Visiting Thailand is one of the best ways you can learn the sport as you will be able to see its authentic practices. There is also an abundance of resources on Muay Thai that can help you fully immerse yourself in it. If you want to make the most out of your Muay Thai training in Thailand, here are a few things you should do:

Find the right gym
The first thing you should do is find the right gym. Our past article titled ‘Why travel to Thailand for Muay Thai?’ highlights that there are hundreds of trainers who can teach you the basics. They will push you to reach your fullest potential and encourage you to flourish as a fighter.

There are many Muay Thai gyms in the country so don’t be afraid to scout around for one that you believe suits you best. As a foreigner, there are many establishments that teach in English so you won’t have to worry about the language barrier. Each gym also has its own specialization when it comes to either striking or clinching. Pick one that brings more emphasis on the skill you want to learn more. Choosing the right gym can help you maximize your training in the country.

Spar with other athletes
Another great thing about learning Muay Thai in Thailand is that you can easily get in contact and meet more experienced athletes who might be willing to teach you a thing or two. You can try visiting different gyms outside of your regular one to spar with others. You can learn their techniques as well as gauge how well you are doing against opponents.

Expat Bets’ guide to Thailand explains that traveling around the country is easy due to the number of airports and extensive railway systems. As the sport is also popular in many other Southeast Asian countries, crossing borders to places like Malaysia and Singapore is also convenient. You can traverse Thailand and a few neighboring locales to interact with other athletes and make the most of your training.

Learn Muay Thai’s roots
The last thing you need to do is to learn the history and culture behind Muay Thai. The IFMA explains that traditionally, there is an almost spiritual aspect of the sport, tying together mind, body, and soul. It was used as combat on the battlefield by soldiers before it became a popular pastime.

Knowing the roots and history of Muay Thai will give you a better understanding of the sport, its rules, and its purpose. Knowing its principles will also make you a much better sportsman and can serve as a guide for everyday life. Muay Thai emphasizes that you are your greatest enemy. Believing in yourself will make you stronger and better. These are principles you will only learn once you understand the roots of the sport.

There truly is no better place to learn Muay Thai than Thailand itself. You can certainly make the most out of your training by finding the right gym, competing against other athletes, and learning more about the culture behind the sport.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art based on submissions and grappling, whose main theme is to control a resisting opponent in multiple ways using different techniques like ground fighting and submission holds. Due to the fact that controlling an opponent on the ground is generally easier than outside or in normal life. This martial art is different and has many of the techniques that are centered around the art of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions from where the opponents can be rendered harmless.

BJJ gives you the best martial arts in the world. If you are small, and you practice BJJ, you can defend yourself against a person double your size.

No disrespect for the other martial arts, never. I respect every martial art.

But a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu pretty much can beat any black belt in other martial art. BJJ is a kind of martial art based on joint locks, chokes, immobilizations, and it was created so the smallest person could beat the biggest person. You don’t have to compete to enjoy BJJ. A lot of people come because they can lose a lot of weight. They can release their stress, they can make friends, they can be part of the team. But the main reason I think is because they are learning the best self-defense in the world. 

What I’m going to show you guys now: pull guard. All right? There are a couple of ways to pull guard. There is this way here, the traditional one,

that you go here, and you pull, Okay, from here you can go to biceps, from here you can go to hook, and do transitions, From here you can go to armbar, from here you can go to XXXX, right? Fine.

This is one kind of pull. Even if you don’t have the flexibility you can be really good in BJJ. If you are short, you can be really good at BJJ. Because there is a game for each type of body. So there is no perfect body for BJJ anymore. Before I would say long legs with long arms and good flexibility.

But today, it doesn’t matter. There is a game for everyone. I’m relatively tall for a woman, I’m very flexible, and I have really strong legs, so that makes me like a perfect guard person, which is the bottom game. And so I like to play close guard, which is strong legs, and I like to play scissor guard and do the armbars and the triangles, and that’s all the flexibility. Doing all the sweeps and the armbars and the triangles too requires a lot of flexibility in your hips, which I have, That’s a choke.

History of Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ):

