Muay Thai worth it for the casually interested?

[Einetic]

Eh first off, I apologize if the title sounds a little provocative - I don't mean to imply that it's not "worth it," in fact Muay Thai/Kickboxing is on the top of my list so that's why I'm posting here. Fairly long post coming, sorry about that lol.

So I'm a complete beginner planning on starting martial arts (I'm turning 17 in 2 weeks, hopefully that's not too late...), never had any experience before. I don't consider myself too athletically talented, but I'm pretty decently in shape; I could obviously improve.

This is the catch: I'm not planning on becoming a professional or making a career out of it. I want to learn it for fitness/conditioning, to improve my body, learn the art because I'm interested in the way you take a sport to enjoy it without having to necessarily go pro, and possibly situations of self-defense if they occur.

I don't mind the sparring I guess, but I am not doing this to get in fights - and here is where some others have told me not to do this because I won't be "pro" or something. I'm hearing that it MT is dangerous and rigorous and I'll be ending up with major injuries, and so if I'm not gonna be a martial artist by career or something it's not "worth the risk." I don't mind getting hurt (that's an obvious risk), but I would be lying if I said I'm not somewhat apprehensive about major injuries or permanent, heavy damages.

I get the feeling that that's not entirely true and that people on here probably know more about it, so I'm posting here.

So to sum things up: worth it for a casually interested person like me planning on learning it for body conditioning, exercise, and as a hobby and not necessarily to become pro or even exclusively for competitions?

[Chad]

Its absolutely worth it! Remember that most people who study won't turn pro either and they will most likely be studying for the same reasons you are. Also, in such an art, most liekly you will only end up with bumps and bruises on occasions .




And oh yeah, welcome to the forums xD

[Einetic]

Thanks for the quick reply. I didn't mean to sound like I wanted to avoid risks completely (that's obviously impossible); but I would stray from really major permanent injuries. And I heard things like doing Muay Thai would cause shin and other body parts problems in later life, and since I'm doing it to improve my body and take it as a hobby, I was questioning if I should.

Your response helped and is making me want to try it more now lol.

[Chapel]

You will probably only end up with permanent injuries if you go pro ironically. Otherwise, you won't be in so many fights that you build up these injuries beyond repair.

You made a comment asking if 17 is too old. I might be tempted to go ahead and ask, "Too old for what?". There are plenty of people who don't get into MA until much older than 17. A member here didn't start BJJ until quite recently in his 20's. Now he is kicking ass and taking names at his gym (and will until he moves up to the advanced class).

Basically what I am saying is that if you have goals for MA, olds are you are not too old to accomplish those goals (as older people tend to have different goals than young people). If you want to get in better shape and learn self defense, MT is certainly a way to go.

[Einetic]

If you want to get in better shape and learn self defense, MT is certainly a way to go.

That's the extent of my motivation/goals. I'll be honest and say I'm not the most athletically-inclined guy out there, and my career and whatnot is more geared towards other paths. But I want a hobby, basically as I would take another sport to learn it for fun but not necessarily compete professionally or make a career out of it, I'm considering MT to improve my fitness and learn something new.

Eh, I asked if I would be late almost-turning 17 because I figured that people usually start early or they have some kind of other martial arts as a background, but I have none. I've been playing tennis since 13ish, but I don't know if that's going to help at all. But thanks for the reply, as you said if it's worthwhile to take as a hobby/exercise, then I'm probably going to go for it.

[Chad]

Yeah man, my dad started an interest in KravMaga at 44!

[fade2black]

You're never too old. I started BJJ at 38 and I'm one of the oldest in my class. Doesn't bother me at all.

[Torre]

Definitely go for it, muay thai is awesome. I was also a little intimidated by similar stories but I went for it anyway and I'm happy that I did

[WC_Lun]

It sounds like your main goal is getting and staying in shape. For that, there are few other arts that are the equal of Muay Tai. Very few MT guys suffer permanent injuries and as Chpel said, most of those are the pros. Will you get injuries and suffer pain. Absolutley. Its a contact sport.

[Einetic]

I'm not seeking to avoid any injuries or risks; that's probably impossible in any sort of martial arts.

As you saw correctly, I'm doing this to get in shape and possibly self-defense, and just to learn/explore another art. I'm also open to learning other ones, maybe I'll try some of them in college - Muay Thai is just the closest place near me, although I could probably find some others I guess.

Kinda cowardly I guess, but I'm just not into the whole competitive and hardcore fighting aspect of it, more for the training, experience, and I don't want to recklessly start fighting until I'm comfortable with my skills. So I was wondering if this was possible, or if I have to fight hardcore from like day 1 or something.

[WC_Lun]

Any place that you fight hard core from day one is a crap school and not worth giving a cent to. Some of us call those type of schools meathead schools. You have to train up to fighting hard core and even then it shouldn't be an everyday occurance..

[souldrum71]

Muay Thai is certainly worth it if you have the chance to train at a good school. While I have never trained in this style myself, I've talked with many who have (including some in Thailand when I visited). It's certainly going to challenge you physically (even if you are already in good shape) and teach you skills that are viable in self defense. Go for it, dude!

[Artist_M.R.]

Well, I never took Muay Thai, but have studied it enoguh to know that its original form (not boxing) requires much conditioning. So, it is quite a commitment. But, if your just doing the boxing, then, although you might get some purple now and then, I think it can be for you.

Hope I helped,

Matt

[TRIANGLEFROMGUARD]

This thread is old let's just leave these things like this alone. Especially when you know nothing about Muay Thai.

[Artist_M.R.]

I never took it, but have done enough study to know the idiot's brand fact.