Essentials for the Home

Many people enjoy muay thai, but it’s not uncommon for someone who loves muay thai to have a really busy schedule and perhaps play other sports as well. Although we always recommend training at a club or gym that specializes in muay thai and are run by knowledgeable trainers, sometimes this just isn’t possible. If you do decide to do most of your training at home, we suggest learning the basics at a gym first, just to try and prevent the formation of terrible habits like bad technique. In any case, we want to outline a couple strategies for creating a cheap and effective muay thai workout at home, or at least something similar enough to it.

Muay Thai and Boxing Gloves

Depending on what your exercises consist of and the types of bags you’re hitting, you may need particular styles of gloves. Boxing gloves are very common and there are a wide variety available in North America. Muay thai gloves are also common, just slightly less so. Boxing gloves tend to offer more protection and stability (usually), but muay thai gloves are much better for close range combat and being able grab. We find this site to has some great information about the best boxing gloves and muay thai gloves available.

Jump Ropes

Having a good jump rope is arguably the best value purchase you can make when it comes to muay thai training. A jump rope can be used for warm up, during your actual workout, cool down, and just squeezing in a quick workout when you have a chance. Jump ropes are very affordable, they take up hardly any space, and they are really easy to learn. We recommend every athlete has one in their arsenal, not just fighters. Please check out the same site for the best jump ropes under $20.

Punching Bags

Aside from cheaper speed bags, most punching bags are a bit more expensive than the above listed equipment. Additionally, often times you will need to set up a stand or hanger as well. Although it can be extremely convenient to have one in your own home, it may also be rather impractical, or may anger your significant other. Something a lot of people also don’t consider is the fact that the footprint needs to account for the punching bag AND you moving around it, so often times people think they have more room than they actually do.

Therefore, we would suggest inquiring around to local gyms and fitness centers about possible use of punching bags. This could be a cheaper alternative to signing up at a muay thai gym, and a good way of figuring out how much space you need for a bag at your own home, and maybe even what type of punching bag you prefer.

Summary

Generally speaking, the best way to start out with setting up your own home gym for muay thai is to start small. Get the essentials (mats, gloves, rope, maybe punching bag) and gradually work your way up. This may mean that you start out with more general workouts at home first, but it will save you from getting items that you need to return shortly after and just allows for better planning overall.

While many of those who are born to thrive believe that kickboxing and Muay Thai are the same, both arts are vastly different upon a second look. Any personal trainer in Burnaby will tell you that there are universal techniques common to both arts but that’s about as far as the similarities go.

What is the Difference Between the Two?

Kickboxing is the generic term for the sport the uses combined kicking and boxing techniques. More organizations do not allow the use of knees and elbows believe it too brutal for a sport.

As a form of combat, kickboxing is deadly in the sense that it uses all striking techniques you can find in traditional arts like Kung Fu and Karate minus the more traditional moves. Strip of hindering moves from traditional arts, kickboxing set itself apart by incorporating techniques found only in Western boxing, hence, the term kickboxing.

Muay Thai on the other hand sprung from traditional Thai Boran which from the start uses the eight limbs to hurt the opponent. In fact, the term Muay Thai literally means “the way of the eight limbs.” Punches, kicks, elbow strike and kneed strikes are all good in Muay Thai. Some of its techniques are not allowed in kickboxing in fact, some would say that kickboxing is a more tamed version of Muay Thai.

Still the differences does not end there. Signature techniques not only by individual practitioners but also of specific schools, will show more of the specific difference between the two. Punches are delivered differently in both sports. In kickboxing, which borrows its boxing technique from western boxing, punches are delivered in more circular approach. Kicks in kickboxing are delivered more akin to Taekwondo and Karate, depending of course of the background of the fighter. In Muay Thai, where the roundhouse kick is more popular, it is delivered in a ramming manner as oppose to snapping.

Which One is Best for You?

This question is really difficult to answer. It all depends on you—the purpose for choosing the art and what you envision yourself to be.

As a form of self defense, both are equally viable. While most kickboxing gyms doesn’t allow knees and elbows, you can always develop it on your own and it’s not really that big of a deal. Although these techniques are staple in Muay Thai, there’s really no stopping your from learning it.

You might miss the defense part of these techniques, and I can tell you that Muay Thai really excels here. But close quarter boxing is also where kickboxing excels and where most Muay That fighters struggle with.

As far as workout is concerned, both offer routines that can kill a horse. If fitness is what you’re looking for, you can choose either of the two and you will get there. Aside from that, most gyms nowadays offer cross training and if you’re a keen observer, you will notice that both arts have evolved into becoming more like each other.