Why Boxing is Better Than Muay Thai for Self-Defence.

[@elindioedwards7041]

My 2 cents. Having good hands and head coverage/movement are very important in a street fight. No other discipline does that better than boxing. In addition the kicks of Muay Thai are much more limited in a street fight due to clothing, footing, and possibly distance. Where I do think Muay Thai has the advantage is the clinch and the use of knees and elbows. My thoughts are to train boxing first to get the solid base and fluidity and to look at Muay Thai after those attributes have been established.

[@EndzMMA]

Not true

[@elindioedwards7041]

@EndzMMA I would be interested in what you believe is not true?

[@EndzMMA]

Actually I didn't read your whole comment I kind of agree but not really the MT stance is made for WAR, it works with blades and even guns! You get a boxer in a clinch and they are FINISHED, but I do agree you can get to a higher standard in boxing quicker but again you can kill someone with your hands check my latest video for my explanation And wtf are you talking about regarding clothing? How can you mention distance when the furthest strike a boxer has is a jab, while MT has a jab but with THEIR LEG in a teep?@@elindioedwards7041

[@kaxerrr]

@@EndzMMA he's right, any boxer who trains muay thai or vice versa will be better just because solely sticking to muay thai limits those fundamentals unless your saenchai

[@EndzMMA]

If you mean sticking to boxing footwork yes, but I don't train static MT I train MT with MMA movement, closest thing is Perreya, or Anderson Silva Brazilian MT@@kaxerrr

[@justcallmebeety]

“It is not the martial art itself, it is the martial artist.”

[@Chudy_ale_byk]

True

[@mrpisOP]

Not always. Pretty hard to make 5 years of aikido work against 5years of boxing

[@justcallmebeety]

@@mrpisOP I’m 16. I am a boxer. I have been boxing since late January of 2023. I would say I’m decent for my time I have been training and have fought some guys that have been doing this years upon years before me. I know some wrestlers and a karateka. Martial arts, at the end of the day, are forms of movement that capitalize on how the human body works and how it can work against another person. Every art exists for a reason. Some will appear better than others, but there is no “better” or “worse” martial art; there’s less experienced martial artists and more experienced martial artists. An aikidoka can beat a boxer and a boxer can beat an aikidoka but there is so much more to it than just the art. Build, mindset, reason to fight, intention, clothes, the place of the fight, the time of day-all of that means something. And no matter who you are and what you practice, you’re as human as me and I’m as human as you.

[@kamuix9932]

This isn’t true a martial art has a huge value,Just as a school would,Would you pick a school that has that has consistently taught scientist,doctors,lawyers,has a little too no bullying,and is huge,Or a school that has consistently taught murders,criminals,and well known idiots,You would probably think of the first one,Because it clearly shows some sign of effectiveness in their field,clearly has a good curriculum,and knows how to teach effectively,Same with martial arts as martial arts is a form of knowledge that you need to be taught,So with the critical thinking we used earlier we can estimate which art would give us a better result,Would you rather learn aikido which has no strikes,mainly joint locks,most times bad teaching,and is made fun of vs Muay Thai which has multiple different forms of strikes,considered deadly,has sweeps,uses more types of strikes than most arts,Obviously Muay Thai in most cases martial arts have huge value just as the fighter,that’s like you saying the knowledge the fighter learns has no value or the knowledge of a scientist.Because at the end of the day what you learn is just as important as how you incorporate it,if you learn nothing you have no way to fight,If you incorporate nothing you can’t fight.Martial arts,And the martial artist go hand in hand

[@justcallmebeety]

@@kamuix9932 A school of general education is not the same as one that teaches biomechanical sweet science, but I do understand what you mean. Like I said, it is the artist, not the art. A teacher of an art and how they apply it and show and train their students is what matters more than anything else. I also believe that martial arts should never be halted by tradition, as aikido has been unlike its martial siblings like karate and judo. A martial art should improve just as much as the martial artist. However, the point of aikido was never to be used in competition or seriously harm; it was the complete opposite; to nonlethally defeat an aggressor by using their own weight against them much like judo. Muay Thai, on the other hand, was used during wartimes, and is still used in competition very commonly to this day, much like the predecessor of aikido which is called aikijutsu. It all comes with time and progression, and if no one else does it, you do it. That was Bruce Lee’s philosophy.

[@johnnapoletano]

Wrong. Ask your friend to 1) kick you in the leg; 2) knee you in the stomach; 3) elbow you in the face; 4) squeeze your neck in a clinch (then knee you); 5) sweep you to the ground. The internet is filled with boxers getting kicked in the leg and kneed to the stomach why didn't you look? Yes Muay Thai guys can dodge, parry, and side step. Watch the full fight Rodtang vs Haggerty and Taewanchai vs Superbon. They cover up to conserve energy. Those guys have bodies of steel. So just like and enjoy them both Boxing and Muay Thai and learn from both sports. It's the best way to go.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Did I ever state that Boxing beats Muay Thai? No, in fact, I stated the opposite. Maybe you should’ve listened to the video.

