Muay Thai the Unbeatable Martial Art

Muay thai is the form of martial art which began its journey from the Kingdom of Thailand more than 2000 years ago. Now it is popularly known as 'thai boxing' all over the world. Muaythai is the art of fighting without the use of any weapon.

Thai boxing can be differentiated from the general form of boxing, as it includes the use of hands, elbow, feet and the knee. It's not only an art of fighting; it is also a form of science, with discipline, knowledge and respect.

Thai boxing is an art which needs to be practiced with proper training. It not only keeps you body in good form and proper shape; it improves your blood circulation and builds up your nervous system. Regular practice enhances the flexibility of the body, which means better use of the bones, muscles, and the tendons in bending and moving the body.

It is very important to be brave in order to practice the Art of Muaythai. One must accept the danger and pain involved in this form of fighting, bravely without any fear. Practicing Muay thai is not only getting physical training but also includes the learning of moral values and disciplines in life. It teaches to be modest, to be confident, to always speak the truth and avoid committing sins in life.

In this form of martial art it is trained to be aware of the weak and the fatal points of the opponent's body. A fighter can easily defeat the other in less time if he has good knowledge of his weak positions.

One of the unique features in Thai boxing is the music, which is known as the "Sarama". It is played before and during the combat session. This Sarama music or the wind music is played before the fight with a ceremony, which the fighter performs to pay his respect and gratitude towards those who insisted and helped him to become a boxer. He thinks of his teacher who trained him with all his knowledge and efforts and of his parents who gave him life. This music helps the boxer to raise his spirits and confidence and make him ready for the real physical combat. You can find more information about music at Muay Thai Fighting Website.

Muay thai has given born to many great fighters who are now known all over the world. Samart Payakaroon is one of the best among legendry muay thai heroes; he held the title of "Baby Face Tiger". He accomplished both Muay thai and World Super Bantamweight championship in his carrier. One of the most promising muay thai boxer is Buakaw Por Pramuk. He won the title of K-1 Max World Champion two times till now. First in 2004 at the age of 22 and he reclaimed this title again in 2006. The K-1 Grand Prix is a famous competition which is held in Japan to determine the single best standup fighter in the world. In Atlanta Olympics 1996, Somrak Khamsing is the first Thai boxer who won a gold medal in feather weight class. He is well known, from then for his swiftness and his reflexes. Another Muay thai hero in K-1 world competition Kaoklai Kaennorsing once held the title of K-1 grand prix championship in 2004. He is talented at quick maneuver and effective hit. He was called the giant killer after he beat tougher competitor by his technique.
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Advantages Of Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts is a full combat sport. It is called mixed martial arts because it mixes together various skills from various martial arts. Its aim is to help people master different skills, thus improving their overall fitness, fight-readiness and defense tactics.

Mixed martial arts offer a forum that allows martial artists to compete against each other, whether they are masters of Judo, Tae Kwondo, Jiu Jitsu or Hapkido. In this form of sport, martial arts that are known for striking can include grappling also. So, there is a mix of skills. For example, Karate and Kung fu allow martial artists to throw their opponents, while Judo and Sambo have kicks and punches.

Combatants of similar styles have been fighting each other ever since the beginning of combative sports. But a competitive event where, for example, a wrestler meets a boxer is a relatively modern phenomenon, which according to history books started as late as the 1860’s. However, these kinds of combative competitions soon caught the public fancy and mixed style contests were a rage in Europe and Japan by the 1900’s. The epitome of mixed combat was Bruce Lee, who believed that the best fighter is not a specialist in Karate, Boxing or Judo, but can adapt to any style to defend himself.

At the risk of oversimplification, mixed martial arts may be considered to teach artists skills and techniques found in kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, grappling and Muay Thai. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but most combatants develop skills and techniques in these because these are time-tested combat sports. Mixed martial sports has expanded and grown in stature precisely because combining these distinct styles of combat into a single art is challenging, highly competitive and requires quite a lot of skill.

Mixed martial arts has several benefits to offer artists. It develops a well rounded form of attack. Even martial arts that focus only on a single aspect of fighting is benefited from mixed martial arts. That is why boxers and wrestlers are known to cross train. So, while Judo teaches amazing throws, Muay Thai offers artists great control over their feet and boxing specializes in heavy duty punches. A boxer who trains in Karate will have the ability to throw punches as well as deliver deadly kicks.

Mixed martial arts challenges artists to develop excellent skills in all aspects of unarmed combat. This prepares artists for a one-on-one competitive event.

Mixed martial arts seek to strengthen every part of the body. It makes used of light exercises like skipping and weight lifting to strengthen muscles and improve cardio vascular health. Gym training is also an important part of the training and greatly improves efficient movement. Flexibility is improved using stretching exercises.

People who learn mixed martial arts do so for self defense, great physical health, mental agility and for the love of the sport. Due to the increased interest in this field, modern artists participate in training camps and learn as much as they can through information sharing.
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Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Exercises based on Muay Thai

Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is known in the Western fighting world as one of the "sprawl-and-brawl" disciplines of martial arts, focusing on striking the opponent more than grappling, clinching, or submission holds. Drenched in a long history as a royal art form of many traditions, this martial art also greatly accentuates the goals of conditioning and fitness in a fighter. Using Muay Thai techniques can greatly improve stamina for MMA fighters that practice in any area of martial arts.

Thai Pads: Training with Thai pads is a staple to any Muay Thai conditioning schedule. Proper work with these pads will help improve speed, power, timing, and conditioning. The key to getting a good workout is having a good trainer or training partner who knows how to hold the pads. Switching between the large foam pads and focus mitts help vary the workout between power and strength to speed and precision.

Shins: Shin conditioning is very specific to Muay Thai training. It is recommended to condition the shins by kicking a Thai pad or heavy bag for at least 100 times per day, but preferably closer to 500, depending on how vigorous of an exercise you’re looking for. Kick lightly at first to warm up, and then start kicking at full strength around the 30th kick. If your shins become sore, rest and massage them to avoid injury. A useful trick is to place your shin in between your middle knuckles and rub along the length of your shin several times to restore blood flow.

Mental Training: Muay Thai fighters believe that mental toughness is just as important in the ring as physical condition or skills. Meditation and praying are staples of Buddhism and Thai culture, so it should come as no surprise that this transfers over to Muay Thai boxing. This mental training concerns both visualization and positive thinking. While not physically training, a Muay Thai boxer is constantly visualizing their fighting moves in their head like a movie. This will help with reflexes and natural reactions because you’re practicing scenarios in your head all day and night. Positive thinking involves eating, breathing, and sleeping success and winning 24 hours a day. Negative thoughts must be neutralized by positive ones and a champion’s mindset put in place.

Muay Thai fighting is a very popular sport worldwide and has infinite room for advancement of skills. Learning the fighting techniques, conditioning drills, and traditional formalities can all help in any area of martial arts. So next time you’re training at the gym, don’t forget your Thai Pads, shin exercises, and to mentally train as well. Happy training!

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