What is the difference between KICK AND THAIBOKSING???

[tolejh]

Hi there people. I wonder what is the difference between thai and kickboxing? I am going to start on something shortly and wonder what should i start with.. We have 1 gym with thaiboxing but people there arent nice.. And where they training kickboxing the people are good there and so.. What should i do???

[Caddock]

I enjoy Thaiboxing, it is my favourite of different things I have done over the years. However if the people in your area that are teaching truly aren't nice I wouldn't go.

If you are always feeling like an outsider or that you aren't enjoying yourself, you won't want to go and sooner or later you won't. If the other folks are freindly and help you learn you will be better off there.

Maybe reevaluate why you feel the Thaiboxers aren't nice and the kickboxers are. Perhaps it was bad first impression? If you still feel the same way I would go where I felt welcome.

[THT]

I agree with the whole go where you feel welcome bit. Of course as a Muay Thai lover I would definately say give the thai boxers another shot. Perhaps they just seemed mean because they are thai boxers. Let me explain. Thai boxing is a pretty extreme sport and is usually appealing to a pretty bad ass bunch. At the gym in Detroit that I train at the fighters are SCARY looking. Thug life tats, things like "killer" tatooed on the shin of the back leg, scarred faces... you know what I mean? After actually talking to them I honestly can say that they are all some of the most friendly, helpfull and respectfull people I have ever met.

As far as the differences between thaiboxing and kickboxing. Without going into history and what not, the easiest way to explain it is that kickboxing is more like full contact karate. You can use hands and feet and only strike above the waist. Thaiboxing on the other hand is the science of eight limbs, using hands, feet (shins), elbows and knees as well as a form of stand up grappling called the clinch. In thaiboxing you strike someone pretty much anywhere besides the balls, back of neck and straight on to the knee joint. Yes we are animals

Hopefully this helps out. There is also quite a bit of info available online if you google "muay thai". I wish you much luck (and a lot of fun) in your endeavors!

[peopleschamp]

Plus out of respect, you have to conduct yourself more seriously on the floor during practice at some gyms. So you might want to see if the "atmosphere" was just not as laid back as you like because that's part of the rules and respect shown to serious training.

If it comes down to it choose the Thai place as long as the instructors are cool, respectable and know how to instruct (you're fellow MT are background and I'm sure you can gel with atleast one or two of them).

[crackerjacker]

Well my class is called womens only kick boxing but it is actually muay thai we do kicks, knees, elbows, clinches etc is that confusing I actually thought I was just taking kick boxing when I signed up. But I love my class so its all okay