[@วิชชากรสุขวัฒน์]

Muay Boran Movement too

[@mikejezek5214]

In the real world of life, with job, relationships, chores, tasks, etc., Muay Thai takes too long to learn to become proficient at it. Too much stretching for kicks, too many techniques to master, too much to integrate cohesively, etc. Whereas 20 minutes of boxing training a day, and you'll be able to protect yourself pretty well. I think most folks in 2024, those who do boxing are well aware of kicks, knees, elbows, etc.

[@วิชชากรสุขวัฒน์]

@@mikejezek5214 Boxing was easy to learn but hard to master while Muaythai only need basic & understanding of weapons

[@mikejezek5214]

@@วิชชากรสุขวัฒน์ Most street fights happen with some guy in your face, and you're in a tight space. The floors might be too slippery. Your pants might be too tight. Having a decent boxing game would be ideal. Just knowing how to throw an elbow, well, in 2024, big deal. Everyone knows that. But being able to slip, having good head movement, footwork, being able to counter is necessary to have an advantage. It requires less effort. I used to be a kicker years ago, now I'm 100% in boxing. Just more useful for busy people.

[@viehacks9569]

"Everybody has plan until they get kicked " - Muay Thai son

[@deadsick95]

Underrated comment!

[@williamvictorian1756]

This is very true!!!!!

[@ronmka8931]

@@MarkBerenger its called parody, bozo

[@CEOdosPutos]

Such a good comment in such a bad video

[@thunderkatz4219]

Keyboard warrior

[@ancientdarkness3102]

There are some Who would argue that being flat footed is actually safer in self defence due to the unpredictability of the ground and surroundings, and blocks can work really well if slightly adapted for bare knuckle. Look at 52 Blocks system, since ive started utilyzing it i manage to make my opponents hesitant after punching me once because they are afraid to hit an elbow and break their hands. Plus the elbow and knee strikes and sweeps and dumps and low kicks all work really well and thats what Id use against any boxer on the street or in the gym

[@NikiforosDim]

a lot of MT fighters, especially at amateur level, fight from pendulum. Haggerty also from the top of my head.. you can fight in MT and have dynamic footwork

[@ancientdarkness3102]

@@NikiforosDim exactly, there are so many different mt styles

[@punchyrivera]

52 blocks is a boxing technique btw, plus if I’m fighting someone that using that technique I’ll just use feints to get them to react, and once I seen a opening I’ll take it.

[@Maodifi]

@@punchyrivera Can they not use feints to a similar effect on you? Or are you immune to that tactic?

[@AlexanderAtwal]

did you learn 52 blocks from a coach or online? I'm curious about the system but can't find any good resources about it online about its actual application, only demonstrations of the individual blocks and not how it actually flows together.

[@BWater-yq3jx]

You emphasise self-defence; however, much of boxing is ring specific and rule specific and the techniques are optimised for that situation. Try pushing off for a quick pivot or shift on a slippery surface. 😖 The high hands MT blocking is much closer to what you'd do without gloves. i.e. in self-defence. And of course, the added weapons of knees, elbows, and kicks. Boxing has a lot of value for self-defence, but Muay Thai is a more comprehensive battle-tested martial art, including standup grappling & throws.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

You imply that a pivot shift would be overly difficult to pull off on a slippery surface, but then speak on using kicks and knees…where you’re only on one leg.

[@freightFPS]

What he's saying is that the fundamentals of footwork in boxing don't work very well under certain circumstances, and it's a fair point with the kicks & knees but you could still knee in the clinch without slipping and you don't have to use kicks, you still have your elbows and hands

[@Christopher-side_dude-Murican]

If you're adding knees and elbows and talking about "rules" and street fights then we might as well just add knives and guns lmao

[@freightFPS]

@@Christopher-side_dude-Murican Well the argument is what martial art/combat sport is most effective in hand to hand combat when no other means are available

[@notaspeck6104]

As someone with no dog in the fight I feel like boxing skills translate fairly simply into real life situations. Like at the end of the day I don’t think the rules are so elaborate that the actual mechanisms of boxing become hindered by them in real life situations.

