Muay Thai, a form of martial art, blends a variety of striking and grappling techniques. It’s frequently known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” leveraging fists, feet, elbows, and knees in combat. While this sport enjoys heavy favouritism in Thailand, its global popularity is also consistently on the rise.
If you’re interested in training Muay Thai but don’t live near a gym that offers a Muay Thai training program or don’t want to leave your home, there are ways to start training Muay Thai at home.
Muay Thai Training Gear: What You’ll Need
Muay Thai is a form of martial arts that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Muay Thai fighters use punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to strike opponents. If you are interested in training in Muay Thai, you will need a few pieces of gear before hitting the Muay Thai gyms.
The first gear you will need is a pair of the best Muay Thai gloves. There are a few different types of Muay Thai gloves. The first is the traditional Muay Thai glove with knuckle protectors. This type of glove is designed to protect your knuckles during training sessions and fights.
The second type of glove is a sparring glove. These gloves were designed specifically for sparring sessions and will protect your hand during intense training. The third type of Muay Thai glove is a training glove. These are designed to be used in the gym without the knuckle protectors and are lighter weight than traditional gloves.
In addition to gloves, you will also need some shin pads. These are designed to protect your shins when Thai boxing. There are two different types of shin pads for Muay Thai. The first type is a training shin pad.
These are designed to be used in the gym without the protection of a full shin guard and are lighter weight than traditional shin pads.
The second type of shin pad is the full shin guard. These are designed to be used in the gym to protect a full shin guard and are heavier weight than traditional shin pads.
Related read: Best Boxing Pads
Once you have all the gear you need, go and train Muay Thai!
Finding a Muay Thai Training Partner
Finding a Muay Thai fighter for training is one of the most important aspects of learning Muay Thai. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most difficult things to do. If you’re not located near a gym or training facility or don’t know anyone who trains Muay Thai, it can be not easy to find someone to train with.
While it is extremely important to train with a good Muay Thai sparring partner, finding a good one is not always easy. The most important thing to be considered when looking for a partner is the person’s skill level.
There are no two people alike, so it is important to find someone who just started training Muay Thai. For more experienced fighters, a good partner will be someone who can take the blows and give as much as they receive in a Muay Thai game. Also, it is important to find someone you both like to learn Muay Thai with.
It would be best if you also considered the following:
- A good partner will give you pointers on how to improve and will help keep you on track with your training plan.
- A good partner should not just be a person that you train with, but also a friend. Find a partner that is willing to put in the hard work.
- A good partner will help you with your weaknesses and teach you skills that you never thought possible.
- The best training partners help you to become a better fighter.
- A good partner will also give you direction on how to improve your boxing career.
- A good partner will help you improve your boxing skills by giving you sound advice on how to train and what to do.
- A good partner will also keep you accountable for your training and help you focus on the goals you want in the long term. A good partner will be able to help you to push yourself further than you ever thought possible.
- A good partner will keep your head in the game and maintain focus during training.
Structure Your Muay Thai at Home Training Program
If you are looking to get into shape or improve your skills in this combat sports, you may be wondering how to start training without leaving the comfort of your own home.
There are a few things you will need to get started, including a good training program, some space to train in, and basic equipment.
Once you have those things in place, it is time to start your training. The most important part of your training will be the frequency and duration of your sessions.
The frequency of your sessions depends on your goals, but generally speaking, you will want to take at least two days a week to train. Training for two days a week will also help you stay in shape over the week, which is important if you don’t have a gym membership or don’t want to go out of your way to train.
On the other hand, you don’t need to train every day. However, if you train less than twice a week, your progress will be slower, and the amount of work needed to maintain your current level of fitness will increase.
The duration of each session is also important. You want to give your body enough time to recover so that it can grow and adapt. The duration of each session depends on your goals and the intensity of your training.
Generally speaking, you will want to train for at least an hour per day. This allows your body to adapt and grow stronger. If you train more often, your body can adapt faster, but it will also be at risk of overtraining and injury.
You want to start slow with a low-intensity training session to avoid injury. It would help if you did a few 10-12 reps sets. When you get stronger, you can gradually increase the intensity and the number of sets.