In 1914 module My Era Aka Count Koma emigrated from Japan to Brazil Matua was at the Japanese of Jiu Rica George Gracie who was a local politician assisted Matul and coming to Brazil as a showing of his appreciation and gratitude Mitsuo My ADA trained George’s son Carlos Gracie as time went on Carlos taught his brothers jiu-jitsu which is translated to the gentle art and they later opened up their first jiu-jitsu Academy together in 1925 Carlos and Helio Gracie are known to have refined the art and tested its application in a real fight scenario the Gracie challenge was created which was an open invitation to anyone who wanted to engage in a basically no rules fight against a gracie jiu-jitsu practitioner gracie jiu-jitsu or brazilian jiu-jitsu is designed so smaller individuals can best a larger attacker via leverage positioning and Submission holes gracie further adapted the art right around 1970 incorporating more effective techniques some from the art and sport of wrestling he also created the first point in rule system for competition jiu-jitsu in the early nineteen nineties Horry and Gracie moved from Brazil to Los Angeles in hopes to display the effectiveness of his family’s adapted style of jiu-jitsu poliana and gentleman known as art Davie created an event called the Ultimate Fighting Championship the purpose of the event was to match up various martial arts styles against each other and discover which is the most effective in a real fight in other words show which style is the best the first UFC event occurred in 1993 and Hor Eons younger brother Hoist Gracie dominated the event. Hoist was chosen to represent the art in the family because he wasn’t necessarily a large or imposing man they felt it would look more impressive to see hoist who was outweighed and smaller than most if not all of his opponents defeat them in a limited Rules fight in real time which cemented the validity and effectiveness of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu art the plan worked because hoist won four fights in a single night defeating each opponent matched up against him besides again giving them considerable size and strength the martial arts landscape and wool will never be the same again when it was evident in order to be a complete fighter you had to have effective submission grappling skill whether offensive or defensive BJJ was the art that just had to be learned after the first UFC event poised being victorious and that first tournament created an explosion of interest in the art and the rest is history there will be no mixed martial arts as we know it without BJJ there simply is no serious mixed martial artists out there that doesn’t train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu or submission grappling Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a beautiful art and it’s ever-evolving with practitioners adding new techniques and moves building off of the techniques refined before them thank you for watching this segment guys I hope you enjoyed it if you did consider giving it a like sharing this article would greatly appreciate it if this segment is popular and you guys enjoyed it I’ll certainly do more guides on different martial arts. Again thanks for reading again and take care.

If you would like to check out some of the Carlson Gracie Placentia programs click the link here. Carlson Gracie Jiu jitsu academy is located near Placentia, 220 W Santa Fe Ave, CA 92870.

Rotational power workouts are performed in high regard concerning Boxing. The rotational power force & speed are the integral components of boxing power. Hip & torso rotation is one of the critical factors when it narrows to force transfer via kinetic chain. Your core performs the key link for transmitting the force from your body to the fist.

Effective torso rotations lead to ‘energy leaks’, which can hurt your punching force & speed. Boxers might subconsciously compensate it with the muscles of their lower back for rotating or laterally flexing their spine. This compensation might cause over-activity and usage of those muscular groups, which increase the potential risk of soreness, inflammation & injury in your lower back. For Improving your performance and reducing the risk of injury you must focus on rotational power workouts.

Benefits of Rotational Strength Workouts:

Rotational power training helps a lot in hiking up your sports performance, especially when it comes to transferring power via kicking, hitting, etc. It significantly improves the core stability that you need for explosive movements. Integration of rotational strength workouts in your boxing training programs can be done in number. Below are the reasons why I should perform rotational power workouts for boxing.

• Anti-Rotational Strength & Awareness:

 Integrating rotational power training in your fitness & sports training regime helps in developing powerful & strengthened obliques & abdominals, better movement patterning, & improved stabilization of the spine & hips while performing explosive movements like swings, jumps, running, slams & Olympic lifts.

• Total-Body Power & Explosiveness:

Rotational movements in boxing largely rely on the musculature of your legs, hips, & core. The ability to promote rotational forces goes with the resistance of unrequired rotational forces. These workouts are total-body exercises that primarily target your core. Moreover, they help with muscle development & total-body coordination required during explosive movements.

• Injury Resilience:

Rotational power primarily forces on your spine and resolving its issues. Unwanted & uncontrolled powerful rotational movement in any sports can badly affect your hips & knees. Lacking proper coordination & strength for having adequate control over your rotational movements during controlled & ballistic exercises, athletes may become vulnerable to sustaining injuries. Inadequate core stability can cause your hips to become rigid for supporting a movement, which could contribute to limiting the ranges of your movement under an unwanted force that is placed on your body.

• Rotational Mobility:

The rotational mobility of your torso & thoracic spine enhances your range of motion. It reduces the undesirable tension in your core that is induced during the punching session. A boxer essentially requires rotational mobility for transferring force from your foot to the fist. The muscular tightness in your Thoracic Spine might limit your rotational ability.

Your Quadratus Lumborum (QL) muscle starts at your pelvis region, inserting at your lowest rib & tips for the transverse processes of your lumbar vertebrae. These muscles play an important role in stabilizing your pelvis during your spinal lateral flexion & extension.

These muscles might over-activated because of tightness & imbalances in the kinetic chain during punching sessions while wearing boxing gloves.

Two Key Areas For Improving Rotational Mobility

●     Thoracic Rotation

The thoracic spine comprises twelve vertebrae in the middle segment of your vertebral column. Your physical limitations are common in that area while boxing because of anterior overactivity. Thoracic extension & rotation are major movements that are limited, & associated with your shoulder & lower-back conditions.

For improving your thoracic rotation, you must separate movement from your lower body.

●     Upper-Lower Body Separation

Your upper & lower link is the most important attribute that should be trained for improving the efficiency of the kinetic chain. The better your upper and lower body connection is the more tension you will be able to create in your core & hip muscles eccentrically, with an increased torque resultantly fast & forceful action can be transferred.

Exercises for Building Rotational Strength & Power for Fighters

Rotational power training like throws, woodchoppers & light swings is performed for acclimating to rotational workout and can serve as the light warm-up activities for high explosive rotational work.

