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Glam Monitor

Should I do Muay Thai or boxing?

Author

Daniel Johnson

Updated on September 02, 2026

Deciding whether you should learn boxing or Muay Thai first depends on how you prefer fighting. If you prefer more tactically evasive training and sparring, then I recommend boxing. If you'd like to be able to fight with all your limbs and don't mind a few bumps and bruises, then Muay Thai is for you.

Should I start Muay Thai or boxing?

If you want to achieve a good level of self-defense as soon as possible Boxing is what you should choose. Whilst 6 months of Muay Thai training is enough to learn the basics, you will be nowhere near competent, and you would have progressed for more in Boxing during those 6 than if you trained Thai.

Should I do boxing and Muay Thai?

The biggest problem with training both is that they are fundamentally different things. While boxing will help you with your Muay Thai, Muay Thai will NOT help with your boxing. Boxing is limited to just punches to the head, the body and the square, while the Muay Thai stance will make you a big open target in boxing.

Is boxing or Muay Thai better for street fighting?

Who Would Win in a Street Fight – Boxing or Muay Thai? Both boxing and Muay Thai train fighters to be able to protect themselves and defeat an opponent. Nevertheless, Muay Thai artists would have a clear advantage in a street fight, but not because that discipline is a more effective fighting style.

Which is safer boxing or Muay Thai?

The biggest reason why boxing is more dangerous than Muay Thai is head and body shots with the fist are the only strikes in Boxing. This leads to repeated brain trauma as the skull keeps on getting hit. Even body shots especially liver shots are not safe and are potentially deadly.

39 related questions found

Is Muay Thai effective in a street fight?

Muay Thai works in a street fight because it teaches you how to clinch and throw opponents. The clinch is a close-quarter grappling technique that is essential for Muay Thai. Clinching is a way to control your opponent from a close distance and do damage by throwing knees to the head or body, for example.

Can Muay Thai beat MMA?

MMA and Muay Thai are among the most effective martial arts you can train in. MMA is more versatile, has more weapons, and is more effective for any street fighting scenario. On the other hand, Muay Thai might be limited due to the lack of grappling, but it is still the most effective striking martial art.

Which is better Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

In terms of effectiveness, the answer is clear. Muay Thai is the most effective stand-up striking martial art, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the most effective grappling martial art.

Does Muay Thai give abs?

Practising Muay That not only encourages us to strengthen our core to become unaffected by body shots, but it also creates strong abs and obliques through the movements that are performed while practising the sport.

Is Muay Thai Good for beginners?

Muay Thai is a great martial art for anyone to start learning, even if you've never done any martial arts before. If you're interested, don't feel intimidated by all of the punches, elbows, and knees. You'll be surrounded by others who are just as eager to learn.

Is Muay Thai worth learning?

Muay Thai will teach you excellent self-defense skills and as it's a skill you will constantly want to get better and improve. Also, it teaches discipline, respect reduces stress, builds muscle, and will improve every other quality of your life. It is definitely worth learning.

Can a martial artist beat a boxer?

If a karate practitioner is trained to use his art in self-defense, he may overcome a boxer using long kicks and hand strikes.

Does Muay Thai make you skinny?

Muay Thai can make you skinny as it may burn up to 1000 calories an hour. However, the only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than you consume. You will not lose muscle mass doing Muay Thai if you're still eating the same amount of calories and doing your strength and conditioning.

What are the cons of Muay Thai?

The cons of Muay Thai include frequent injuries, and with the focus primarily on kicks, and arm strikes, practitioners are more vulnerable if taken to the ground.

Can I bulk and do Muay Thai?

Whilst doing Muay Thai is a fantastic workout the training is not the same as weight lifting and it's not ideal for gaining muscle. Although it does depend as calisthenics(bodyweight training) is a key component in most Muay Thai gyms and can be as good at building muscle as weight training.

Should I learn Muay Thai or Krav Maga?

In general, Krav Maga is better for self-defense than Muay Thai simply because it was invented for the sole purpose of defending yourself. But, having knowledge of either of the two will help you a lot when it comes to self-defense.

What martial art does Navy SEALs use?

Krav Maga. Krav Maga is a brutal martial art learned by the SEALs. Krav Maga translates from Hebrew to mean “contact combat.” It is an Israeli martial art used by Israel's commandos and special forces.

What's better for self-defense Muay Thai or Jiu-Jitsu?

Thus, if you want to approach self-defence in a more complete manner that will allow for better efficiency in an actual fight, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the choice for you, but if you want to practice a more balanced, standing-based approach, you can benefit from practicing Muay Thai.

Is taekwondo better than Muay Thai?

Both are good in their own way, but there are always people who prefer one over the other. Muay Thai is more effective in a self-defense scenario as Taekwondo requires distance to be effective. Muay Thai has devastating techniques for close and far ranges.

Which is better karate or Muay Thai?

But overall, it's fair to say that Muay Thai has an edge in most aspects. Most karate schools in modern times focus too much on competition, fighting under point fighting rules, and doing a lot of katas. Training is safe and very popular among kids as their introduction to the world of martial arts and combat sports.

Is Muay Thai better?

The answer comes down to the technical differences and what type of skills you want to develop. Muay Thai is often seen as better for self-defense as it teaches you how to use all limbs to fight. Unlike boxing, it will teach you how to use kicks to keep the distance, vicious elbows, and knees in the clinch.

What is the best martial art for a street fight?

In this article, we are bringing you the best fighting styles in which techniques work well in street fighting.

  • Krav Maga. Founded by the Israel Forces, Krav Maga is a fighting style designed for street fighting. ...
  • Boxing. ...
  • Muay Thai. ...
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu. ...
  • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

What's the best combat sport?

Which is the best combat sport for you?

  • Boxing. Boxing utilises the skills of punching, footwork, and head movement, and encompasses the basic principles of self-defence. ...
  • Muay Thai. Muay Thai is one of the most effective and powerful martial arts in the world. ...
  • Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. ...
  • Wrestling. ...
  • MMA.

Why is Muay Thai tough?

Nevertheless Muay Thai is so hard to master because it is known as the art of 8 limbs as you strike with your fists, knees, elbows, and legs! You also have a lot of sweeps, throws, and clinching (standing wrestling) to think about.

How many times a week should I do Muay Thai?

If you are a fighter, or have aspirations to fight, you should be training five to six times a week. If you are someone just looking to get good at Muay Thai come in at minimum three to four times a week.