Benefits of Muay Thai Training

I’ve been taking Muay Thai lessons at a local MMA training facility now for about 4 months. So I’m no expert on the subject. I have, however, seen some improvements and am already noticing the benefits it’s offering me.  My motivation for taking the class was pretty simple, I have been interested in learning some form of fighting technique for a long time. I want to challenge myself.  So far I’ve received more than I thought.

1. It’s a fantastic self-defense skill. Muay Thai is called the “Art of Eight Limbs” for good reason. You learn to use more appendages as points of contact than the usual kickboxing. Muay Thai boxing involves using your feet, knees, elbows and hands as striking mechanisms.  This is very versatile and you learn overall to be able to fit over a variety of distances and stances in relation to your opponent.  That makes is one of the most useful fighting techniques in a real-world fighting situation.
2. It’s a full-body workout.  This goes back to the eight striking mechanisms in the last example.  When you learn to kick, knee, elbow and punch in multiple ways and locations, then you will be engaging more muscles than you would for any normal cardio or weight-lifting exercise. Once you start adding moves together into combinations, you’ll feel the effect.
3. Strength of will. You are can do more than you think you are capable of. It’s a fact of mental limitations that Navy SEALs report as part of their training. The trick is to know that when your brain thinks it’s exhausted, you are in reality only 40% exhausted. Then you need to convince yourself to keep going. Muay Thai classes will build your endurance and strength gradually but noticeably within a short-time by physically exhausting you constantly.  Some days they do a warm-up and follow it with another exhausting warm-up before you even get to the skills training.  Some classes they will end with 6 minutes of planking. On my own, I’d never even attempt anything over a one minute plank but somehow I’ve done 6 minutes.
4. Individual with a team. I’ve never liked team sports, I actually actively avoid them. I’m generally not interested in being in a team. I blame group projects in high school. So one of the appealing things about boxing to me was that it is an individual sport.  It’s just you and your opponent.  But here’s the strange thing I’ve learned… it’s not.  There is so much more involved and it goes back to my last point.  Nothing helps build strength of will or the fortitude required like a team.  In class you are not alone.  When you plank, you plank as a team. How did I plank 6 minutes? Well when I thought I’d collapse I muttered something to the effect of “I can’t do this” and the guy next to me just goes “Yes, you can! You hold that plank, we are almost there”. And I finished. I don’t even know his name but he was there when I needed encouragement. You will need encouragement and support. No one is going to know what it feels like or what you need like your classmates, and that’s your team.
5. Cardio will improve overall. All fighting styles involve cardio. Warm-ups include cardio, bag work drills is cardio and sparing while trying new combination moves is cardio.  Luckily, it’s really fun cardio so you don’t notice it’s happening. Until you go to run with your friend who isn’t in the class with you and suddenly you are improving by leaps and bounds.
6. Therapy in exercise.  I was doing my budget recently, looking for ways to cut back and save some money. My sister offered that maybe I should cut my class fees.  And I’m afraid that’s no longer an option. Like I said, it’s fun. It’s healthy, beneficial fun that relieves more stress than running does. If you are a runner than you can understand that means a lot.

Here’s the thing…  Muay Thai training has a lot of reasons to start and they add to reasons to never stop.  It’s one of the most addicting hobbies I’ve ever picked up.  It’s the social outing I look forward to each week. It’s the body enhancing exercise I prefer. It’s the therapy session that gets me through the rough times.  I can’t suggest it enough.  You should try it!

Build Confidence… Do Something That Scares You

Have you heard the saying “The best way to build confidence is to do something your terrified of”? Well I have, and since I recently moved from my hometown in Alaska to Idaho of all places… many things have been terrifying me. From the getting ready to go, to the applying for new jobs in a totally foreign area or even just trying to navigate the interstate. So I decided to take it all one step further since everything was already crazy… I joined a Muay Thai class.

I’ve been interested in Muay Thai for years now, and wanted to learn to box way back in high school. I was told I couldn’t train back then by my parents because it would “mess up your face”. Well… that just led me to putting off something I wanted to do till I had the means, time, money, etc. You know how that all works out with excuses steamrolling together. Well, here I am with more time than I can use and money saved up. So what the hell, right?

So I signed up, at a MMA training gym. For me this seemed legitimately the best place to go. I’ve attended 2 classes so far, not amazing I know, and so since I’m still a complete newbie let me explain something I didn’t see coming.

1. There’s actually quite a few girls/women interested in Muay Thai and training as well. It’s not just me!
2. The guys in the classes are actually really friendly. I had a stereotype in my head so I was expecting these gruff rude men. I’m happily surprised.
3. There isn’t really a beginner day… at least not where I am at. You literally get thrown right in. The trainer comes over and says “your new…” and you go “yeah…” and then they give you quick pointers so you know what they mean when they are yelling for everyone to do something. And off you go.
4. Flexibility is key. I had no idea I could kick as high as my head… because I’ve never tried. Now I know… thankfully I am pretty flexible but I’ve already come across some kicks I just can’t do yet.
5. You know you’re going to be sore… you really have no idea. I mean, absolutely no idea. Imagine being sore from lifting some heavy weight, like on leg-day. It’s hard to stand-up right? Now imagine you can’t even roll out of bed. The day after my first day I couldn’t even reach for my cup of coffee without wincing. After the second day I couldn’t stand up straight… because my Rectus Femoris was sore from all the high kicks. I didn’t even know what that muscle was until that day. Fun fact… it’s necessary to literally hold you upright. I’ve been lifting weights since before I started training… trust me when I say there is a big difference in sore.
6. Be prepared to get a little beat-up. The second day I had bruised my toenail and had a few scabs on my foot… not the worst thing in the world but made choosing shoes for my interviews tricky. Say no to ballet flats… nooooooooo.
7. Eat something before hand. I don’t know how some people workout on empty stomachs but it would make me hangry. And no one would probably let me stay in a class hangry… so make yourself something that can get you through some intense hour-long cardio. Like half of a peanut-butter banana sandwich. It’s quick and full of nutrients that will keep you fueled. It’s my go-to for pre-runs and now pre-boxing.