Are you up for a fitness challenge that is both terrifying and thrilling? If you’ve watched Kickboxer, Ong Bak, or The Raid, you would have seen this brutal sport in action. Muay Thai in Toronto is all about sparring and competition, while other martial arts are usually combat simulations and theory played out in a controlled environment. It also makes up for a great aerobic workout and will help you loose those resistant fat around your stomach and thighs. Much needed when options are limited outdoors.
Muay Thai is an intense sport that engages all hands, shins, knees, and elbows but it isn’t difficult for beginners to train and learn the fundamentals. As a Toronto Muay Thai gym, we understand that starting a new sport is overwhelming and prepared this guide to help you ease into it. We also host free Muay Thai classes for women from time to time, so you can learn the sport in a safe, welcoming atmosphere.
History of Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a standing martial arts style with roots leading back to 13th century Thailand when it was mandated as military training. You can trace it back to the Sukhothai dynasty and it was made Thailand’s national sport by the Rattanakosin Kingdom (18-20 century). Rooted in the traditional Thai martial art of Muay Boran, Muay Thai also reflects influences from British boxing, which introduced concepts like structured rules, boxing rings, and gloves. This fusion gave rise to the distinctive style characterized by powerful strikes using fists, elbows, knees, and shins, earning it the moniker “the art of eight limbs.”
In contemporary combat sports, Muay Thai remains a staple, with UFC legends like Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, and Joanna Jędrzejczyk incorporating its techniques into their arsenal for its speed, precision, and versatility. Today, Muay Thai has become a staple in martial arts and is growing in popularity as a self-defence technique. Come try it out at our gym in downtown Toronto!
Understanding the basics of Muay Thai training
Learning Muay Thai as a beginner is like learning to walk again. Not kidding! Your stance and posture is very important but so is your mental strength. The way you hold your arms against your body to protect yourself is different from boxing.
In boxing, you only have your hands to protect you but in Muay Thai in Toronto you have 8 weapons to use – Punch, Kick, Knee, and Elbow (2 each). While mastering this awesome sport takes time, the beauty lies in the benefits it offers!
When it comes to Muay Thai training, be ready to SWEAT A LOT. Whether you want to learn Muay Thai to break your sedentary lifestyle or want to compete professionally, the benefits are endless. It teaches self-defense, makes you calmer, and makes you self-confident. Also, there’s a lot of kicking and punching and that’s absolutely fun! Since it has a learning curve, at our gym we recommend new students to take a couple personal training sessions to get posture, form, and technique correct and then join our group classes.
Is Montrait Muay Thai in Toronto the right fit for you?
We take pride in teaching the most ancient techniques of Muay Thai that are rooted in its culture but also adapt them to your fitness goals. Like any other martial art and combat sports, injury is inevitable but with correct training, you can learn how to avoid mistakes. If you’re unsure about Muay Thai being the right fit for you, you can book a personal training class with us! After your class, be sure to ask about our special offers for new students only!
Picking out a good gym
Finding the right gym is the single most important decision you have to take. You want to learn at a gym that teaches you the techniques and not some watered down version. Since you’re a beginner, find an academy that conducts foundation classes. All students will start at the same level and you’ll learn so much better that way.
Good thing is Montrait Muay Thai in Toronto offers foundation classes! Each class is 90 minutes long and our instructors take you through the fundamentals. The first 30 minutes, you’ll be doing a set of body weight exercises, plyometrics, and speed agility drills. In the next 30 minutes, your instructor will demonstrate technical drills followed by the students practicing them. The class finishes with partner pad work and/or drilling!
Don’t have a partner to bring with you? Don’t worry because we can easily pair you with another student from the class.
Train at Montrait Muay Thai in Toronto
We focus on fundamentals first, so you feel strong and equipped with the right techniques.
At Montrait Muay Thai, every student begins with an Initial Performance Session (IPS). One of our coaches will assess how your body moves, talk about Muay Thai and your training goals.
From there, you’ll work with a coach in private sessions to learn the fundamentals at your own pace.
By the time you join group classes, you’ll feel confident in your form, technique, and understanding of Muay Thai.
We’re excited to talk more. Book your IPS today.
3 Steps to Better Emotional Control Through Martial Arts
People are scared. Collectively, the world is experiencing more fear and anxiety than they have in a generation. Yet most people do not possess the emotional tools to navigate this current world climate.
Competing in a full-contact martial art can be a terrifying and exhilarating experience. There is an ever-present risk of extreme personal injury (and though less likely, still possible at the amateur level). Being prepared emotionally to step into the ring was a process that I developed through years of competition. This isn’t news to anyone that’s competed in martial arts, but for everyone else; I hope to shed some light on the process of fear management and better control of your emotions.
Understand Your Circumstances
The first step is to assess what could be at stake. Understand your absolute worst-case scenario. In a martial arts competition, there is always a very small but still possible chance of death. Hiding from the reality of a situation just because it seems “extreme” contributes to avoiding the processing of all those deeper emotions attached to that very-unlikely-but-still-possible outcome.
Take Time to Acknowledge the Fear
When I had a competition coming up, it would be my waking thought and the last thing on my mind before I slept. We have a beautiful and annoying threat recognition part of our brain that is constantly scanning our past present and future for danger. If you let this system run wild, it will have you in a consistent state of fight or flight. I needed to mindfully acknowledge my fear to get that system to ramp down. The words mindful and agency are related here. Each day I would set aside 10 minutes to mindfully process my emotions. This gave me agency in that process, ultimately lending me a sense of control over my circumstances. In our current situation, the ever-changing policies and unfolding global and local scenarios feed a compulsion to check for updates. Give yourself 10 minutes each day to check the news if you need to, then sit and process your feelings on the current circumstances. Then…Put it to rest.
Game Plan and Actionables
If during preparation for a competition, I felt I was not doing everything that I could to prepare, it would be signaled by a healthy dose of anxiety. As soon as I had confirmation on a date, I would sit down and plan out my preparation from start to finish. Knowing that I had planned for every eventuality gave me a sense of comfort as well as purpose. Know what you can do to protect yourself and those that you love. Put together a game plan. It’s important to know that you are taking every precaution. Not to mention, being proactive about problematic situations can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and stress.
Remember It’s a Skill
With the combination of accepting worse case scenarios, not hiding from negative emotions (but giving them time, space and attention so that they can be processed), and finally figuring out my actionables, I eventually improved my ability to process and compartmentalize my emotions. It’s important to remember that handling your emotions is a skill. Like any other skill, it needs to be practiced and refined regularly. With time, getting a handle on your emotions will become reflexive.
I encourage everyone to practice martial arts. It’s opened the door to learning many skills that have enriched my life and fortified my spirit. I apply the skills and lessons learned on a daily basis. I’ll leave you with the words of the greatest swords master to ever live.
Miyamoto Musashi:
“If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything.”