Welcome to the world of striking! Muay Thai and Kickboxing are two of the most recognized and effective striking Martial Arts in the world. This article will give you a brief insight into some of the similarities and differences between them. Both of these Martial Arts are effective as a workout to burn fat and build muscle. If you’re looking to learn how to strike or learn which Martial Art might be good for self defense, read on.
In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the key parts Muay Thai and Kickboxing have in common. We’ll also discuss the main differences between Kickboxing and Muay Thai.
What does Muay Thai and Kickboxing have in common?
Both Martial Arts have been proved effective in high-level competition as well as self-defense situations. Muay Thai and Kickboxing both use kicks and punches. Both have highly developed eye-hand/foot coordination and timing. Both require a high-level of conditioning and mental toughness. A highly developed offense and defense are also a result of training in these Martial Arts in a consistent manner. Muay Thai and Kickboxing are used in high level striking events as well as Mixed Martial Arts around the world.
Fighting in the clinch
Something that tends to be overlooked by the casual observer is the amount of grappling, or clinging, that happens in a Muay Thai match. More time is spent in the clinch in Muay Thai fights as fighters battle for control position to land devastating elbows and knees. While clinching in Kickboxing exists, it’s generally in an effort to reduce damage from the punches and kicks of that Martial Art’s ruleset.
Movement
When compared to Kickboxing and Boxing, Muay Thai fighters don’t use as much head movement. It’s not uncommon for a Muay Thai fighter to employ a more upright stance and hard defenses which create openings then attack with powerful strikes. On the other hand, a Kickboxer may use more head movement as a part of their defense to create opportunities to land kicks and punches.
Scoring
Earning points as a Kickboxer is different from how Muay Fighters win on the judges’ scorecards. Strikes landed in Kickboxing are treated as about the same with an emphasis on the number of strikes (volume) and the amount of damage caused. In Muay Thai, not all strikes are counted as equal. The focus in scoring tends to be on damage done and control of an opponent’s balance.
Kickboxing judges will score each round evenly so fights tend to begin with a higher output. Muay Thai matches start out at a slower pace to give the crowd time to make bets. Betting of fights is a huge part of the Muay Thai culture which is why the later rounds are much more active.
Learn Muay Thai and Kickboxing in Utah
Here at Absolute MMA, we offer beginner-friendly classes and more advanced, competitive classes for everyone looking to learn Muay Thai and Kickboxing in Utah. You’ll find instructors who are well-trained, professional, and invested in helping you reach your goals. Absolute MMA has you covered whether you’re wanting to get in shape, learn a new skill, or train for a fight.
We’re located at 1338 W 7800 S West Jordan, UT 84088. Give us a call at (801) 255-1166 to learn more!