Muay Thai is a combat martial art that was originally developed in Thailand – where it is their national sport – and is now popular around the world. This physical and mental discipline which includes combat on foot is known as “the art of eight limbs” because it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, shins and feet, being associated with a good physical preparation that makes a full-contact fighter very efficient. Formal muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: mae mai or major techniques and luk mai or minor techniques.
The sport has become increasingly westernised since the 20th century when Muay Thai practitioners defeated notable practitioners of other martial arts. Since this, the style has been adapted to create more powerful strikes with some practitioners saying the practice has been “diluted”. Muay Thai is also a prominent fighting style of martial artists competing in MMA and UFC competitions.
The Muay Thai Syllabus taught at Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre has been developed from Grand Master Toddy’s Muay Thai Academy in Las Vegas, and Ultra Fight Gym in Thailand. Grand Master Toddy has produced over 40 World Champions.
Pollet’s Martial Arts Centre has an active Grading System in Muay Thai. Students are first taught to defend the head, then defend the body, then defend the legs before actively working on attack. This minimises injury, and students are learning all the correct basics and techniques from the beginning.
Like most competitive full contact fighting sports, muay Thai has a heavy focus on body conditioning. Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote the level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition. Training regimens include many staples of combat sport conditioning such as running, shadowboxing, rope jumping, body weight resistance exercises, medicine ball exercises, abdominal exercises, and in some cases weight training. Pollets offer Muay Thai classes at our Penrith, Bathurst, Gold Coast, Orange, Dubbo, Granville locations.
Come down and try a Muay Thai class at one of our gyms and improve your fitness whilst having fun and improving your striking.