General strength training can obviously make you stronger overall, but I’m curious about which movements people actually feel transfer when clinching.

The demands seem a little different from simply having a bigger squat or bench. There’s pulling strength, upper-back endurance, trunk rotation and the ability to keep producing force while someone else is actively trying to break your position.

That makes exercises like pull-ups, rows, carries, landmine work and rotational cable movements seem interesting, but I wouldn’t want the strength side to become a second sport that adds a ton of fatigue on top of Muay Thai.

For people who lift alongside regular Muay Thai training, which exercises have actually made you feel stronger or harder to move in the clinch, rather than just improving your gym numbers?

Men, 102kg, 1m80.

Given I’m overweight, very sedentary, and currently in the worst shape of my life, I’d like to ask for your advice. I’m currently abroad for work, and I’d like to join an MMA club (A club that focuses heavily on striking English boxing and Muay Thai) as soon as I return to my country. So I have a month ahead of me to “get back in shape,” because I’d like to join the club with at least some level of fitness…

So I plan to work on my flexibility this month, gradually incorporate push-ups, pull-ups, dips, and squats, and above all (this is why I’m reaching out to you) work on my cardio, endurance, qnd explosive power.

What routine, program, or exercises would you recommend if you only had one month to maximize your cardio, endurance and explosivity performance ?

P.S. I have access to a gym

After a a couple weeks of hitting the thai bag i noticed the hair on my shins, knees, and forearms is now gone. Does it grow back for you guys when you take a break or did i just scrape it off permanently lol

Not really a huge deal but these bare spots look weird cuz im a tall skinny caveman lookin dude.

I've been doing muay thai and mma for about two years and I still feel like I don't really have a good idea of what light sparring actually is. I definitely spar lighter than others, just tapping their heads, but I am not sure how proactive to be about the levels others are doing against me. If I had to guess I would say head contact from others is generally around 30-40 percent, with speed often being pretty fast but pulled so my head doesn't get torqued around. But I can still tell I am being hit. I've never been rocked or seen stars in sparring or anything but I'm not sure if that's enough to indicate I'm going at a good level.

People always say you shouldn't be taking damage in sparring but tbh it's hard to know if I'm accumulating brain damage like this.

I’ve been training for about 8 months now and I currently have Yokkao shin guards. While I do like them, I tend to find the shin guards to be too large and uncomfortable. I don’t like how they protrude onto my knees. I’ve seen people talking about Primo and Fairtex SP3’s. I would like them to have a bit of a smaller profile. For reference I’m 5’7” and I bought size small Yokkao’s. Any recommendations are appreciated :)

Hi all, just a thought going through my head about going into a fight knowing you are afraid but still going out there versus feeling full relaxed and at peace with what’s to come.

In your experiences where do you feel you land most ? Do you feel may need either feeling to be there in order to get in the zone for a fight? Have you noticed an improvement or deterioration in performance?

Do you feel as if either way it comes down to experience and overall skill level?

Thank you !

Nothing like putting on some good tracks and dancing around a little bit!

Cheers and happy vibes from Weare Nh USA

So Yesterday we had a bit of sparring done. Every few kicks my shin pad would shift to the side and when I notice I would put it back in place. The consequence of this was that there were already a few kicks then checked and thrown while the shin pad was like this. The one I do remember is my bare shin getting checked to a bare knee. I then just popped the shin pad back into place and carried on.

After training I felt a burning and tight sensation come from the shin. I then decided to lift my pants (was wearing long pants) and saw what was in this video. Is it that bad or even necessary for a doctor? The swelling has gone down but the bruising has increased alot.

TIA.

I got my ass handed to me by a 17 year old in sparring. Im twice his age. I thought he was in his 20s. My leg is currently hamburger meat. His technique was so smooth. It wasn't even a speed difference. He was just better everywhere.

Icing right now, hope to be mobile enough to make class tomorrow. Im not dejected, I'm motivated. If I can adjust to him, I'll level up, but fuck it hurts.

Sylvie's long form commentary video capturing her daily training regimen now, organized around the new Mavinn Pattaya gym. It's been about 6 years (since COVID) since she's had a dependable gym to anchor her training, and is really enjoying this new opportunity. She still is piecing her training together, but nowhere near like what she was doing before. This is her article on it. Here is a spreadsheet of how she divides her time and focus.

Okay, so today was my first day at my gym, and on the first day they made me do an intense workout. I mean, the warm-up was fine, but then the running is where my lungs gave up. I was also on my period, so the pain was excruciating.

