Perfect Your Body and Mind with Muay Thai
The origin of Muay Thai is in the Ao-Lai tribe in India. This tribe migrated to southern China, but unfortunately, the area was filled with conflict. Every civilization in the area fought without rest to survive as an ethnic group.
These wars lasted for a thousand years. They forced the tribe to create a system of combat that would endure until modern times and now counts millions of followers. Called Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, many legends have been made through this martial art.
Physical benefits of Muay Thai
Practicing any kind of physical activity or sport, of course, brings benefits for your health. If you add to these benefits a sport with strict criteria of strength and resistance – not to mention a tough environment for your respiratory and circulatory system – you’ll take your body to its limit.
Most people practice this discipline for about three hours a week. It usually consists of a warm-up and then 40 minutes of intense practice. This includes technical and theoretical aspects such as practicing punches to boxing bags or shields. They end the practice by dedicating a few minutes to calming down.
Let’s look, point by point, at the benefits you can gain from practicing this well-loved martial art. Everything here can be adapted to the level of each person.
Weight loss
The tension focused on direct opponents results in a tremendous calorie burn. That’s why, unlike lifting weights, the “Thai Warriors” typically have very little fat and lots of quickly-contracting muscle fiber.
Increase in muscle tone
In order to get the most power out of this sport, the very practice will make your muscles evolve. Normally, the result is better muscle tone each day, in addition to better strength in general during your daily activities.
Cardiovascular and respiratory improvements
During a Muay Thai training session, your pulse increases. This will help you to not only gain experience in this art but to also keep your heart in optimum health.
The various fighting periods in this sport – usually between two and three minutes of maximum effort – will force your lungs to adapt to the requirements. It will make sure that your respiratory system is functioning optimally.
Mental benefits of Muay Thai
When you think about physical activity, you probably imagine the physical fitness you’ll achieve as a result. You might forget that mental health is also a major benefit, and Muay Thai includes several philosophical and sociological components.
Obviously, you have to practice martial arts with common sense, guided by instructors with plenty of practical and theoretical knowledge, as well as ethical and moral knowledge.
Additionally, you need to keep in mind that blows to the head could cause irreversible harm. To avoid these problems, be sure to follow the sport’s guidelines adapted to your level.
Civic values
Respect for your opponent, who is nothing more than a friend practicing with you, is important. This translates to appreciation toward society, other living beings, material objects, nature, and the family.
Those familiar with martial arts know how dangerous it can be, and therefore, the respect that it deserves. That’s why they emphasize peace and cooperation among those practicing. This is an art, not a way to solve conflicts.
Concentration
Focusing on any aspect of daily life, whether it be work or free time, involves understanding and concentration. When you practice Muay Thai, you must pay attention to your opponent’s movements. This will ensure that your neural transmissions are more precise and perfected.
Increased reflex responses
The constant exposure to unexpected movements will make you respond to any situation with agility. This could help you avoid accidents when you drive, for example, or even accidents in your own home, such as falls.
Improves your mood
Muay Thai promotes the release of endorphins and combined with good nutrition and rest, the brain will benefit. You’ll be able to complete any other activity with enthusiasm and happiness and you’ll notice an improvement in your mood.
Become who you want to be with Muay Thai
To begin, you’ll want to put yourself in the hands of a qualified professional who can transmit the perfection that is Muay Thai. It’s not just about hitting something or someone else. It’s about so much more, as gradually you’ll acquire a power that will require great responsibility.
Don’t be scared: take the step. Hand-to-hand combat as a sport translates to a more positive life in general. Through it, you’ll face unfortunate events and become a warrior of the 21st century. Experience what it’s like to practice Muay Thai!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Carter, K. 9 Totally Awesome Muay Thai Benefits. Livestrong. Revisado en septiembre de 2018.
- Van Schuyver, Mark (enero de 2002). «Krabi krabong: this ancient art of Thailand is mother of muay thai» [Krabi krabong: esta antigua arte tailandesa es la madre del muay thai]. Black belt(en inglés) 40 (1): 80-84. ISSN 0277-3066. Consultado el 15 de noviembre de 2016.
- http://www.muaythai.it/imba-lert-rit/?lang=es#guide
- Colegio Americano de Medicina Deportiva (ACSM). 2000. Principios generales de ejercicio de prescripción. En las pautas de ACSM para las pruebas de ejercicio y prescripción. 6ª ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philidelphia, Penn. pp. 152-153.
- Moñita, Pedro. 2000. El arte de los puños: manual técnico didáctico.