• Rotational Lunges: Typically done as a post-warm-up workout for continuing opening up your ankles, hips & upper back before moving to the resisted lifts. It’s an amazing way of introducing the movement in some new directions & preparing your body for working out in multiple planes.
• Rotational Sandbag Squat: These front-loaded squats include pivoting toward the top of this movement. Typically the variation of this exercise is performed, helping in transitioning from the traditional lifts to the combat movements.
• Single Arm Versapulley Rows: Performing single arm rows on a Versapulley is very unique. Pulling action develops resistance which is why it’s an incredible method of building strength & a fun alternative compared to the traditional cable/dumbbell rows.
• Tornado Ball Slams: This workout is an amazing variation of the medicine ball slam which incorporates the use of a medicine ball for attaching the tether/short rope. It’s one of the great exercises for increasing the lifter’s rotational force & training the obliques concentrically & eccentrically at the same time.

To perform these, a boxer has to stand on his back against some wall, while holding the rope, along with the ball at the other end. Do it simply by keeping your arms straight & rotate, by removing the slack in the rope. When the ball slams against the wall, try rotating forcefully, by pulling the ball towards the other side of your body. Keep on doing it back & forth at the intensity you are comfortable at.

• Landmine Rotations: Landline rotation is performed by using the barbell & landmine holster, adding weights is an option. Landmine rotation assists in developing the stronger core which can be resistant to rotational forces, while helping lifters in understanding the transfer of force from your legs & hips through the core.
• Landmine Arches: Jam the barrel into the corner or the Landmine anchor. The energy will be generated via feet, hips, legs & torso. The bar will simply move like an arch from one thigh to the other. It’s an amazing way of developing strength in your body for the punch, kicks, throws & more.
• Heavy Bag Kicks & Punches: Classic heavy bag punching workout is one of the most valuable equipment not just for boxing athletes & conditioning purposes. Focus punch mitts and pad workouts can be performed for increasing rotational explosiveness & translation of rotational movements to the functional patterns.
• Landmine Press with Rotation: Pairing landmine presses with the hip rotation. The activity is initiated as you drive the rear foot & hip, & rotate your hips so the lifter will face landmine attachment. By using your rotational force that’s being produced for aiding the press.
• Sledgehammer Slams & Swings: This particular workout is done for increasing your core strength & rotational power in any setting. To perform this workout grab the sledgehammer by using only one of your hands towards the base of its handle and the middle. Boxing athletes can strike down onto the pad or some tire, or in a variety of angles; these options make sledgehammers one of the inexpensive and versatile ways of building rotational strength & explosiveness.
• Medicine Ball Variations: This workout proves to be effective when it comes to athletes developing a higher amount of athletic power, these workouts range from throws, slams & tosses. Rotational movements performed by using the medicine ball offer athletes an amazing opportunity of moving along their maximal velocities for increasing strength. Medicine ball programs are widely practiced for improving velocity & power.
• Barrel Tilt: Tilting with the heavy barrels lies among the highly challenging drills that are performed but the athletes. Resistance in these workouts is high & perfect for developing muscular strength as they tie up, perfecting under hooks and other positions while playing a match or the fight. Barrel tilt is highly effective for developing martial art strength.
• Rope Sidewinders – This exercise is an Identical chain drill, a rope workout variation that is lighter & allows faster speeds. It is widely practiced for enhancing fighting speeds.

What Are The Benefits Of Joining A Martial Arts Training Center?

When you join a martial arts training center you are not just joining for learning, you need motivation routine and tracking of progress as well. There is no doubt that your trainer will help you learn at your own pace because you will be able to set your priority. However, most people lose motivation which is the reason they give up training as well. When you work with a class you know exactly where everyone stands, this gives you a motivation that people are willing to work and so you should work as well. Apart from this, your trainer will help you track your progress and they will help you choose a diet that fits your needs. Some people are underweight others are overweight so generalizing the same diet for all will be very dangerous. To cater to this need, trainers give suggestions and help their students adapt a diet that suits them the most. Most trainers even help the students pack the gym bags so they don’t have to think about the things they need to carry. Most of the time within the first few months of training, people shed a lot of weight. This weight shedding is so intense that most of the time people get very confused and end up leaving the train altogether. If you join the training center they will help you and prepare you for the upcoming rapid weight loss so you will stay ready for everything that might come your way.

Setting a Goal for Training

Since you are going to spend a lot of money, this means that you need good enough results to justify the expenditure. Most of the time, people peg the progress based on the improvement, ranking, and belt but there is something more that you learn through this. Joining a martial arts training center is a complete experience. You will meet people who are as driven as you and you will feel motivated. Apart from this, you don’t have to plan anything because you just need to follow the steps and the rest will be taken care of by the instructors. However, there is a small contribution at your end as well. The goal of most people is to become independent one day and that is exactly what your goal should be as well. To become independent you need to learn the skill, perfect your techniques, and know-how each maneuver works on your body. Your institute and instructor will help you from the start, they will even guide you about the workout clothes and the other things you require.

Make the Most Out Of Your Martial Arts Training

Since we have already explained why you need to become a part of the martial arts training center, we need to discuss how you can make the most out of this training. With the help of these few tips, you will be able to spend your money wisely and by the end of the training, you will be able to do better. The aim is to not just limit your experience but to learn from it so you can keep using the same thing again and even for the rest of your life.

Set Your Mind on Practice

Practice makes a man perfect is the only quote you should remember during your training. We can all agree that if you want to master the martial arts? The only way is to keep practicing. Apart from this, even if you have learned just a few basics and you don’t practice later at home, your muscle memory will not be as effective as someone who keeps practicing.