[@JCLaw1116]

Imo the lack of head movement & quick footwork in Muay Thai means its defence solely consists of blocking, which is often not ideal in a street fight at all, especially if there’re multiple attackers/attacker is using a bottle as a weapon. Against a small group of attackers (say 2 or 3 ppl), you’d ideally stay light on your feet and move around to get out of poor positions (eg being cornered) instead of making yourself a stationary target by being flat-footed. In the case of light weapons, evading hits is always better than blocking - sure, a Muay Thai practitioner may be well-conditioned to block punches & kicks due to their toughness, but blocking hits from a light weapon is a totally different experience. This is where the boxers’ “hit & don’t get hit” mentality comes in handy. One more thing I wanna discuss is the Muay Thai clinch: it is of my opinion that clinching is not a great idea in a street fight, especially against multiple attackers. In a fair 1v1 fight, clinching is very effective as you could immobilise your opponent and throw devastating elbows/knees. At the same time, however, clinching makes you yourself stationary also while blocking your own vision, so it is very possible someone sneaks around you & strikes you from behind. Being aware of your surroundings & keeping distance are crucial in street fights, rules which the Muay Thai clinch violates. As mentioned in the video, in a fair 1v1 fight, Muay Thai almost always beats boxing, but street fights are almost never fair and so situational awareness, positioning, evasive tactics, swiftness & simplicity in striking technique (boxing) are far more important than toughness & versatile striking skillset (Muay Thai).

[@TheScholarAthlete]

That is a great insight and I completely agree with everything you said. Thank you for watching the video. I will likely make a follow up video on this to further discuss it, as well as more combat sport related video topics.

[@ronniechong314]

As a boxing enthusiast myself I couldn't agree more and it's also a plus learning a few counter moves against kicks just in case.

[@closeredge5198]

Disagree with many of your points, especially talking about multiple attackers, in which ENGAGING in general is a bad idea. Also if you think clinch is stationary, you don't really know much about muay thai and an active clinch that pushes, pulls , and turns WHILE striking... as someone who has been attacked before, punching is NOT the end all / be all to survival

[@danielskipp1]

You got it. Great comment. Still, you need all the "8 limbs" to fare well in a street fight, so adding the evasiveness of boxing to Muay Thai would be a good compromise, not that I advocate either sport for self-defence training. Heels should be up to move around when outside punching range but feet planted when in contact, for power and stability.

[@rackembarry]

you gotta mix the arts and have something for every situaton

[@zubairanwar2357]

I personally don't disagree with the fact that Boxing is great for Self Defence. The agility, head movement and the footwork, quick reflexes are vital in self defence situations. The ability to generate a high power packed punch in a short period of time will will stun any non trained fighter. However, I think that in Self Defence scenarios, it is important to have the ability to strike with any part of the body, to cause some damage and protect oneself. Such as I think, Boxing agility, footwork, techniques, must also be incorporated with Muay thai still Elbows, because you might be in a scenario which is close and tight, like an elevator, where someone could easily cover the distance, and punching is difficult, in that scenario, elbows, knees and trips are really effective. There is a huge debate on whether kicks are useful in a self defence in scenario or not. I think, low kicks to the calf are really good in a self defense, a non trained fighter or attacker gets immobilized and its short, easy and quick, that can potentially cause huge damage. I think Kickboxing style is also great for Self Defense, as it caters more towards agility and teaches boxing combinations and movements as well. Incorporate elbows, some clinches, and trips, I think a person is pretty much set for the purpose of Self Defence. But Ultimately, I think along with Boxing or Muay thai skills its very important to be able to read a street situation, which is even before the skills ie street smarts. I know some people who never trained in their lives but have succeeded in a street situation because of the ability to think on their feet in that situation and protecting themselves. Great vid, keep em coming.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Yes I agree, definitely useful to have varied skills. Thank you very much, more videos to come.

[@johndoe-by4up]

All this can be achieved in muay Thai footwork n head movements never judge off of the fighter if u put the most skilled muay Thai fighter and the most skilled boxer same weight n skill level the muay Thai fighter will win 9 out of 10 times don't mt does use boxing they can develop all those skills a boxer has but a boxer can't develop the skills a kickboxer has

[@zubairanwar2357]

@@johndoe-by4up I definitely don’t disagree with that. Muay thai fighters who have amazing footwork and head movements are beasts.

[@Xheph]

@@johndoe-by4up If you ask me, if both fighters have trained for the same amount of time, a boxer and a muay Thai fighter are still at very different levels. A boxer becomes a specialist in punching, while the Thai fighter would be a jack of all trades type fighter, this means it'll depend on how effectively the Thai fighter uses their kicks. An in-fighter would therefore probably cause a lot of trouble for muay Thai, while an out-fighter would likely have their knees destroyed by the muay Thai kicks. In other words, it'll be down to each individual fight, and the scene of the fight will also matter. I must disagree with your presumption a boxer can't develop skills in a particular area, because I think you are simply assuming bad training is taking place. If a boxer trains against muay Thai fighters regularly, they can adjust - it is naive to think boxers don't use their legs and elbows simply because they don't attack with those limbs, just as it would be naive to think muay Thai cannot adjust to superior punches.

