Conditioning

[Khun Kao]

Why would anyone do Muay Thai?
Are you in thailand and poverished so you have to train this way?

While there were a lot of people who seemed to take offense to this, I totally understand this question.

This is the same thing that most Thai people ask of us "farangs" who train and fight Muay Thai..... "WHY?!?"

They don't get it. In Thailand, practicing Muay Thai is essentially a necessity! It isn't something that people do by choice. The vast majority of "nak muays" would rather not be fighters. There are a lot of them who literally HATE Muay Thai and only participate because they have no other choice.

The vast majority of people in Thailand are outright MYSTIFIED that people would train in the art of Muay Thai by CHOICE! It's a completely alien concept to them. They see us travel to Thailand to train and fight, and they're response is, "You do this voluntarily? Farang-Ba!" (crazy foreigner)

[Khun Kao]

I want to address these two following quotes together....

But why do people do it?

...Verses any other art that has simularities.

I personally don't think there is a satisfactory answer. Why do some people prefer Chocolate and others Vanilla? Why do some people prefer Chess to Checkers? Why do some people excel in one type of sport, but fail miserably in others? We're all wired differently and will gravitate to one type of sport/hobby/pasttime over others, and I just don't think there is any satisfactory way to discuss it.

As I study human behavior, or its realtion with violent actions, i.e. fighting, the idea of conditioning per pounding the fists, knuckles, shin, etc., seems to be excessive and non-warranted. Especially for people with common lifestyles. And when people do it do become better fighters, what is to gain by this and how does the future hold? (Ref-Muhammad Ali health)

I don't agree with it being excessive and unwarranted. I must refer to my response to the quote above in that we all have our own preferences. For a variety of reasons, we each have our own preferred activities. Those of us who find outselves gravitating towards the combat sports find that in order to succeed and excel in these arts, there are things we must do and sacrifices we must make.

[Ghost]

LOL Khun Kao is spot on.

I think its just in the blood of westerners to be far more combative in a way we actually enjoy.
I think in the east violence happens but its not in the way it does in the west where people actually enjoy a good scrap. not sure, havent given it a lot of thought really but that strikes me as a possibility.

[fire cobra]

While there were a lot of people who seemed to take offense to this, I totally understand this question.

This is the same thing that most Thai people ask of us "farangs" who train and fight Muay Thai..... "WHY?!?"

They don't get it. In Thailand, practicing Muay Thai is essentially a necessity! It isn't something that people do by choice. The vast majority of "nak muays" would rather not be fighters. There are a lot of them who literally HATE Muay Thai and only participate because they have no other choice.

The vast majority of people in Thailand are outright MYSTIFIED that people would train in the art of Muay Thai by CHOICE! It's a completely alien concept to them. They see us travel to Thailand to train and fight, and they're response is, "You do this voluntarily? Farang-Ba!" (crazy foreigner)

Khun Kao,

Whilst i take your point on Nak Muay in Thailand boxing because they have no choice(actually they do now, thats the reason why kids are not joining camps in the big cities and Muay Thai is dying) i dont agree that the "vast majority" would rather not be boxers,that has not been my experience over the years training in Thailand.

[Ghost]

^^ yeah its not the vast majority, most of them seem to like it, but i was agreeing with their lack of understanding of why wed fly there to do it.

[Khun Kao]

Yes, worth it to be in the ring but for a moment in time.... why risk potential health problems?

I don't know if this answer will make sense, but its the truth. I fought, retired, unretired to fight some more, then reretired.

During my first go-around as a fighter, it was in the early 90's when I was in my early 20's. I was fighting at a time when Muay Thai was just barely beginning to gain a foothold here in the U.S. I was fighting against fighters from gyms that were still trying to establish themselves. Needless to say, skill level of the competition wasn't very high. I won a title and was forced into retirement because I ran out of opponents willing to fight me.

Fast forward 10 years. I was entering my 30's and I noticed that Muay Thai gyms are more "established" and the training & skill level of the fighters is better. I find myself openly wondering if my success in the early years was due to my having superior skill or the "talent pool" having inferior skills. I start taking training seriously again and get back into the ring.

Despite being in my mid-30's, I train and fight 7 more times over the next 3 years. I actually won 2 more titles, but in the process I've done some damage to my body that I will carry with me the rest of my life.

Alternatively, I could have opted to stay retired. I would continue to watch today's fighters in the ring wondering what could have been....

"Was it worth it?" you ask.

"YES!" I would do it all over again 100x out of 100. Sure, I am likely to have aches & pains for the rest of my life, but the feeling of standing in the ring and having a championship belt fastened around your waist is something that I will carry with me the rest of my life.

[Khun Kao]

Khun Kao,

Whilst i take your point on Nak Muay in Thailand boxing because they have no choice(actually they do now, thats the reason why kids are not joining camps in the big cities and Muay Thai is dying) i dont agree that the "vast majority" would rather not be boxers,that has not been my experience over the years training in Thailand.

Point taken. I've not yet had the fortune of visiting or training in Thailand, and I'm going by what some people I know who have been there have said. Just as I have been pointing out throughout this entire thread, everyones personal experiences are different.

[Ghost]

^^ mate you have to go, you will fall in love.

i desperately miss thailand.

[jubaji]

LOL Khun Kao is spot on.

I think its just in the blood of westerners to be far more combative in a way we actually enjoy.
I think in the east violence happens but its not in the way it does in the west where people actually enjoy a good scrap. not sure, havent given it a lot of thought really but that strikes me as a possibility.

Nah, there are people everywhere who enjoy a good scrap. And everywhere they are in the minority.

[Ghost]

Nah, there are people everywhere who enjoy a good scrap. And everywhere they are in the minority.

But there is a difference, asians dont travel like westerners do to train. And youd think they would, given the quality of boxing etc in western countries and MMA gyms in the states. But they dont, they train where they are.

Westerners will travel not only to asia but also to other western countries to train.

I dont really know why, maybe more disposable income or something.

[Rickster]

as usual, you didn't answer the question.

as usual, you didnt understand my answer

[jubaji]

Every post makes it obvious who you are and yet you still try to play coy

[Rickster]

As with the finger strengthening thread, a degree of such "conditioning", has to be in moderation. Or suffer the long term consequences.

[Garland]

As with the finger strengthening thread, a degree of such "conditioning", has to be in moderation. Or suffer the long term consequences.

Let's see here...
yep...you're absolutely right...pad work, road work, and other types of aerobic, cardiovascular exercise will eventually kill you, especially if combined with weightlifting. I mean...if I ran 6 miles right now I'd probably want to die.


Muay Thai isn't as mystical in it's conditioning regime as people who aren't exposed to it seem to think. Thai boxers aren't out there splitting coconuts with their elbows and kicking down redwoods. Back in the OLD old old days they used to kick soft bannana trees and hit young coconuts with their elbows because they lacked all the fun toys we have now...but ya know what??? Young coconuts are soft, and are fairly easy to split with elbows...and bannana trees are to oak as jalepneo:habeniero. Like...mucho mas difference.

Kicking the heavy bag every day isn't going to have negative health risks. If you insist on being right...I will agree with you when you show me the clinical studies. Hell...mail me some money and I will conduct the study! (I could really USE my own heavy bag!)

[Garland]

Nah, there are people everywhere who enjoy a good scrap. And everywhere they are in the minority.

Um...thank goodness for that!