Be Curious

If there is one thing that will spare you from someone who is not interested in staying in the class is your curiosity. You need to ask more questions because the more you ask the more you know. If you stop asking you will stop learning. Instructors like students who are interested in learning and not just attending classes.

Regularity Is the Key

Everyone knows that being on time and staying consistent is the key. You need to practice daily according to your schedule. Missing out on one class means that your classmates will become better while you will have to struggle. This is not a gym where you can work more the next day and then miss a class. You need to stay consistent with everything so you can make the most out of it.

Flexibility Is a Must

We all talk about stretching and how it can help you reduce the chance of injury and speed up the learning process. Well, without proper stretching you might lose flexibility which means you will easily injure yourself and that is something that you need to avoid at all costs.

Listen To Your Body

Working hard doesn’t mean you should keep pushing your limits. Listening to your body is very important even if you find it hard. If you have an injury or if you are feeling pain, let your body heal. In some cases when people do not take this seriously, they end up injuring themselves, which can be very dangerous.

Enjoy the Training

Training will become easy only when you make it easy for yourself. If you are not enjoying or having fun, this will only be another addition to your already lengthy and boring daily routine. Try to cut things short and make things easy for yourself.

There Is No Ego in Martial Arts

Traditional martial arts only comes with practice and humiliation. You need to stay down to earth otherwise, this will become a challenge for you. Most of the time people don’t ask any questions because they think they know better. Apart from this if they lose a game, they become aggressive or they look for someone who is best. You are in a learning phase, there is no better or best in this phase. Just stick to your routine and you will eventually get a hold of your learning pace.

Don’t Put a Limit to Improvement

We have seen that most people keep thinking about the improvement and they want to improve more and more. There is nothing wrong with challenging yourself but if your goal is 100 percent, even 99 percent will disappoint you. You need to go easy on yourself, even if you improve one percent, this is still an improvement.

Set Your Goals

Setting goals is very important for motivation. It is better to set a short-term goal rather than a long-term goal. Most people think that if a goal doesn’t scare you, it is not worth it. Well, in the case of daily training, your goal should never scare you because a scary goal means losing motivation.

If we talk about Muay Thai specifically. Muay Thai is relatively more difficult than the rest of the martial arts types. Within Muay Thai you are using the Thai style of boxing but your whole body will be used. Your arms will work as knives, your hands will work as sharp blades and your shin will work as a weapon as well. Overall, it is far more complex than traditional boxing and most branches of martial arts.

Learn About Authenticity

Most of the academic institutes are not certified. The staff working there is just conducting training and they hardly know anything about Muay Thai. Real Muay Thai includes complete bodywork. You need to use your elbows, knees, kicks, clinch, and punches not only to attack but also to defend yourself. While choosing an academy, make sure they are teaching the real Muay Thai and not just a few tricks to learn martial arts in general.

Experience

Anyone who teaches Muay Thai must have 10 years of experience. If the academy is certified they might have the certificates on display which will give you overall information about the experience. Most of the time you will see the certificates otherwise you might have to ask about the experience.

Competition

Most of the academies have proper classes and they do not offer one on one classes. So, you need to choose according to the team that the institute has. Another important thing is the overall schedule. If they are unable to provide you a full schedule beforehand, this means they have been teaching people before. In most cases, when they don’t have a competitive team, they let others handle a small chunk of the course and leave the basics and professional level skills aside.

Course Level

Institutes offer beginner and professional level courses. Within the beginner level, they start everything from scratch. This means they will not even miss out on a single detail and will help you learn at a slow pace. On the contrary, if they offer professional-level or middle-level courses, they will help you learn at a fast pace. In the case of academies that do not have any certified courses or a proper team, there is no beginner or professional level division. At the beginners level, they even teach you about the use of gloves. However, with a professional, you have to do everything on your own. They let you join at any time and you have to adjust according to whatever they are offering.

Motivation

Motivation doesn’t mean that the academy will teach you how to motivate yourself. Instead, a certified institute always has people for mental health stability. They never push a student to work extra hard or to challenge the limit of his own body. While selecting an academy, make sure you only select the one you think offers all these facilities.

Knowledge

This one is a little tricky but you need to see if the instructor offering you a training facility knows about Muay Thai. We are not asking you to test their knowledge but you will be paying them a fee, which gives you a right to know about the basic program that they are offering. If you end up joining the academy and you do not learn a stance or foot jab in three months, you can switch the academy.

Wai Kru

Wai Kru is a very detailed and professional option and most people are not so familiar with this. If you want to assess the knowledge, you need to ask the instructors if they offer Wai Kru. It is a pre-fight dance that is used for warm-up and helps the body get ready for the fight. It is common in Thailand and most professionals do not start their game without performing Wai Kru.

Facilities at the Place

Most people ignore the actual; setting and facilities but they play a very important role. Simple things like the facility of the locker room, washroom, clean water, and refreshment go a long way. You obviously cannot limit yourself to one room, you need plenty of places so you can easily enjoy yourself while training.

Affiliation

Affiliation is a very important part of an academy. When an academy looks for a teaching license they need a proper affiliation. If you are living in the US, you need to get enrolled in an academy that is affiliated with the United States Muay Thai federation. These gyms take Muay Thai seriously and they will also help you with professional training where you may be able to opt for this as a career option.

