Question about thai boxing, and injuries

[Roark]

Hi, I'm considering trying out Muay Thai, but I have a slight problem regarding the liklihood of receiving certain injuries . Although I realise that any sufficiently physical martial art gives its participants a significant risk of getting hurt, I really cant afford to suffer a visible facial injury (such as a black eye or broken nose), due to my line of work. How often do things like this occur during training? I know that in actual ring fighting youre quite likely to get your face pumelled in, but does this often happen outside the ring, during sparring and suchlike? Again, it isnt the idea of getting hurt thats bothering - simply the idea of visible facial marks.

[Damian Mavis]

No you shouldn't get your faced messed up just from training. Every academy is different but the training itself shouldn't be disfiguring you. If you train with a buddy and you guys want to go hard then there's more of a chance but that is usually your decision.

I'm actually worried about this myself these days! I'm trying to break onto the modelling scene in Bangkok so have decided to not fight again until I see how it goes.... but I still train!

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[gregimotis]

Second to what D.M. said

It's pretty uncommon to have facial marks from regular training. BUUuuttt... I find that light bruising on the shins and knees can be pretty common if you bruise easily.

[Roark]

So are facial hits normally disallowed during sparring then?

[shadowkiller]

No they are allowed usually, but you wear headgear and most punches and kicks arent thrown at full force.

[dbok1]

Roak,

I have been training Muay Thai for over 15yrs and I don't know where many of these other people train or even for how long, but 90% of Muay Thai training has nothing to do with getting hit in the face or sparring. Unless you are planning to be a fighter you will probabally never set foot into a ring. If you are someone who just wants to workout and try something new most of your time will be spent on a bag or with someone holding pads for you.

I have trained at many different places world wide and most of the beginners don't even spar, usually all they do is train. So go for it and try something new.

Best regards,

[Roark]

Well I was wanting to engage in sparring at some point, because it looks quite enjoyable - I just wasnt sure about the rules normally involved (regarding facial hits/protection and suchlike)

Thanks for the replies btw.