So you want to know whether Muay Thai is worth the risk. If you’re interested in learning “The Art of Eight Limbs” but are unsure of the possible consequences, you came to the right place. What we’ll review in this article is the pros and cons of Muay Thai, including as a martial art and the pros and cons to you, the fighter.
But first, I want to address right from the start whether it’s even worth learning since many people think about this matter the other way around.
Muay Thai is worth learning although it has a rather large risk for injuries because it provides countless benefits, such as better physical shape, higher self-esteem and confidence, and lower baseline stress and anger levels. It’s also one of the most lethal martial arts worldwide, making it attractive for people wanting to learn to fight.
But it’s not all pink. While it’s a practical martial art, it doesn’t teach ground grappling, which will come in handy in almost all self-defense situations and street fights. Also, it has a fairly high injury risk, making it one of the most dangerous combative sports on this globe.
I want to start this article, however, by diving into its advantages. I’m a big believer in learning Muay Thai regardless of the risks, so I want to start with these.
The Pros of Muay Thai
The first part of this article will review the advantages of Thai Boxing. Contrary to what many non-martial arts trainees think, it has plenty of advantages and will allow you to become not only a better fighter but a much more fulfilled and improved person.
I’ve been able to drastically improve my life as a result of learning Thai Boxing. There really isn’t any other way to express my gratitude for this martial art, as it gave me the ability to continue learning more about this beautiful, weird world.
Let’s now dive straight into the first pro!
#1 – Practical Martial Art
The first advantage is perhaps why most of the current Muay Thai trainees start their training in the first place. It’s a practical and deadly martial art that teaches real effective fighting skills. It’ll teach you to become someone who isn’t scared to fight another person, whether they’re bigger or taller than you.
Muay Thai equips practitioners with effective self-defense techniques, making them more confident in their ability to protect themselves in real-world situations. The sport focuses on practical combat skills, which can be valuable for personal safety.
What you’ll learn to do is kick, punch, knee, and elbow. You’ll also learn various grappling techniques, which are excellent for real fights and combat in general. The grappling it includes is sweeps, throws, and clinching.
Overall, all of these techniques will make you someone capable of causing real damage to anyone. Likewise, it’ll teach you to get hit and not care the slightest, even if it’s an extremely painful hit. You’ll simply receive it and move on with your life without paying too much attention to it.
If you want to learn the basics of Muay Thai, including attacks, defense, footwork, and proper stance, follow this link.
#2 – Betters Physical Shape
What other more desired trait there is in today’s world than to lose body fat and get into shape? In my opinion, there is none. Getting fit is one of the most attractive results people try to achieve in today’s world. And Muay Thai does that perfectly!
Muay Thai is an intense and physically demanding sport that engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Practicing it regularly can lead to improved cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and overall fitness.
Its training sessions are as intense as you can imagine. It’ll be particularly intense if you’re investing 100% effort into training, which will make it much harder than if you were to take it easy.
The more effort you put into training, the more results you’ll receive.
#3 – Strengthens You Mentally
Training in Muay Thai requires dedication, perseverance, and mental focus. Practitioners develop discipline, mental toughness, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, skills that can be beneficial in various aspects of life.
Discipline is a scarce asset these days. If you can push yourself in the physical world, such as by doing Muay Thai consistently, you’ll be able to strengthen yourself mentally.
Now this is critical to understand, so pay attention. When you push yourself physically, your mental self and discipline are going to get stronger. As a result, you’ll also get stronger mentally in all other endeavors in your life. For instance, I became much more productive once I started my Muay Thai Training.
So it’s possible to say that it strengthens you mentally in all areas of life, and not just in the physical world.
#4 – Provides Countless Benefits (Confidence, Self-Esteem, Mindfulness)
According to a study, “The majority of studies reported positive effects resulting from hard martial arts practice, showing some improvement and maintenance of balance, cognitive function and psychological health.”
Muay Thai, which is a martial art, is one of the most beneficial endeavors you’ll ever participate in. When you start your training, you won’t be able to stop because it provides countless benefits to your life. So while it might be painful, it’s going to get just as rewarding as the pain you’ll experience, if not much more.
Engaging in physical activity, such as Muay Thai, releases endorphins, which can reduce stress and improve mood. Additionally, mastering new techniques and seeing progress in one’s skills can boost self-confidence and self-esteem.