Trail Base

Trail base programs are very common in skill-based training. Most of the institutes offer a free trial base for the first few days and after they are done with the first few days, the students can decide if they want to continue with them or not. These starting few days are free and you can ask a question or know in detail about the overall teaching and training program. While selecting a Muay Thai academy make sure they offer a free trial base program first. Within the trial base, most of the classes are just introductory and they teach you about the use of various protective gears.

Reviews and Testimonies

We all know that in the digital era, reviews and testimonials play a very important role. So while you are there for the research or free trial base, ask the students there. Know about their experience and see how many alumni have become professionals, this way you will be able to assess if the academy is teaching according to the rules of the federation.

Cleanliness

Gyms and training academies are hotbeds for germs so you need to be very conscious about cleanliness. If the academy is not very clean there is a high chance for you to get ill. Especially considering the ongoing pandemic situation, you need to be very conscious about these little things.

Step By Step Learning Journey

Most of the academies do not provide a step-by-step schedule, instead, they just tell you about the program in general. While asking about the fee structure and other details it is important to ask about the step-by-step learning process. Most of the time there is a three-month learning schedule and if you complete that you get promoted. This is a very effective way to keep the learning on track and ensure that everyone is learning at his own pace.

Assessment Exams

Most of the academies do not offer assessment tests however while choosing a good academy make sure they have a proper assessment procedure as well. Most of the academies conduct monthly fights to help in assessing the learning curve.

The most advised set of exercises for wrestlers to do are known as anaerobic exercises that break down sugar levels in your body to create energy without using oxygen. Anaerobic exercises can raise your heartbeat in short amounts of time all the while training your body to use less oxygen to create energy in your body. To be able to do anaerobic exercises efficiently you need to work on your lung capacity and be able to use stored up oxygen in your body so that the demand for oxygen during your workout is less than the supply of oxygen available.

The process of using less oxygen to break down glucose in your body for energy is called glycolysis; this process occurs in your body when you do high-intensity training that forces you to produce energy very quickly, without giving you the chance of catching your breath. Anaerobic exercises will have you sweating in no time but also cause a lot of pain in your muscles because of the buildup of lactic acid in them. However the more anaerobic exercises you do the better resistance you build against the pain caused in your muscles because of the lactic acid.

Although anaerobic exercises are extremely painful to get used to, they have numerous advantages to your body such as:

• Maintain your weight: whether you are a wrestler or not and you don’t have enough time in the day to do serious workouts, then doing anaerobic exercises is the key to losing weight because it will give you the benefits of long workouts in just a span of a few minutes. Anaerobic exercises are excellent for weight loss and weight maintenance.
• Builds Muscle and Bone density: Muscle and bone density is extremely important for a good and professional wrestler because it allows you to exude the energy and strength needed to overpower your opponent.
• Increases strength and power: To be able to defeat your opponent you need to be able to distribute enough energy and strength so that you can win in the ring. Anaerobic exercises will help you channel and control your strength so you can perform well as a wrestler.
• Decreases Sugar levels in the body: burning and cutting down sugar is the key to do anaerobic exercises. These sets of exercises will help bring down sugar levels in your body protecting you from getting diabetes.
• Builds resistance against pain: Pain and injury is an important part of wrestling, building a threshold against pain is the key to becoming a successful wrestler; as your body learns to build a resistance against lactic acid build in the body you will feel your stamina for pain in general increasing as well.

There are a few requirements needed to be able to become a professional wrestler that includes:

1. Excellent stamina: Stamina is extremely important for wrestlers because an effective breathing system will help you last longer in the ring
2. Excellent body strength: Power and strength are of course very important to be able to overcome your opponent because that’s what it comes down to in the end.
3. Toned body: A toned body will help keep you in shape and also give you that intimidating look that is a signature look of a wrestler!
4. A lot of confidence: Confidence in your technique, skill, and training will give the boost and energy required to last in the ring.
5. Skill and technique to fight against an opponent: Knowing what your strengths are and being able to identify your opponent’s weaknesses will help you immensely in the ring.

So try out your wrestling singlets and become comfortable in them because with the following recommended anaerobic exercises you will be able to build strength and resistance in your body that is highly significant for your wrestling profession.

1. Running

Running is one of the most effective exercises for increasing your cardio as it involves your entire body for your shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, and entire lower body. Sprinting for almost 30 minutes every day will improve your body’s endurance, increase your stamina and also help work out your muscles. Other than wrestling, running and sprinting is an extremely important part of many sports and an athlete’s workout to build their stamina.

Running helps to improve your blood circulation, as well as your heartbeat, raises and the blood flow improves. It also improves leg muscle strength and tones your entire body; lower muscle strength is an extremely important part of a wrestler’s training.

2. Swimming

Swimming, as enjoyable as it is, is extremely effective for building muscle strength as you work your body muscles against the force of water to keep yourself afloat and move forward. Swimming helps you work on every muscle of your body, toning and working it out as you move forward. Since a huge part of swimming involves controlling your breathing, it also improves your stamina as you learn to inhale and exhale at your desire.  

