Thai Boxing: How often do you train?

[aaronmason]

I was just wondering how often people train for? And what exercise they do as well as this such as weights and running?

Aaron Mason

[Khun Kao]

In regards to your poll:

RUNNING. There IS no other choice! If you don't run, you can't fight. Period.

I train Muay Thai specific workouts 3-4 times a week. I weight train about 3 times a week, and I do cardio about 3-4 times a week. (yes, the training overlaps)

EXAMPLE:

Sunday early AM: Go on 1 - 2 mile run
Sunday AM: Muay Thai
Sunday early afternoon: weight training

Monday evening: Cardio (running) and light weight training

Tuesday afternoon: Weight training
Tuesday evening: Muay Thai

Wednesday evening: Cardio and light weight training

Thursday afternoon: Weight Training
Thursday evening: Muay Thai
Thursday night: Boxing (I actually only do this once every few Thursdays)

Friday evening: Cardio and light weight training

Saturday morning: Cardio and light weight training
Saturday afternoon: Muay Thai (I actually only do this once every few Saturdays)

Also keep in mind that I typically will alternate between taking either Friday or Saturday off from training to allow myself some time to recuperate. I normally skip the Friday training, but occassionally will skip Saturdays training instead.

[dbok1]

I also agree, without running you are done! I also have a similar style workout routine as Khun Kao, with Muay Thai, Weight training and some light cardio work as well.

Also, as a trainer if you've ever had to hold pads for about 4-6 people every night, anyone will tell you that's a workout in itself!!!!

I personally train Thai about 3-4 days a week, along with training others. Weight Training about 3 times a week. Maybe once a week of some MMA (BJJ) just to mix it up.

[aaronmason]

What i was tryin to say but didn't say it very welll... WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST ELEMENT OF TRAINING?

[Sanitarium]

It's hard to say.

Without cardio you won't last more than a few minutes.
Without weight training you won't get a whole lot stronger.
Without shadow boxing your form and specific punching power won't improve as well.

Just do them all

[gregimotis]

I don't think you could pick just one element. If you only do padwork you won't learn distance very well, not to mention pressure handling. If you only spar, you will remain sloppy. If you run, you'll be a good runner - but not a fighter....

Fighting well requires more than just knowing the technique; more than just swinging your fists around; more than just being strong. You have to be an all round athelete AND practice the specifics of the art.

[Khun Kao]

I think what element of training you should focus on depends on where you're at in your training....

When you are first starting off, you want to focus on technique drills... Shadowboxing, non-intense padwork and bagwork.

As you become an intermediate student and you should have your basic technique down pretty well, you should start to focus more on more realistic bagwork and padwork, more on conditioning and some light sparring.

As you become advanced and start fighting, you should focus more and more on conditioning and sparring. Face it, your technique should already be there at this point in the game, so you can focus more on being as strong as you can be and focus on developing the kind of timing that will only come through sparring.