thaiboxingsite.com ( Muay Thai )

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It is imperative that boxing shoes provide a perfect fit for the boxer. If he is trying to box with his feet hurting or his shoes slipping around on his feet, chances are he will not win that match. A boxer needs to be one hundred percent confident of his equipment before he enters the ring, and the shoes are a huge part of that. Boxers take enough punishment during their matches. They do not need to add feet blisters to that due to a poor shoe choice.

When choosing boxing equipment and accessories, it is important to find the ones that offer a perfect fit to you. Boxing shoes need to fit just as well as the boxing shorts do. You would not want your shorts falling down or splitting open during a boxing match. So it only makes sense that you would not want your shoes to allow you to slip and slide in the boxing ring or make your feet sweat.

You need to be very particular when choosing your shoes because unless they feel as if they are a PART of your feet, you will have problems with them. Most pairs are made from soft leather, suede, and rounded out with rubber soles that are meant to offer traction. Boxing shoes also have ventilation through mesh �windows� on all sides so that your feet do not become over heated and too sweaty.

All of those things work together to make your shoes offer everything you need while in the boxing ring. However, they must also be a perfect fit or your feet can become sore, blistered and irritated from trying to move around in the wrong type of shoe. Be sure to try on your shoes before you decide to buy them. Walk and move around in the store to make sure they are going to feel comfortable. Remember, ideally, you want them to feel so comfortable that you do not even notice you are wearing them.

Boxing is a great way to relieve stress and get into shape. If you are thinking about taking up boxing, you are going to need to invest in some basic equipment to get you started.

The first piece of equipment you will need to purchase is a punching bag. Punching bags are great for taking out your stress and they can give you a great workout. When you look at different bags, consider the weight of each. You will need a strong support to hold the weight of the bag.

Speed bags are another great investment. Learning to use speed bags will improve your reflexes as well as your boxing skills. You can find some great deals on speed bags online or you may even be able to find a used one at a good price. You may also be able to find a good bargain at a rummage sale or consignment shop.

Boxing Gloves are a necessity for anyone looking to get into boxing. Gloves come in different weights, sizes, and styles for different uses. Some are made for sparring while others are made for ring action. If you are not sure what type of gloves you will need, talk to a professional trainer for the best recommendation.

If you don’t have the money to purchase these items or don’t have the room to set things up, you could always join a local gym offering boxing lessons. Joining a gym will give you the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of boxing. You will also be able to find a sparring partner or even enter some amateur events.

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To box, you have to be in great shape. The effort and time required to achieve this level of fitness is too intense for most people. You really have to tough it out to get a chance at the top levels of the sport.

But, surprisingly, what prevents most mediocre boxers from reaching their full potential isn’t toughness or heart, it’s their joints.

Without a conscious effort to protect the joints during training, you may suffer needless injuries.

Protect the ankles and knees during boxing training

Casual boxing fans hardly ever notice boxers’ footwear. When they do, they probably don’t give it a second glance. But good boxing boots are essential to boxers who want to stick with the sport for the long haul.

Boxing shoes are smooth-soled. This encourages pivoting — an essential component of most punches — without putting undue stress on the ankle and knee joints.

It is a mistake to use street shoes or shoes designed for other sports like basketball or jogging. The grippy soles and lack of ankle support will eventually damage the knee ligaments.

Protect the hands and wrists during boxing training

Most people understand that boxers’ hands and wrists take a beating — literally — on the pads, bags, and during sparring.

What they fail to realize is that protective equipment like hand-wraps and padded gloves is essential for the long-term viability of these delicate joints. Without hand wraps, boxers would not be able to continue the sport past a few years, even if they never suffer a serious injury like a broken bone or a dislocated thumb.

Wraps change the hand from a delicate collection of small bones into a single entity capable of withstanding repeated blows designed to damage an opponent. Smart boxers know never to train without wraps.

Protect the lower back during boxing training

The lower back is the link between the legs and the shoulders. Boxers who weaken or injure their lower back during practice find themselves ineffective and injury-prone.

Since most fighters spend a good deal of time and effort strengthening their abdominals, they run the risk of unbalanced development in the lower back. Strong abs and a weak lower back is a path to injury that is easily avoided if back-strengthening exercises are incorporated into the workout routine from the very beginning.

Punches — especially hooks and uppercuts — put a lot of rotational stress on the lumbar region of the spine. It’s imperative to have a strong foundation before engaging in intense punching training.