3. Shadow Boxing

Change into your wrestling shorts, relax your upper body muscles and release all your anxiety and stress with shadow boxing. The key is to keep your shoulder muscles as loose as possible so you can effectively deliver punches into thin air with a controlled pace and speed. For extra effect try to do shadow boxing with weights so you can build your upper body muscles and also learn to punch at a slow pace. Shadowboxing will increase your stamina, improve your muscle resistance and loosen your upper body muscles for better blood circulation.

4. Yoga

Stretching is extremely important for building flexibility and increasing muscle elasticity; Yoga also improves blood circulation, builds strength, improves your breathing, and also increases your stamina. The stretching involved in yoga also promotes muscle recovery against soft tissue damage that is very important for the revival of wrestlers.

Because your breathing pattern and stamina increase, yoga will help you store energy and oxygen in your body for longer periods, building resistance against lactic acid.

5. Cycling

Cycling again will improve your lower body strength as it works on the hamstrings, glutes and quads, and your abs, giving you a full lower body workout. Not to forget that cycling also improves your stamina and improves blood circulation in the body. The basic key is to keep your cycling speed up and gradually increase the resistance level on your stationary cycle; this will help strengthen your leg muscles with a little bit of a challenge.

6. Skipping

Skipping is another highly recommended exercise that promotes weight loss, increases stamina, and works on every muscle of your body. If you want to expand your lung muscles, build resistance and improve blood circulation then try to skip at least once a day and especially before your training. Just ten minutes of skipping will have your heart racing, warm up your muscles and prepare you for a workout session.

7. Weightlifting

Weight lifting is an excellent exercise for building muscle strength and toning your body; this is especially beneficial for wrestlers as developing muscle strength can help you overpower your opponent.

Travelling to China for Martial Arts training

How can we talk about martial arts and not mention China! Martial arts play a part in most Chinese movies. As well as this, the country is known for its extensive history in martial arts. Specifically, Kung Fu, which is actually an umbrella term for all Chinese martial arts. There are so many different styles within Kung Fu, the number is it in its hundreds!

By travelling to China there are limitless art forms to choose from. You will be able to embrace the culture of a country that has martial arts at its forefront. Visiting places such as the Shaolin temples, where monks are actively practising art forms that have existed for thousands of years.

If you are looking to delve into the historic and traditional martial arts styles, China is a great place to visit.

Travelling to Japan for Martial Arts training

A neighbouring country of China, Japan is also a great place to train in martial arts. The country has a blend of both old and new styles that you can learn from.

Historically, the art of Jujitsu was an art developed amongst the samurais in war. Though not as popular nowadays, there will be dojos in Japan that still teach the legendary techniques of the samurai.

More recent innovations such as the likes of Karate and Judo, were all founded within the lands of Japan. Especially Karate, a martial art that is arguably the most well-known art form throughout the world. Karate schools will be in abundance in Japan with many styles to choose from. Where else would be better to learn the art of Karate than the forefathers themselves! Judo was derived from traditional Jujitsu. The art has developed into a combat sport that is most known for being an Olympic sport.

Japan is a great place to visit for both those who are looking for historic art forms, as well as the current and most popular ones too.

Travelling to Thailand for Martial Arts training

Travelling to Thailand will be different to the previous two countries mentioned. This is mainly because in China and Japan, there are various styles that people train in. Within Thailand, Muay Thai dominates all other martial arts practised. Most of the Thai population would have had some experience with Muay Thai! It is a huge part of their culture and livelihood.

With the recent emergence of MMA and the increasing popularity of Muay Thai itself, Thailand has become a hugely popular place for martial artists to travel to. Though I must warn you, the trip won’t be all glitz and glamour! The Thais are known for their relentless training regimes that will push you beyond your limits. It will be gruelling, but there will be beauty in it. Completely taking you out of your comfort zone, putting you into an environment that will only benefit you in the long run.

Thailand is more so suited for those interested in modern martial arts, especially the art forms used for the likes of mixed martial arts competition.

After reading this article, hopefully, one of these countries may pique your interest. Travelling around the world is a beautiful experience, exposing you to various cultures and ways of life. Why not increase your martial arts knowledge on your journeys too!

It may appear like boxers are doing the same moves over again. But if you pay attention, there are actually different techniques or fighting styles used in this sport. Learning (and perfecting) some of these styles can level up your performance inside the ring.

7 Best Fighting Styles in Boxing

The “Pressure Fighter” / “Swarmer”

This fighting style is intended to put a lot of physical and mental “pressure” on your opponent through a series of offensive movements. It would appear that a pressure fighter is recklessly coming forward to his opponent, throwing non-stop punches.

However, this style is very important because judges give more scores to the fighter who first initiates aggression in the bout. More importantly, this boxing style is used to overwhelm your opponent. The non-stop “attack” is meant to make a person react, move, and strategize more until he becomes physically and mentally drained.

Roberto Duran

Roberto Duran, Joe Frazier, and Mike Tyson are some of the greatest pressure fighters of all time. To successfully execute this boxing style, you need to have top-notch stamina and cardiovascular strength. Offensive movements can drain your energy too, so you have to be physically strong and fast.

Incorporating HIIT, cardio and strength training, and bag workouts into your daily training session can help you become an effective pressure fighter.

