Posted on November 08 2017
There are many different types of martial arts. Some focus on striking with the arms, such as boxing, some others focus on striking with the legs, such as Tae Kwon Do. There are also grappling martial arts that focus specifically on the grappling part – BJJ comes to mind. And there are hybrid forms of martial arts that focus on different ways of attack and defense, with various parts of your body.
So, if you know anything about martial arts, then you’re aware of the existence of Thai boxing, otherwise known as Muay Thai. This is a martial art that originates from the country of Thailand from a few centuries ago, and the Thai people have really dedicated themselves into perfecting this craft ever since its inception. Nowadays it’s highly cherished in the country of Thailand – and all over the world – and it’s also a national sport in Thailand.
What can you expect from training Thai Boxing? Well, the name “Thai Boxing” is a bit of a misnomer, as the sport and art of Thai boxing also includes the use of the legs, as well as various clinching techniques. There is no grappling in Muay Thai though, so if you don’t deem it necessary to know this particular aspect of martial arts – Thai boxing is perfect for you.
In fact, Thai boxing is also known as “the art of the 8 limbs”. You might ask where are the four other limbs besides your two arms and two legs? Well, the name stems from the fact that in Muay Thai you will learn how to use your arms and legs in order to deal damage with 8 points of attack – the hands, the elbows, the knees and the shins. Most people really think about hand strikes and shin strikes when they consider martial arts – but the fact of the matter is that you can also use your elbows and knees in a devastatingly effective way.
How do you go about mastering Thai boxing? Simple. You work hard at it, for many, many years. That’s right – we said that it was simple, but we didn’t say it was easy. It might seem easy since there are 8 main ways in which you can attack, and the mix of clinching techniques. But it will take an entire lifetime for you to be able to master all of these Muay Thai techniques and make them work together in unison. So, don’t expect that you will become a Thai boxing master in a matter of months of work, no matter how hard you work at it.
We have one more advice for you if you’re really hell-bent on the way of becoming a Thai boxing master. And this is to find the best instructors that you can get. You will have the biggest chance of finding Thai boxing world class experts if you go to the native place of Thai boxing – in Thailand. Other than that, you will have to work hard for a long time, while being persistent and smart about your work.
Fightlab has been making and suppling Muay Thai gear through its shops in Phuket Thailand and with our worldwide distributors since 2010. Whether you are in need of Thai boxing gloves, MMA gear or Thai boxing shorts fightlab has a full range so check out our online store at www.fightlab.co.uk or www.fightlab.com