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I am creating a series of articles which are essentially class descriptions of specific martial arts courses. These descriptions can be used for anyone looking to add a martial arts program to their gym, or add additional classes to their existing martial arts school. These are also excellent for someone who is planning to open a martial arts school and is in need of this type of information to add to a business plan or proposal. My original plan is to write up the categories below although this is subject to change or expansion. Here are the categories:

Muay Thai Kickboxing Beginners thru Advanced

MMA

Grappling Beginners thru Intermediate

MMA Conditioning

Boxing

Sparring Class

 

Muay Thai Kickboxing – Beginners

Prerequisite:

Equipment Requirement:

Course Time:

Course Frequency:

Course Description:

Evaluation:

Curriculum:

Stance

Footwork

Punches

Kicks

Knees

Elbows

Punch Counters

Kick Counter

Clinch Positions

- 50/50 Tie Up, Dominant Position

- Shin Block, Evade, Ride

- Parry, Cover

- Right Horizontal Elbow, Left Horizontal Elbow

- Right Straight Knee, Left Straight Knee

- Right Round Kick, Left Switch Kick

- Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut

- Step and Slide: Advance, Retreat, Left and Right

- Basic Fighters Stance

Students with a minimum of 1 month training in the Beginners class will be evaluated for advancement to the Intermediate class. Students must demonstrate the mastery of the basic techniques as determined by the instructor. Students must also demonstrate the basic pad holding techniques for the drills performed in this class. Students must also demonstrate the necessary conditioning level required for the intermediate class. Additionally, there is an equipment requirement for the Intermediate class.

In the Beginners Class, students will cover the basics of the striking art of Muay Thai. Students will learn the proper stance and footwork. Students will also learn proper form and technique of the basic punches, kicks, knee and elbow strikes used in Muay Thai. Basic defensive and counter techniques will also be taught as part of the curriculum. Each class will begin with warmups which include a variety of stance, footwork, punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and counter techniques. The core conditioning and curriculum of the class will consist of various drills with a partner or at times with a punching bag. The intention of the drill is to apply a combination of the basic techniques in a flow or simulated encounter. As part of the Beginners Class, some of the basic positions and technique of the Thai Clinch work will be covered. Classes will end with a conditioning drill to allow the students to build stamina and conditioning necessary for advancement.

2 to 5 times per week

1 Hour

Students must purchase Focus Mitts and Bag/Boxing Gloves within 1 month of starting class.

No Previous Experience Necessary

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Many Asian countries have each evolved their own system of martial arts, and Malaysia is no exception. Most Westerners are familiar with Karate, Judo, Tae-kwondo and Kung-fu thanks to action movies from Hollywood and Hong Kong. Yet there is also a graceful, yet deadly, martial art called Seni Silat that is deeply rooted in Malay culture. This art of self-defence is practised not only in Malaysia but also in Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and in varying degrees even in the Philippines and Southern Thailand. In Indonesia, Silat is referred to as Pencak Silat, while in the Philippines it is called Kali Silat. The late Bruce Lee, Hong Kong’s martial arts legend and founder of Jeet Kwon-do, was also known to have been learning Silat to prepare for his next movie prior to his untimely demise.

The word Silat is coined from the term “Si Kilat”, meaning “one who moves like lightning.” However, the origins of Silat are hard to trace because of lack of written records; nevertheless, it is believed that Indonesia is its birthplace. This martial art resulted from the observation of the fighting tactics of animals such as monkeys, tigers, eagles and cobras. Such movements were slowly built up into an elaborate system of self-defence. The turbulent history of the Malay Archipelago made fighting ability a much-valued asset; thus, silat spread far and wide throughout the region.

Archaeological finds indicated that formalised fighting systems had existed during the 6th century in the Malay Archipelago. Warriors from the ancient kingdoms of Srivijaya in Sumatra (4th to 7th century) and Majapahit (13th to 16th century) displayed effective Silat skills that enabled them to overrun what is now Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. According to Hisbullah Rahman in his book titled “History of the Development of Pencak Silat in Indonesia”, many Chinese went to Srivijaya’s University of Nalanda to learn both Silat and Buddhism. Early trade and migration from other countries also brought foreign influences to Silat. As a result, many Indonesian Pencak Silat systems feature Hindu weapons such as the trisula (forked truncheon), Indian grappling styles, Siamese costumes and Arabian weapons. Early migration by settlers from Indonesia fleeing from clan wars and, later, Dutch domination gradually swept Silat to the Malay peninsula.

