Muay Thai vs Kickboxing

[Chok Sok Te]

How do the two differ? I do Thai but last night did kickboxing class since I was too late to make it to Thai.

Seemed more punch orientated and we did no clinch work but this may have just been the structure of that individual class.

Enjoyed it, and will go back, will it help improve my Thai also?

 

[dudeguyman]

How do the two differ? I do Thai but last night did kickboxing class since I was too late to make it to Thai.

Seemed more punch orientated and we did no clinch work but this may have just been the structure of that individual class.

Enjoyed it, and will go back, will it help improve my Thai also?

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure that clinching is alot more limited in KB fights

 

[Jimmy Jazz]

This just my own novice opinion but it seems like thais are alot more aware of distance. I see them standing just out side teeping range alot and use the teep like a jab. Kickboxing is alot more like rushing in there with punches to set up low kicks.

 

[AJB_MT]

There are a few martial arts which call themselves kickboxing, but these days its used most often to refer to a 'K1' style ruleset.

Some of the main aspects of Muay Thai (clinching, elbows, knees, catching kicks) are restricted to some extent in kickboxing, as well as having less rounds and less kick-focused scoring. Under K1 rules I'm pretty sure the rule is you can come in for 1 knee then break, which means there isn't as big of a worry about getting clinched up when you're up close boxing.

So while Muay Thai focuses a lot on fighting at different distances, clinching and increasing the pressure over 5 rounds, kickboxers often end up leaning towards much more of a Dutch style kickboxing, with strong hands, good combinations and finishing with kicks, coming out pretty explosive as there are only 3 rounds to worry about.

Go google some Yokkao fights and then some GLORY fights and you should see it pretty quick.

 

[j123]

The kicking style is a bit different as well. Dutch types stand more forward heavy, its a reason why its more preferred in mma compared to traditional thai

 

[Chok Sok Te]

The kicking style is a bit different as well. Dutch types stand more forward heavy, its a reason why its more traditional to mma compared to traditional thai

By forward do you mean lean in more ? I think I’m going to practice both styles but kickboxing is only on once a week at my gym

 

[j123]

By forward do you mean lean in more ? I think I’m going to practice both styles but kickboxing is only on once a week at my gym

Yeah, their stance with weight distribution is very front leg heavy (80:20 lead to rear) compared to MT which is more rear leg or 50-50.

In MMA its better for sprawls, not so much in MT

 

[spacetime]

Do you even know which type of Kickboxing it was? All it takes is to ask... "Do you clinch" etc..

 

[Chok Sok Te]

Do you even know which type of Kickboxing it was? All it takes is to ask... "Do you clinch" etc..

Believes it’s K1 which I assume is Dutch

 

[spacetime]

The kicking style is a bit different as well. Dutch types stand more forward heavy, its a reason why its more preferred in mma compared to traditional thai

Didn't you notice that they are taught to throw more snappy jabs? In Thai Muay Thai they are taught to throw stiff jabs. More arm punching in regular Muay Thai?

 

[j123]

Didn't you notice that they are taught to throw more snappy jabs? In Thai Muay Thai they are taught to throw stiff jabs. More arm punching in regular Muay Thai?

Stiff jab isn't an arm punch

 

[spacetime]

Stiff jab isn't an arm punch

Nor did I imply such a thing. There was period/interlude after that sentence for a reason.

 

[eternaldarkness]

Nor did I imply such a thing. There was period/interlude after that sentence for a reason.

yo banga!!!

 

[dudeguyman]

Nor did I imply such a thing. There was period/interlude after that sentence for a reason.

Shoulda used a "," and then an "and".

But I know what you were trying to say.

 

[Physikz]

Depends on the KB style as well..I started off training above the waist only KB, basically a Boxing/TKD mix, no clinch or low kicks and an in and out blitz fighting style.. Now I'm training MT full time and couldn't go back, but for me its taken a little time getting used the slower MT toe to toe fighting style

 

[Hallman's Shorts]

I'm not a striking expert so I can't verify how accurate all of it is, but a while ago I found http://muaythaipros.com/kickingboxing-vs-muay-thai-different/ which seems to explain the differences pretty well.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Go to both classes. The rules are different but for beginners they compliment each other extremely well

 

[Replay19]

Kickboxing is limited in a sense that they don't train for some real practical aspects that makes thai fighters more dangerous.

1) clinch
2) low kicks
3) no knees or elbows

Kickboxing doesn't train for or really look out for low kicks, which is very important and changes the game a whole lot. They follow TKD rules which is waist and above.

In kickboxing your greatest tools are your legs. If your legs are taken out by low kicks you are done.... you can't punch with bruised up legs either. So if you take a kickboxing, the best one, and throw him into a muay thai fight, the muay thai fighter will most likely win.

Unless the kickboxer is throwing low kicks, knows clinches and knees (or defense against).....

 

[spacetime]

Kickboxing is limited in a sense that they don't train for some real practical aspects that makes thai fighters more dangerous.

1) clinch
2) low kicks
3) no knees or elbows

Kickboxing doesn't train for or really look out for low kicks, which is very important and changes the game a whole lot. They follow TKD rules which is waist and above.

In kickboxing your greatest tools are your legs. If your legs are taken out by low kicks you are done.... you can't punch with bruised up legs either. So if you take a kickboxing, the best one, and throw him into a muay thai fight, the muay thai fighter will most likely win.

Unless the kickboxer is throwing low kicks, knows clinches and knees (or defense against).....

Modern day kickboxing (K1) has low kicks and a clinch restriction. How a kickboxer would do in Muay Thai rules or vice versa is irrelevant. Different sports.

 

[j123]

Kickboxing is limited in a sense that they don't train for some real practical aspects that makes thai fighters more dangerous.

1) clinch
2) low kicks
3) no knees or elbows

Kickboxing doesn't train for or really look out for low kicks, which is very important and changes the game a whole lot. They follow TKD rules which is waist and above.

In kickboxing your greatest tools are your legs. If your legs are taken out by low kicks you are done.... you can't punch with bruised up legs either. So if you take a kickboxing, the best one, and throw him into a muay thai fight, the muay thai fighter will most likely win.

Unless the kickboxer is throwing low kicks, knows clinches and knees (or defense against).....

Kickboxing these days is K1 style, not shiny pants