You’ll overcome many obstacles in your Muay Thai journey, making you so much more likely to continue training and investing more of yourself into this fighting style. You’ll truly become addicted to improving yourself through it, although it’s scary and painful.
If you haven’t started your training yet, you might be intimidated by the potential expenses. To solve that issue, I wrote a complete guide to how much Muay Thai truly costs, including all the hidden and surprising expenses. So make sure to read it if you haven’t started your training yet.
The Cons of Muay Thai (Weaknesses)
Let’s now dive into the weaknesses of Muay Thai. These are just as important to know and understand as the pros since you’ll be deciding whether you’ll learn it., which is a big decision to make.
While I’m a big fan of The Art of Eight Limbs, aka Thai Boxing, I want to cover this martial art in its entirety, which will give you the complete knowledge you’ll need to make the wisest decision possible.
So without further introduction, let’s start by covering the first weakness.
#1 – Doesn’t Teach Ground Grappling
The first weakness is related to a very important set of techniques that Muay Thai doesn’t cover, which is ground grappling. You know, it can be quite difficult to beat someone in a street fight, as you perhaps know already.
It’s therefore important to know as many fighting techniques as possible so you can deal with as many situations as possible. If you’re the best boxer in the world but get taken down to the ground, you’ll be less likely to win since you haven’t trained in ground grappling.
So every martial art has its pros and cons in terms of fighting. For instance, BJJ teaches ground grappling but doesn’t typically teach striking, such as kicking and punching.
And still, it’s one of the deadliest martial arts on this globe. So if learning to fight is one of your goals, don’t hesitate to learn it.
#2 – High Injury Risk
The second, and perhaps most intimidating to non-Muay Thai trainees, is the risk of injury that exists. It can be scary to attend your first Muay Thai class without knowing what to expect injury-wise. Well, I’m here to tell you everything you need to know.
Muay Thai is a contact sport, and participants are exposed to the risk of various injuries, such as sprains, strains, fractures, and bruises. Even with proper safety measures, accidents can happen during training and competitions.
To learn more about the most common injuries in Muay Thai and how to prevent them from happening, follow this link.
The first measurement to preventing injuries is warming up properly. Going through a depth warm-up was shown to prevent injuries by making your muscles more prone to take a beating and recover. If you’re interested in learning about the best Muay Thai warm-up, follow this link!
Furthermore, if you trust your training partners (which you will), you’ll have no issues fighting with them since you’ll know that they’ll stop all fighting if someone happens, which isn’t as likely as you think.
But indeed, it’s one of the most prominent weaknesses Thai Boxing has.
#3 – Competitive Nature
While competition can be motivating for some, it may not be appealing to others. The emphasis on competition in Muay Thai may not align with everyone’s goals or preferences for physical activity.
The competitive nature of Muay Thai is the most beneficial thing it includes, in my perspective. That’s because of the human tendency to grow from stress and pressure. If there isn’t any fear, stress, or pressure, you won’t be inclined to work hard.
However, once there’s pressure and competition involved, you’ll be much more eager to work harder than everyone else, which is one of the primary reasons that Muay Thai is so beneficial.
But it’s important to note that it won’t be suitable for everyone, as some people thrive on competing and others wither.
#4 – Long learning curve
Becoming proficient in Muay Thai takes time and consistent practice. Some individuals may find it challenging to adapt to the techniques and conditioning required for the sport, leading to frustration or a sense of slow progress.
However, the long learning curve exists in 99% of worthwhile endeavors in life. If something is easy to learn and become good at, it’ll become saturated quickly, as most people are attracted to the idea of an easy life.
I see this “weakness” as an advantage. The fact that there’s a learning curve means that you want to pursue this endeavor, as most people will never even dream of becoming proficient at it, let alone start.
But indeed, it’ll take a lot of effort, sweat, tears, and, unfortunately, blood to become proficient in Muay Thai. Nonetheless, I assure you that it’s worthwhile to pursue.
Final Words
These were the advantages and weaknesses of Muay Thai. I urge you to start your training if you haven’t already. Remember, the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot, which makes this martial art extremely viable and beneficial to anyone out there.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Nothing truly remarkable and valuable wasn’t built in a day as well. Because if you could build it in a day, then it wouldn’t have any value, as everyone would do it.
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
Best Muay Thai Supplements: For Performance and Recovery
Muay Thai for Fat Loss – How to Lose Weight Fast
Required Equipment for Your First Muay Thai Class