[@swervoogoat892]

I mean one punch at 23mph will literally kill a person and a average boxer can easily throw a punch over 23mph it just depends on the boxers intentions

[@hearthatbird]

You still could throw a leg kick to throw him off in the middle of a fight since an unexperienced fighter rarely uses kicks.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

True, I agree you could and if you’re comfortable throwing leg kicks then why not. I still think Muay Thai wins in a street fight, just that boxing gets it done better.

[@allenyeo]

Facts

[@alexs279]

Yes I do boxing but Im smart and also teach muaythai myself

[@ancientdarkness3102]

​@@alexs279 i do the opposite

[@gamingthisera6339]

Leg kick doesn't work in a street fight, your opponent who is not train doesn't know to manage his distance, they would often just jump towards you and hit you until you guys hug each other and trying to hit each other, stick with elbow and punch and front kick

[@englishfishkeeper2007]

Personally i disagree. Ive seen a fight were 2 muay thai fighters fought and 1 had a backround in boxing. You could tell while he fought that his kicks (especially low kicks) sucks while his opponent just kept his kicks coming. That boxer barely had a chance to get in close before he lost via multiple heavey thigh kick. This was in king of muay thai in Hua Hin for those wondering

[@TheScholarAthlete]

I agree. Muay Thai almost always defeats boxing one-on-one. I believe that Boxing however is more suitable than Muay Thai for defending yourself on the street against an untrained opponent, that is.

[@boogiebearo3]

Calf kicks are slow creeping up in thai boxing

[@TheScholarAthlete]

@@boogiebearo3 You’re right. I think they’re the best kicking option in a street fight because of their speed and ability to cause damage with only a few strikes.

[@boogiebearo3]

@@TheScholarAthlete yes also see the point of boxing as well . Boxer vs non train person the boxer is going to have the advantage with speed and combination, head movement (power idk cuz it depends on the person and the hands size) don't get it twisted boxing is a beautiful sport and effective . Just me op ofc

[@allenyeo]

Leg kicks is dangerous for n expert but also for temporary get away from someone attacking you

[@matheuscerqueira7952]

Only the footwork part is valid. The actual argument is that boxing is a simpler art so it takes less time to get to a useful level, it teaches you to deal with punches to the head, which are the most likely attacks you may face and it teaches you to move, which help a lot when facing multiple opponents

[@swervoogoat892]

Idk why people leave out body shots and I mean he’s not wrong Boxing will finish the job faster you’re more mobile me personally I think the Dutch style is better than thai style for street fight

[@matheuscerqueira7952]

@swervoogoat892 body shots require you to get close or get your head low. The former puts you in grappling range, the latter makes your head easier to kick. Body shots can be used, but need good set up and fast in-and-out movement

[@swervoogoat892]

@ that’s y you set it up instead of doing it plainly and you go for either the solar plexus or liver as long as the person doesn’t see it coming they will be finished

[@matheuscerqueira7952]

@swervoogoat892 the problem is that setting up properly and safely require a lot of hard work in the gym, that's why I'm not putting it ahead for self defense, since self defense should focus on staying safe as fast as possible

[@dundertvelr2536]

I laughed reading this title, it was cute. I have trained boxing since age of 7, muay thai since age of 14 and MMA since age of 19. Boxing is good for self defense, absolutely, but so is many martial arts. Any good muay thai fighter would not let someone get close enough to throw punches, he would know how to utilize the teeps and low kicks. If close enough, he would clinch up and destroy him in clinch, he has knees and elbow at his disposal.. You admit that muay thai would win over boxing, but if a muay thai fighter and a boxer gets into it in the streets, the muay thai guy would win. Meaning it's better for self defense, I rest my case. ___________________________________________________ Read through the comments, I have most likely already answered your argument.

[@bosanceros0172]

You forgot an important aspect. Adrenaline. Fine motor skills go out the window when adrenaline rushes through your body. In my first Kickboxing fight I couldn't low kick well to save my life lol. IMHO boxings simplicity and movement are more ideal for street altercations.

[@วิชชากรสุขวัฒน์]

@@bosanceros0172 Train your mind was part of martial art and Boxing itself still need more focus

[@dundertvelr2536]

@@bosanceros0172 Yes adrenaline exist. But you forgot MUSCLE MEMORY. When you have done something enough, it becomes the normal. Once when I was 14 (had trained muay thai for 4 month ish) I got into it with another kid, he did the old grab you by the neck while I was looking away, before I realized it he was on the floor gasping for air. What happened was that as he went on my neck, I clinched and kneed him without realizing it, I even was surprised to what just happened. After that I avoided conflicts that wasn't neccessary. Essentially asking which is better for self defense comes down to this. Do you wanna learn how to use your whole body as a weapon or just your hands? Which one gives you more advantage in a street fight? If you land your punch wrong, injury your hand midfight, what are you going to do? Call the referee to end the fight? You can use muay thai arsenal and develop your own style of fighting, that's what I did.

