This article delves into the many benefits of training Muay Thai! Given the variety of different martial arts to choose from, it may be difficult to nail down which are the best gyms in Vancouver and which style is going to best serve your particular needs or interests. Some may choose Taekwondo for its flashy kicking style, or boxing for its scientific approach to fisticuffs. Others will be drawn to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, because they like their battle on the canvas, or mixed martial arts for its blend of different fighting styles. Despite the many upsides offered up by each, few if any provide the same comprehensive range of benefits as Muay Thai kickboxing, and thanks to DCS there has never been a better time to train Muay Thai in Vancouver.
What is Muay Thai Kickboxing?
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, an ancient art developed by the Royal Thai Army that has been practiced for hundreds of years. Also called “the art of eight limbs”, Muay Thai differs from other striking arts as it utilizes strikes from the hands, legs, knees, and elbows — eight weapons, as opposed to the two or four points of contact used in most other arts. Muay Thai is also set apart through its heavy reliance on front kicks to maintain distance, and its well-practised clinch — a close-quarters form of standup grappling with an emphasis on knees, elbows, and throws. Today, Muay Thai enjoys a thriving competitive scene in both Thailand and abroad, and has gained infamy as an ideal striking base for mixed martial artists.
The Physical Benefits of Taking Muay Thai Classes
If you are seeking a martial art help you trim and tone your body, Muay Thai kickboxing classes in Vancouver are a great idea — Muay Thai workouts are intense, cardio heavy, and burn plenty of calories. but there are a host of additional benefits as well. Incorporating the shins, elbows, and knees allows you to strike and defend from many different angles, surely, but it also activates those unusual energy and muscle systems. Hand and body strikes tone your torso and arms, and a proper stance keeps your legs engaged as well. Kicking tones your core and strengthens your glutes, with the repetitive rotation of your hips shaping your traps and core. In fact, a constant engaging and tightening of your core happens with every punch, knee, elbow, and kick. Since Muay Thai requires repetition in order to become a better fighter, defensive movements that rely on speed, such as dodging, blocking, and countering will help you become faster as well.
Participating in Muay Thai Classes Increases Endurance, Balance, and Flexibility
The sport is both aerobic and anaerobic, requiring your body to adapt quickly and thus allowing for improved cardiovascular performance. Further, Muay Thai is traditionally a graceful martial art, which goes down no different than in the ring. There is no way to fake your way through a Muay Thai fight, because you are judged on your technique as well as your ability to inflict damage. What’s more, since you lose points in the ring when you stumble and fall, the goal is to show you’re in control of your body. While this may cause anxiety for some practicing martial arts in Vancouver, just striving to attain correct technique is going to lead to more repetition, better movement, and greater rotation — all which leads to increased endurance, balance, and flexibility.
Muay Thai improves Mental Health
For all its intensity, Muay Thai is an approachable sport perfect for those who are not necessarily athletic. Those who think they need to take other fitness classes in Vancouver well before starting their first class, think again — most Muay Thai instructors will understand that you won’t be able to fire off 40 kicks at will or jump rope for more than a couple minutes, at least at first. Good trainers, like the ones at DCS, will help you push past your limits and attain your goals, and they understand that mindset is crucial in pursuit of this. Their positivity is infectious!
Like all strenuous exercise, Muay Thai is also a good way to fight depression. Your brain and nervous system produce endorphins and other chemicals to help you feel elated after a workout, and you’re going to earn a lot of them after each session. These workouts produce feelings of positivity, happiness, and a sense of calm — all which help naturally insulate you from the effects of depression, stress, and anxiety.
Sure, training Muay Thai at any gym in Vancouver is going to get you some sore muscles and scattered bruises, but they will be well earned! These physical ails may hurt for a while, but they pale compared to increased resilience, a more positive mindset, and a better outlook on life. Muay Thai offers a great outlet for tension and stress — the cathartic release of smashing pads never gets old — and during training you will likely be too busy paying attention to allow your day to day anxieties to take hold. Who couldn’t use an escape from their worries?
Taking Muay Thai Classes Teaches You to Defend Yourself
Muay Thai has been tried and tested for centuries; not only in competition, but in real life situations too. It is widely regarded as the most effective striking art for both self-defence and mixed martial arts competition. Ongoing testing in combat between highly skilled practitioners means the art is consistently in development, making it faster and more efficient, and MMA fighters have taken note. You’d be hard pressed to find a good UFC fighter who doesn’t train in Muay Thai.
How does all this apply to you? First, if you are comfortable in stand up fighting, you will have a tremendous advantage over an untrained opponent. Your reflexes, ability to read the situation, maintain distance, and deliver blows if necessary will be far greater than most — especially under intense pressure. It is quite unlikely that an untrained attacker would expect you to throw a front kick to keep them back, or a knee or elbow strike should they close the distance on you. Further, clinching techniques allow grab and control an opponent while you remain on the offensive, throwing strikes or sweeping them off their feet.
Taking Muay Thai Classes Helps You Gain Courage and Instills Confidence
Training Muay Thai helps you quickly realize just what your body is capable of. The best gyms in Vancouver will have practitioners continually build their confidence by practicing the defensive techniques needed to be a good fighter, such as slipping punches, checking kicks, and knowing how to throw an opponent down. You are going to feel more confident in public, and carry yourself accordingly.
You’ll also have less of a need to be looking over your shoulder, as Muay Thai helps sharpen your peripheral vision. The repetitive nature of training causes techniques to become deeply ingrained in your muscle memory. As you become more advanced in class, activities such as drills and sparring will force you to form quick strategies, almost without thought; not just what technique to use, but at what time, and at what distance. With Muay Thai, you always need to be thinking five steps ahead of your opponent, with no time to dwell on past mistakes. In other words, what’s happening in the here and now is all that matters for those particular three minutes. When you trust in yourself and your skills, your confidence will allow your muscle memory to do the work for you.
Training Muay Thai Helps Develop Self-Discipline
You always practice with purpose in Muay Thai. If you really like and enjoy the sport, you will always feel you are striving for something better than looking good at the gym, or that you made it to two classes this week. As your technique improves, your fitness will improve, giving you more stamina and ability to focus on technique. It’s a positive feedback loop with no limit! Even on the days you don’t feel like practicing kickboxing in Vancouver, you’re going to leave feeling stronger, healthier, and better about yourself; simply due to the self-discipline you’ve built.
Conclusion
As we have discussed, there are countless physical and mental benefits to training Muay Thai regularly. The boosts to physical and mental health are well documented, and researchers have caught wind — one personal trainer in Vancouver, for instance is currently studying the effect that Muay Thai Kickboxing has on the quality of life of those living with Multiple Sclerosis. The results are quite staggering, and they point to the fact that the martial art improves balance, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive function.
So, what benefits are you hoping to get out of your first Muay Thai Kickboxing class?
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