Kickboxing vs muay thai.

[BDanceB]

Kickboxing was infact the original MMA back in the day, which styles better? TKD? MT? Savat? Kickboxing was the answer. Everyone got together and fought it out, some stuck together, some imitated each others styles, and eventually they turned into 'kickboxers' like BJJ guys turn into 'MMA' fighters today. I wasn't aware of this until recently so I thought it would help you understand kickboxing a little better.

I have to say though I agree with every single post saying that it solely depends on the kickboxing instructor, because it does. Maybe visit both gyms, try out both, chat to the students there, do they compete? What rules? Do they cross train? Have they 'DONE' kickboxing if they train Muay Thai or vice versa. It's also good to check what 'style' of kickboxing they practice then go home and google it, have a read and then assess the situation from there.

Good luck buddy 'Dance'

 

[millasur]

You can forgive the stupidity, one of my mates though thtat muay thai and thai boxing were different things :\

 

[DaGenius]

You can forgive the stupidity, one of my mates though thtat muay thai and thai boxing were different things :\

People who invented it call it by its proper name, Muay Thai.

"white" people (euros, brits, aussies) call it thai boxing. Kinda like they call BJJ "jitz" now. makes me cringe

As for the topic, learn Muay Thai dude. Its fun, aggressive, gets you in shape, and you get to rock cool shorts

 

[jerunk]

They're basically the same but everyone in muay thai is a little more friendly as they hug each other occasionally.

As per my understanding.

 

[Ron Powell Jr]

"white" people (euros, brits, aussies) call it thai boxing. Kinda like they call BJJ "jitz" now. makes me cringe

This Jitz thing is cringeworthy but Muay Thai and Thai boxing are basically interchangeable.

Muay=Boxing

Muay Thai=Thai boxing

it's a direct translation

EDIT: That being said i never use the term "thaiboxing", it's ironic because i hear alot of dutch guys saying it and what they fight nowadays is basically watered down Muay Thai/K-1, it's not like the old days where they used to fight real Muay Thai.

In fact the French are already currently better than the dutch at Muay Thai, and the Australians are catching up, the UK is somewhere up there too.

The dutch and Japanese used to be good at Muay Thai, but then K-1 came along in the 90's and started giving big paychecks and the eventually majority of them switched to training for those rules. i.e. kickboxing

 

[ArchAngelos]

This Jitz thing is cringeworthy but Muay Thai and Thai boxing are basically interchangeable.

Muay=Boxing

Muay Thai=Thai boxing

it's a direct translation

EDIT: That being said i never use the term "thaiboxing", it's ironic because i hear alot of dutch guys saying it and what they fight nowadays is basically watered down Muay Thai/K-1, it's not like the old days where they used to fight real Muay Thai.

In fact the French are already currently better than the dutch at Muay Thai, and the Australians are catching up, the UK is somewhere up there too.

The dutch and Japanese used to be good at Muay Thai, but then K-1 came along in the 90's and started giving big paychecks and the eventually majority of them switched to training for those rules. i.e. kickboxing

I wouldn't worry about it. If Lumpinee stadium started paying out like the Japanese promoters, the Dutch kickboxers would be back in Thailand. Money is the motivation in professional prize fighting - you have to remember that.

 

[mmafreedom]

I'd go to both classes. Spend a couple weeks at one. Spend a couple weeks at the other and find out which one is more suited towards you and/or more professional.

 

[yankeesfan0130**]

it matters on the instructors.
but in america many gyms are called muay thai but teach a watered down mix of kickboxing and muay thai. and vice versa

on average kickboxers have better punches and kicks because muay thai guys focus on more things which means less emphasis on punches and kicks compared to kickboxers.

but it is so hard to find a real kickboxing school in america or a real muay thai school because they are all mixed these days.

they are actually very different. a true kickboxer would throw a high kick with different mechanics then a muay thai guy for example.

i would suggest savate.

 

[ectonomore]

Yeah. I think I'm just going to focus on Muay Thai for now because it offers more and maybe later try out kickboxing. Thanks for the help.

Good choice. You won't go wrong with MT. IMHO, you'll get more bang for your buck with it since it incorporates the use of elbows and knees as compared to just the punches and kicks in most kickboxing styles.

 

[Midnighter]

it matters on the instructors.
but in america many gyms are called muay thai but teach a watered down mix of kickboxing and muay thai. and vice versa

on average kickboxers have better punches and kicks because muay thai guys focus on more things which means less emphasis on punches and kicks compared to kickboxers.

but it is so hard to find a real kickboxing school in america or a real muay thai school because they are all mixed these days.

they are actually very different. a true kickboxer would throw a high kick with different mechanics then a muay thai guy for example.

i would suggest savate.

Really, savate?

You think he has a better chance of finding a legit Savate school in US than MT or KB?

 

[RandMcnally]

you can't really go wrong with both martial arts but would really depend on the instruction that you would receive. they are both good combat sport but again, it's critical that you find a legit school. then again, i would suggest that you master just one sport. it would take you a lot of years to master kickboxing or MT. It wouldn't make sense if you study MT for a year and two, then shift to kickboxing. you would be come a novice MT studying kickboxing rather than mastering one sport.