[@dundertvelr2536]

Also Muay thai is about working on your foundation, so you master it, this is different from many other martial arts. I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. - Bruce Lee

[@EndzMMA]

Yes sir, I made a video riding out for Muay Thai just because of this video haha

[@josephrodriguez998]

You are just cherry picking examples. A boxer will always win in a boxing match, but in self defense you don't know what is going to happen, striking, grappling, whatever. The fact is that Muy Thay has an answer for what to do if punched, kicked, and even grappled to a certain degree, meanwhile boxing only prepares you for punches. What will you do if you get into a fight with a soccer player that doesn't know how to fight and starts clubbing your leg with vicious leg kicks, ask him to only punch? Give me a break fan boy. 😂

[@thenathanimal2909]

As someone who did boxing, MMA, Muay Thai et all for a decade, I respectfully disagree. Muay Thai offers more weapons and more vectors of attack. More tools in the tookit. You won't catch me doing high kicks in a street fight but push kicks, low kicks, and collar tying knees are incredible weapons. I love boxing, but more weapons are mo betta

[@bofa722]

That last statement is most of what you need to know. Which is exactly why MMA < MT < Boxing

[@TyFoONdAFoOL]

This is a valid argument. The average person on the street can't land a proper leg kick so you don't really need to worry about it. Yes, you should have some knowledge on how to defend kicks. But in an unarmed street fight you'll mostly be dealing with sloppy overhands and weak takedown attempts. I think boxing with solid footwork and head movement is more applicable in a hand to hand self defense situation.

[@วิชชากรสุขวัฒน์]

Boxing reaction speed would help you from Sucker Punch.

[@np494609]

This is simply not true. As a 12 year Martial artist with combat / fight experience in Thai boxing and K1 kickboxing, I can tell you I’ve used Muay Thai techniques in the street with great success. Ive dropped a 230 lb attacker with 3x leg kicks. I’ve teeped a guy into a wall and knocked him out. None of these attacks require you to risk breaking your hand on someone’s hard skull. The advantage boxing techniques have are that it’s generally easier to land, but once you’re good you’re good and Muay Thai has so many more weapons: elbows, clinch techniques, throws, knees. It’s much more dynamic and versatile as a result. Just my two cents.

[@rockmetalband]

"12 year martial artist" no sh*t sherlok

[@np494609]

@@rockmetalband then why are you watching this video mate?

[@rockmetalband]

@@np494609 you are way too good martial artist the average joe who did 2 years trust me he want be that good in street

[@Victor-k7c6y]

The same weak arguments as ever...

[@np494609]

@@Victor-k7c6y I’m not trying to make a good argument, I’m speaking from experience. That’s what I’m saying bro, I’ve actually used Muay Thai to drop huge guys in street fights. I don’t need to convince you, I’m simply sharing what worked. A huge black guy jumped me at a gas station in ‘16 and I chopped his lead leg down. The guy steps forward after 3x solid shots, and face planted into the curb, his front teeth were shattered from hitting the curb. So yeah bro, how’s that for an argument?

[@ulhasanzk2249]

in boxing you learn how to block with gloves. in muay thai you learn to block with arms and legs. and i think knowing how to use elbows is best for street fight

[@WumpyDumpy]

elbows really short range boxing is more long range and more aggresive. the hands are like hammers and the elboys like knives

[@ulhasanzk2249]

@@WumpyDumpy what your point

[@carlossssssss5492]

​@@WumpyDumpyelbows are brutal

[@MrCageCat]

​@@WumpyDumpy One wrong hit with a hand, especially a hand without a protective glove like in boxing, and you can EASILY break it.

[@WumpyDumpy]

@@MrCageCatyou don't easily break your hand punching someone on the nose. And even if you did better break your hand than your face.

[@adamjones1982]

If you look at the KO stats in MMA punches lead the way by a considerable margin

[@EndzMMA]

Exactly, you can KILL someone easily with boxing you need to factor that in

[@Nate.V]

They always tackle this argument as if muay thai's dont know how to punch. If you punch some averge joe without using any of the other muay thai weapons you are still knocking out like 90 percent of ppl. Look at rodtang, that dude barley throws anything but punches and he's like a mini Mike Tyson.

[@CP-uw4ts]

Against 5 people? Boxing teaches you to evade and move out of violence, positioning and timing trump technique.

