Kickboxing

Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport and is recognised as the most effective means of combat combining kicks, punches, knee and elbow strikes.

What is Muay Thai?

What is Muay Thai good for?

Before you go

Precautions

What to expect from Muay Thai

Hot tip!

Afterwards

Similar classes

What is Muay Thai?

Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport of kickboxing. The art of the sport is to avoid being hit yourself by repeatedly striking your opponent with your feet, elbows, knees, feet and hands. The most important movement is the kick, as you aim to prevent your opponent from getting away, or from kicking you! Having done this, you can then strike them on the head...

What is Muay Thai good for?

In the UK, Muay Thai classes are intended as a way of getting and keeping very fit, and also learning to defend yourself should you be attacked. To become good at a sport that involves being hit, you must develop your stamina, resistance and poise. You will increase your physical strength as well as general fitness, and also develop greater flexibility and agility.

Thai kick boxing helps improve self discipline and self- confidence and is definitely one of the more friendly and mutually supportive fitness classes. So, it should also give you somewhere to work out - rather than work up - all your murderous tendencies... It's a great class to take if you want to learn new physical skills as a way of keeping fit.

Before you go

Muay Thai is a combat discipline based on ancient Thai practice. It's not for newcomers to keep fit, and it's not for the faint-hearted. You should be prepared to work hard in the class, and to learn new movements and positions. Some classes focus on the striking movements; others will expect you to fight with a partner. Find out beforehand what's expected from you.

What to wear: you'll be most comfortable in clothes that allow you room to move, and your skin to breathe - a leotard, shorts and vest top or two-piece lycra seems to be preferred.

How long? A good class should last at least an hour.

Precautions

You should not do Muay Thai if:

* you are, or think you might be pregnant

* you have recently had a baby

* you have recently had surgery of any kind

* you have muscular or joint injuries or weakness

* you have heart problems.

If you have any other medical conditions - from a cold to epilepsy - make sure you let the instructor know beforehand. You should also speak to them - or if appropriate, your GP - in advance to be sure that you are okay to take the class.

What to expect from Muay Thai

Thai kick boxing classes are often offered in single-sex classes rather than mixed, because of the differences in strength. Muay Thai classes are vigorous and you will need to be quite fit. You can burn off as much as 1,000 calories in one class - you have to work very hard to do this.

Classes normally begin with an aerobic warm up involving circuit-training style exercises from squat thrusts to press ups. The warm up may also involve skipping, a standard boxing fitness technique, for around 3-5 minutes, which can be quite challenging. After stretching, you will learn and practise Thai boxing techniques, usually in pairs. You will use equipment as well - gloves, bats (large soft pads worn on hands to absorb the punches) and pads strapped to the arms (to absorb the kicks).

As you get more experienced, the instructor will vary the routines. You'll work in pairs, and focus on stances, movement, balance, strength, effective punching, striking and kicking. As well as stretching, Thai boxing sessions should cool down with an active relaxation period, focusing on breathing and visualisation techniques; this may be combined with some yoga.

Hot tip!

Be honest! If you're getting hurt, say so.

Afterwards

You are likely to feel exhausted but energised, and maybe a bit sore! Your skin will be salty from the sweat. A Jacuzzi, a gentle swim or a long shower will help ease you back into your day.