Muay Thai has made waves all over the world and taken the fitness world by storm!

Muay Thai is a form of martial arts that originated from Thailand and has become immensely popular in many parts of the world. It is a sport that uses four sets of limbs which includes both fists, elbows, legs, and knees. As a fighting sport, Muay Thai requires agility, nimbleness and fast movements in the ring.

Don’t be alarmed because not all who practice Muay Thai must fight in the ring. Muay Thai has become quite the fitness craze due to the exercises that are associated with the sport. For those thinking of trying out the sport, here are the 6 awesome benefits of Muay Thai :

1. Increased Cardiovascular Capabilities

Muay Thai is an exercise that is both aerobic and anaerobic which places a lot of stress on your cardiovascular system. Warming up typically consists of jumping rope, jumping on a tyre, or going for a short jog. Being a sport that needs you to be fast with your fists and feet, it really gets your heart pumping.

2. Increased Leg Strength

Footwork and kicking is an important part of Muay Thai and this greatly improves the strength of your lower body. Additionally, with diligent practice, you’ll have great calves in no time! Go slow in the beginning especially if you have weak ankles and gradually increase the force with which you strike the bag as you build strength in your legs and ankles.

3. Fat Burning

Practicing Muay Thai can help you especially if you’re aiming for fat loss because Muay Thai is a sport which is high impact and combines both strength training with cardiovascular exercises. Do take note that muscle is heavier than fat so while you are burning fat, you’re building muscle which may explain why your weight stays the same. For those who are overweight or obese, please do wear knee and/or ankle braces especially if it’s your first lesson to prevent any injuries.

4. Better Hip Mobility

This one is especially for those who have office jobs and sit all day. Sitting for long periods of time will cause the hips to become stiff and possibly cause lower back pain. Muay Thai isn’t a cure-all and won’t improve your hip mobility overnight but with lots of practice and the right technique, you can achieve healthy hips.

5. Better Core Strength

Kicking and punching for muay Thai actually engages each and every one of your abdominal muscles because you’re required to rotate your body quite a lot. In addition to kicking and punching, defending yourself and also clinching can greatly improve your core strength.

6. Stress Relief

Being a fast-paced sport, there’s no time to ruminate about your problems at work. If your head’s not in the game, you may very well get punched in the face. For some, Muay Thai could become a form of meditation. Additionally, hitting something with your fists could do you a world of good.