| ign="center"> | | | | pull-ups, and push-ups. Fighters may also cross-train |
| Muay Thai (also known as Thai Boxing) is a form of | | | | with jumping rope, long distance running, and sprinting. |
| kickboxing originating in Thailand and Southeast Asia. | | | | Like other boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA fighters, |
| This discipline uses the fists, feet, shins, and elbows to | | | | Muay Thai fighters may also lift weights in addition to |
| strike the opponent. Thai Boxing is a powerful and | | | | body-weight exercises. |
| potentially dangerous sport that requires a lot of | | | | Muay Thai fighters usually spend time conditioning their |
| training to be done well. Muay Thai training encourages | | | | shins for impacts during fight. Fighters attempt to |
| not only skill and technique, but endurance, speed, | | | | thicken the shin bone by kicking things like heavy bags |
| strength, timing, and all-around toughness. | | | | wrapped in rope. To aid in the bone thickening, fighters |
| Training for this combat sport involves a lot of time | | | | supplement their diets with calcium and vitamin D or |
| spent working on proper technique while hitting focus | | | | rub special oils on the skin of their legs. Some fighters, |
| mitts, thai pads, and heavy bags. Fighters can work on | | | | during Muay Thai training, condition the shins by dulling |
| the timing of their attacks, counter-attacks, and foot | | | | the nerve endings surrounding the bone by repetitively |
| work using the focus mitts. Fighters usually use heavy | | | | impacting and rubbing the bone with objects such as |
| bags for heavier resistance training to gain power. | | | | glass bottles. |
| Much like boxing, training can also involve | | | | There are many ways to begin your training in Muay |
| shadowboxing to reinforce proper technique and | | | | Thai, the best of which is to find a school located |
| speed or live sparring to simulate a real fight or | | | | nearby. Most major cities have Muay Thai St Louis, |
| competition. | | | | New York, Miami, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles |
| To have a fully conditioned body, Thai Boxing training | | | | included. Other resources include Muay Thai DVDs and |
| integrates other conditioning exercises found in other | | | | books. |
| sports, like bodyweight exercises such as sit-ups, | | | | |