Is Muay Thai An Effective Martial Art?
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Muay Thai has been on the rise over the last two decades, mainly due to the rise of modern MMA. In recent years, we can see Thai boxing growing in all parts of the world, and more and more people joining the classes. But how effective is Muay Thai as a fighting system?
Muay Thai is often seen as a complete striking art because it teaches you how to use all limbs as weapons. Although it looks a bit brutal, Thai boxing will train you for real combat, which makes it a great option for self-defense. You learn how to use punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and the basics of grappling together to fight at all ranges.
But this is just a brief explanation. Read this article to find out more about Muay Thai, and why it is among the most effective martial arts.
Muay Thai is one of the most effective striking martial arts
Muay Thai is an 8 point contact system. Or in other words, it is among the very few fighting systems that will teach you how to use all limbs as weapons. For instance, boxing is a 2 point contact and kickboxing is a 4 point contact. Muay Thai is by far the best overall.
Having so many weapons at your disposal gives you a big advantage in any type of fight. Whether the fight is in an open or closed space, you will have the skills and weapons to deal with any threat. Not to mention that it teaches you the basics of grappling, like trips and throws. These can’t help you much against skilled wrestlers or BJJ fighters. But this can make a lot of difference in a fight against another striker or average person.
And the fact that Muay Thai is so versatile is the main reason why it plays such a big role in MMA fighting. You can’t survive in modern MMA without the Thai boxing skills, but more about that later.
Muay Thai covers all the ranges
The best thing about Muay Thai is that it trains you to fight at all ranges. If you combine this with using all limbs as weapons and hard training, you get why this art is so effective. It is a total package when it comes to striking and it matches well against other striking arts as well.
In training, students learn how to use kicks to fight at distance, keep their range, and do damage. You will learn how to throw powerful roundhouse kicks, teeps, and other kicks. Then, the training covers some basics of boxing where you learn how to use punches to close the range or set up kicks. And in the end, Muay Thai shines at close range where you can pull the famous “Thai Clinch”. This position allows you to unload with the barrage of knee and elbow strikes
The emphasis is on damage and finishing the fight
The main goal in Muay Thai is to finish the fight as fast as possible. Although matches can end in a decision, you won’t learn much about how to score points in training. The emphasis is on throwing each strike with violent intention and doing the most damage. This is one of the reasons why Thai boxing differs so much from other styles of kickboxing as it is much more brutal.
Still, this plays a big role if we are talking about street fighting and self-defense for instance. Once the fight breaks out, there are no judges sitting beside and scoring the fight. The last thing you need is to play too much with the opponent and you must finish the fight as fast as possible. And Muay Thai teaches you just that.
Is Muay Thai effective for self-defense and street fighting?
Yes, Muay Thai training is great for people who want to learn self-defense tactics. In fact, it might be an ideal option as it is a versatile striking system, well spread all around the world. And, the emphasis of the art is on training you for real fighting scenarios you may face on the streets. But why is it so effective?
First of all, Muay Thai training is intense and will make you stronger physically and mentally. It will push your mind and body over the limits in every class. But one aspect that stands and that is good for self-defense is sparring. You may be a fan of it or not, but sparring is, perhaps, the only way one can prepare for a real fight. And Muay Thai training includes a ton of it.
Sparring and trading strikes with the partner is the only way you can learn how to apply techniques you learned in a real fight. And on the other side, it will give you the same rush of fear as if you are fighting on the streets. This is notably true for beginners who tend to freeze the first time they spar, and this is normal. Over time, you learn how to control your emotions, and not to panic in stressful situations.
In terms of techniques, you learn how to use all limbs as weapons, and fight at all ranges. Most street fights include close-range striking and pulling, and this is where Thai boxing shines with its clinch work.
Is Muay Thai good for MMA?
Yes, Muay Thai is a great base for MMA and you can’t expect to succeed in modern cage fighting without, at least, basic Thai boxing skills. This is because the rules fit well in MMA, and you can apply all of the techniques. Although it doesn’t teach you how to fight on the ground, Muay Thai is the king when it comes to striking. The two key aspects of Muay Thai that play a big role in MMA are clinch and leg kicks.
MMA is a sport where fighters, if we look at the standup, fight using all limbs as weapons, and in the clinch. This is why Thai boxing fits well because it will teach you just that. You will learn how to mix kicks with the punches and fight in the clinch with elbows and knees. And on top of that, it trains you to stop or execute various trips and throws that might help you in some scenarios.
However, bear in mind that Muay Thai on its own is not enough to succeed in MMA. It is a good base on top of which you must add other skills, notably grappling and ground fighting. Some of the most dangerous MMA fighters are the ones with strong Thai boxing skills and very good takedown defense like:
- Anderson Silva
- Edson Barboza
- Israel Adesanya
Can you lose weight with Muay Thai training?
Yes, Muay Thai training burns a lot of calories. In recent years, it has become a very popular option among average people who want to lose weight and get in shape. Training is cardio intense and in some way an ideal balance between aerobic and anaerobic activities. Or in other words, it doesn’t just burn calories, it also improves your strength.
One study has shown that a single class of Muay Thai training burns from 600 to 1000 calories, which is a lot. For instance, you would have to run for more than 1 hour to burn the same amount of calories. Still, the exact number depends on many factors like your weight and fitness levels for instance.
But overall, Muay Thai is a perfect option if you want to get back in shape. The classes are safe, fun, and on top of that, you will learn how to fight, which you can’t while training in a fitness gym.
Is Muay Thai hard to learn?
Like in any other martial art, it takes a lot of time and effort to become good at Muay Thai. You won’t earn or achieve anything without putting in hard work, and that’s a fact. However, bear in mind that Muay Thai techniques are quite simple, and you won’t have a hard time picking up the basics. You will start sparring after just a couple of months of training, maybe even earlier.
If you commit yourself to classes, expect to develop solid skills after one year of training. By this time, you will have a solid technique and valuable sparring experience. But to become really good, you must train for around 3–5 years. The exact time depends on many factors like how dedicated you are, your talent, your fitness levels, etc.
The point is, do not join the classes thinking that it is a walk in the park. Muay Thai is not for everyone because training is really intense and will push you over the limits all the time.
