Here’s Why More People Than Ever Are Benefitting From The Power Of Muay Thai

PHOTO: Evolve MMA
PHOTO: Evolve MMA

Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, has been around since the early 19th century. It is often referred to as ‘The Art of Eight Limbs’ because it utilizes the fists, elbows, knees, and shins. It also uses various clinching techniques.

While it is the national combat sport of Thailand, Muay Thai is practiced by people all over the world. For years, it has enjoyed an immense following. Recently, however, Muay Thai has gained a lot of traction as a fitness program.

Regular everyday people are turning to Muay Thai for training, with the aim of getting fit and healthy. And there are, of course, a myriad of reasons why people now more than ever are picking up Muay Thai.

Whether it’s to lose unwanted fat and see the numbers drop on the weighing scale, to learn self-defense, or to chase the allure of competition, people are being drawn to Muay Thai.

If you’re thinking about taking up Muay Thai training, then this list may be for you. We’ve come up with a handful of reasons why this incredible sport is gaining unbelievable traction.

Today, Evolve Daily shares four reasons why more people than ever are picking up Muay Thai.

1) The results are real

One of the main reasons people have recently turned to Muay Thai training as a form of exercise is its ability to burn loads of calories. As people become more body-conscious, we’re always keeping track of how many calories we burn throughout the day, particularly in our workout routines. Of course, the more calories expended, the faster we lose weight.

Muay Thai training is extremely intense and engaging. It can burn off up to 1,000 calories in a one-hour session. This, of course, will help you achieve your fitness goals much quicker. But you won’t be just losing weight. You’ll also be toning and shaping your muscles.

Ever wanted to have the chiseled physique of a well-trained athlete? With Muay Thai training, you get quick and noticeable results within just a few weeks. The results are definitely real.

Aside from getting fit, you’ll also see increases in energy levels, strength, speed, stamina, and focus — all of which help you function better in everyday tasks. Muay Thai training will impact all aspects of your life, and it has loads of benefits.

So if you’re looking for lasting results, Muay Thai training is surely for you.

2) Self-defence is more important than ever

The world offers many dangers, and it is every human’s basic right to be able to defend themselves. More people are turning to Muay Thai training because it is an incredible martial art for self-defence.

Using a variety of techniques, Muay Thai training transforms regular people into fighters. You’ll gain the ability to defend not only yourself but also your loved ones and the people around you. What’s even more important is that Muay Thai will empower you with the self-confidence you need to diffuse tricky situations.

You never know when you’ll need to rely on physical self-defence skills to get yourself out of a jam. So it’s best to be prepared.

Another reason people are being drawn to Muay Thai training is that martial arts gyms that teach the discipline are now becoming more accessible. Muay Thai is easy to pick up, even for beginners, which is another appeal.

In children, learning self-defence is the remedy to the bullying epidemic. By understanding the principles of martial arts, and not just how to fight, children are given the responsibility of using their skills wisely.

If you want to learn how to defend yourself, Muay Thai is the way to go.

3) Muay Thai has gained popularity

PHOTO: Evolve MMA
PHOTO: Evolve MMA

Perhaps another huge reason why people more than ever are picking up Muay Thai is because the sport has gained immense popularity in recent years.

Until just a couple of years ago, Muay Thai had only been closely followed by hardcore fans. You had to travel to Thailand if you wanted to watch a live Muay Thai bout. But martial arts organizations, such as the Singapore based ONE Championship, have incorporated Muay Thai bouts into their ecosystem. The result is a raised awareness of the sport.

When ONE Championship launched their prestigious ONE Super Series in 2018, it brought together the world’s best strikers under one roof. Athletes from the world of boxing, kickboxing, taekwondo, and yes, Muay Thai were brought in to do battle with one another on the grandest global stage of martial arts competition.

The Evolve Fight Team has a myriad of incredible Muay Thai fighters in its stable. Among them is reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, and ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, to name a couple.

Their bouts are prominently featured and showcase the raw beauty of Muay Thai as a sport. Simply put, Muay Thai has so much more fans now than in years past.

4) It’s a great stress reliever

It’s no secret that stress is a big downer in everyone’s lives. Whether we realise it or not, stress affects our lives greatly in more ways than one. It weakens our immune system, leaving us vulnerable to various illnesses. It can cause obesity, high blood pressure, fatigue, and even depression. Everyone needs to relieve stress.

Maybe that’s why a lot of people are simply drawn to Muay Thai training. Muay Thai is a great avenue for stress relief because it is a great physical exercise. Exercise brings out the happy hormones — the endorphins that drastically change our mood.

Furthermore, Muay Thai gives us a jolt of energy each day for us to better perform our tasks. Mentally, it clears our minds, and helps us focus more, improving the quality of our lives.

People looking to relieve stress turn to Muay Thai training and it’s absolutely fantastic. If you’re a person who deals with a lot of stress, or works in a high-pressure environment, you’ll need an outlet to release all that tension. Muay Thai is a great option, and one you should certainly consider.

This article, "Here’s Why More People Than Ever Are Benefitting From The Power Of Muay Thai", originally appeared on Evolve MMA, Asia’s No. 1 martial arts organisation.