How good at boxing is Muay Thai?

[wilberbear]

I have no ride, and I am living in a ****ty part of town where there are no near boxing gyms that offer sparring. And sparring is the most fun part and you also learn the most from sparring. So, I'm thinking of going to this Muay Thai gym that is near my place. They offer sparring although they are forcing me to learn Muay Thai before joining the sparring classes. (I don't want to kick though. I'd rather use footwork & strategies and stick with boxing & wrestling.) So, can I practice more about boxing in Muay Thai? Or are they amateurs in boxing techniques and focus more on leg sweep wrestling and kicks? As far as I know, kickboxing & Muay Thai are basically boxing plus kicking. But I'm just wondering how good at boxing they are. I've been to a kickboxing gym for 6 months, but they were horrible at boxing techniques. I didn't realize until I joined a boxing gym after.

[ShoulderRoll]

It's a totally different sport. The hand skills are more basic because they have to be.

[MartialMind]

Very different sport Muay Thai is the "Art of 8 limbs", the punching only has to be good enough to supplement the kicks, and knees and elbows. Probably the most complete stand-up martial art but pure boxing is not its focus.

Dutch style kickboxing which places more emphasis on the boxing aspect would be closer for pure boxing.

If you try to simply box in sparring against a Muay thai practitioner especially in a boxing stance, you will get your legs chewed up.

[wilberbear]

That's too bad. I guess I will just practice wrestling at Muaythai and maintain my current boxing skills. Even if the coach can't teach me anything I'm interested in, I can still practice what I know. There are no boxing gyms offering sparring classes near where I live, so this is my only option. Well, there's a closer gym that teaches Karate & kickboxing. I asked whether I can join the sparring classes, and the teacher said "they don’t spar here they fight". Which is fine with me, I know I will win in my weight class. They can't knock me out or break anything, but I will. But I don't see the merit in doing it over practicing. So, I'm looking for a gym that actually has traditional sparring classes, and Muay Thai gym is my only option.

[Rockin']

If you do the Muay Ti it will develop bad habits/reactions that could be detrimental to your boxing. Where do you live?...........Rockin'

[Rockin']

I know I will win in my weight class. They can't knock me out or break anything, but I will.

How do you know that you will win your weight class?

And entering in to something new you can NEVER be certain of that..........Rockin'

[London]

Muay thai typically focus on leg kicks...then of course knees, elbows but their hands are usually basic, even the way they hold their guards up is different to boxing. Muay thai sparring is better than no sparring at all, you can still have your own boxing heavy approach with occasional leg kicks but they will kick your legs though, I'd just say go along with their training till you find a boxing gym, you can even develop relationship with one or two people and you meet them outside of the gym to do your own boxing sparring

[bngsdad]

Be careful, Muay is totally different... Weight distribution around 60/40 is at the back. You cant bob, weave or look down because the knee will get you. Not much lateral movements in that sport. Its totally different

[markusmod]

Be careful, Muay is totally different... Weight distribution around 60/40 is at the back. You cant bob, weave or look down because the knee will get you. Not much lateral movements in that sport. Its totally different

Some of those guys throw brutal kicks and knees - Rid**** Bowe found out the hard way.