Is Muay Thai Kickboxing a Good Workout?

Muay Thai kickboxing, the official martial art of Thailand, is renowned across the world for not just its effectiveness in close-quarters combat, but also for being one of the most physically intensive forms of martial arts.Known also as the ‘art of eight limbs’, Muay Thai requires practitioners to make use of all four of their limbs as well as the knees and elbows across various techniques.

How intense is a Muay Thai kickboxing session? 

If you’ve ever watched professional Muay Thai kickboxing athletes, the first thing you’ll realise is how fast and energetic their movements are, from their footwork to the way they land a strike.

Unlike more static forms of martial arts like Judo, Muay Thai kickboxing involves near-constant movement to allow the fighter to react to different actions from their opponent. This movement is a core part of Muay Thai kickboxing and is also what makes the martial art so physically intense.

Techniques for Muay Thai kickboxing involve upper and lower body movements, from straightforward punches to high kicks that require incredible balancing ability. More advanced Muay Thai kickboxing techniques even incorporate simultaneous upper and lower body movements, making it a full-body workout that dynamically engages almost every muscle group in the body.

A study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) recorded that a group of 60kg women burned up to 450 calories in a single session of kickboxing. For comparison, exercises like weightlifting burn an average of 180 calories, while an hour-long walk usually burns about 240 calories.

What kind of a workout is Muay Thai kickboxing?

Muay Thai kickboxing is a multifaceted workout that covers cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance.

Cardio

Every Muay Thai kickboxing session includes a high-intensity training session consisting of a rotation of exercises from rope skipping, kicking, and running. These anaerobic exercises are designed to improve cardio endurance and ability which will be required to execute more advanced techniques in later sessions. Expect lots of sweating and heart-pounding sessions!

Strength

Muay Thai kickboxing also involves strength training — expect to do a lot of leg exercises and footwork that develop your calf muscles. The rest of the body such as the core and back muscles will also be honed through the execution of more and more advanced striking techniques. Strength training for Muay Thai kickboxing focuses on increasing the explosive power of muscles to unleash fast and powerful strikes.

Flexibility

Many Muay Thai techniques (like overhead kicks) feature movements across 3 planes of motion, which works to help individuals develop a high level of flexibility, especially the legs and hips. You don’t have to be very flexible to begin with — Muay Thai training is designed to help practitioners develop this over time with repeated practice.

Balance

Muay Thai kickboxing practitioners are expected to be able to retain a solid footing regardless of the difficulty of their stance. As kicking and knee strikes are core techniques, the workout will help you develop an excellent sense of balance by keeping you on one leg at a time. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who have a poor sense of balance — learning Muay Thai kickboxing can help prevent accidents in life that result from being unable to stay on your feet.

Mental workout

Though it’s primarily a physical workout, the demanding and intensive nature of Muay Thai kickboxing will also challenge your mental discipline and ability to think under pressure. We’re not going to sugarcoat it - Muay Thai kickboxing sessions will require you to push yourself both physically and mentally, but the results are worth it. Many Muay Thai kickboxing practitioners find it a great way to release stress and gain more clarity of mind.

If you’re keen on getting started with Muay Thai kickboxing, UMF Academy offers Muay Thai Kickboxing workouts for adults, teens, and children in Townsville. Book your first session with us today and learn real Muay Thai techniques with the industry’s #1 Character Development System that promotes important life values like self-confidence and respect.