Muay Thai VS. Kickboxing

[italian_guy]

I don't know much about Muay Thai, I know that kickboxing has a lot of heavy training. It depends mostly from the school I think. Aside from usage of knee and elbows (btw K1 kickboxing rules allow the use of knees, we praciced knee sometimes) there are some differences in techniques ( I know this because I knew a guy who practiced KB with me and had previous MT experience). expecially round kicks.

 

BTW GreyGhost is that you in the picture? If it is so you look terrific!

[SevenStar]

No the styles are different. In kick boxing is resembles boxing more, where you have your hands close to your face. In Muay Thai you have them up and away from your face, not by much but more than kickboxing. And in kickboxing you are not allowed to use your knee or elbows but in muay thai you are allowed to.

 

not really. where the hands are held depends on various things - which school you train at, who you are fighting, what you are trying to do, etc. For example, if I am fighting someone higher than me, I need my hands high. Why?, because he is above me. If my hands are low and close to my face, I have to reach up, THEN parry him. with the hands high, I can just knock his hands down. If I am seeking to clich and knee, I may have my hands out more, so they are closer to his head. BUT, Ihave to realize that if I do that, I will lose some power in my jab...

 

There are several differences between thai boxing and kickboxing - I've posted some of them on the kickboxing forum before. I'll copy and paste them here. As far as which would win, just pick one of the three and train it as best you possibly can.

[SevenStar]

muay thai vs kickboxing

 

MT allows knees. Not all sanctions allow elbows. And of those that do, they are usually to the body and not to the head. These are called modified thai rules. in thailand, elbows are allowed fully.

 

kickboxing will allow leg kicks if you fight under international rules. If you fight american rules, it must be above the waist.

 

in international and american, clinching is not allowed and will result in a break.

 

kick catches are allowed in MT and in international, but, with international if you catch the leg, you must drop it immediately. In modified thai, you can take three steps forward (in an attempt to trip him) before you must release the leg. In thailand, there is no limit - you can push him all the way across the ring if you want to.

 

you generally see a wider variety of kicks in kickboxing. thai fighters tend to stick with the teep and roundhouse. The next most used is probably the back kick.

 

real thai punching involves angling the punches downward upon impact, adding a triangulation effect. This isn't seen in all gyms, however.

 

thaiboxers don't bob and weave as much as kickboxers or boxers - they don't want to mistakenly run into a knee.

[GrayGhost]

Ok Vito you still haven't answered my question, HAVE YOU DONE KICKBOXING AS WELL AS MUAY THAI?

[WorKshoP]

My suggestion is to find a school like mine, where the same coach teaches both MT and KB and go to both his classes. It may be 4 times a week (in my case) but its well worth it

[SevenStar]

why?

[WorKshoP]

because you end up with great all around techniques by practicing both styles, being fluent in both and mix them together to be more effective

[SevenStar]

I dunno... you won't really find anything in kickboxing that's not in muay thai. thai boxing has the sidekick, crescent kick, hook kick, etc. but not all coaches teach it. regardless, those kicks aren't a prerequisite for being fluent...

[glockmeister]

"Styles" don't win fights, the fighters win fights. I am always amused by these threads which start off with "which style would beat this style" It doesnt matter about the style it matter how smart the defender or offender is and how well trained they are, thier mindset and determination. Just because there are more strikes in MT doesnt neccesserily mean that a MT fighter will always beat a regular full contact kickboxer.

 

I think alot more than the style, the emphasis should be placed on the student's dedication, the skill of his teacher and how good the school is and how well it teaches.

[SevenStar]

it's the training methods. plain and simple.