Opinions Please Fellas

[The Angry Mule]

I'm thinking of starting mua thai and was interested in the basics of it.I want to learn a no nonsense form of martial arts and was tossing it up against kickboxing but liked the idea of knees and elbows aswell.Eventually if I get good enough I would like to enter amateur bouts but dont think they have them for blokes my size 104kg? If anyone could give me a rough idea on what to expect it would be appreciated.Also is there any ground work minvolved? Cheers.

 

[pikerules]

I'm suprised nobody responded to this yet. I'll try since I trained in Muay Thai for about 4 years. Basically you can expect boxing plus knees and elbows. Which of these 3 are emphasized depends on the gym. There are different types of knee and elbow techniques just like how with punching you have a hook, straight right etc. Elbows are generally not allowed in amateur bouts. There is no fighting on the ground, but you do learn some takedowns, by sweeping the leg and/or throwing them to the ground from a clinch position. In a bout, a takedown would score like a landed strike.

Differences with kickboxing: Muay Thai uses just two types of kicks - roundhouse and "tiip". The tiip kick is a pushing kick to the stomach or hip to create distance. The round kick is thrown so you connect with your shin, not the foot. You basically want to connect with the entire length of the shin, laying it across the other guy's thigh, torso, or head. In my opinion this is much more effective than kickboxing kicks, and I think proof lies in the fact that in kickboxing matches fighters are actually required to put in a quota of kicks every round. Muay Thai guys, especially the Thais themselves, will often throw more kicks than punches.
The biggest difference is probably that in kickboxing, if two guys tie each other up, the ref breaks them up. If this happens in Muay Thai, things are just getting started. There are techniques for how to control the other persons body by grabbing the back of the head, and all sorts of dirty tricks to land knees and elbows in the clinch.

The boxing part is like western boxing with some little tweaks. The stance is more open so you can quickly start a kick with either leg, and block those outside low kicks with your shin. Bending the knees to come in low, typical in boxing, is frowned upon, since it sets you up to get kneed. You're also supposed to hold your hands up higher for blocking elbows and high kicks, as opposed to boxing where you keep your elbows tucked for blocking body shots.

You might have some trouble finding matchups at 100+ kilos in Muay Thai. But the good thing about Muay Thai is that you could probably (at least at the amateur level) hold your own in boxing or kickboxing matches as well, which would give you more opportunities to compete. Good luck if you decide to get into it.

 

[JayC9]

Doesn't get any more no nonsense than Muay.

Best way to see if it suits you or you suit it is to try it.

Good luck.

 

[Djimbe]

Mule :

105kg isnt outside the range of bouts that ive seen . Hell , Ive had fights at over 150 many times .

Knees and Elbows arent the sole Province of Muay Thai , however , and being "No Nonsense" isnt about STYLE , its about your Instructor , and how he runs his school .

 

[Saintinistic]

there are fewer moves to learn. so its easier to perfect than a knung fu style..
its not rocket science.

and by the 6 month mark you should be able to look back and see the change in yourself. if 6b months at 2-3 times a week is all you do for the rest of your life, you have the basics that you wont forget.

just be prepared to get cardio fit, stamina eventually dictates how long the skill remains when in the ring.

i loved it.

 

[Djimbe]

there are only 13 postures in Taijiquan . Even the "108 Form" is just repeats of the same 13 things time and again in all linking Sequences .

Xinyi I think has JUST FIVE MOVES . The whole system . 5 Postures . And dont say it sux because W. Boxing only has 5 punches , unless you think it sucks as well . Baji has less in it than MT , and so do some systems of Bagua . Some only having the ONE Palm Change and the Circle Walk , total .

Then there is a "Kung FU" system known as the 18 Handholds . Oh , and the 18 Lohan Kicks . Those both only have 18 things in them . even if you combined them you would only have 36 techs , to MT's 80 or so .

Please stop making blanket statements when you dont understand the subject matter .

 

[Kane Fan]

Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut
where's the fifth punch?

 

[Saintinistic]

there are only 13 postures in Taijiquan . Even the "108 Form" is just repeats of the same 13 things time and again in all linking Sequences .

Xinyi I think has JUST FIVE MOVES . The whole system . 5 Postures . And dont say it sux because W. Boxing only has 5 punches , unless you think it sucks as well . Baji has less in it than MT , and so do some systems of Bagua . Some only having the ONE Palm Change and the Circle Walk , total .

Then there is a "Kung FU" system known as the 18 Handholds . Oh , and the 18 Lohan Kicks . Those both only have 18 things in them . even if you combined them you would only have 36 techs , to MT's 80 or so .

