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You have to think of your Muay Thai journey as your personal
business. The only person who is responsible for your
business success is you. While your coach is there to help
guide you along the way, it is up to you to ensure you
implement everything you are taught.
Introduction
When it comes to achieving success in Muay Thai there are a
few core principles that can help you. No matter how much
research and analysis you do, the only way you can get better
is to train with the purpose of improving.
No matter how good you are, there are always areas that
need improvement. The moment you start thinking you know
everything, is the moment you stop learning. Dont ever stop
learning.
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itself is only one aspect to being able to punch effectively.
Utilizing these two attacks during training and sparring will
help solidify them as weapons that you can add to your Muay
Thai arsenal.
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Straight Knee: The straight knee is a technique that you can
use to damage your opponents body. These knees are often
used when a fighter is coming forward towards their
opponent. Since knees score a lot of points in Muay Thai
fights, you will need to master this particular technique.
PRO TIPS:
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have a difficult time being in a good position to land various
techniques in a fight.
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bad for development is completely false. Not only is repetition
a good thing, it is essential in developing fundamental Muay
Thai skills.
PRO TIPS
Train in Thailand - Anyone who is serious about having
good technique needs to learn from the source.
Obviously, if you are blessed with a very good
instructor who has been to Thailand and teaches the
correct way of doing things, consider yourself lucky.
For those who have the opportunity, book a trip to
Thailand.
Shadowbox in the Mirror One of the best ways to
analyze some of your technical abilities is to look in the
mirror and see how your form looks. While it is always
better to have someone else look at your movements,
using the mirror can help you pick out little things that
you might be doing wrong.
Take a Video of Your Training Another great way to
discover problems in your technique is to video
yourself while you are training. Seeing yourself on
video is a great way to discover some hidden flaws that
you might have.
#3 - Embrace Repetition
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most common mistakes that Muay Thai practitioners
do is their form gets compromised when they are tired.
The moment the energy drops, the first thing to notice
is body language. One may look like a complete
beginner again. Being able to maintain your form no
matter how tired you are is an essential part of getting
to the next level. If you observe any high level athlete,
in any sport, they will always maintain their technique
regardless of how exhausted they are.
PRO TIPS
Build a Solid Foundation First Repeating bad habits
is the worst thing you can possibly do for your Muay
Thai career. If you learn poor habits at the start of your
Muay Thai journey, it can take years of undoing. Taking
the steps to ensure that you build a solid foundation is
a must before you start to solidify them.
Practice Both Sides If you throw 100 right kicks,
always make sure you throw 100 left kicks. You should
never neglect one side of a technique because you
favor another one. Always utilize both sides of your
body for every technique. This will help make you a
versatile fighter and not a one trick pony.
Dont Get Sloppy When You Are Tired One of the
#4 Always Be Thinking
Analyzing your own game is a must.
One of the biggest things you will notice at a Muay Thai gym is
people are often doing the motions, without actually thinking,
Am I actually doing this right? Some people are too reliant
on their coaches and wont ever make an effort to correct
their own technique.
There are plenty of ways that you can analyze your technique
to look for improvements. Most people are simply doing just
because they are told to do, without thinking about how they
are performing that action and if it is done correctly.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fighter, taking
the time to sit back and reflect on your game is a habit that
you need to start using. People who just do, without thinking
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about what they are doing, are often missing out on
opportunities to improve their technique. You are never too
good to learn. No matter how experienced you are, you
should always be looking for something to improve. Thats
what separates the amateurs from the professionals.
PRO TIPS
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Whenever you are analyzing yourself, look at both
your strength and weaknesses.
Create a Game Plan to Beat Yourself - Although it
might sound odd, creating a game plan of how you
would beat yourself in a fight is a great way to look at
weaknesses in your game. Think about how you fight
and what are the best styles and techniques that
counter your style. By going through the different
aspects of fighting styles, you can look for holes in your
game that you can fix during training.
#5 Conditioning Is Key
Train your body like a Champion
Whether you have ambitions to be the best in the world or
simply want to be as good as you can be, training like a
champion will take your game to the next level.
when you are at the gym. If you want to hit pads harder and
have more energy in your training, then you need to figure out
the steps to do so. Running daily is beneficial to every Nak
Muay, regardless of if you plan on fighting. Running is great
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for your overall conditioning and will help you have more
stamina during your pad rounds.
PRO TIPS
There is nothing worse than hitting pads and knowing that you
are not fit as you can be. Given the extreme difficulty in
maintaining a fight shape, maintaining a consistent running
schedule throughout the week is going to benefit your health
and your training.
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realistic routine, you are more inclined to stick to it
and incorporate into your lifestyle. Instead of forcing
yourself to run before training, it will become habitual
and you wont even think twice about it. Creating
habits is essential if you want to be successful in
training.
#6 Sparring is Essential
You wont get better without sparring.
Sparring is an essential part of Muay Thai development that
helps build timing and reaction. While shadow boxing, hitting
the bag, and kicking pads are great for solidifying good
technique, sparring is where you start using techniques in real
situations. If you never spar, you are missing out on a huge
aspect of Muay Thai.
PRO TIPS
Hard, soft, and technical sparring are all valuable tools that
you can use to improve.
Check out: 12 Sparring Tips For Muay Thai
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Get Experience
Experience is the key to getting better in Muay Thai. The more
ring experience you have, the more prepared you will be to
handle different situations that occur in a fight.
You should never expect to have easy fights in Muay Thai.
