In short: with Muay Thai or kickboxing, the main difference is which techniques are allowed. Alongside fists and kicks, Muay Thai uses elbows and knees, plus the clinch, which means holding and countering at close quarters. Depending on the ruleset, kickboxing stays closer to fists and kicks and lives on distance and combinations. Here we place both sports for beginners and tell you honestly what we offer in Aachen and what we do not.
What is the main difference?
Muay Thai comes from Thailand and is often called the “art of eight limbs”: fists, elbows, knees and shins are all used. Kickboxing is a collective term for styles that combine boxing techniques with kicks. Which techniques are allowed depends on the ruleset. Some rules permit knees, others do not.
That makes the training feel different. In kickboxing you work a lot on footwork, angles and punch combinations from a distance. In Muay Thai the close range plays a bigger part, with knees, elbows and the clinch.
Muay Thai or kickboxing: how does the training differ?
Both sports work with a warm-up, technique drills, pad and heavy bag work, and conditioning. The differences lie in the emphasis:
- Kicks: in Muay Thai, shin kicks and a low, stable stance are typical. In kickboxing, mobile footwork often takes centre stage.
- Close range: the clinch is a fixed part of Muay Thai. In kickboxing, less time is usually spent at close range.
- Pace and rhythm: depending on the school, Muay Thai training tends to be calmer and more power-based, kickboxing more dynamic and rich in combinations.
These are tendencies, not rules. What a class looks like is ultimately decided by the trainer.
What do we offer in Aachen?
To be honest: when it comes to Muay Thai or kickboxing, at our school it is the second. We currently have no Muay Thai class of our own. If you specifically want to learn Muay Thai, we are not the right place at the moment, and we promise you nothing on that point.
What you will find with us is kickboxing for adults from age 16. Beginners and intermediate students train on Tuesdays and Fridays from 19:00 to 20:30, advanced students on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 17:30 to 19:00. A session consists of a warm-up, technique training with partner drills, sparring and conditioning, and stretching. You will find details on the page Kickboxing in Aachen.
Where you can still meet Muay Thai elements
The women’s class “Fitness Kick- & Thaiboxing” for women from age 18 includes Muay Thai elements, but without sparring and without partner contact. You work on the heavy bag, with weights and with your own body weight. More on the page Kickboxing for women.
LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT also combines movements from several martial arts, Muay Thai among them, as choreography to music, without body contact. That is fitness with martial arts movements, not Muay Thai training.
Which sport suits you?
With Muay Thai or kickboxing, your goal decides first. If you like technique from a distance, footwork and combinations and want a clear training plan for beginners, kickboxing is a good way in. If knees, elbows and the clinch appeal to you, you need a school with a Muay Thai class. You find out whether kickboxing suits you fastest in a session. For the choice between boxing and kickboxing, the notes in the article Boxing or kickboxing will also help.
Whether Muay Thai or kickboxing suits you better is something you only discover in training. You can try kickboxing twice, free and without obligation, with no contract. Then you see for yourself whether distance work suits you.
Frequently asked questions about Muay Thai and kickboxing
Is one harder than the other, Muay Thai or kickboxing?
You cannot say that across the board. In Muay Thai knees and elbows are allowed, so it often seems harder. How intense the training is, however, depends on the class and the trainer. In both sports beginners start with technique.
Can I train Muay Thai with you?
Not at the moment. We have no Muay Thai class of our own. With us you will find kickboxing, and Muay Thai elements appear in the women’s class and in BODYCOMBAT.
Which sport is better for beginners?
Both work for beginners if the group starts with the basics. With us you need no previous experience. Kickboxing is the sport we offer for adults from age 16.
Do I have to spar straight away in kickboxing?
No. Sparring is part of the classes, but it only begins once you are ready technically and mentally.
How long does it take until I see progress?
You usually see first progress in technique and fitness after a few weeks of regular training. What matters is that you keep going.
