If it were that easy for a victim of bullying to overcome their fear and stand up to the bullies, the mere existence of bullying wouldn’t be a reality.

Bully prevention and MMA for kids is one of the most effective ways to combat what has grown into a social epidemic, as it addresses all the integrated elements of the process, on both the victim and the instigator’s side.

Bully prevention and MMA for kids may sound like a bit of a cliché, where the same old discussions are relayed to the victims but, previous victims who walk away from the expertly compiled workshops, go on to achieve much more in their lives, far beyond simply getting past their issue of getting bullied.

Besides taking part in the dedicated workshops that deal with bullying, kids who take up mixed martial arts learn much more than just how to handle bullies but this is a major default covered by the whole process of learning the art.

MMA teaches kids how to be disciplined, focused and creative, while providing adequate amounts of the much needed exercise, which is becoming more and more of a growing concern these days, translating into confidence, defensive and offensive skills, which pretty much inadvertently cover the skills required to deal with bullying.

MMA is best learnt as a kid as this is when development is at its peak, so starting the kids as early as possible is the best way to go, particularly if they show a real interest in the sport.

Bullying naturally takes many different shapes and forms, going beyond the obvious cliché of the bigger kids harassing the smaller kids, taking their lunch money and making them carry their heavy belongings — it also exists in the form of cyber bullying or mental and emotional abuse.

MMA is thus effective in addressing all aspects in that a number of other life skills are developed, one of which is simply the confidence to seek help, should the situation be too big for the victim to handle, or simply turning around and telling the bully “I’m not scared of you”.

Sometimes it is rather inevitable to have to go beyond trying to avoid handling the situation without getting physical, which is where the core principles taught through MMA come in. Kids learn a genuinely effective way to defend themselves or hold off physical attacks by bullies, which, at the very least, will bring attention to the situation and induce appropriate reactions from the sources which have the authority to deal with such situations.

One of the best gifts a parent could give their kids is putting them through a developmental program which focuses on bully prevention and MMA for kids, even though it would serve as an unconventional gift that isn’t as obvious as many other options for gifts.

So which is better, Boxing or Muay Thai? The thing is, you can’t really compare the two. In Boxing, you have punches only, while im Muay Thai you have punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and the clinch. First off, lets see some two videos that show a fight between a Boxer and a Muay Thai fighter.

As you can see from the videos, the answer isn’t so simple when asking the question: Boxing or Muay Thai? In both videos, the boxer had no chance simply because he was not equipped for that fight. Can you win a gunfight with a knife? As soon as the boxer would try and close the gap to get some hits in, the Muay Thai fighter would just use his long ranged kicks on him.

Now in a street fight, the tables might be turned. Since street fights generally happen up close, the Boxer would have the advantage here with his better hands, while the Muay Thai fighter would need to somehow create a gap to effectively use his kicks.

So to recap, when asking: Boxing or Muay Thai?

In a ring fight: Muay Thai

In the streets: Boxing

Protection

1. Boxing Gloves
Thai boxing gloves usually have a thinner padding than normal, with the back of the hand getting more protection. They are made of two different parts; the outer and the padding. It is recommended that Muay Thai fighters always try the gloves against the punching bag to ensure that they do not feel any pressure, especially on the fingers.

2. Hand Wraps
These are essential for all fighters and come in three different material; cotton, mixed cotton and elastic. They are sold in different lengths; from 2.5 to 5 meters and come in different colors. They also need to be tried in order to make sure that they cover the whole hand.

3. Mouth Guard
A mouth guard is important in fights; it does not only protect the sensitive area around the lips but the teeth as well. It needs to be strong enough but allow the fighter to move and breathe without distraction.

4. Head Guard
A head guard should be solid but padded inside in order to hold up the power of the strike. It needs to be worn by amateur competitors and children aged under 16. Trainers also ask fighters to wear them during coaching.

5. Groin Protector
Although a strike to the genital area is not allowed in Muay Thai, it does happen by accident sometimes. Therefore, there is a need for groin protection. It needs to be used during contact training and on competitions as well.

Sports Wear

6. Trousers and Socks
Ankle socks should be worn in order to prevent swelling. The level of support needs to be determined individually. Trousers can be purchased from the team; they usually have the fighter’s name sewed on and some come with different patterns or pictures. They are usually made of satin and nylon.

Training

7. Skipping Ropes
They are essential for strength building, and if not provided by the club, need to be strong, potentially made of rubber and adjustable. Strength training is a great part of Muay Thai, therefore, this will surely be needed.