Always go into every fight and expect a war. This mentality will
ensure that you never take an opponent lightly, even if you
should win on paper.
Getting good quality fights is a sure way to help you grow and
improve in Muay Thai. While sparring and training at the gym
can help sharpen your weapons, their truly is no substitute for
ring experience.
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Quality over Quantity Someone who has beaten 30
bums in the ring is not going to have the same level of
experience as a guy who has beaten 10 quality
opponents. Its not how many people you fight, its the
level of opponent that you are fighting that matters.
Always try and find quality opponents who are
similarly matched to you, but beatable. This will ensure
you continue to develop in the sport.
Fight in Thailand
Fighting in Thailand is a great way to get ring experience.
While the matchups arent always the best in Thailand, it is a
great way to get started with your fighting career. Do your
research and pick a quality training camp that will take care of
you while youre there.
PRO TIPS
Get Amateur Fights Most countries have an amateur
Muay Thai circuit. For people who are just starting off
in the sport, the amateur circuit is the best place to
start. Fighting with shin guards and headgear can give
you peace of mind that you wont get permanent
injuries in your fight. Any amount of experience
obtained from fighting will pay dividends in your
training and help you become better.
Fight In Thailand A lot of people have a difficult time
getting a fight lined up if they arent at a popular gym.
If you arent living in a city that has a lot of other gyms,
the best thing you can do is head to Thailand and have
a fight over there. Thailand has hundreds of gyms
throughout the country so you will never have a
shortage of opponents to choose from.
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#8 - Develop Mental
Toughness
something, do it. No matter how tired you feel, dont fall short
of what you want to accomplish.
By accomplishing the vigorous training sessions, when it
comes to a fight situation, giving up will not be an option. You
wont have a way out of a fight; there is only a way forward.
By not allowing yourself to quit, you will be forced to find a
way to win, no matter what the odds are.
PRO TIPS
Never, Ever, Quit Quitting is not an option for
someone who wants to be good at Muay Thai. No
matter how tired you are, always push past your pain.
It doesnt matter if you can barely stand after a round
of pads, you never give up. Fighting through the pain is
the first step into ensuring that you become a mentally
strong fighter.
Push Yourself Hard Taking the short cut in training is
the last thing that you should be doing. If you have a
choice between 10 kicks or 50 kicks, always take the
harder path. This will develop your mental strength to
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continue to push no matter how tired you are in
training or a fight. Remember, it all starts with training.
If you are tough as nails in training, you will be even
tougher in the ring.
Believe in Yourself Whether you are sparring with
someone better than you, you should always believe in
yourself. Accepting defeat is something that should
never cross your mind. You should always be pushing
yourself hard and believe that you can overcome any
opponent, no matter what the odds are. Believing that
you can finish 100 kicks with each leg on pads is
something that you have to do if you want to finish it.
# 9 - Always Be Respectful
Treat people how you wish to be treated.
Respect is everything in Muay Thai. Always treat your training
partners and opponents with respect no matter what happens
in the ring.
people around you are there to help you get better. Your team
will be there behind you whether you win or lose. So always
make sure you show them the respect they deserve.
KEY TIPS
Dont Have an Ego Having an ego is bad for you and
bad for people around you. Nobody likes a guy that
walks around with arrogance and attitude. You are
never too good to spar with anyone. Get that idea out
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of your head. There is always something that you can
practice or learn against any opponent that you will
face.
Treat everyone equally Dont only treat
people who you look up to with respect,
respect everyone around you. Even if
someone is new to the gym, be humble
and help them out. You never know how
good that beginner can become if he puts
his mind to it.
Be Positive Maintaining a positive
attitude no matter what is happening is a
great way to ensure that you get the most
out of your Muay Thai. Dont ever get too
down on yourself if you lose a fight or have a bad
sparring session. Keeping a positive attitude is the key
to growth and getting better at the sport. Trust me, it
can open a lot of doors if you are constantly positive
and pleasant to be around.
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Stay Relaxed One of the biggest reasons that people
gas out in the ring or in training is they are extremely
tense. You will often notice that the whole body is
tensed up as they punch or kick in the ring. By relaxing
your body, you will be able to conserve energy and
reduce the amount of fatigue you experience. This will
help you maintain a poker face in training or a fight.
PRO TIPS
Maintain a Poker Face in Training No matter how
tired you are in training, dont let exhaustion overtake
you. The one thing you will notice when you watch a
Thai fighter kick pads, he never shows weakness during
the round (after the round he will often collapse). Even
if the trainer asks him to do 100 kicks, he will often
pause to breathe, collect his composure and just do it.
Focus on Breathing The key to being able to maintain
a poker face in any situation is being able to control
your breathing. One of the reasons why people look
exhausted after pads is because they are often gasping
for air and not correctly breathing. If you are able to
master your breathing, this will translate to when you
are fighting in the ring. Always focus on maintaining a
state of relaxation.
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MuayThaiPros.com Reading List:
What It Means to Have Heart
Finding the Right Muay Thai Trainer 5 Essential Tips
Top 10 Muay Thai Fighters of All Time
Kickboxing vs Muay Thai
Muay Thai for MMA An Introduction
10 Types of People You Find Sparring
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Disclosure: The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only. No part of this publication shall be reproduced,
transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author (Stephen Kong). This is a guide created for
muaythaipros.com and should not be distributed on any other platform.
(In summary, please dont copy any part of this guide without my permission and paste it elsewhere.)
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