Muay Thai vs Kickboxing. Same same but different.

For some people Muay Thai and kickboxing might seem like identical sports. However, once you get into nuances and see how each one of them works, you will be impressed with all the numerous differences between them. So you have to wonder, how is Muay Thai different from kickboxing, is there any difference that really stands out?

What is kickboxing?

Kickboxing is a sport that incorporates punches and kicks, it allows you to easily use your feet in order to attack your opponent. You will need good movements in order to avoid being struck and knocked out. A kickboxer will rely on the 4-point striking system, where Muay Thai uses an 8-point striking system. Here you have just punches and kicks. There are kickboxers that are allowing the partial clinch. It has multiple different martial arts under the name itself too. This was widely known as full contact karate. Kickboxing is a term that was popularized in the 80s after Van Damme created some movies with this name. It became a catchy name and people stuck to it.

What is Muay Thai?

Muay Thai is also a martial art, but it’s a lot older and it’s super aggressive. The focus of it is to deal blows with the use of kicks, knees, elbows and punches. It also focuses on powerful leg kicks that deliver damage to the muscles. Elbows are used here in order to open cuts on the opponent face. You can also land elbows and knees from close quarters too, which is something to take into consideration. Muay Thai training is very intense and it features full contact sparring most of the time. You need mental and physical toughness to go through Muay Thai sessions and fights.

What are the differences between Muay Thai and Kickboxing?

If you want to perform these in Muscat, Oman, you want to figure out what works for you. As we mentioned earlier, Muay Thai comes with an 8-point strike system, whereas kickboxing just has a 4-strike system. That makes Muay Thai a lot more complex and nuanced. On top of that, the Muay Thai fighters are moving forward all the time. A kickboxer has more fluid, yet defensive stances, even if they still attack. Strikes are different too. Muay Thai is more about powerful strikes and it’s not about art or exotic strikes. However, kickboxing is all about making things artistic, while also trying to pull off attacks that destroy the opponent balance. Muay Thai fighters learn how to land blows with the middle portion of their shin. Kickboxing is more varied and you can focus on a large range of attacks.

Conclusion

One thing is certain, both Muay Thai and kickboxing are very impressive, and they come with a variety of unique attacks. It’s important to learn how to perform these attacks and ensure that they are implemented correctly. Once you do that, you will find it easier than ever to decide which is the better option for you. Training in Muscat, Oman for any of these sports is simple, you just have to pick the sport you want and then select a great training center. You will soon see your progress!