Western Boxing and thai hands

[Rainbow_Warrior]

Well... I have trained several years in boxing and a lil bit in MT. When I was takin MT , I noticed some minor guard differences (to adjust the movements for kicking and defending kicks ) , but the punches are very similar.

Did MT always have this similarity to western boxing ? Or Did it change with the English conquest of siam and the XX century globalization ?

[bushido_man96]

I would imagine that the system of punching has been mostly the same. It shouldn't be a major coincedence that the two styles of punching are similar. After all, there are only so many ways to throw a punch. I do know that Thai Boxing doesn't use the bobing and weaving that Western Boxing does, though, because of the kicking and knee strikes.

[cross]

Did MT always have this similarity to western boxing ? Or Did it change with the English conquest of siam and the XX century globalization ?

For quiet a while MT punches were very different to boxing punches, for a couple of reasons:

1. Less emphasis was placed on punching because kicks, knees and elbows are far more devastating tools and the K.O tools of a thai boxer. So most thai boxers only use the basic jab cross to set up their other tools.

2. From a MT stance, with not alot of weight on your front foot its hard to land a solid punch with bodyweight behind it because you need to adjust your stance and plant your feet to do it. This ment the delivery of the punch whilst looking very similar to boxing was quiet different.

In recent times however western boxing style punches have been adopted and are taught by most MT gyms. So they were not always the same, but at this point the MT guys have adopted boxing style punches.

[Rainbow_Warrior]

Maybe the change is because the influence of kick boxing and full contact too ...... Many places sell their training as MT , but they offer something really close to Kick boxing .

I know a teacher who says that Thai box cannot be mixed with full contact , boxing or kickboxing.,...because it gets watered down , and the timing moves are sooo diferent...... That guy also advocates for MT praying and those arm rings ( braceletes ? )

[bushido_man96]

I don't know if that would be a legitimate arguement or not. Muay Thai has been integrated fairly well into MMA competitions, and Muay Thai itself is a full-contact art.

[gzk]

Maybe the change is because the influence of kick boxing and full contact too ...... Many places sell their training as MT , but they offer something really close to Kick boxing .

I know a teacher who says that Thai box cannot be mixed with full contact , boxing or kickboxing.,...because it gets watered down , and the timing moves are sooo diferent...... That guy also advocates for MT praying and those arm rings ( braceletes ? )

Maybe someone who crosstrains in Western boxing before their MT habits are set might develop bad habits in relation to stance and defending in ways that leave them vulnerable to MT techniques. However, I would think that if they were already skilled in MT and the Western boxing trainer understood their background and what they were trying to achieve then I can't see that Western boxing would hurt too much. Buakaw has been training in Western boxing for the last couple of years and his hands have gotten better.

Also, the MT praying is called Ram Muay and the arm bands are called Pra Jiad (I think).

[gzk]

I don't know if that would be a legitimate arguement or not. Muay Thai has been integrated fairly well into MMA competitions, and Muay Thai itself is a full-contact art.

Typically, though, an MMA fighter is not going to train boxing specifically if he is already an MT fighter, and if he does, it will most likely be in an MMA context in which he will box in a fashion that suits MMA. He won't learn boxing the same way as if he's going through the ranks of (say) WBC contentders.

Also, I would assume that "full-contact" in context means full-contact Karate aka American Kickboxing (long pants, foot pads, no kicks below the waist, no knees or elbows).

[bushido_man96]

Typically, though, an MMA fighter is not going to train boxing specifically if he is already an MT fighter, and if he does, it will most likely be in an MMA context in which he will box in a fashion that suits MMA. He won't learn boxing the same way as if he's going through the ranks of (say) WBC contentders.

Sure, I can understand that. Just working with a Boxing trainer would help to improve hand speed, combinations, and things like that. Maybe not a lot of bobbing and weaving, but more slipping and blocking.

[Rainbow_Warrior]

Also, I would assume that "full-contact" in context means full-contact Karate aka American Kickboxing (long pants, foot pads, no kicks below the waist, no knees or elbows).

yes ! I talk about full contact Karate and Kickboxing . The one you said ( with long pants and w/o low kicks , knees and elbows) .. Also , the Kickboxing that is similar to muay thai without knees and elbows BUT with permited low kicks.

[NightOwl]

I think another interesting look at this is to compare 'olde tyme boxing' stances with those of today. Fighting with bare knuckles meant that you had to be more careful not to break your hand somehow.