I trained in Muay Thai kickboxing for several years in my 20s and 30s and it was nowhere near real Muay Thai fighting, but trust me, it still needed to be taken seriously. The conditioning demands, strength needs, and flexibility all require a few tried and trusted Muay Thai drills as well as solid equipment and a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition, hydration, and sleep.
Muay Thai is a highly physical activity that is increasingly becoming popular. Regardless of whether you are interested in pursuing it for exercise or want to reach the level of a Muay Thai professional boxer, there are various tips you should beware of before committing.
Let’s take a slightly deeper dive into each of these strategies, which can be used for any sort of self-defense, sport-specific, or obstacle course training.
Build Your Conditioning, Endurance, and Stamina
Muay Thai drills and training require a lot of energy due to rapid movements such as punching, shuffling, and kicking. It requires an individual to take time to build stamina as it is a full-body workout. Cardio training and conditioning, including swimming, biking, sprints, HIIT workouts, and BootCamp classes improve your stamina to minimize the chances of running out of steam when in the ring.
Purchase Proper Equipment
Your body is subjected to intense physical stress when participating in Muay Thai. It would be best if you made the necessary effort to protect your body from injuries by investing in the proper gear. Purchase high-quality equipment, including boxing gloves to protect your wrists and hands, clothes that allow you to move around comfortably, and mouth guards to ensure your teeth are well protected.
Ensure You Train With Different People
Switching your routine by training with different people is essential. Training with the same partner daily means you can easily predict their movements. Investing in training with people at different levels, then you allow you to assess your position in the Muay Thai training and learn new techniques from your opponents at San Diego Muay Thai gyms. Most gyms will allow you to engage in Muay Thai drills such as sparring with both lesser and more advanced opponents. You’ll want to try to experience it all.
Consume the Right Type of Food and Drink Tons of Water
Participating in Muay Thai training means that your body is subjected to the same conditions as an athlete. You are required to fuel your body with a balanced diet by consuming the right kinds of fats, proteins, vegetables, and fruits. Such nutrients enable you to remain fit and healthy, improving your performance. Drinking water has various benefits, including lubricating the joints, getting rid of toxins, and delivering oxygen throughout the body. Water also helps boost performance during exercises, so it is crucial to keep the body hydrated.
Stretch Frequently
Just like drinking plenty of water, stretching has various benefits. Stretching relieves the body of aches and muscle stiffness, minimizes the risk of injuries, and improves posture. It also improves your overall performance and mechanical efficiency, which is a must for each athlete. Muay Thai and other martial arts do require quite a bit of flexibility to pull off certain moves. Ensure you can master those Muay Thai drills by regularly progressing through your flexibility training sessions.
Be Technical and Build Your Strength
Laying a solid foundation by learning Muay Thai techniques stepwise would be best. You may have the power and physical strength to perform well, but using a poor method puts you at a high risk of injury. If your Muay Thai technique has a firm foundation and you invest in the correct procedures, you maximize your overall potential and minimize the possibility of sustaining injuries. Once you have a technical foundation, you must concentrate on building muscle power. Visit the gym several times a week to strengthen the upper body, core, and legs to improve the strength of your movements.
Never Let Your Guard Down
Muay Thai is considered the ultimate form of boxing. You and your partner throw punches and kicks at one another during training. Even if you anticipate your opponent’s movements, you are never too sure about what will happen next. Train to be a defensive boxer and always protect your face, and never let go of your guard.
Final Thoughts
Muay Thai is an intense activity, so it is essential to rest after a workout. Resting enables your body to repair itself, minimizing the chances of injuries. Maximize your rest and recovery using the tips above. Be sure to get 6-8 hours of sleep, dial in your nutrition, hydrate well, always stretch post-workout, and participate in active recovery occasionally on your off-days. These strategies will insure you progress in your Muay Thai drills and combat training.
Tags: boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, mma, muay thai, Sports