Please stop making blanket statements when you dont understand the subject matter .

the context was in the rocket science. and if you look at the localised kung fu, theres more than these minimalist styles you speak of. in shanghai we may find hundreds of different clubs. the crouching cricket mantis style... but using the aspects of animals in them requires various understandings and different applications of "similar" moves.

while it is true i have not studied all styles. i have studied various arts. perfecting Muay Thai isnt as in depth as other practices. its a sport.
others have an almost shrine experince attached to them.

so, in a perhaps better description: Muay Thai is easier in its less (not devoid of..) formal approach and is less esoteric in application. its also good for street. not requiring hidden apple monkey pulling techniques.

 

[Kane Fan]

I like Sport styles because they are proven time and again in competition
many traditional schools limit themselves to point sparring which while fun isn't exactly a test of your abilities to FIGHT

 

[Djimbe]

Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut
where's the fifth punch?

Overhand

 

[Djimbe]

the context was in the rocket science.

I honestly have NO Idea what it is that you mean by this .

and if you look at the localised kung fu, theres more than these minimalist styles you speak of. in shanghai we may find hundreds of different clubs. the crouching cricket mantis style...

There are a LOT of systems out there . Some of them are bound to Suck . The Issue that Im taking is that youre basically Predjudging ones that VERY WELL DO NOT suck because they happened to come from the same COUNTRY as another system that does ! Thats retarded ! I mean , This Country invented Ice Cream and the Hamburger , and Barbeque ! YUM ! It also Inveented the Fruitcake , Tuna Casserole , and the "String Bean Cassarole" SPEWWWW !!!

People in this Country lump ALL Chinese MAs into 1 category Ignorantly . it only really takes a LITTLE Brain Application/Effort to make the Distinction between what ALL Good MAs and MAschools should teach , and being a Style Whore or a Biggot .

but using the aspects of animals in them requires various understandings and different applications of "similar" moves.

Actually , Animals are realy just DESCRIPTIVE in Chinese Culture . There is a move in Xingyi refered to as "Tiger Hold Head" . Anatomically tiger could NEVER do this move . The "Tiger" part is meant to Imply that the move itsel is to be used with Brashness and Power , not that any Tiger actually ever DID the bloody thing ! they just dont - CANT - even BEND like that !

So Chinese like to name things afer Animals .

Get over it .

Would the move be any better if it was called "Defensive Maneuvre #27" ?

Nope .

Oh , and Look at what , Duck Walking from Wrestling , or the Spider Guard from BJJ ! Do you REALLY think that a SPIDER fights like that ?

No , its JUST A NAME .

Chinese Culture is rife with animal Imagery . using an Animal typicaly denotes a Quality thats associated with said creature , some for Cunning , some for Intellect , some for Strength , some speed ... I mean ...

You never hear anyone called "Sheepish" ? Or a "Cheeky Monkey" ? "Stubborn as an Ass" ? A "Stallion" ? Animals have Images and these Images are associated with MAs in China .

BFD .

If it takes ANY person ANY longer to learn "Monkeys Punch" than it does "Punch Number Twelve" when they are the EXACT same move , then that person is a Dumbass with some SERIOUS hangups .

If you dont understand the Culture , then just Ignore the technique names .

while it is true i have not studied all styles. i have studied various arts. perfecting Muay Thai isnt as in depth as other practices. its a sport.
others have an almost shrine experince attached to them.

I totally Disagree . The ppl that i know that are TRULY good at Muay Thai have taken their time and put in DECADES of Study . Newbies are Newbs , no matter their System . A 2 year MT student isnt any better than a 2-year Praying Mantis one from a Good School .

so, in a perhaps better description: Muay Thai is easier in its less (not devoid of..) formal approach and is less esoteric in application. its also good for street. not requiring hidden apple monkey pulling techniques.

If you actually knew the Traditional names for even HALF the crap in Muay Thai I think that you would Rethink the above . There are just as many goofy-sounding Animal and Nature references .

 

[Saintinistic]

rocket science = high complexity

and you can pick up the core of Muay thai in under a year, could you pick up the core of any kung fu system?
yes yes yes, many people spend decades perfecting muay thai. but all my posts have been in relation to the ease of learning. like its easier to teach my son muay thai than kempo. i know a n00b is a n00b. like flying a cessna or a 747, both are planes yet one has much more understanding involved in its use, even though the result is the same.

ease of concept understanding is my direction.

and as for

get over it

you dont see me crying as i type this. i dont have notes from my mum. i am happy, and can accept that others have differing view points and can see where i am perhaps swimming out of my depth. good fighters stay calmer under pressure, relax.
you could be perhaps get over yourself a little, this is a forum for mature debate, not bitch slapping screams of injustice.

defensive maneuvre #27.

so you admit that there are many variations of techniques, which is where i was also headed with differences between thai and many kung fu's. so you agree. naming a fist eagle claw shows a different aspect and another concept to absorb, muay thai has the fist. not "rocket science"

some for Cunning , some for Intellect , some for Strength , some speed

which you admit shows different mind sets in application. therefore a new variation is a different move/ principle.

you take this personally like i spoke about your mother. its good to feel passion in your words but you let anger blind you, instead of guide you.
i appreciate your input. thank you

 

[Djimbe]

rocket science = high complexity

and you can pick up the core of Muay thai in under a year, could you pick up the core of any kung fu system?

