Prejudices about martial arts mostly prevail among those unfamiliar with these sports. It seems rough at first glance as these are combat skills in the first place, but there is a lot of tradition and history behind martial arts.

Sports like Muay Thai were once practiced exclusively by Eastern fighters, who protected the royals and the people from the enemies. It was believed that one who knew these skills was sent by the gods themselves to be the protector and guardian of ordinary mortals.

If interested in the history of this sport, visit the following page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai

Today, things are a bit different. Although soldiers still practice martial arts, these combat skills are now ‘available’ to everyone. Muay Thai is one of the traditional martial arts for anyone who wants to slim down and be healthier. It’s the perfect workout for those looking for a lean yet muscular body. Besides, you can derive many benefits from Muay Thai from day to day life.

Reasons to Practice Muay Thai

Suppose you are looking for a way to enjoy all the advantages that a healthy lifestyle has to offer. In that case, you could give Muay Thai a shot, even if you aren’t quite a sports type. This discipline became a popular fitness activity because it brings numerous health benefits and helps you stay fit.

The most significant benefit that anyone can obtain from Muay Thailand is increased strength and flexibility. This discipline is a unique combination of techniques that work to strengthen the muscles while burning calories. There are many different Muay styles. Each of them focuses on improving one aspect of your body to make you stronger.

Muay Thai is the perfect exercise for people who have problems with joints, as it increases their flexibility. And with more flexibility, you’ll have ease of movement and won’t feel stiff. These two benefits will help you get rid of the pain that you are experiencing.

Besides, this sport will increase your endurance. This discipline doesn’t require expensive and complicated equipment or special training conditions. Still, no matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned fighter, a good pair of gloves is a must-have. You shouldn’t cut corners on this piece of equipment.

Importance of High-End Equipment

Martial arts equipment comes in various colors and sizes. Still, the aesthetic is not as important as the functionality. Its primary purpose is to prevent injuries and awkward punches. Also, the equipment must meet certain standards to be safe for both fighters in the ring.

No matter what style of Muay Thai you choose, you need quality gloves. A pair that fits well will protect your hands from the impact that is caused by striking and catching punches. They come with many different padding options so that they can fit your hands securely. That’s great news for those who tend to get sore fingers and palms after a long day of training and fighting in the gym.

Know What You Look for

When looking for a pair of gloves to use in Muay Thai, the choice of boxing gloves might confuse you. Several brands out there sell boxing equipment, but only some of them make high-quality gear for martial arts. If you’re new to Muay Thai, you might want to dig around to find the best gloves that won’t cost a fortune.

Materials Used

When shopping for your next pair of gloves, you will want to choose the right type, especially if you’re a beginner. You can run onto two basic styles of gloves that are commonly used. They are Muay Thai kickboxing gloves and Western-style boxing gloves. These can be used interchangeably.

These models are differentiated by the materials they are made of. Both are made of leather, but it differs in thickness and rigidness. Leather is used because it’s very durable and can withstand the force that a boxer might put on them. It also allows the user to feel more like they are boxing bare-handed.

Muay Thai kickboxing gloves are also made from leather, but some more exclusive materials, like Lambskin, can also be used. These pairs are usually more comfortable, as they are not as stiff as a boxing model. In Muay Thai, you are free to use your hands in clinches and catching kicks, so the palm is more flexible than in boxing gloves.

Glove Types

When choosing gloves for Muay Thai, it’s necessary to know their weight. This factor has a lot of influence on your punches. It’s possible to find five different types of gloves for this sport. Depending on weight and stiffness, there are those for training, sparring, punching bags, clinching, and a pair for competing.

It’s good to always have at least two pairs of gloves, even if you’re not fighting professionally. You should start with lighter models (for training), in order to get the best possible feeling in your hands. Increase weight gradually and adjust it to the category in which you are.

If you have big hands, some lighter gloves may not suit you. You can try sparring gloves that you will use for training, hitting the bag, and the like. They are quite heavy, and wearing any lighter gloves after them causes a weird and slightly uncontrollable feeling in the hands. See here how this equipment is made.

For competitions, use fairly light gloves that weigh 8 to 12 ounces, depending on the category. They provide the best motion control because they are stiffer than other models. They usually come with a lace-up binding system to make a tight fit for your hand.

Taking On and Off

It may seem trivial to you, but if you deal with Muay Thai professionally, the way you take on and off your gloves is important. It’s necessary to quickly replace it and continue the match in case of accidental gear damage during the fight.

If you choose lace-up pair, they may fit better on your hands and have a tighter fit around the wrist, but you will always need help pulling them on and off. It’s not very convenient during fights, but for training and sparring, these gloves will do.

The hook and loop system (Velcro) allows the gloves to be put on and taken off quickly. But these models are looser on the hand, and the Velcro may detach during combat. Still, fighters always give the advantage to hook and loop gloves.

Where to Buy

Muay Thai gloves are mostly bought in retail stores that sell sports equipment. The good thing about this way of shopping is that you can try any model on the spot. A drawback is the lack of supply in one store, so you have to visit several of them in search of the right pair. Also, prices can sometimes be higher than with online sales.

When shopping online, there is room for dealers to lower the price. They don’t have the expenses of running a physical store. Apart from that, another significant advantage of online shopping is the possibility of choice. Just a few clicks replace touring the stores.

This way of buying is convenient, but it has certain drawbacks. The equipment you order can’t be tried on. If not sure what category you fall into, you can easily pick the wrong size. Replacing an order and waiting for a shipment again can be a bit tedious. But if you’re willing to wait for a perfect pair from abroad, go for it.

On the next link, see which categories exist in Muay Thai: https://thespinkick.com/muay-thai-weight-classes/

All the benefits you get from practicing Muay Thai will surely give you the confidence that you need to be healthy and look your best. You will be able to do more than ever before and stay fit at the same time. As Muay Thai doesn’t require much equipment (besides quality gloves), it won’t cost you a fortune to look great, be healthy, and stay in shape.