Tuesday 31 January 2012

Muay Thai Conditioning


Muay Thai Conditioning
Muay Thai Kickboxing Training

Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is known in the Western fighting world as one of the "sprawl-and-brawl" disciplines of martial arts, focusing on striking the opponent more than grappling, clinching, or submission holds. Drenched in a long history as a royal art form of many traditions, this martial art also greatly accentuates the goals of conditioning and fitness in a fighter. Using Muay Thai techniques can greatly improve stamina for MMA fighters that practice in any area of martial arts.

Physical Conditioning:
Conditioning of the fists, elbows, shins and knees through repetitive punching drills, toughen the skin, tendons, muscles and connective tissue to turn everyday body parts into unmerciful weapons of mass havoc.

Conditioning with MMA gloves, mitts, Thai pads and various striking targets are staples to any MMA or Muay Thai training format. Putting in the work with these sparring devices helps refine speed, power, timing, and most of all -the physical conditioning necessary for actual combat.

Mental Training:
Muay Thai fighters believe that mental toughness is just as important in the ring as physical condition or skills. Meditation and praying are staples of Buddhism and Thai culture, so it should come as no surprise that this transfers over to Muay Thai boxing. This mental training concerns both visualization and positive thinking. While not physically training, a Muay Thai boxer is constantly visualizing their fighting moves in their head like a movie. This will help with reflexes and natural reactions because you’re practicing scenarios in your head all day and night. Positive thinking involves eating, breathing, and sleeping success and winning 24 hours a day. Negative thoughts must be neutralized by positive ones and a champion’s mindset put in place.

Fists:
Hand strikes (punches) are the foremost weapon in most all fighting sports. In order to systematically grow your hand striking ability and endurance, train with a heavy bag. Strike freely at first to warm up, increasing the intensity as you build striking technique and conditioning. Increase the intensity as the bones, muscles and tendons of the hand, forearm and shoulder girdle develop to handle the impact of striking a human opponent.

Elbows:
Elbow conditioning can be built up using the same procedures as fist striking conditioning. Be sure to review fight videos and take part in real time sparring to develop your elbow striking. Elbows can be deadly tools in MMA and Muay Thai warfare. Conditioning them to withstand the requirements of repetitive striking will enable you to make use of them at will and without hesitation.

Shins:
Shin conditioning is also a very important ingredient to Muay Thai training. Shins are used to kick and to block kicks. Without calcified shins, you are more likely to be wounded and less likely to be proficient as an MMA striker.

A simple conditioning drill to prepare the shins for battle requires the fighter to strike a Muay Thai bag one-hundred strikes daily. Begin with light and easy strikes and move on full contact strikes as you improve your shin tolerance and aerobic endurance.

Cardiovascular Conditioning:
Oxygenating your body's tissues is critical to maintaining optimum training and competitive performance. Typically, 'old school' training templates are used to develop and improve fighter's cardiovascular conditioning. The most common old school method utilized to condition fight athletes is long term, steady state 'cardio.' This methodology usually dictates long runs or jogging to achieve cardiovascular fight conditioning.

Current research reveal that long term, steady state cardiovascular s will typically reduce the dynamic explosiveness of the sportsman and condition the athlete to subconsciously conserve energy and explosive power in order to complete the task at hand. We now have much more effective cardiovascular fight conditioning methods at our disposal.

Always consult with a fitness professional when constructing your MMA or Muay Thai conditioning program.

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