Yes .

In fact I could name a couple of DOZEN "Kung Fu" (dosent that just mean Chinese ???) systems that you could get JUST as much out of as you can Muay Thai in an equal amount of time . many of wich arent as reliant on Attrbutes .

yes yes yes, many people spend decades perfecting muay thai. but all my posts have been in relation to the ease of learning.

like its easier to teach my son muay thai than kempo. i know a n00b is a n00b. like flying a cessna or a 747, both are planes yet one has much more understanding involved in its use, even though the result is the same.

ease of concept understanding is my direction.

yes , I understand , and Im saying that youre claiming that there is something confusing where there really isnt .

you dont see me crying as i type this.

Cant see you at all , actually .

i dont have notes from my mum. i am happy, and can accept that others have differing view points and can see where i am perhaps swimming out of my depth.

Well , how can you have a "View Point" of something that you obviously have never viewed ?

good fighters stay calmer under pressure, relax.
you could be perhaps get over yourself a little, this is a forum for mature debate, not bitch slapping screams of injustice.

I do all my Bitchslapping in person . If youre being Injust dont cry about being called on the carpet for it . Correct the behaviour .

so you admit that there are many variations of techniques, which is where i was also headed with differences between thai and many kung fu's. so you agree. naming a fist eagle claw shows a different aspect and another concept to absorb, muay thai has the fist. not "rocket science"

Where is all this "Rocket Science" ? Why are things that you dont know yet so dificult for you to understand ? Do you have some sort of Learning Disability ? There is nothing Incomprehensible in any Chinese system , well except why they like to name shit wierd . But in the end its all Punchiung , Kicking , and Grappling , isnt it ?

which you admit shows different mind sets in application. therefore a new variation is a different move/ principle.

Wrong .

A STIFF Jab a POPPING Jab and a RAPID FIRE Jab are all Jabs , and they all work on the exact same Principle . The difference is TACTICAL . So no , theres really not any thing more Complex to learn .

Good try that time though

you take this personally like i spoke about your mother.

No I dont .

You have NO IDEA how I would react to you speaking about my mother , and you have no IDEA weather Im laughing my ASS OFF at you or crying in pity for you as I write this . Or just picking my Butt , for that matter !

its good to feel passion in your words but you let anger blind you, instead of guide you.
i appreciate your input. thank you

I feel no Anger WHATSOEVER . Im sorry that that is how you interperet some TEXT on a SCREEN , but there isnt any anger IN me . Speaking Frankly and Sternly dosent denote any Emotional irascability on my part , Im sorry that you percieve text in such a manner . I bear no Ill-Will tward you on a personal level .

 

[Saintinistic]

i see.

well i stand by my words, yet i feel that i should have started them off by saying "I found Muay Thai easier than kempo" and easier than Aikido (which i know is Japanese)

generalisations on my part were misleading, in re-reading my posts.
my bad.

i never used kempo in a fight except tournaments, it was good for my state of mind. thai was better suited to what i wanted on the street until i trained CQC. now thats all i do.

on topic, i say go for it Angry Mule. you may very well enjoy the ring fighting.

 

[Djimbe]

I too find Kempo to be awkward , and in many cases there seem to ber far more Efficient ways to do things .

And Aikido - well , Im a Taoist - I cant believe that Defense ONLY is the way to go , unless youre Perfect ! You must have a Balance .

 

[Yarg!]

kane, uppercuts are not used in muay thai. unless youre talking about punching styles in general. but no uppercuts.. instead something more effective: the clinch.

 

[Djimbe]

Yarg ! :

Kane's Post was in Reference to my mention of Western Boxing , not Muay Thai .

 

[Kane Fan]

Overhand

I havn't learned that one yet
is it a straight punch?

 

[Kane Fan]

yah it was
tho I'd throw an uppercut in the Clinch

 

[shamrock11]

Ever watched K-1 fights those guys are hugh. You'll fit right in there, when you get to that point anyway.

 

[Djimbe]

I havn't learned that one yet
is it a straight punch?

Umm , kind of hard to Describe ....

Imagine that you slipped a Jab to your Opponents Inside , so that his Hand was past your head to one side (your Lead) , and your ear was by the inside of his Elbow . If you were to Counterpunch just then , with that same side hand , and were to strike at the head , you ould pretty much HAVE to throw an Overhand . your hand would kind of Corkscrew out , up , around the Arm and then down again to meet the face , with the elbow being pretty high up at the point of Contact .

 

[Kane Fan]

so its' like a Jab that goes over his guard sort of?