At a recreational/beginner level, Thai boxing/Muay Thai training is also very accessible to people who have never had any experience with the sport. Mainly basic techniques are used, and overall fitness is significantly improved. During these classes, sparring techniques are used that may not be fully placed. Sparring in general is certainly not mandatory at most gyms.
Thai boxing for stress relief
Sufficient physical activity, including regular exercise, plays a major role in combating stress, for example. Someone who has never tried this sport before will find during the workout that it is not as demanding as expected. The classes are easy to follow and, above all, not intimidating, but actually a lot of fun.
At a competition/advanced level, we are talking about a group of athletes who receive more competition-focused training, using techniques required for competitions. Sparring techniques are therefore required during these classes, and you must already have a reasonable command of them. Not everyone can simply participate in these classes. You need permission first.
More self-confidence through Thai boxing
A self-confident child is much less likely to end up in threatening situations. The physical and mental aspects of martial arts increase self-confidence in children (and adults) and teach them, in a fun way, to be assertive. Children learn to set boundaries, say NO, and stand up for themselves!
Young people who start martial arts, or who are sent there by their parents, are more likely to have a short fuse. If they continue for a longer period, this decreases significantly, as the figures show. Through martial arts, they learn to control their aggression. The martial arts world can make an important contribution to the psychosocial development of socially vulnerable young people and inspire them to continue making choices for “the right path.”
You can take a trial lesson at any gym; in that case, you only need to bring sportswear.
Equipment for Thai boxing/Muay Thai:
- Mouthguard, to protect your teeth
- Handwraps (bandages, wraps), to reinforce your wrists, metacarpals, and knuckles
- Gloves for throwing punches
- Groinguard to protect the groin
- Shin guards, to protect the shins
- Elbow pads, to protect the elbows
- A thai boxing short
- T-shirt; bring an extra T-shirt if you sweat heavily
Benefits of Thai boxing/Muay Thai:
- Promoting self-discipline: Most martial arts schools focus on self-discipline. Children today are so accustomed to receiving “instant gratification,” in which self-control and discipline are often lacking. Children who practice martial arts are constantly reminded of how essential (self-)discipline is for them.
- Encouraging social skills: Children who find it difficult to meet new people and make friends in social settings can benefit from an environment filled with peers and a shared interest. Children on the playground do not always have much in common, but when they share a martial art, they are often better able to get to know one another. Exercises that have to be done together can encourage friendships because the children are “forced” to work on their skills together.
- Encouraging physical activity: Martial arts are an excellent way to get a child off the couch and make them more aware of their physical abilities.
- Learning to set goals: Most forms of martial arts use an “achievement system” in which belts and the stripes on the belts (“slips”) are earned. When your child strives for a new belt or slip, they learn valuable lessons about setting and achieving their goals.
- Increasing self-confidence: A child’s self-esteem gets a “boost” when they master a new movement or earn a new belt. Children who struggle with low self-esteem generally become more confident as the time they invest in practicing martial arts increases.
- Promoting respect for others: When practicing a martial art, it is often required that participants show respect to their instructor and fellow students. In today’s children’s culture, respect for authority figures (parents, teachers, and other adults) is not always present. By practicing martial arts, your child will learn what respect is and be reminded to show it.
- Encouraging conflict resolution without fighting: The idea that martial arts can resolve conflicts only through physical violence often comes from television and films. Many martial arts teach how to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and non-violent way, as well as the importance of avoiding physical contact.
- Improving listening skills: Martial arts teach you how to listen better and maintain your attention (focus). This increases concentration and thereby improves development.
- Developing teamwork: There are very few things a child masters in martial arts without help from fellow practitioners. Working together to learn new things is a very important life lesson taught through martial arts.
- Improving other areas of life: The benefits of martial arts often do not end in the dojo (the space where a martial art is practiced), but extend far beyond it. Self-confidence, improved fitness, and respect for others can also help your child find their way in learning and interacting with others at school and at home, as well as in their overall development toward adulthood.