The last thing you want to avoid is training too much. If you work out for more than an hour a day, you are putting a great amount of stress on your body. You will not be able to recover from this stress and will end up losing strength and muscle mass, as well as increasing the risk of injury.
Warm-Up Exercises for Muay Thai
Before attempting any Muay Thai techniques, it’s better to do some warm-up exercises:
Static Stretches
Static stretches loosen up your muscles and prepare your body for a workout. They are also called passive stretches. You can do them by simply holding the stretch for a few seconds in the various positions, or you could go for a more intense static stretch by putting pressure on your muscle.
Dynamic Stretches
During a warm-up, you will also want to perform dynamic stretches, where you actively use the muscles. These are often known as active stretches or active range of motion (AROM) movements. A dynamic stretch should be held for at least 30 seconds.
Warm-Up Drills
These drills will help you learn the basic techniques of Thai boxing and prepare your body for more advanced training. It will also give you an idea of how the basic exercises should feel and be executed. The last thing you want is to stop and practice your form during a workout.
Cardio Drills
If you are looking for a way to get started with cardio Muay Thai, cardio drills are a great way to do so from the comfort of your own home. Some common cardio drills include:
Breath Work – One of the most important things to do in Muay Thai training is to breathe. If you are new, you will focus on breathing from your abdomen.
Walking Lunges – This exercise is great for building up the quadriceps. It also helps to loosen up the hips and legs. The key here is to stay upright and keep your shoulders back. If you have trouble with this drill, try doing it on a step or bench.
Side Lunges – This exercise is great for building up the quadriceps and hip flexors. Try to keep your legs straight and your knees together. You can also do this exercise with an angled step or bench.
Squats – This exercise is great for building up the quadriceps and hip flexors. For this drill, keep your head up and your back straight. You can also perform this exercise with an angled step or bench.
Shadow Boxing
Shadowboxing is a great way to start your Muay Thai journey, even if you don’t have access to a gym. You can do it anywhere, at any time, and it’s a perfect way to warm up before a training session.
The basic idea behind shadowboxing is to mimic the movements of your Thai training partner and fight. You do not need to perform any technique; keep moving and throwing punches.
Basic Muay Thai Techniques
Jab
A jab is a Thai boxer’s basic technique to set up more powerful strikes. It is a quick, straight punch that is most effective when used as the first strike in a combination. The jab can be used to close the distance between you and your opponent or keep them at bay.
Cross
A cross is a basic Muay Thai technique that is used to strike the opponent’s head or body. The cross is performed by stepping forward with your left foot and punching with your right hand. You can also use a rear cross, which is performed by stepping back with your left foot and punching with your right hand.
Hook
A hook is a basic Muay Thai technique used to strike an opponent with power and speed. The hook is delivered by rotating the body and snapping the arm out in a horizontal arc. This type of punch is most effective when used to strike the opponent’s head or body.
Uppercut
An uppercut is a type of punch that is used to hit the opponent’s chin. It is one of the most basic techniques in Muay Thai and is often used to set up other attacks. The uppercut is performed by lifting your arm and striking your opponent with the underside of your fist. It can be a very effective punch, especially against an opponent taller than you.
Teep
Teep is a basic MuayThai technique that utilizes the front leg to strike the opponent with the foot. The teep is used to push the opponent away and can be used to set up other strikes. The teep is a powerful weapon that can cause a great deal of damage when used correctly.
Kick
A basic Muay Thai technique, a kick is a powerful striking tool that can both attack and defend. When kicking, the fighter uses their hips and legs to generate power, which is then transferred through the foot and shinbone into the target.
Sweep
Sweep is a basic Muay Thai technique in which the fighter uses their foot to knock their opponent off balance. Sweeps can be used to take an opponent down or unbalance them to make them more vulnerable to attack.
To execute a sweep, the fighter approaches their opponent from the side and uses their leg to knock the opponent’s leg out from under them. The fighter then steps past the fallen opponent and controls them with pressure on their neck or chest.
Conclusion
Muay Thai is a great way to stay in shape, learn self-defense, and have a lot of fun. If you’re interested in starting your own training, research local gyms and sign up for a beginner class. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you progress and how much you can learn in just a few months. And who knows, maybe you’ll even start competing one day!
