Muay Thai Kickboxing vs Boxing: Comparing the Two

Muay Thai Kickboxing

Muay Thai kickboxing is a derivative martial art form that is originally from Thailand, with a long heritage of practitioners dating back more than 2,000 years ago. Also known as the “art of 8 limbs”, the distinctive feature of Muay Thai kickboxing is the use of 8 points across the body for striking — the two fists, two legs, two elbows, and two knees. 

What makes Muay Thai kickboxing so popular (and effective) as a martial art is how versatile it is compared to other forms of combat sports that usually only rely on fists and legs. In fact, kickboxing techniques are commonly used by the top mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes in tournaments and global competitions. 

Boxing

Boxing is a classic combat sport that, like Muay Thai kickboxing also focuses on striking arts, but with only the fists. Not just about hitting hard, boxing also has a focus on footwork for evasion and positioning, as well as defensive stances to protect key parts of the body such as the head and abdomen. 

Avid boxing practitioners often mention that boxing is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one — fighters are required to think on their feet and develop their own strategies all while facing off against an opponent who may be able to knock them out with a well-placed strike. 

Comparing Muay Thai Kickboxing vs Boxing

There has been a persistent discussion among martial arts enthusiasts about whether Muay Thai kickboxing or boxing is the better martial art. While there’s no definitive answer, both Muay Thai kickboxing and boxing each have standout points of their own that apply to different goals of learning them. 

Training focus

Muay Thai kickboxing training involves conditioning the body for strength, flexibility, and agility, as most of the techniques for designed to be applied in very close proximity to an opponent. Strikes with the elbow or knee have less range than a punch or an extended kick, and kickboxing practitioners will be trained to execute them effectively even in narrow spaces.

Boxing, on the other hand, focuses more on cardiovascular endurance, reaction time, and precision. Spacing is a big part of boxing training — students will learn how to keep their opponent at a distance and look for opportunities to strike before committing to it. 

Suitability for self-defence

Muay Thai kickboxing focuses on close combat techniques such as clinch fighting, which is applied when practitioners are within an arm’s length of their opponent. Being able to fight up close with an opponent is a speciality of Muay Thai kickboxing, which naturally makes it more suitable for real-life situations where aggressors tend to close the distance quickly.

Boxing does teach defence and striking skills but in the context of being able to outlast an opponent, which may not suit self-defence scenarios where time is of the essence. 

Ease of learning

It’s widely accepted that it is much easier for a beginner to learn boxing than compared to Muay Thai kickboxing. Boxing training covers many fundamental techniques that are core to other martial arts, such as how to throw a punch or how to guard the body from attacks. Kickboxing techniques are much more complex and generally take longer to master, but that’s not to say that they are not achievable for those new to martial arts.  

Is learning boxing or Muay Thai kickboxing better for kids? 

Both types of martial arts can be taught to children from as young as 6 years old. At this age, training is tailored to focus less on the technical execution of moves and more on the physical and mental development of students. The choice will ultimately come down to the interest of the child, as well as the availability of a marital arts provider with a good track record for hosting martial arts programs for kids.   

At UMF, we offer both boxing and kickboxing for kids under one combined program. Our classes not only focus on the fun and fundamental aspects of the training, but also incorporate the #1 Character Development System in Townsville to foster important values like respect, discipline, and self-control within students.