So, you’re considering training in Muay Thai? Let us be among the first to welcome you to this extremely versatile martial art. Muay Thai has so many benefits to offer you, no matter what your training goals are.
Most KruFit members come to us for one (or more) of our three main focus areas: fitness, fighting, and self-defense. So we wanted to break down what you can gain from each one and why you should consider coming in for a free trial class with us.
Here are our three favorite reasons to train in Muay Thai.
Fitness
Obviously, Muay Thai training is an awesome physical activity. Martial arts in general are known as full-body exercises, but Muay Thai turns things up a notch. It’s also known as “The Art of the 8 Limbs” because of the eight ‘weapons’ in your arsenal: two fists, two shins, two elbows, and two knees (a.k.a. Your whole body).
This means training in Muay Thai is perfect for:
- Losing weight
- Building strength
- Lowering your blood pressure
- Improving your cardio
- Working out in a new, fun way
Part of the fun is that no two weeks at KruFit are exactly the same — you’ll always be working different parts of your body.
This variety also means you’ll constantly learn new skills, making Muay Thai excellent for your mind. Think of it as a game of chess, although much quicker and more physical. By balancing offense and defense, combining new skills with old ones, and so on, you’ll build new pathways in your brain (this phenomenon is called neural plasticity). The strategy that goes into Muay Thai makes for a solid mental workout.
Finally, at KruFit we place a high value on community which leads to emotional wellness for our members. We foster an open and helpful gym environment and our coaches and members are always ready to encourage and guide you as you work towards your goals. No matter your reason for training, you’ll gain new friends and self-confidence when you become part of the KruFit family.
Fighting
Just as fitness in Muay Thai is concerned with mental and emotional health as much as physical health, fighting covers all bases too. If you’re interested in training for a sanctioned fight, we’ll focus on developing your mental tenacity along with your “eight limbs.”
At KruFit, we train fighters to overcome internal barriers like self-doubt and self-imposed limits. Being in a good headspace makes all the difference in a fight. Plus, training to face these challenges makes you a more confident and well-rounded person outside the ring.
When it comes to exchanging blows in the ring, what does Muay Thai have to offer? First, while it’s easy to learn and master the basic moves (jabs, round kicks, elbows, etc.) there’s endless depth to how you can link techniques and develop your own fighting style. This goes for defense too. Being able to read your opponent, protect yourself, and even use their tactics against them is key to scoring.
Muay Thai is also pretty unique in its use of knees, elbows, and teeps among other moves (not to mention the art of the clinch!). It’s a varied, well-rounded sport and is a solid choice whether you’re new to martial arts or adding to your MMA skill set.
Our dedicated coaching staff prepares fighters for competition through a robust, 6-week-long fight camp process focused on the mental, emotional, and physical elements we’ve covered. Ready to get to work to add a belt to our wall?
Self Defense
It’s likely no surprise to learn that Muay Thai training is perfect for self-defense. While we hope you’re never in a situation you need to physically fight your way out of, the reality is dangerous situations can and do arise. It’s never a bad idea to be prepared to get yourself out of harm’s way, just in case. Training in Muay Thai equips you with the techniques and self-assurance to help keep you safe.
Offense skills like teeps, kicks, elbows, and clinching — even just knowing how to throw a perfect punch — have plenty of self-defense applications. For example, being able to teep with your lead leg can maintain distance between you and an approaching aggressor.
Our training style also focuses on repetition so skills become automatic (“call and response” as we call it in the gym). In Muay Thai, basic call and response can look like recognizing and instinctively blocking an incoming kick before immediately returning a kick of your own. As you become more advanced, you can even learn to read an attacker’s body language to interrupt their attempts at strikes with your own.
There are countless more reasons someone might want to train in Muay Thai, these are just the ones we hear most often.
What reason(s) are you most interested in? Send us a message to learn more about our program and schedule a free trial class.