Should I lift weights while training Muay Thai?
Rachel Davis
Updated on May 29, 2026
For Muay Thai Training Ensure You Rest And Recover
Do you need to lift weights for Muay Thai?
Strength Train in the Morning (before you Train Muay Thai)
To ensure you can lift the most weight and see the most strength gains (more weight lifted = stronger stimulus to CNS = more strength gains) you should lift weights BEFORE you train Muay Thai.
Can you bodybuild and do Muay Thai?
Doing both bodybuilding and Muay Thai is possible. However, you will find these activities are not complimentary and will take from each other. Meaning you won't become a very good bodybuilder or Muay Thai fighter. Doing both activities is known as concurrent training.
How do you build muscle while training Muay Thai?
Skills training in terms of striking in Muay Thai can build muscle but it is more endurance work. Heavy bag work and pad work in Muay Thai are HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts that are cardio-intensive. While it also promotes muscle growth, Muay Thai training burns lots of calories in the process.
Should martial artist lift weights?
The goal of the martial artist should be to lift weights for athletic gains, in the same way a professional athlete weight trains. The exercise routine should be formulated to not only promote muscle growth but fast twitch muscle fibers for explosive movements, as well as endurance and strength.
42 related questions foundDoes weightlifting help you in a fight?
There is a common misconception that lifting heavy weights results in increased punching power. Weight training can help you build strong muscles, but it doesn't necessarily equate to powerful punches.
Does lifting weights make you punch slower?
Lifting weights is a relatively slow movement using a relatively limited range of motion, making it less effective for boxing training. Even if lifting weights did increase your punching power, you're still better off developing your punching skills. You have to workout like a boxer if you want to be a boxer.
Will I lose muscle doing Muay Thai?
While losing weight through Muay Thai or cardio training, it's normal to lose both fat and muscle. Muay Thai is resistance-based in the sense that you're using your body weight for many of the routines that you do during training.
Will Muay Thai get you shredded?
High-intensity anaerobic exercises burn more calories than aerobic exercises and hence more fat loss while boosting the metabolism for hours after the workout. Training Muay Thai builds lean muscle while burning fat, lending to a Muay Thai fighter's body which is lean and toned.
Does Muay Thai build muscle mass?
Muay Thai itself does not build muscle. Muay Thai training doesn't provide the resistance and range of motion needed to stimulate muscle growth. However, supplemental weight lifting is how you can build muscle while training Muay Thai.
Should kickboxers lift weights?
Kickboxers should lift weights to enhance their kickboxing performance in the ring. Gone are the days where lifting weights was seen as making you slow. When a strength training program is designed with the idea of improving reactive ability and high-velocity strength, you will get faster.
Do MMA fighters lift heavy weights?
One of the questions people often ask is, “Do MMA fighters lift weights?” The answer is yes, they do. That's because weight lifting is an essential part of any martial artist's exercise regimen. MMA fighters usually lift weights to maximize strength and leanness at their current weight class.
Do Muay Thai fighters do squats?
Body weight squats. Yes, heavy weighted squats can be good for building leg mass and power, but Muay Thai fighters want power and speed. Heavy squats can slow fighters down with too much muscle which is why they opt for lighter weights and higher reps.
Why are Muay Thai fighters not muscular?
Muay Thai fighters don't have much muscle as they train to maximize speed and power. They aim to improve their muscle, endurance and strength for a fight, not to increase muscle mass like a bodybuilder. Thai fighters are lean with minimal body fat, as they train for performance not for muscle gain.
Can Muay Thai build abs?
Muay Thai Can Be Your Route to Great Abs
When training muay Thai regularly, one of the benefits you are likely to get is a well-toned abs. Why? Since Muay Thai is all about twisting, using kicks, and making good use of your knees and shins, it is natural that you are going to develop your abdominal muscles.
Does Muay Thai increase testosterone?
Yes, Muay Thai increases testosterone levels, but resistance training and healthy nutrition will give you an even better hormonal response.
Does Muay Thai give you big legs?
One thing many people notice about Muay Thai fighters is the strong, muscular appearance of their calves. Even the most diminutive Muay Thai fighter will have noticeable calves, honed through years of training.
Does muscle help in Muay Thai?
The core muscles include the internal and external obliques, upper and lower abdomen, diaphragm, and the like. Muay Thai is one of the most effective forms of self-defense. Everything from kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, and all techniques in between, draw power from your core.
Is boxing better than Muay Thai?
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.
Did Tyson lift weights?
In fact, he didn't lift any weights at all. Mike Tyson's physique was achieved through a calisthenics only routine that was developed by his coach Cus D'Amato.
Why boxers should not lift weights?
Weight training becomes bad for boxers when they are bodybuilding or Powerlifting focused. Bodybuilding routines are target purely hypertrophy which relies on volume for muscle growth. This volume of work will leave a boxer highly fatigued for boxing training.
What was Tyson's workout?
Mike Tyson's workout routine would include 2000 sit-ups, 500-800 dips, 500 press-ups and 500 shrugs with a 30kg barbell. He would also do around 10 minutes of neck rolls on a folded towel. Tyson's improved neck strength drastically reduced the chances of him getting knocked out during a fight.
Why are martial artists not muscular?
Not having over-developed muscles makes a fighter more flexible and allows them to rotate their entire body faster, generate more power and speed in a strike. The same stands when it comes to ground fighting that requires grappling as well where flexibility really comes into play.
Should I lift before or after boxing?
Weight training is best if it is done after boxing specific training, definitely not before sparring. You should stop the weight training routine at least one week before competition.
Does muscle make you punch harder?
In fact, our testing results suggest that the lean muscle of the core is the biggest contributor to punch force – meaning the stronger your core, the harder your punch! Core strength also plays an important role in generating effective mass, this is known as the 'snap' of a punch.