[@ronmka8931]

@@CP-uw4tsyou should never be in a situation where you are assaulted by 5 people, which means you were seeking a fight or you were involved with shady people. Mauy thai or boxing it doesnt matter, a trained fighter will have difficulty in beating 5 guys

[@CP-uw4ts]

@@ronmka8931 there’s videos of guys getting ganged up by more than 2 people and they still get away clean thanks to good footwork and evasion skills.

[@bofa722]

​@@CP-uw4ts well that's just running away not boxing buddy 😂

[@gris587]

I train in both boxing and MT and I've been in a bar brawl that I wanted no part in. While both arts are good in terms of self-defense, I can say that boxing is more practical based on experience.

[@watamutha]

Yeah Id agree. Most fights dont go beyond hands. Its not ring combat.

[@proof-xx1vv]

why are you cherry picking muay thai bums? you picked the absolute most garbage examples. you sound like you're from the UK, well Damien Trainor is a great example. Take any dutch style muay thai. look at the golden age fighters. they werent this sloppy. then you show lomachenko...bro this is a biased video. poor job

[@proof-xx1vv]

side note: when using boxing in self defence, you are fked in the clinch and you may break your hands. elbows are essential and work in even tight spaces like the train or buss, or up against walls. or even at home

[@TheScholarAthlete]

I also included the highest level Thai fighters: Rodtang, Superlek, Tawanchai and Petchmorakot… I used to train Muay Thai for a long time and even had the privilege of sparring at Damien Trainor’s gym, it was great. Remember that I never stated that Muay Thai doesn’t work in self defence, it absolutely does. The video wasn’t to cause offence, but it’s just my own personal opinion that boxing is more suitable for self defence. Your argument for clinching isn’t strong, who in the street has Thai level clinch skills? I would also argue that low-level boxers are more capable of defending themselves than low-level Thai fighters. Same goes for hobbyists.

[@Steven-jd3ey]

Buddy this video is one big logical fallacy. You can't just pick a couple random fights to prove a point. You talk about boxers having better footwork and head movement. There's a reason for that: they don't have to worry about kicks. Try to slip a punch like in boxing in muay thai and you're gonna get your face kicked off. Ask Kamaru Usman.

[@bofa722]

True true. How many people on the street do you think are going to throw head kicks though?

[@honkler1443]

I agree with you, 96% of street fights are only punch to the Head, when you're boxing this IS what you get experto at dealing with

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

I'm glad you mentioned the low guard. Boxers and even kickboxers don't raise their guard anymore.

[@FranFerioli]

My 2 cents: practice boxing. You will learn that punches in the face suck and don't get into a street fight over a parking spot. That will solve 99.9% of the self-defence situations.

[@ronmka8931]

Yeah never understood why people obsess over street fights. They arent hard to avoid and literally any martial art that isnt akido will work, ive seen a vid of a point fighting karate guy win in a street altercation

[@JahnnyKash]

Muay Thai is designed to strike

[@MuayThaiBoxingNews1]

A lot of boxing defence doesn’t work in a fight because you can get kneed in the head kicked In the head

[@connorperrett9559]

How many street attack videos have you seen with people throwing head kicks and knees? He wasn't talking about an MMA or kickboxing match.

[@MuayThaiBoxingNews1]

@@connorperrett9559 I’m saying if a boxer rolls once he may be fine but more than once and he is going to sleep with a knee to the face, maybe slips are a bit safer against a novice but yeah headkicks are a bit more Elite but knees to the head are quite often accidental so yeah not much skill to be able to sleep a boxer

[@MrCageCat]

Also lack of gloves means you can more easily break a hand while elbows, knees, shins are more conditioned to give/take punishment.

[@igorg.8624]

I agree with this. Most street fights don't involve professional Muay Thai fighters, but everyone else will try to box you.

[@zzzzzz69]

In my mind, these are the order of skills for safety in hostile situations 1. Run to a safe distance (speed, agility, endurance training) 2. If not, then pick up a weapon and ward off opponent, then run to a safe distance (any wieldy weapon will do) 3. If not, then throw opponent off balance, then run to a safe distance (judo throws, muay thai sweeps and clinch work) 4. If not, then use muay thai/kickboxing teeps and kicks to control distance and counter and/or boxing to outmaneuver and outstrike opponent, then either finish off opponent or run to a safe distance (mix of muay thai, kickboxing, boxing)

[@solutionsforabrightfuture3579]

First, people skills de escalation skills. Apologize and give a compliment on there clothes.

[@findinghumorthruitall]

I'm a boxer. muay thai has more weapons. in a street fight I would like to get creative. use more weapons. knees and elbows and kicks. I love boxing though cause I really focus on how to punch as fast as possible and with a lot of power from my legs/weight.head movement. timing. rhythm. footwork. stamina. a good boxer runs and runs a lot for stamina for a big gas tank. and wrestling/jiu jitsu is fun too. it's all in the hips. it's all in the hips . I say take something from all of them rather than get into the debate of which is better. watching Jon Jones fight and khabib. amazing.

