In our definitive guide to Muay Thai training, we look at the importance of sparring, shadow boxing and shadow sparring as part of a healthy work out. Here are some guidance notes when it come to practising your technique or working with a partner. Article courtesy of www.thaiboxingsuit.com

Shadow Boxing

Essential to learning the technique. Many beginners often neglect shadow boxing and go straight to the bag-work, and by doing so you do not learn the technique properly nor the control of the technique. Shadow boxing in front of a mirror allows you to observe, correct and polish your technique. When shadow boxing use the full range of your movements; do not shorten the punch or kick. Once you have developed the technique to its fullest extent then you can develop the shorter, sharper punches and kicks.

• Use double or triple movements and do drills of ten or twenty non-stop punches or kicks i.e. the jab or teep. Very slow controlled shadow boxing is a good way to warm up then shadow box as you would wish to fight, with speed, control, conviction and vision.

Shadow Sparring

This is basically light sparring mostly with the legs to help develop reaction time for leg blocking, footwork, control and development of your technique. It is recommended to use shin guards and be very careful at first until you have developed some control, when two good boxers do this it can look as if they are employing full contact. One of the most difficult things for new students to develop in Muay Thai is the ability to block leg kicks with their own legs.

Sparring

In Muay Thai training sparring is more difficult to do than regular style boxing due to the nature of the technique, thus sparring is either done with the hands only or when the better boxers spar they will wear shin protection and take care to pull the harder leg kicks and knee techniques.

• As the Muay Thai fighters have a busy fight schedule and some times fight two or three times in a month they cannot afford unnecessary injuries from the training.

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