse kick. Even the greatest and most defensively sound fighters in the history of Muay Thai have relied on their guards.

• So it’s an effective tool to create distance or destroy the opponent’s balance.
• Now, disguising a flying knee is one of the most difficult things you are going to be able to do against an opponent in Muay Thai.
• If you are training casually at a good gym (just doing pad work and bag work) then training Muay – You may come away with a few bruises at worst.
• It is important to practice the movement of both feet as much as possible in order to feel comfortable enough to maneuver your body at your will.

If you haven’t already factored your gas tank into the equation, now is a time to think about it. Clinching can really drain a fighter, so remember to be efficient with your energy. Of course, your positioning will be important when executing this strike, but you must ensure that you can cover the distance and are in range to land the downward elbow before you attempt to throw it. When you are within distance, take a quick step forward and drive the elbow down into the top of your opponent’s skull. An alternative way to throw the downward elbow – and one that can be spectacular to watch – is to land it in the same spot while at the peak of a jump. As the most direct knee strike in Muay Thai, the straight knee is likely the first that you will learn.

Muay Thai is a completely different sport from traditional boxing as known in the West. While classic boxing uses only punches, Thai boxing involves a wider range of techniques including elbows, knees, kicks, sweeps, and elaborate use of clinching. As a combat art originating in military warfare, Muay Thai was designed to inflict pain to the enemy while protecting the user from physical harm.

Whether you’re training to fight or you’re just a Muay Thai hobbyist, you owe it to your coach, your teammates, and yourself to be punctual. While the Muay Thai scoring system comes in for criticism at times, as a competitor, it pays to familiarize yourself with how judges operate. Doing so will certainly give you a greater appreciation for what really matters in a fight, helping you to work on these key points in training.

However, it won’t take long for novices to get to grips with its rules, learn to appreciate the beauty of its techniques and traditions, and even learn to emulate the heroes who step into the ring. Hi, I’m Darren Mitchell and I run the blog here at Best Muay Thai. I’ve trained Muay Thai for over 15 years at various gyms across the UK, Europe and Thailand.

Even if your opponent sees the strike coming and has their guard in place, this may not be enough to stop you from breaking through their defense and causing them trouble. This type of push kick is an excellent way to counter an opponent that approaches recklessly, as it can give them a nasty surprise on the way into range. In order to pull off this kick, a fighter must have tremendous balance, technical ability, and excellent flexibility. Before throwing the rear front teep, convincing your opponent to tighten up and prepare to guard against another shot can reap huge advantages. The rear front teep is typically more powerful than the lead front teep.

The fighting style they were taught, gradually evolved into the Muay Thai fighting style we see in the ring today. This is done via guarding with the hands and arms to block punches and high kicks – whilst lower kicks are defended by raising the shin to take the impact of the opponent’s shin. Elbows are typically thrown to the head and whilst they are legal in “full Thai rules” some versions of the sport don’t allow them – and you won’t find them traded in a casual gym sparring session.

Most trainers don’t mind having to explain a technique or concept several times – especially if it’s difficult, complex, or unfamiliar – but not if it’s because you didn’t listen to them the first time. They are the fountain of all your martial arts knowledge, and they demand your respect. In this chapter, we’ve come up with some tips on what to look out for while training at the https://sbotopbet.net/muay-thai-boxing/ gym. Sticking to these guidelines will show the appropriate respect to your coaches and training partners, and will help you fit right in wherever you train. It does not cost much to pick up a pair of new gloves, or you could set yourself up for the long-haul with a pair that is built to last from the Evolve Fight Gear store.