boxing + MT = what's your single biggest challenge?

[Marvin Tampus]

Hi Guys,

I'm eager to know,

what’s your single biggest challenge when it comes to integrating boxing into your MT game?

[Fighting Frog]

Dunno...in some ways I think the biggest challenge is the other way - when boxing to remember that you can't kick your opponent... :teehee:

[Marvin Tampus]

Dunno...in some ways I think the biggest challenge is the other way - when boxing to remember that you can't kick your opponent... :teehee:

 

haha. I totally agree with that.

What was your background before diving into MT?

[Fighting Frog]

Martin: About 15 years ago I did taekwondo for less than a year... that's it for martial arts until I accidently started MT a few years ago. During our sessions my trainer sometimes puts in purely boxing rounds to help me concentrate on specific aspects. I've been trying to join a boxing club but there's quite a lot of difficulties involved (erratic shift work, travel time, not much money, other life things).

[Matty]

If you mean like using boxing in Muay Thai, definitely head movement.

[Marvin Tampus]

Martin: About 15 years ago I did taekwondo for less than a year... that's it for martial arts until I accidently started MT a few years ago. During our sessions my trainer sometimes puts in purely boxing rounds to help me concentrate on specific aspects. I've been trying to join a boxing club but there's quite a lot of difficulties involved (erratic shift work, travel time, not much money, other life things).

 

oh taekwondo. didn't you get any challenge as you transitioned from a "leg-heavy" martial art into MT (though MT is using legs too but as we know taekwondo kicks are different from MT)?

[Marvin Tampus]

If you mean like using boxing in Muay Thai, definitely head movement.

 

How did you get around with this? :)

[Fighting Frog]

Marvin: I only did TKD for a few months, and it was a long time ago. A friend's club entered me into a tournament with them a couple of years ago; I had a couple of crash sessions on how-to-spar-TKD (and, indeed, remembering how to kick as of course it's a different style) - the biggest problem then was overcoming the urge to punch my opponent when the chance arose!

So, to answer your question: no, I didn't find it a challenge! I did find it hard trying TKD and kickboxing (last year) after MT as I wanted to kick with my shin and found it hard to use my feet instead. It's academic now as since I've had several bad foot injuries I'm sticking to MT.

[Marvin Tampus]

During our sessions my trainer sometimes puts in purely boxing rounds to help me concentrate on specific aspects.

 

That's great.

Was there anything that you struggled with especially when integrating boxing aspects into MT sparring?

[Fighting Frog]

Anything I especially struggled with? No, not really. It all seems a natural part of MT sparring.

[Matty]

@Marvin Tampus - I ended up taking a private with a trainer who starting in boxing and then went into Muay Thai. He helped me a lot with understanding the movements that are easier to adapt to Muay Thai.

 

If you're interested in what specifically helped, here's a summary of the things I learned from him: https://muay-thai-guy.com/what-is-head-movement.html