THE BEGINNERS GUIDE
TO RUNNING FOR MUAY THAI

By David Dack

If you're a Muay Thai fighter looking for ways to improve your stamina and endurance, look no further than running.

Here's the truth. Logging the miles is a key part of Muay Thai training and something you should be doing religiously if you want to stay in fighting shape.

In Thailand, most Muay Thai trainees are required to run a few miles before and often after their pad work and sparring sessions.  In fact, "no run, no fight" is one of the most popular sayings in the Muay Thai training world. 

The question is, how does actually running help you improve as a fighter and how to get started? Keep on reading for the answers.

In this article, I'm going to explain some of the benefits that running offers Muay Thai fighters, as well as show you how to incorporate road work into your workout routine without risking injury or burnout. I'll also delve into some of the training approaches you can follow to develop...

GETTING READY FOR THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF YOUR FIGHTING LIFE

Preparing for your first fight can be pretty stressful, as your head is constantly spinning just thinking about what to expect.

It’s really hard, as you probably haven’t done anything similar to it before. Consciously accepting and then taking to months prepare for a fist fight -- who does that??

It can be hard to know exactly how to prepare for your first fight: should you focus on cardio, technique, strength...?

Well, the answer to that question is usually to just listen to what your coach tells you, as you probably aren’t the only fighter they’ve brought to their first fight. But even if you’re doing everything your coach tells you to do, you’re probably still thinking about even more things to do so you can guarantee that win. The struggle never ends.

That being said, let’s talk about some things you should do in preparation for your first Muay Thai fight to make it...

HOW TO SHADOWBOX WITH MEANING & PURPOSE

By Randy Pilares

The world is suddenly at a standstill.

That’s the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently afflicting the globe. Office buildings, schools, places of worship, parks, and more are deserted as people have been asked to go on home quarantine.

The same is true for gyms everywhere. The usual hustle and bustle are suddenly missing as gyms have closed down indefinitely. Athletes, fighters, and fitness buffs have nowhere to train.

If you are a Muay Thai beginner, you are probably wondering, "Can I still train? Can I still make progress if I am on home quarantine and can’t get near my gym??"

The answer to those questions and more is a resounding - YES! Yes, you can still train without a gym, and yes, you can still make progress. Even when you are holed up inside your home and with limited equipment at your disposal.

You can make all of that happen through shadow boxing.

Why Should I Shadow Box?

Shadow...

NEW TO THE BAG? WE'VE GOT 20 BEGINNER-FRIENDLY HEAVY BAG COMBOS!

By Evan Lee

The heavy bag is one of the most valuable pieces of training equipment you can have if you’re training alone, if not the most valuable. But only if you use it properly, so let’s go over a few rules and key principles. 

The heavy bag is not to be treated as a punching bag. If you simply start blasting the heavy bag, you will not get much out of it at all. You may get some conditioning done. However, why just get conditioning when you can get more? 

The heavy bag can be treated as you would a sparring partner. If we can shadowbox like we have an actual opponent in front of us, why can’t we do the same for the heavy bag? 

If you’ve seen videos of boxers, kickboxers, nak muays, etc. working the heavy bag, you will no doubt notice that they move around the heavy bag a lot. They don’t just simply beat on the bag. They work combinations, evade, circle around, and do all...

JUST STARTING OUT IN MUAY THAI? MEMORIZE THESE 10 TIPS!

By Michael Dehoyos

Muay Thai is an extremely physical activity that is becoming increasingly popular. Whether you want to become a professional Muay Thai boxer or are just interested in doing it for exercise, there are some tips you should know before jumping into the ring. 

#1: Be Technical

When you build something, you need to begin with a foundation. You may have the physical strength and power to perform well, but if you have poor technique, then you run the risk of being injured. If you build your Muay Thai practice with a firm foundation and learn all the movements with correct form and technique, then you maximize your full potential and decrease the risk of injury.

#2: Build Your Cardio

Muay Thai is an activity that requires a lot of energy because of all the rapid movements you do such as shuffling, punching, and kicking. It’s a full body workout, and if you don’t take the time to build your...

NEW TO MUAY THAI? START WITH THESE SIMPLE COMBINATIONS

By Evan Lee

Wait? Isn’t this quantity over quality? Well, that depends on how you look at it.

Quantity is an often overlooked component of training. The focus on quality is often at the forefront of everyone’s vision. It makes sense, because by attempting to spread yourself across you will be spreading yourself thin, thus proving the inferiority of quantity. 

In what world, then, would it be sane to suggest that quantity rule over quality?

In one where mistakes can be made.

Training can often get stale when all you do is sharpen your own tools. When one is preparing for a fight, any mistake in training can be costly and throw off the entire training camp, the margins of error are thin. No room for no lollygagging up in this.

What about when you’re not training for a fight? That’s when the fun begins.

When you’re training for fun and to develop skills, that’s when you can throw everything...