It wasn’t that many years ago when anyone who wanted to practice the art of Muay Thai would have to visit the Land of Smiles in order to find a training camp, yet today, there are thousands of Muay Thai camps around the world, with more than 150 in the UK alone, and Australians have really taken this form of kickboxing into their hearts, and with many young people who see it as a good way to get fit, Muay Thai is perhaps the most popular of all the martial arts.
Understanding the Sport
Due to its Buddhist influences, Muay Thai is as much about the mind as it is the body. There are also spiritual overtones, with many of the Thai fighters sporting powerful Yant tattoos that are believed to offer the wearer protection in the ring. One must conquer oneself in order to become proficient at Muay Thai, and with the right training program and a disciplined approach, it is possible to become very fit and able, and the self-defence aspects plays a heavy role in people’s choice of sport to take up, and with increasing violence on our streets, it makes sense to learn some basics moves to protect against an attack. If you are already a student of Muay Thai, and would like to buy some essential equipment, there are online stores with martial arts supplies, and at lower than retail prices, you can source top quality items at affordable prices.
Respecting the Teacher
Wai Kroo, which is Thai for “Respect Teacher”, is a ceremony traditionally performed just prior to the fight commencing, and each fighter will slowly execute specific moves, and with a dance-like rhythm, they are paying their respects to their teacher, and as this comes to an end, the Kroo will whisper chants of encouragement to his student, while carefully removing the headband, leaving the fighter ready to do battle.
Non-Competitive Muay Thai
Of course, very few people actually set out with the intention of turning professional, and a majority of students are young people from all walks of life, who all see Muay Thai as providing several essentials in one unusual discipline. The fighter can freely use knees and elbows, and if you are not a hardened fighter, this could cause serious damage. People who train will wear body pads, and of course, the big pads are used to practice kicking, but anyone who actually spars, must accept the high risk of an injury, due to the nature of the sport.
Obviously, you will require the boxing gloves and some pad gloves, for light bag work, and let’s not forget the shorts, and the protection underneath, which is an absolute must if you are contemplating a contact combat sport such as Muay Thai. You should have a few mouth guards, a head guard and some pads would also be a good idea. All of these items can easily be sourced online, and if you happen to live in Australia, there is a market leader on your doorstep.