Your Personal Introduction to the Art of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)

A Brief History of Muay Thai

According to Aja
Surachai Sirisute, the pioneer of Muay Thai in the United States, Muay Thai literally means Thai Boxing. The art is also referred to as The Art of Eight Limbs or the Art of Eight Weapons. This is a reference to Muay Thai’s predominant use of the hands, legs (shins), elbows and knees in combat.

A descendant of the older forms, Lerd Rit and Muay Boran, modern Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. Lerd Rit is the combat form used by the Thai military whereas Muay Boran is the term Thai people called their fighting art and competition during the era when the fighters would bind their fists with rope instead of using boxing gloves like modern Muay Thai.

Today Muay Thai enjoys tremendous popularity as a martial art fitness and conditioning tool as well as the “stand up” complement to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other grappling arts in the mixed martial arts world.

How You'll Learn Muay Thai

In a well run martial arts school, you will always have an opportunity to spend time getting to know the people who run the place. You’ll be invited to take an introductory session(s) which will allow you to “test drive” the classes before you commit to anything.

Once you’re enrolled though, get ready for the most intense experience of your martial art life!

Muay Thai training can be broken down into
1. solo training which includes:
a) Shadow boxing – which is learning how to acquire smooth footwork as well as the proper form for your kicking and punching techniques.
b) Equipment training – which is limited to practising your strikes on the heavy (“banana”) bag
2. partner training which includes:
a) Equipment training – which is you and your partner practising your strikes using focus mitts, Thai pads or the Thai kicking shield (the “Thai suitcase”)
b) Glove drills – which is the application of these striking techniques on a live, moving partner in simulated offence and defence sequences wearing boxing gloves, shin guards and other protective equipment.

What To Expect During Your First Day At The Academy

At any professionally run martial art school, you will have had the opportunity to take part in some kind of introductory program before being accepted as a regular member.

Depending on which program you’ve enrolled in (after your introductory program, of course), you can expect to be publicly welcomed and congratulated for making your best decision to join the Academy.

Your instructor (often referred to as “Kru”) will introduce you to all the other class members and then you can expect to enjoy an extremely rigorous workout.

Required Equipment

Muay Thai training requires more equipment than the average martial art school. There are personal equipment items required as well as equipment items which the school will provide.

Traditionally, Muay Thai training is done without shoes.

At a minimum you can expect to have to invest in a pair of gangke
Muay or Thai shorts, the usually colorful pants that look like boxing trunks. You’ll also be using 12 or 14 or 16oz. Thai Boxing gloves and shin protectors. For sparring, you’ll need headgear, a mouthpiece, chest protector (male and female) and groin protector (males primarily).

Equipment like banana bags, Thai pads and kick shields are usually provided by the Academy.

Expected Training Costs

As stated above, all your membership and training costs will have been covered in your first few visits to any well-run martial art school.