The “Counter Puncher”

If your opponent is a pressure fighter, this fighting style is one of the best approaches to overcome him. Counter-punching works well when your opponent is in attack or offensive mode. This style involves turning your opponent’s offense into your offense. Muhammad Ali, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Floyd Mayweather are among the most renowned counter punchers in the history of boxing.

Muhammad Ali

It takes great skills to become an effective counter-puncher. Finding the right timing, capitalizing on the openings, and drawing attacks to trap or trick your opponent are techniques that you develop over the long term. An important rule in counter-punching is to be unpredictable. Therefore, the more techniques you know (offensive and offensive), the better.

Great counter-punchers utilize punching bags to master different combinations. Footwork is also going to be a massive part of your success. Ensure you spend as much time as you can in sparring and shadow-boxing to perfect your movements.

The “Pure Boxer”

Floyd Mayweather

Pure boxers are those who maintain their distance from their opponent, always in a defensive mode and waiting for the perfect moment to hit. Many people think it’s a boring style but it’s a very helpful technique that allows boxers to strategize.

Pure boxers often wait for their opponent to make the first move before stepping out to strike. However, they make sure that when they do, they release clean and powerful punches. You also don’t want to underestimate a pure boxer because to become one, you have to be good at all other fighting styles. Meaning, you have to be good at counter-punching, pressure fighting, and swarming.

George Dixon, Joe Walcott, Muhammad Ali, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are some of the best pure boxers of all time. This fighting style is also called “out boxer” and “out fighter”. Fighters who execute this style correctly rarely get knocked down.

The “Slugger”

Sometimes, it takes just one or maybe a few big, powerful punches to knock your opponent down. This is the mantra of boxing sluggers. Fighters who choose this style focus their training entirely on enhancing their punching power. Jack Dempsey, George Foreman, Henry Armstrong, and Joe Frazier are great examples of sluggers.

Jack Dempsey

You’ll notice that sluggers are often bigger and heavier. That’s because they prefer to land forceful punches to knock their opponent down. To become good at this style, you’re going to spend a lot of time on the heavy bag. You also need to train your upper body to deliver explosive blows.

The “Boxer-Puncher” or Hybrid Puncher

This style of fighting is the most dynamic. It combines the skills of a pure boxer and the powerful blows of a slugger. Ideally, all boxers would choose to be hybrid boxers. But this fighting style is very difficult to master.

This is because you’re not only focusing on just one or a few aspects. You have to be great at everything, from your strikes and footwork to your strategy. The boxer-puncher style can be used against all other fighting styles.

To execute this style successfully, you have to:

• Develop your punching power.
• Train your speed, power, stamina, strategy, footwork, and techniques.
• Constantly train and work your overall body to become physically strong and powerful.

Which Boxing Style Suits You?

You might be wondering what boxing style suits you. While some fighting styles will appear more to you than others, your goal should be to adapt to the game. Meaning, your style should evolve for you to win or survive inside the ring.

But of course, it would be difficult to master all the fighting styles. You can choose one style to perfect, based on your strengths. Then, train harder to incorporate the other styles or techniques. Also, remember that developing your boxing style takes time and consistent effort.

If you’re just a beginner, you want to focus first on the basics which include mastering the correct stance and movements. As you mature as a boxer, you’ll develop your style and learn to adapt to what works best in a specific match.

Consider these tips to develop your fighting style:

• Start with your natural fighting style.

Some people are naturally more aggressive while others are more passive. Some people are innately strong and powerful, others are naturally fast.

• Train harder.

If you want to be a pressure fighter, you have to work on your speed and footwork. If you aim to be a power puncher, then you’ve got to work on your upper body strength to intensify your punches.

• Consider your opponent’s fighting style.

As mentioned, you have to adapt to the game. While you should focus on enhancing your techniques, you must also study your opponent’s patterns so you can tweak your style if you need to.

I am a fitness addict who is always ready to help others learn through my experiences and encourage them to get on the right path and never give up!

We can write a whole post on Muay Thai and the history and benefits of it (check out this post for a deeper understanding of what Muay Thai is), but for this post we will let you know why it is beneficial to travel to Thailand to train in Muay Thai!

The rich heritage of Muay Thai in Thailand

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. The combat sport has evolved over many years in the country. By going to Thailand, you will be able to immerse in the Thai culture and truly understand what it is like to learn Muay Thai from the founders themselves! Just walking through the streets of Muay Thai you will come across gyms and fighters, as Muay Thai is a big part of day-to-day life for most Thais.

In Thailand, no matter what gym you go to, you are bound to learn from specialists in the art. Due to the number of fighters in Thailand, the level and skill of Muay Thai fighters is at a high standard. Training with the fighters in Thailand will most certainly elevate your own knowledge and skills in Muay Thai.

You will be pushed to your limits

Training in Thailand isn’t easy! It is a very tough and gruelling process. Thai trainers are known to be tough and hard on their students. Putting them through tough training sessions, pushing them beyond their so- called limits. Though it sounds daunting, it will be a unique experience that you will truly gain a lot from. Through the adversities you face, you will learn a lot about yourself. Your physical and mental strength will increase. You will find out what you are actually capable of, maybe even surprising yourself!

It can be a holiday as well as a training trip

Thailand is also a very popular holiday destination for many people. The country is known for its beautiful weather and beaches. There are many fantastic landmarks to visit such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Costs of living in Thailand are also affordable and lower compared to other locations within Europe. By going to Thailand, you can have both a training trip and a holiday! Splitting your time effectively, allowing you to enjoy and make the most out of your trip to Thailand.