Malaysia’s legendary Silat experts were Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat who lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah (1459-1477) in Melaka. Today, though the Multimedia Super Corridor is paving the way for the IT era in the country, Silat is still alive and kicking. Both rural villages as well as cities have Silat schools. Silat performances are incorporated into wedding ceremonies, official functions and the performing arts. The national organisation for the promotion of Silat is the Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA) or The Malaysian National Silat Federation.

Silat has many styles, and they are named after the region of origin, an animal, its founder, a spiritual principle or a physical action. An estimated 200 styles are currently practised. Among the two most popular styles are Silat Seni Gayong and Silat Cekak. Silat Seni Gayong was founded by the late Dato’ Meor Abdul Rahman bin Uda Mohd Hashim (1915-1991). It has practitioners in the Middle East, America and Europe. A Bugis, Dato’ Meor was a direct descendant of Daeng Merewah, a famous silat expert from Sulawesi. Silat Cekak has is roots in Kedah, and was developed by the late Ustaz Haji Hanafi bin Haji Ahmad. During the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1854-1879), it was widely practised by his senior warriors. While many Silat Gayong moves are acrobatic, Silat Cekak techniques are mostly executed with a straight posture. A third school of Silat that also has a huge following in Malaysia is Silat Lincah.

Silat Gayong Fatani is infused with influences from Muay Thai or Thai kick-boxing. Silat Chikalong is based on the wing motions of a flying bat while Silat Harimau feature techniques similar to that of an attacking tiger. From Kelantan comes Silat Kelantan which is similar to Japanese judo as it incorporates a lot of throws and locks. In East Malaysia, Silat Betawi (named after Batavia, the Dutch name for Jakarta) has a strong following. This style is similar to Chinese Kun Tow (martial arts) and originated from Java. Silat Medan emphasizes weapon techniques, while Silat Setia Hati is named after a flower, which is beautiful yet deadly poisonous. Distinguishing the various styles of silat is not easy, and only experts can do so.

Irrespective of the style, silat consists of two dimensions: the pulut and the buah. Pulut is soft glutinous rice that is eaten at wedding receptions and gatherings. Therefore, Pulut simply refers to the aesthetically beautiful moves that are executed for entertainment purposes. Pulut is also referred to as Bunga (flower). On, the other hand, Buah, (which literally means Fruit) alludes to the practical aspects that are not displayed to the public. In actual combat, however, both the Bunga and Buah are combined with devastating effects. Bunga will distract and confuse the opponent with its graceful moves, which will suddenly change into explosive strikes at lighting speed -the Buah. In this strategy, the Flower leads to the Fruit.

The traditional attire of the silat exponent is a pair of loose pants and top. A sash completes the outfit. For exhibition purposes, a tengkolok is usually worn. Silat instructors are categorized according to the following levels: kang (lowest), guru, pendekar and mahaguru. In the olden days, finding a Silat instructor was extremely difficult as each teacher used different criteria in selecting students, though the prime consideration was always character and moral standard.

Training with weapons plays an important role in the advanced stage of silat. Depending on the curriculum of the school, a student is expected to master the following: kris (a short wavy dagger), pisau (a short knife), tali (rope), belantan (cudgel), pedang (sword), lawi ayam (a sickle), tongkat (a walking stick made of hardwood), tekpi (trisula), and badik (dagger with straight cutting edge and a back curving at the tip)..

Silat offensive moves are usually executed with the arm, knee, fist, elbow and legs. In addition, there may be a combination of claws, tear and pokes to the vital points. The Silat exponent practises with a combination of Juru-juru (or upper body manouevres) and Langkah (or footwork). The amount of emphasis on one or the other depends on the style and tactical approach.

Silat is not just a system of fighting techniques. There is also the spiritual and moral dimension that complements the blows, locks and kicks. Most Silat instructors in Malaysia are Muslim so their spiritual systems reflect the tenets of Islam. However, Silat transcends religion. In the Philippines, for example, Kali Silat incorporates Catholic ideals in its spiritual dimension, while in Bali, Hindu teachings are prevalent in its spiritual component. This religious aspect of Silat is aimed at personal development.

The future for Silat is exciting. Though, The Netherlands, by virtue of its historical association with Indonesia already has a strong following, Silat schools and interest groups are expanding in Japan, USA, France and the United Kingdom. The establishment of Pencak Silat Federation of the United Kingdom, Silat Federation of United Kingdom and Pencak Silat Bongkot of France are testimony of the growing popularity of this art of hand-to-hand combat.