[@gamingthisera6339]

did he say you should do boxing alone? Or MMA but focused more on boxing?

[@bofa722]

Nak Muays also run constantly tbh. Gas tank is also huge there, as it is for any combat sport

[@vershawnbynum9570]

First off as a 20+ year martial arts veteran, you can't say boxing is better than muay-thai far as self defense due to the fact boxing is incorporated into muay-thai. I will say this you can only box your way out of a situation but so much before you have to change tactics

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Boxing definitely is not incorporated into Muay Thai, it’s more so arm punching than actual boxing.

[@Jay-wz7pi]

@@TheScholarAthleteThai boxing?

[@nnguyen3482]

alex vs strickland probably the best example of muay thai vs boxing. no boxer would ever fight a muay thai fighter under a street fight rule set

[@locke8412]

Alex is a kickboxer, not a muay thai guy

[@nnguyen3482]

@@locke8412 he fought in kickboxing but trains somewhat a hybrid style of kickboxing muay thai. he is more then fine in the clinch, throws knees and marches foward. just because he fought under kickboxing rules, Brazil loves muay thai they just made it there own

[@locke8412]

he uses some muay thai techniques sure. but calling him a muay thai fighter is disengenious. alex's style is more boxing heavy.@@nnguyen3482

[@locke8412]

he uses some muay thai techniques sure. but calling him a muay thai fighter is a bit of a stretch. his style is very boxing heavy.@@nnguyen3482

[@kullenberg]

What is a "street fight rule set"? Seems like you're talking about two willing combatants fighting in the street, as opposed to a self-defence situation. Two very different things.

[@SoldierDrew]

Civilian self defense isn't so much about fighting but about evading, escaping and retreating, as criminal law dictates, so boxing certainly shines as the best training for evading being punched due to superior evasive footwork, evasive head movement, heightened awareness in seeing fast punch combos in slow motion, outstanding cardio and agility for evading, escaping and retreating. If unable to retreat , boxing cultivates good body shots to drop average men w/one shot to the torso vitals.

[@turbobrick1239]

I can tell you why slipping punches isn’t as common in Muay Thai. If I see that you slip all I have to do is fake a jab and switch kick. You slip right into a shin. Backwards head movement is pretty safe until the follow up with a spinning back elbow or fist as you return. Downward head movement is a big no no. You could easily get kneed in the face. These are both great for self defense and I train both Muay Thai and western boxing. But there are so many things that you can not carry over for western boxing into Muay Thai or you will have a very short first round.

[@mikejezek5214]

In terms of the streets: Sounds great until you're on a slippery side walk. Or in a tight spot and can't kick. Then what? Everybody is throwing knees, low kicks and groin kicks - and elbows too nowadays. Everyone's seen MMA. If you don't have much time to train or you're up against someone bigger, then what? What advantage do you have? You throw a knee, he throws a knee. It's doubtful he has an awareness of the tactics and nuances in boxing. Nobody pays attention to that. That's where the advantage is. Especially considering you develop more expertise in throwing hands and can do so up close or at a distance.

[@DarkLight-dd4nc]

I agree with that!!! I have practice years of Muay Thai ,judo,bjj and mma but every time I have fight in the street I have use more boxing than other techniques .

[@HaraDuran]

Muay Thai is when you want to be better on fighting and self defense,boxing is if you want to have a simple but effective self defense.

[@russpekt155]

“I can’t tell if these two fighters are tired or just have bad technique” “If you walk into a boxing gym for 3 weeks….” That says it all This guy’s knowledge is very very limited.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Care to actually explain or just call me limited?

[@russpekt155]

@@TheScholarAthlete I don’t have to because now it’s totally self explanatory…we’re done here.

[@themoochman111]

You forgot to mention most street fights end up being a couple of big swings, followed by bull rushing in resulting in a clinch or eventually going to ground. Boxers are not trained for these measures. I've sparred with quite a few coming into the MMA gyms. Yes, boxing is awesome in general, great movement, but as stated prior- they are out of their league clinched against a wall or car in a parking lot along with being thrown/taken down to the pavement hard. As always, the level of training for each is a major variable in considering match up to confirm the test. Multiple attackers are a whole different matter. Everyone is screwed by this major dis-advantage. In the end, train ALL 3 (boxing/Muay Thai/Grappling or judo) Great topic!

[@ajastar285]

I started training Muay Thai. I came from boxing. The footwork presented a problem for my opponents when using lateral movement. The power in boxing is on a different level vs Muay Thai. You have to stand more square when Muay Thai which of you stay in that stance when the action is in punch range it’s easy to get guys in trouble.

