Whether you need to be stronger to do Muay Thai can be answered in two different ways since we can interpret this question in two primary ways. The first is whether you need to be strong right now to start your training. And the second is whether you need to eventually be strong to become a good Muay Thai fighter. Let’s first answer the first one.
You don’t need to be strong to start your Muay Thai training, as it’s part of what you’ll develop throughout training. However, it can be advantageous to be stronger than your opponent, as you’ll be able to throw harder-hitting punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes, giving you an advantage.
I always see the same phenomenon, however. Flawless technique almost always beats strength and size. So if you’re facing someone who’s much stronger, taller, and heavier than you, you’ll still be able to come out on top if you’ve refined your technique to perfection. This means knowing to throw combinations and defend yourself at a good enough level.
There’s no denying, however, that strength is advantageous in all combative sports. Taller people typically have longer reach, making it easier for them to hit you than the other way around.
Do You Need to Be Strong to Do Muay Thai?
As I’ve previously stated, whether you need to be strong to do Muay Thai can be answered in two different ways. We’ve already reviewed the first one in the previous section, so let’s now review the second. To remind you, the question we’ll now answer is whether you’ll need, in the future, to be strong to be a good Muay Thai fighter.
While strength isn’t a mandatory trait to have to become an excellent Muay Thai fighter, it can definitely help. Some professional fighters, such as Rodleg, aren’t muscular at all. However, their technique is as perfect as it gets, so they’re capable of throwing some of the hardest-hitting strikes globally.
But then again, these fighters have been training for a few decades, so you can expect their techniques to be as good as you can get. And eventually, they don’t need muscle to generate force with their strikes.
For us, people who have been training for less than a decade, we need muscle and strength to better our Muay Thai skills. This is why I always say that you should pursue strength training and weight lifting while training in Muay Thai, as being stronger is never going to hurt you.
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Does Muay Thai Build Strength?
Weightlifting in the gym is the #1 way to build strength and muscle. That said, weightlifting strength might not influence your punching strength, as it’s more correlated to your technique and how well you’re using your lower body to generate momentum.
Muay Thai is mostly endurance work, so it won’t alone build muscle. However, it will benefit and increase your striking strength, as you’ll be constantly honing and refining your technique, which will improve your strength. That said, intense Muay Thai training won’t improve your bench press.
Do You Need to Be Fit to Do Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is suitable for beginners because it helps you refine the skills it works on. This is how it works. You start knowing nothing about Thai Boxing and you slowly build your fighting skills until you’re a competent fighter.
You don’t need to be fit to start doing Muay Thai. What you can do is slow down the training’s pace and work on your endurance and strength. Slowly but surely, you’ll notice improvements in your physical shape, which will make you a better fighter. Being fit and doing Muay Thai feed each other.
So there’s no requirement for you to be fit to start training in “The Art of Eight Limbs.” However, like strength, being in better physical shape will help you perform better. Don’t let it discourage you, however.
You can continue working on your physical shape outside training by running, lifting weights, and doing cardio. You also have to eat properly, which can be difficult for some. I wrote a complete diet plan for Muay Thai fighters, optimized for recovery and performance. Definitely give it a read if that’s something that interests you.
All in all, you don’t need to be fit to start training in Thai Boxing. The contrary is true, you’ll get fit by training. This is how it has worked thus far and it’s how it’s going to continue to work.
Should I Lift Weights While Doing Muay Thai?
Lifting weights while doing Muay Thai is a fantastic choice because it’ll improve your strength, which can and will translate to more punching power if your technique is solid. However, lifting weights while doing Muay Thai can lead to overtraining, so make sure to rest sufficiently to allow your body time to recover.
Is Muay Thai Suitable for Beginners?
You can be tall, short, overweight, skinny, or healthy, and you’ll be able to start training in Muay Thai. The current fighting gym I’m going to has around twenty disciplines and we’re all so different. There’s a 50-year-old overweight 6’0″ man who’s beating everyone and there’s a 5’3″ man who has a mean low kick. And you’ll see both of them sparring and having a difficult time, although they’re built differently.
Muay Thai is suitable for beginners because the training adapts to you and not the other way around. If you can’t spar because of medical reasons, then you’ll hit the heavy bag or shadowbox instead. Likewise, if you can and want to spar more often, you’ll also be able of doing that.
You don’t need to be fit or strong to start. Likewise, you can be built in any imaginable way and you’ll still be able to train because the training adapts to you.
This is critical to understand since most people don’t understand it. Most people are certain that they’ll show up to the Muay Thai gym and they’ll immediately begin sparring the best fighter there. That truly can’t be further from the truth.
You’ll participate in training that’s suited to your level. If you’re a beginner, you’ll work on your basics. If you’re more advanced, you might spar or work on various advanced combinations. Thai Boxing is beneficial for everybody!
Final Words
Let me wrap up this article by giving you one valuable insight I wish I had understood earlier. Nothing worthwhile is built without hard work, sweat, blood, and tears. Nothing.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and so won’t your Muay Thai skills. Everyone starts as beginners somewhere in their lives and they choose to continue training even though they get beaten more often than not. But then again, nothing worthwhile is built without tons of hard work without any shortcuts.
Shortcuts are your enemy. So get to your Muay Thai gym and continue training. And if you haven’t already, sign up for one.
To learn how to train Muay Thai at home properly, follow this link.
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
Here’s How Long Learning Muay Thai REALLY Takes (Timeline)
The Pros and Cons of Muay Thai – Is It Worth the Risk?
The True Cost of Muay Thai Classes – Beyond the Price Tag