Why You Should Visit Thailand for Muay Thai Training – Mixed martial arts have exploded in popularity in recent years, and Muay Thai is no exception. Many schools and professional training centers have sprung up across the globe offering courses. You may even have heard of one in your city that your friends at the local gym are going to. The question you may be asking is, “Do these places provide an authentic Muay Thai experience?” The fact remains that to truly immerse yourself in genuine Muay Thai training and culture, you have to visit Thailand. Let’s find out what a trip to Thailand can add to your Muay Thai training.
Thailand Is the Birthplace of Muay Thai
The origins of Thai boxing go back centuries to the time of the heroic King Naresuan who used an ancient form of close-quarters combat to defeat his enemies. His epic victory quickly became a legend, and the early form of Muay Thai he used became popular among his people. Muay Thai today has taken many inspirations from boxing, replacing rope bindings with gloves and a standard set of rules for competition. However, Thailand still has many Muay Boran practitioners that still keep the old traditions and obscure fighting techniques alive.
Even in professional Muay Thai tournaments, you will get to see some of these rituals still being practiced. Thai fighters wear ceremonial headdresses called Mongkon while they honor their instructors with a ritual called Wai Kru. This is often followed by a Ram Muay dance that shows off their unique fighting style and regional aspects of the gym they represent. Fights are often accompanied by traditional music played live.
You can learn it anywhere in the world, but you have to visit the birthplace of Muay Thai to fully absorb its unique atmosphere and culture. For more about Muay Thai history and its unique culture, read The Origins and Traditions of Muay Thai, read The Origins and Traditions of Muay Thai.
Learn the Purest Form of Muay Thai
While you may be able to learn some basic Muay Thai techniques in any country unless the instructor received their training in Thailand, they may have incomplete knowledge of the martial art. Many overseas training centers focus on the fitness aspects but not sufficiently on the professional mixed martial arts part of it. Either way, you should seriously consider visiting a training camp in Thailand to get the purest and most comprehensive Muay Thai training.
In Thailand, you’ll learn about the Buddhist philosophy that is deeply ingrained within Muay Thai and understand its impact on the martial arts. Words like ‘Sok’ and ‘Kao’ will be unfamiliar at first. You’ll soon learn that they mean ‘elbow’ and ‘knee’, which refer to the points of contact on your body. The various fighting styles stem from which parts of the body a fighter wishes to specialize in. You will then begin to understand the subtleties of these fighting styles and why championship fighters prefer one over another.
To learn more about the different styles of fighting, read A Guide to Five Different Muay Thai Fighting Styles, read A Guide to Five Different Muay Thai Fighting Styles.
Experienced Trainers
In Thailand, the authority that governs and regulates Muay Thai is the World Muay Thai Council (WMC). Many schools, like the Muay Thai Institute of Thailand (MTI), offer certified courses that are recognized by the WMC and the Ministry of Education in Thailand. You don’t have to worry about the qualifications of your instructors in these training centers since they all come highly certified with years of experience. You can easily find well-trained sparring partners that can help you develop your technique.
A Chance to Meet Muay Thai Legends
Many of the instructors you’ll meet at training camps could be former fighters and champions themselves. Many of these masters, or ‘krus’ as they are called locally, are often celebrities that Muay Thai fans will instantly recognize. This is an opportunity to train with the legends, get their advice, and gain unique insights into Muay Thai.
With their wealth of knowledge and wisdom, they can show you the path to mastering the Art of the Eight Limbs. They might even share memorable stories of their past victories. It is a rare opportunity that you will not find anywhere else outside Thailand. To learn more about these fighting legends, check out Best Muay Thai Fighters Of All Time.
Plenty of Muay Thai Retreats for Foreigners
Muay Thai holiday training camps that offer courses specifically for tourists are available all across Thailand. Most camps provide two sessions a day, six days a week. If that sounds too intense, don’t worry. These retreats are very flexible with your schedule so that you can get the best training possible while making time to enjoy everything else that Thailand has to offer. There are beginner-friendly courses for newcomers as well as more advanced techniques for more experienced fighters.
Thailand Is a Great Holiday Destination
You will always find Thailand ranked amongst the top holiday destinations in the world. Thailand is famous for its rich historical sites, scenic beauty, and, of course, its mouth-watering cuisine. It also helps that the people are friendly and most of the travel packages are very affordable compared to other countries.
You could plan your Muay Thai lessons to fit into your holiday schedule. If jungle hikes and picturesque waterfalls are your thing, look for a training center near Chiang Mai. Bangkok offers some of the best training centers if you like to stay near the city. If you’re in search of sandy beaches, check for a place in Phuket where you can soak up both the sun and some Muay Thai at the same time.
Plan Your Trip to Thailand
Only in Thailand will you be able to connect with Muay Thai’s roots and meet the people that practice it. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the rich culture of Muay Thai, learn advanced techniques, meet its legendary masters, and get the complete experience, you have to visit the place where it all began. This is why you should visit Thailand for Muay Thai training.
For everything and more on Muay Thai, visit Ushup, the home for everyone that loves Muay Thai to find out the best places to train, what training gear you need, and more!
FAQs
It is the birthplace of Muay Thai and is the source of some of the best fighters in the world today. You can get trained by experienced instructors, get immersed in the local culture, and learn authentic Muay Thai in Thailand.
A single training session could cost you about 500 baht (14 USD), with 3,500 baht (95 USD) per week, and 27,000 baht (728 USD) per month. It depends on the gym and which part of Thailand you’re in.
Some of the best Muay Thai training gyms are in the capital city of Bangkok where most of the big stadiums and championship matches take place. However, if you want to get out of the noisy city and train in a more relaxing atmosphere, Phuket is the best place. Read Best Muay Thai Gyms in Phuket, Thailand to find the best gyms there.