8. Striking Pads
When completing contact training, not only coaches can use striking pads. When working in pairs, they are good for measuring and assessing the strength of the strike and direct the blow in the right direction. They are padded and come in different shapes.

9. Boxing Bags
Boxing bags can be purchased to use at home for training, and they cost approximately 60 dollars. The size, weight and hardness needs to be determined by the fighter and trainer together.

First Aid

10. Thai Boxing Oil
The oil is a natural warming agent that prepares the body to the fight and reduce the occurrence of pains and aches in the hands and legs.

11. Ice and Cooling Gels
Ice is needed to treat injuries and open bruises. It needs to be present at contact training and on competitions as a supplement to the first aid kit.

Sitting Stretches for Hamstrings

While sitting on the floor with legs stretched out straight ahead, a forward straight bend should be held bending from the waist, not the back. After holding the position, there is a need for relaxation. It can be repeated up to three times.

Another version of the above Muay Thai stretch is when one knee is bent with the sole against the other inner thigh. The exercise is good for focusing on one leg at each time and can be repeated 3-3 times.

Standing Stretches for Hamstrings

One of the best exercises to train and strengthen, as well as stretch out hamstrings in a standing position is when one foot crosses the other and the fighter is bending down from the waist over the front leg. The aim should be to bend from the waist and abdomen more than from the lower back and try to touch the front knee with the forehead. Both of the knees need to be kept straight and the stretch should be repeated at least two times each side with relaxing between rounds.

Yoga’s triangle pose can also be beneficial for stretching the back thigh muscles. Standing on the floor with the legs open wide, pointing the front toe ahead the person bends over it and touches the floor. The arms can be placed straight up in the air or behind the back for further stretching. This is an advanced pose and should only be held for three to five breaths initially when just getting started, with expanding the hold duration over time.

Lying Down Stretches

While completing these exercises, there is a need to warm up the abs muscles because they will be needed for holding the leg in position. While lying down on the floor placing one foot against the wall, the person should start lifting one leg in 90 degree angle while pushing the other one towards the floor. This exercise can be held for 10 breaths maximum, however, when building strength one can start with three breaths at a time.

Another version of the hamstring stretch on the floor is to lift the leg as high as possible; maybe above the head with the knees unbent. The self-stretch version would involve holding on to the knee with one hand, while the stretch can be completed with a partner who pushes the leg further. Each side stretch should be repeated three times with relaxation on the floor in between rounds.

Just got my hands on these pads from Throwdown, so I decided to write a review about them. As you all know, pads are very important when practicing combinations with your partner. Anyway, on to the review:

I tested the pads for both absorption and how much stress it put on the partner holding them. In terms of absorption, these pads are made from genuine leather and are filled with professional padding (which is also pretty lightweight) that absorbs even the strongest of kicks. In terms of stress on the person holding them, their light weight aswell as the double wrist and forearm straps make it a breeze to handle.

If you are interested in getting a good set of pads for either home training, or to take them to your Muay Thai gym with you, check these out:

The last of our Wanderlei Silva fights, this time we see Wanderlei Silva vs Chris Leben.

 

 

A little back story on this fight. Lebel initially called out Wanderlei Silva by saying “Come on Wanderlei, I’ll take you out too”, after winning the fight with a triangle choke against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116. Somewhere around July 2010 however, Silva underwent knee surgery which kept him out of the octagon until early 2011. Moving on to the 4th July 2011, and we see Dana White announcing that Silva would be fighting against “The Crippler” (Chris Leben) at the upcoming UFC 132.

 

Many feel Wanderlei Silva vs Chris Leben was one of Silva’s worst losses yet, even more amplified by the fact that Dana White commented that this would be the best time for Silva to retire.

Our first video is a short segment on kicks with some good explanations. You may want to check out our article on the Muay Thai Kick.

Up next (from the same YouTube channel) is a video showing some drills that you can practice in order to increase your kick counter attack effectiveness.

Don’t know how to do a proper leg sweep? Or if you, when and how to use it? This video will show you exactly that.

I’m sure the next video won’t need any introduction, because it is one of the Muay Thai Training Videos filmed at the Tiger Muay Thai training camp! For those of you who don’t know, Tiger Muay Thai is one of the top training caps in Thailand.

Another video on kicks, make sure you listen at the 2:00 mark where he explains footwork.

Here is a video of Roger Huerta (a UFC fighter) doing a training session at Tiger Muay Thai.

Hope you enjoyed these Muay Thai Training Videos. Make sure you watch/listen to them carefully and then practice in order to learn new tricks.