With celebrities such as Gina Rodriguez and Ryan Gosling showing more martial arts, Thai national sport Muay Thai is getting more and more attention in the United States. Although it looks like a fierce, physically demanding way to fight, Thai is much more approachable than you think. "

" your first class is always different from what you see on TV or in the professional ring, "said Raquel Harris, coach of hit house, the six time Thai champion and co owner of the Thai fitness club, New York's first boutique Thai studio. No one will give you a black eye on your first day. " (thank goodness!) She suggests taking a basic class focusing on body building first, and then talking about fighting with the coach when you're ready. That's why you should put on gloves and try.

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1. Thai boxing can reduce anxiety

it looks like percussion actually increases your anxiety, but once you're gone, the fight can calm down. "The time to hit the ball is short because you always react to the opponent's moves," Thai coach Raquel Harris said. There won't be too much anxiety if you focus so much on this moment. "Thai boxing has helped me deal with my anxiety and daily stress," said edyk Jeffry, a trainer and manager at a martial arts school in New York. If you indulge in a wrong argument, you will continue to make more mistakes until you start to focus on the moment. "

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2. "Thai can improve your balance," said Raquel Harris, a Thai trainer. "Any movement that requires you to stand on one leg, such as kicking, can improve your balance." At a high level, you need to be able to kick on the same leg without falling down. " A fall will not only cause potential bruises in your back (let alone your pride), but if you trip around the rings, you will also lose points in front of the referee. " Thai boxing is judged by elegance, so balance is the focus of training. It's important to prove that you control your body and fight. "

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3. Thai boxing exercises a variety of muscles. Unlike other boxing and foot fighting exercises, it combines elbows, shins and knees. " You move, attack and defend from multiple angles, so all your muscles and energy systems are working, "said Dan Roberts, a personal trainer at CSCs who just launched NUK soo, a Thai inspired training program. Kicking exercises your core, hips and glutes; upper body shots (boxing and elbowing) exercise your arms and waist; fighting is good for your core, arms and traps, he said. And because boxers are judged by the performance of each technique, they don't cheat their movements. " "You're trying to do every technique right and gracefully, which also burns more calories, because the right posture requires more hip and shoulder rotation," said Martial Arts Coach edyk Jeffry. Thai boxing is a kind of vigorous aerobic exercise. When personal trainer Dan Roberts trains in Thailand, his teacher will ask him to kick 500 times a bag before class. " In the end, Taiquan athletes not only exercised their muscles, but also the whole central nervous system and cardiovascular system, "he said." this explains how Martial Arts Coach edyk Jeffry lost 50 pounds at the beginning of training. " "To play a role in Thai boxing, you need to run and jump all the time, just to prepare your body for the hundreds of kicks and knees you throw into your bag," he said. Thai practitioners are proud of their aerobics. Thai improves your reflexes. Unfortunately, you're not the only one throwing elbows: you also need to dodge the opponent's attack, which means you'd better react quickly. " There are many different ways to fight in Thai boxing, and there are several ways to protect a fight, "said Thai coach Raquel Harris. You can get out of the way, stop, throw a counterattack. You need to be quick to choose the best defensive move. These benefits are beyond the scope of the ring. " "When your brain and muscles communicate more effectively with each other, reflexes improve," says personal trainer Dan Roberts. You will find that you can read and deal with everyday situations faster, especially under pressure. "

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6. Thai Boxing teaches you self-defense

if you need self-defense, any combat training will come to use, but there are several key moves of Thai boxing are outstanding. " "In real life, I use my knees, elbows and fists," Thai coach Raquel Harris said. Clenching is a technique that keeps the opponent still when attacking. " I've never had a dangerous situation where I needed to use it, but I've managed to strafe, throw and control three times my size in the ring without much effort. " If you're on the receiving end, you'll also learn how to escape these types of spikes. " "When the attacker controls your head, wrist or waist, Klinger teaches you how to control or escape the position," Harris said. Thai Boxing makes you more confident, not only because you really kick your ass, but also because you suddenly realize all the terrible things your body can do. " "If you know how to defend a punch or throw someone down, you have a reason to feel good about your body," personal coach Dan Roberts said. The body is often reduced to an ornament - especially on social media, where everyone is beautiful and photogenic. But Thai Boxing teaches you that your body is not just: it's a tool, a tool of expression. "Thai Boxing teaches you to develop strategies quickly, not just to play or kick," said tekko coach edyk Jeffry. It knows when to throw one, which means you need to improve your timing, accuracy and defense. "It also means you have to think five steps ahead of your opponent." To develop these fast, down-to-earth strategic skills, you need to start fighting. "If you don't fight, you'll miss most of the advantages of Thai," Jeffrey said. When you hit a bag that can't fight back, the strategy is much less. The good news is,You don't need to be a pro to start the game. " You just need to know the basics of attack and defense, and you need a knowledgeable person to get you into this form of training easily. "

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9. Thai boxing is not only a kind of exercise, but also a sport rooted in tradition and respect. Most practitioners bow in prayer before or after training and competition, which is a Thai greeting. "Thai is not a fight." It takes a team of people to prepare for a fight - teammates, coaches, even your opponents and their coaches - it's all synergy, "Jeffrey said. The foundation of your friendship with your opponent is that you both work hard and play at your best. "

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What do you think? Have you heard of Taiquan before? Have you seen the Thai boxing match? Or have you tried Thai boxing before? What do you think are the potential benefits of this sport? Did they interest you? Can you try it? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

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