What is the best time to go to Thailand?

Due to the current circumstances of the world being in a pandemic, travelling to Thailand now for non-essential travel is illegal. However, as countries start to recover and roll out vaccines, we hope to see the borders open across countries for holidays and trips. The UK currently has the 17^th of May as a potential opening date for foreign travel. The 21^st of June is potentially being eyed as the end of the restrictions and social distancing rules. This is all in regard to the progress of the vaccination programme and the decrease of coronavirus cases. Thailand will also have their own travel rules in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

We would urge you to sit tight and wait for there to be more clarification before looking at booking a trip to Thailand. In the meantime, you can look at potential locations that may be suitable for you on this page.

We hope this article has helped you to see the benefits of travelling to Thailand for Muay Thai. Wishing you all happiness and success in your own martial arts journeys!

Learning MMA is a great way to increase both your physical and mental strength. While some people have the fear of getting hurt badly during MMA training, this form of exercising involves precautions that keep participants safe at all times. If you were to fight in a ring, it would be a different story. But in that case, you would know what you’re getting into.

Unfortunately, MMA being a violent sport is one of the main misconceptions about it. In reality, it’s an exciting way for anyone to enjoy a full-body workout and engage in a fun activity with other people. In case you’re interested in learning more about this sport, this guide will help you understand it better.

The Core Components of Mixed Martial Arts

There are three main components in MMA that you can use to gain an advantage over an opponent, such as:

1. Striking – When you practice MMA, you are allowed to use hands, feet, knees, and elbows to throw punches and kicks. How and when you use them is entirely up to you.
2. Grappling – This refers to techniques used to hold your opponent or trying to take them down. Grappling doesn’t have much to do with your strength, but rather the technique you use and the timing of your actions.
3. Submission – Submission is all about using locks and chokes to get control over your opponent’s body. As you learn these techniques, you also figure out how you can free yourself from different chokes and holds.

What’s exciting about mixed martial arts is that practitioners have to figure out when to use these components to defeat their opponent. One of the main benefits of learning each of the three components is that you will know how to use them in the real world as well, should you ever find yourself in a situation where you’re attacked.

The Most Popular Disciplines in MMA

MMA is all about finding different ways to incorporate moves from different disciplines, otherwise referred to as martial arts. The beautiful thing about this sport is that you can choose which martial arts you want to learn. Once you do that, it’ll be up to you and your creativity to figure out what moves you’ll use.

It’s worth noting that unless you plan to be a professional fighter, you won’t have to learn many different disciplines. For most people, two or three is the perfect amount. You may be wondering which martial art to learn first. In order to make an educated decision, you should study what each discipline has to offer. Learn what seems most interesting to you. After all, if you choose a martial art that you’re not that fond of, you might quit training and get discouraged from reaching your fitness goals.

Wrestling

Wrestling represents one of the pillars of mixed martial arts. It’s also widely considered to be one of the oldest sports still in practice today. The goal in wrestling is to pin down your opponent through grappling techniques. In MMA, wrestling is deemed an essential discipline. Nevertheless, if you don’t plan to compete, you can focus solely on striking martial arts in case wrestling isn’t something that interests you.

Boxing

Boxing is a very tactical combat sport that allows you to perfect the art of throwing punches, as well as master footwork and head movement. It’s also a great way to boost your strength, speed, and endurance. Boxing will teach you how to throw and avoid punches and can also provide you with useful self-defense knowledge you can apply in the real world.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art that revolves around getting your opponent on the ground and using chokes and holds to submit them. BJJ is an excellent way to get into shape both physically and mentally. It’s also a very fun martial art that anyone can practice.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is very similar to kickboxing. The main difference is that the former allows you to use elbows and knees when striking, which is something that’s not permitted in kickboxing. Muay Thai is among the most popular MMA disciplines, but it’s also incredibly difficult to learn and master. It’s recommended for people who prefer high-intensity training.

Judo

Although it may not be as popular as any of the aforementioned disciplines, judo is a practical and effective martial art that involves grappling, throws, and takedowns.

The Gear You Need to Get Started in MMA

Seeing as MMA is a combat sport, you’ll need some type of protective gear to avoid injuries. Some of the most common equipment used includes:

•   Hand wraps
•   Boxing gloves
•   Head guards
•   Shin guards
•   Rash guards
•   Mouth guards
•   Groin guards
•   MMA shorts
•   MMA gloves

The type of gear used in MMA varies depending on which disciplines you choose to learn. It’s always a good idea to talk with someone at the gym you wish to start training in and ask what type of gear they use.

The Main Benefits of Learning MMA

There are too many benefits of MMA training to count. The great thing about any combat sport is that it strengthens both your body and mind. Aside from making your stronger and boosting your endurance, mixed martial arts will increase your focus and memory. It will also help you improve your hand and eye coordination.

As you learn a discipline, you’ll become humble and develop more respect for other people. Your confidence will also increase. Regardless of which martial arts you choose to learn, they’ll improve your self-discipline. This will help you achieve more success in other areas of your life, such as work or school. But above all, MMA is a fun and social sport that’ll help you bond with other people.