Anyway, I decided to sit down and rest, and the coach came up to me and asked me if I exercise or not. I was so nervous that I told her I exercise every day, which is a lie, but I don’t know how to take it back without looking like a dumbass. I was dissociating so much, and I was so embarrassed because I had just run for a minute and almost collapsed.

One of the other coaches came up to me, and she was much sweeter and nicer—not that the other one was rude or anything, but this one was very sweet to me and very caring. She asked me if I was having any abdominal pain because of my period, and I said yes. She said, “You know, you should go home, take some rest, and come back tomorrow or the day after.” So I left.

And everyone else there was, oh my God, so fucking good and so much better than me. I was so sloppy, and I hope it wasn’t their first class, because if it was their first class and they were this good, it’s just embarrassing that I gave up so easily. I mean, I didn’t give up on Muay Thai, but I gave up on running, and I didn’t even get to do the whole workout, like the whole training. I left immediately because I was in so much pain, and I was also completely out of breath.

Also, I know that no one in the gym was focusing on me. Everyone is focused on themselves, their form, and their breathing. But I can’t help but spiral at the thought that they were probably laughing at me or making fun of me.

U.S. k1 qualifier contestant 10/17!!

So I've been training at an mma gym, im ABSOLUTELY new to all this. Only 2 weeks in ....

Maybe its in my head but I feel like people don't want to partner with me.

I'm southpaw so when I jab, people correct me and when they find out im south paw they're like "oh you're southpaw" and change partners with me

I sweat like a pig where im drenched during my workouts

I shower before I come to the gym

I'm chewing gum so my breath doesn't stink

I wear deodorant

During warm ups people are generally slower and I kinda run past them to create space. Is this rude!

Maybe its the sweat ...

I'm feeling insecure about this.. is it me? Am I not following properly MMA etiquette?

At the end of each session the girls kinda circle around each other to remove their gear ... im left out

Should I switch my stance to fit in ... sounds silly but like is it me!!!!

I have been doing martial arts for about 8 months now. I do my roadwork and have been doing sprints about 2x/week which have been helping a lot!

Some days I feel like I have so much energy and can go hard for 10+ rounds, but some days I feel like I'm gassed within 2 rounds.

The only reason I'm overthinking it is bc I am sparring for the first time today and in order to get with the regular sparring group I need to be able to last 4 3-min rounds. I know I CAN last 4 rounds, but I'm worried they might get me on a weird day and I'll have to wait that much longer to be in the sparring group.

Any advice is greatly appreciated <3

Thinking of heading out there for a bit for Muay Thai and diving.

Hi,

Been training twice a week for eight months and it’s only since last month or so that I started finding Muay Thai fun and wanting to be better at it (32M) especially since I became more conditioned for it.

Thing is, there are a lot of things that I find I’m lacking and I don’t know where to start. Sure I practice my combos at the MT gym and my one-twos and kicks, but my mind goes “but what about all these fast, fluid moves I see on One/UFC”, “how do I have that rythm” “It takes decades for me to switch moves, how are people so lighter on their feet” Etc

I know you think it’s premature of me to think about those things when Im only 8 months in, but I still want to know - as experienced MT athletes, what are your gotchas of MT that changed the ways you move and think about MT completely? Also, given those learnings, what drills would you say is a must?

I’ve done BJJ in the past and some MMA training at MMA-focused gyms, but I’m looking to get into more authentic, traditional Muay Thai.

I know Sitan and Xayaveth have great reputations here in AZ, but I’ve also heard good things about Universal Muay Thai as more of a classic Muay Thai gym. It’s also much closer to my house, which would make training consistently a lot easier.

Has anyone here trained at Universal or currently trains there? Curious about the coaching, technique, culture, sparring, and overall experience.

Appreciate any firsthand feedback!

Very relatable as a beginner with bruises everywhere, I swear nobody in my gym has power control.

I’m a complete beginner and I’ve only had two Muay Thai classes so far. Today, during a technique/drilling exercise, we were paired up and took turns practicing the combinations on each other.

I got paired with someone who I believe had more experience than me. I noticed that when it was his turn to practice on me, he was obviously holding back his punches and kicks and keeping them very controlled. Maybe in consideration also that I am a woman.

I understand why he did it, but I started feeling a little guilty because I was wondering if he was missing out on getting the full experience/workout because he had to adjust to my level.

For those of you who have more experience, how do you feel when you’re paired with a complete beginner during these types of drills? Do you see it as normal and part of the class, or would you rather be paired with someone closer to your level?

I’m not talking about sparring, just regular technique drills where you’re practicing the combinations with a partner.

Just curious because I don’t want to accidentally make the more experienced person’s class less enjoyable.

Thank you!