If you’re a Muay Thai practitioner, you’ve likely wondered about whether you should go to Thailand, the home of the art? Is it worth going to Thailand to learn and improve your Muay Thai?
Yes – Do It!
In some ways, this is a really simple answer to give! After all, if you wanted to learn the absolute best judo on the planet, you’d want to visit Japan and the Kodokan.
The principle here is the absolute exact same thing!
Thailand is the home nation of the grand fighting art of Muay Thai, and so there can be no better place on the planet for you to go if you’re interested in learning the art in its homeland.
Bangkok is widely seen as the capital city of the sport of Muay Thai, and rightly so! You’ll find countless gyms where you can train with some of the most exciting and terrifying athletes in the world.
And there are always fights to see in Bangkok too!
Seeing some of the best practitioners of Muay Thai go at it hammer and tongs is a surefire way to give you tips on how to improve your game, as well as providing you with some of the most thrilling spectacles in fighting that you’re ever likely to see!
That’s not to say that Bangkok is alone in this regard, however, there are so many places that you can go in Thailand to learn more about the beautiful art of Muay Thai.
And Thailand is undoubtedly one of the most striking and beautiful parts of the world, meaning that there’s plenty to do and see when you’re not working on improving your Muay Thai.
If you’re at all interested in Muay Thai, then a trip to Thailand should definitely be something that you consider.
What About Longer Term Stay?
Of course, traveling to Thailand for a short visit, or a few weeks, is one thing.
Sure, it’s one of the most exitic and beautiful places on Earth – but one of the great things about a holiday is that you know you’ve got something to come home to in a few weeks.
However, while you can certainly learn a lot in Thailand in even just a few weeks that can significantly improve your Muay Thai, and of course improve your enjoyment of the sport, there are limits to how much you can learn in such a short time.
And there are definitely some people who are going to feel that they want more than a few weeks in Thailand! Not just for Muay Thai, of course, but to soak up the culture, and fully immerse themselves in Thailand.
And while they’re there, learn how to punch, kick, elbow, and knee like a pro!
So, if you’re thinking of a longer stay to improve your Muay Thai, it’s not impossible – but you have to be really sure that you want to do it, and be aware of the difficulties.
And of course, it goes without saying – UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BREAK THAI LAW.
The punishments for doing so are some of the most severe you can imagine, including even the death penalty.
How Serious Are You?
If you’re thinking seriously about going to Thailand for a longer stay in order to improve your Muay Thai, then you really need to be 100% sure of what you’re getting into before you make any long term decisions.
For a start, many people who have only ever visited foreign countries as holidaymakers are completely surprised at how different things are when you actually have to live in a country for a period of time.
The culture shock alone can be something that many people are completely unprepared for!
And that is without even mentioning the language barrier.
While it may be possible to get by with English as a tourist, if you’re intending to spend longer in Thailand you’ll struggle if you don’t learn a useful language for the area that you’re in.
Traveling to Thailand just for Muay Thai is a very big commitment too! It’s important to be realistic about the martial arts that we train in, and what our goals and expectations are.
While you might well improve greatly in your Muay Thai from a longer stay in Thailand, it’s also worth asking yourself what you’ll be giving up.
After all, Muay Thai isn’t everything! So while you shouldn’t be discouraged from taking a longer trip to Thailand to improve your Muay Thai, you shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that it’s something that’s absolutely necessary for every person who learns Muay Thai.
It would be nice to do, sure – but it’s just not realistic for the vast majority of people!
Can You Get What You Need Locally?
Traveling to Thailand at all is expensive – and a longer stay there even more so! Especially when you have to consider what you’d be giving up on a longer stay.
Not only work opportunities, but time spent with family and friends. Therefore, staying in Thailand to improve your Muay Thai should only be done with extremely careful consideration!
If your only goal is to improve your Muay Thai, then consider what you can get in your local area instead.
After all, while Thailand is the home of Muay Thai, it’s certainly not the only place on the planet where you can learn it.
Indeed, many Thai experts in Muay Thai nopw teach their art in schools across the planet!
So, consider if you’ll perhaps be better served by a shorter trip to Thailand, and more tuition at home. You might well find what you need close to you, and with a lot less travel and upheaval!
However, don’t let any of this discourage you from going to Thailand for an extended Muay Thai stay if that’s what your heart truly desires.
It could well be the best thing you ever do – but you have to be realistic about what you’re getting yourself into before jumping in with both feet!
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide has helped you to decide whether it’s worth you visiting Thailand to learn and/or improve your Muay Thai!
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