4 Reasons Why Muay Thai Fighters Are Skinny

Do you know the reason why Muay Thai fighters are skinny? And how being skinny can help them? Muay Thai fighters purposefully keep slim bodies to enhance their proficiency in the sport. Skinny Muay Thai fighters can move more swiftly and absorb powerful kicks and blows without suffering severe injuries.

Therefore, Muay Thai fighters put more emphasis on maintaining low body fat levels than trying to bulk up their muscles.  Keeping a lean physique is an essential component of being a good Muay Thai fighter. In this post, we’ll discuss why Muay Thai fighters are skinny in detail.

Maintain Weight for Muay Thai Contests

One of the main reasons why Muay Thai Fighters are skinny is that they are matched in Muay Thai fights according to their physical characteristics and skill level. As a result, a skinny Muay Thai fighter is paired up with someone who weighs about the same as they do.

Fighters must maintain the required weight for their category or weight class to compete fairly.

Before a battle, a fighter runs the risk of getting disqualified for being overweight if they put on even a few pounds.

To keep their weight within their particular weight class or division, most fighters try to maintain it. This ensures that they can battle opponents of similar size and have a reasonable chance of winning. Continue reading to get more knowledge about why Muay Thai fighters are skinny.

Muay Thai Intense Training Sessions

Muay Thai fighters’ intense training sessions are the second main reason why Muay Thai fighters are skinny. These training sessions mainly consist of numerous cardiovascular exercises.

These are running, skipping, jumping rope, etc. and they are a big part of Muay Thai training.  Muay Thai fighters often work out twice daily (for two to three hours each), and six days a week. Up to 1000 calories can be burned during each rigorous training session which means a Thai Muay fighter burns 2000 calories per day.

Furthermore, the amount of calories lost during exercise rises in a hot and humid climate resulting in more fat burning. The answer to why Muay Thai fighters are skinny isn’t complete yet. Additionally, there is much more to learn about it.

Training Sessions Exercise:

Muay Thai fighters perform a range of exercises during regular training sessions to improve their strength, stamina, and skill. These training sessions comprise the following:

• Warm-up and stretching activities are performed before any exercise to develop flexibility and avoid injuries.

• Skipping rope in Muay Thai training helps to increase cardiovascular health and synchronization. This exercise also enhances agility and footwork.

• Shadowboxing is a vital Muay Thai exercise that allows fighters to perfect their technique and mobility without the assistance of a partner. Before sparring or bag practice, it’s a terrific method to warm up

• Sparring exercise allows learners to perfect their fighting technique with a partner. The greatest method to learn how to attack and defend yourself is through practice.

• Bag work enables fighters to hone their punches, kicks, elbows, and knees against a punching bag. Accuracy, power, and speed are all enhanced by this exercise

• Clinch work – a technique that Muay Thai fighters practice learning how to dominate their opponents and get an advantage in the ring.

Why Are These Workouts Important?

These workouts are crucial for Muay Thai fighters because they aid in fat-burning, cardiovascular fitness, and stamina-building. Muay Thai fighters must be fit to maintain their energy levels throughout the battle.

Muay Thai matches can run three to five rounds, with each round lasting between three and five minutes. In addition to that, to perform well and win the bout, a Muay Thai skinny fighter must keep their energy levels up during the fight.

Do Muay Boxers Lack Strength?

Some people might believe that having skinny bodies equates to being weak, but that’s untrue in the case of  Muay Thai boxers. Liam Harrison Thai fighter is a model of a successful and skinny Thai fighter. 

Liam Harrison is one of the most technical Muay Thai fighters in Muay Thai. He has won numerous world championships in his weight class and is renowned for his precise and technical fighting style.

Harrison is evidence that technical expertise and experience are all that is necessary when fighting Thai, not the muscular body. Despite lacking a muscular build, he is renowned as the strongest Muay Thai fighter because of his razor-sharp technique, lightning-quick reflexes, and ravaging kicks.

It’s important to note that not all Thai boxers are thin; some with muscular build have had significant success in this sport as well.

The former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva Muay Thai is one of the most famous muscular Muay Thai fighters.  He is known as one of the best fighters of all time because of his technical mastery and striking skills.

Why Do Some Fighters Gain Weight?

We have answered the question of why Muay Thai fighters are skinny. And you are aware of the advantages of a skinny physique, let’s talk about why some Muay Thai fighters put on weight. To participate in a different weight class or division, some Muay Thai fighters may purposefully put on weight.

To compete against more skilled opponents, some undersized Muay Thai fighters may decide to jump up a heavier weight class. In these circumstances, fighters might try to put on muscle and put on weight to fulfill the standards of their new weight class.

Benefits of Skinny Body in the Ring

Now, you are aware of why Muay Thai fighters are skinny, let’s discuss how their skinny build benefits them in the ring.

Enhanced Agility and Speed

Improved agility and speed are two major benefits of being slim in Muay Thai. A fighter with a slimmer physique will have less mass to move, which will make quick movements and direction changes easier. Moreover, a fighter’s ability to move swiftly is a big edge in the ring because it enables them to dodge their opponent’s blows and strike precise hits.

Higher Flexibility

Fighters in the combat sport of Muay Thai must execute a variety of kicks and blows, many of which call for a high degree of flexibility. A skinny fighter can achieve and maintain the required degrees of flexibility to execute these movements successfully.

Low Chances of Injury

The risk of injury during practice and competition is also decreased if a Muay Thai fighter has a skinny slim body type. Fighters who are skinny put less strain on their joints, which can help them avoid injuries during the rigorous training needed to compete at a high level.

Higher Endurance

Another important component of Muay Thai combat is endurance. Multiple strikes must be thrown during a fight, and the fighters must stay active the entire time. Slim body types can help skinny Muay Thai fighters build and sustain the levels of endurance required to compete efficiently.

FAQs

Do fighters with skinny builds consider the best?

No, having a slim build does not make someone the best in their sport. Skill, technique, and combat prowess are the most crucial elements.

Can a Skinny Person Join Muay Thai?

Yes, any person is welcome to practice Muay Thai, whether they are muscular or skinny, regardless of their present degree of strength or fitness. With each training session, you’ll steadily gain strength and confidence.

Can Skinny Muay Thai fighters eat whatever they want?

No, Muay Thai fighters must eat a healthy, balanced diet to have enough energy for training and combat, as well as to promote muscle growth and recovery.

Do heavyweight Muay Thai fighters have to be skinny too?

Muay Thai fighters that weigh a lot more than their skinny rivals can have more muscle mass and a greater percentage of body fat, but they have to maintain a certain degree of fitness and stamina otherwise they will be disqualified.

Can Muay Thai competitors increase their muscle mass?

Yes, Muay Thai fighters can increase their muscle mass but they have to maintain a low body fat level through strength training and a healthy diet.

Final Words

In this guide, we have discussed why Muay Thai fighters are skinny. A lot of factors are responsible for their skinny build, but we have mentioned the factors that have a major contribution to their low muscular body.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a skinny body doesn’t mean that Muay Thai fighters are weak. Actually, it is the outcome of years of hard work. It is evident that the skinny build of Muay Thai fighters is not a coincidence, but the outcome of years of training, discipline, and hard work.