I watched a Mixed Martial Arts Event recently where competitors from local gyms in my area were matched up. One fight that got fight of the night really impressed me and it got me to ponder this question above. When two guys fight and one favors muay thai while the other goes for a more traditional boxers style with some kicks, which translates better into a Mixed Martial Arts Match.
And... What's better for a new student of MMA to start with, Muay thai or Boxing?
Obviously the answer is BOTH but the reality is that there are drastic differences in the two, the main one I observed in this match last weekend was that Boxing for MMA has a more sit down power leverage for the hands, a better balanced stance and better footwork and upper body movement. Thai has better Kicks,
elbows, knees and shielding. The body tends to get better conditioning and the durability of a thai fighter is impressive.
But... Here is where I lean towards teaching a new student boxing principles in conjunction with Muay thai kickboxing vs the other way around. I mean, focusing on developing that strength and adding the thai style to it.
Because with small gloves, the hands seem to reach the target more often and with less risk of counters. The footwork tends to off set the stationary stance of a traditional thai fighter, and the take down defense is more readily available from this less erect posture.
In Conclusion, It would be ideal to focus on mixing in the Muay thai knees, Kicks, Elbows to a well mastered MMA boxing base. Insuring the new student develops good hands, good upper body movement, fluid footwork and a lower stance for power punching and sprawling.
A mash of both is necessary but I see many people stay with one style over the other as if stand-up striking for MMA is restricted. Most likely it stems from the fighters trainers preference but now of days it's better to be unbiased an learn both.
It's recommended here that you take the weapons of thai and add them to a well established MMA boxing profile. Since you got to have both, it seems to make more sense to add to a boxing style than take away the traditional techniques of a thai style. Making the fighter that much more lethal.
As far as Karate, Capoeira and all the other stand up martial arts out there, I continue with the concept of taking their best weapons and adding them to your arsenal vs sticking with their tradition and following your coach blindly.
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