Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport and martial art. It was developed several hundreds of years ago as a hand-to-hand form of close combat that utilizes the whole body.
In modern times, it is primarily taught in Muay Thai camps as a combat sport and as a means of self-defense. It is also practiced by many as a form of exercise and fitness training. There are many benefits of a training in Thai boxing including improving physical health and fitness, building strength and endurance and increasing flexibility. It is also a great stress reliever.
Some people may compare Thai boxing to kickboxing, but there are differences between these two martial arts styles. For starters, kickboxing is typically contested on a smaller scale with fewer rounds than a traditional boxing match. It also doesn’t make use of elbows and the clinch. Muay Thai is much more practical than kickboxing, as it’s designed to be used in real life street fights.
There are no set rules that govern a traditional Muay Thai match. Fighters will often compete in short-handled gloves and on a 20 x 20 square foot ring. The scoring system is very similar to a boxing match with the winner being judged on points scored per round won.
Aside from punches, kicks and knee strikes are key techniques in Muay Thai. Knees are very effective close-range weapons, especially when clinching with an opponent. They can be thrown to the legs, body and head. In addition, knees can be used to block attacks and help protect against blows.
The kicking technique of Muay Thai is quite different from other martial arts, in that it uses a combination of stance and footwork to generate power. This is why it’s so important to train your footwork and stance correctly. It’s also essential to have a good partner to train with, as it is hard to get a feel for the kicking and blocking techniques of this martial art on your own.
Before there were heavy bags, agility balls and long banana bags, Thai fighters had to be resourceful when it came to training. They would utilize natural resources like coconut trees, rivers and streams, and manual labor to improve their skills and stamina.
One of the first Thai fighters to achieve success abroad was Somrak Khamsing, who won a gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1996 Olympics. He was a defensive wizard that used an elusive style to overcome his opponents.
When looking for a pair of gloves for Thai boxing it’s important to look at the quality and brand name. The most popular and reputable brands include Fairtex, Twins Special, Yokkao and Top King. All of these are great options for high-quality and durable Muay Thai gloves. If you’re on a budget, consider a less expensive brand such as Elite Sports, which still offers excellent value for money. Alternatively, you could buy a second pair of cheaper gloves to alternate between to keep the’mileage’ on your more expensive gloves lower. Thaiboxning