In order to be better at Muay Thai or any martial arts in general you must undergo bone conditioning. It is the series of practices that are used to boost your resilience so that you are less likely to get injured in the face of the real threat and while implementing the techniques you know.
Just to make it clear, you can do this without injuring yourself, but you can’t do it without experiencing some pain and discomfort, particularly when kicking with the shins. So, without any further delay here are some things we recommend for martial arts practitioners who want to get stronger without risking injury; as we teach in our Sydney kids martial art, if done correctly and gradually, such conditioning can be safe for people of all ages.
For Muay Thai it is crucial that you practice your kicks on a heavy bag each training session. You need to practice an insane amount of kicks, in order for your bones to calcify and increase their hardness. It can be tiresome, it can be boring, but it’s worth it; you will improve your kick’s intensity, your bone density, your endurance and your balance.
Each training session you should do a hundred kicks with each leg, and if you can do more, then force yourself to do more. The thing to remember is not to go full force until you can do so without feeling too much pain. You will create micro fractures that are easily mended, yet the bones will grow stronger with each of these minor repairs. It’s important to be consistent and do this at least 4-5 days a week.
You need to spar frequently as well, since you need to prepare for fights, and to condition other bones of your body, not just your legs. So, in order to get tougher expect some bruises from light kicks to the ribs and hits to the forearms as well, and make sure that you wear your protective gear during these sessions.
Once your bones get sturdier, you can practice without gear, to work on your mobility as well. Sydney martial arts clubs are very good at teaching Muay Thay and overseeing sparring sessions, so you and your kids are in good hands.
You need to strengthen your muscles so that they can provide you with reliable balance and allow you to properly receive kicks and strikes. After all, you will be doing a lot of kicking and blocking, so you’ll often find yourself standing on one leg. Do heavy squats, box jumps, lunges and cleans to both increase your bone density and to increase your balance; a lot of studies pointed out that weight lifting can increase bone density, so start lifting ASAP!
For kids, it is imperative that they take these vitamins and minerals, since their bones are growing, and all good kids martial arts Sydney based trainers will tell you that as well. Additionally, even if you are not growing anymore, in order for your bones to efficiently recover they need calcium and vitamin D.
So it is important that you modify your diet a bit and get as much sunlight as you can, or look for foods fortified with vitamin D. Of course, since you are working out, you should have a healthier diet in general, for the sake of maximizing the effects of your training.
Finally, with all of the punching and kicking and sparring in general, you will get a few bruises and it will hurt, but you need to treat your wounds and keep going. Make sure your hands are wrapped properly to prevent sprain or serious injury, and make sure you are executing the technique correctly. Also when you get hurt, you know what to do, ice, heat treatment and some rest. Do not overdo it or continue to do heavy sparring with minor injuries, because you can only make things worse.
Give our BJJ program a go and experience the improvements to all of these fields. It is considered to be an excellent first style where the skills are easily transferable.
"My kids have been training for three months now at ICC and I have been really impressed with the instructors and the level of professionalism with which they run their club. Not only are they superb martial artists in their own right but they are also great with children which was a big factor in my decision to enroll them at ICC. Having trained for many years as a younger man I knew what I was after and ICC was daylights ahead of other clubs/styles in our area of Sydney."
"ICC is such a fantastic martial arts centre. It provides the kids with such a caring environment and a place where they feel truly excepted no matter what their ability. My eldest son is autistic and the instructors have all
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"ICC has been a wonderful place for my child to learn and develop skills in jujitsu while in a safe environment. The instructors are brilliant and make learning fun and exciting for the children while instilling the importance of the art and using the techniques correctly. We have and will continue to enjoy being apart of ICC community."
"I normally don't give reviews but my experience at ICC has been exceptional. I would strongly recommend anyone thinking of doing self defence classes or anyone wanting to learn BJJ to come down and give ICC a shot. David and Steven are highly skilled and do a great job of taking the time to teach all their students the most intricate detail of every move they learn."