[@CP-uw4ts]

Boxing will especially be more useful if multiple people are attacking you, the footwork and bobbing/weaving will ensure you don’t get hit vs Muay Thai just standing still and being trained to take a hit.

[@vids595]

Knowing how to box is great for its defense aspects (although you will likely be used to having gloves on that make it easier) but boxing as an offense in self defense is a poor choice. Most people do not have robust hands with thick bones.

[@TOrganic]

Most People never been in a street fight/ self defense. So they wouldn’t understand what is the first line of defense when it comes down hand to hand combat. When we were coming up as kids all we know was boxing, or a basic wrestling takedowns. It came natural while fighting on the streets… But my dad did sign me and brother up for 49th street Boxing gym. I still remember how I was so scared.

[@TOrganic]

Learning basic of boxing, or wrestling will help you in a street fight.

[@TheJiggaNasty]

I agree, I respect muay thai but in a street fight, boxing is better. I find a lot of muay thai guys are in a muay thai rhythmic pace. Muay thai is kind of a your turn, then it's my turn, and back and forth until there's a winner. That doesn't fair well in a street fight or boxing bout, There's a lot of other nuances I have with Muay thai vs other competitives I can see

[@jv-manryan12]

1.) like you said Boxing and kickboxing are different 2.) Boxers only have worry about punches 3.) if we are criticizing hand placement then let me ask you this, if your hands are at cheek level how will you protect your forehead and or eyes from elbows and potential open cuts … with hands at cheek level it’s easier to guard pull , kick opponents in the head, clinch grapple , elbow …. That’s why the hands stay high to all you boxers out there…

[@unboundlopez]

In a traditional boxing setting, both fighters understand that they are stepping into an arena where they are expected to land punches above the belt. They enter the ring with these expectations and formulate strategies around maintaining distance, pacing, and delivering punches. Most adhere to the orthodox style of fighting. However, these expectations are shattered in a "street fight" scenario. Boxers lack the training and tools that Muay Thai fighters possess, such as the ability to throw knees, clinch effectively, use elbows, headbutt, sweep, and kick. While street fights are dangerous and should be avoided by all athletes, a Muay Thai fighter has superior self-defense capabilities in such a situation compared to a boxer, as they are not as constrained by the same set of expectations.

[@bofa722]

Headbutts are used in Lethwei / Muay Boran not Muay Thai I agree about the offensive aspect of MT being far superior, though boxing footwork and evasion is probably much better against someone untrained who's likely to only throw punches

[@Ed-rv5wn]

Styles won't guarantee who will be the victor ..... styles are just tools, its the fighter himself that makes the difference.....ADAPT, DETERMINATION & BE LIKE WATER......no style is better than the other

[@ulhasanzk2249]

taking bad fighters and then saying this would never happen to a boxer is bullshit.

[@user-yi9yb9nt6u]

Something to note: 5% of Americans try martial arts/combat sports at least once a year, 2% train regularly enough to be proficient, and even less of these people are gunna be men, old enough to be dangerous (ages 6+ were surveyed), and walking around instigating street fights. The odds are that if you really can’t run, you gotta throw down, and you’re lucky enough to be against an unarmed opponent, it’s gunna be some guy who’s only experience is “when I get angry I hit people”. Boxer or Nak Muay, you’re probably wiping the floor with them if you take your training seriously.

[@tre1740]

yeah ive been working as a bouncer for 4 years and ive never been on the receiving end of a good kick. barely been kicked at all. but ive been punched a ton. always been a grappler but started boxing this year.

[@tre1740]

@@MarkBerengerim doing boxing for my job, obviously. i dont care about kicks because they dont happen in my context "😂"

[@dixienormous9845]

Usage a fight is going to start with a punch, so some boxing training would be great if you want to quickly end a fight if you’re a professional with your hands. However, the average person isn’t going to expect nor be prepared to handle a leg kick. If it’s your first time getting kicked in the calves buy someone who knows how to kick, it’ll take some miracle to still be standing after taking a couple of kicks.

[@Gggg07]

watch lersila fight, should change ur opinion on both footwork and head movement

[@sebblackmore3697]

Your visual examples are all from sports scenario's. Are sports the best way to judge upon the term "self-defence"? Or should it be just "defence"? The self defence term is usually (in general for martial arts) used for all situations, regardless of rules or external factors. Is boxing better if somebody is holding a knife, glass bottle or pen? Is Muay Thai better if you are on a wet surface? I agree the hand striking/defence element is better in boxing. But looking at competitive boxing over competitive muay thai is like chalk and cheese. 8 points/limbs of attack over 2. As beginners, learning to use the 2 points efficiently and competently is a must. But at certain levels and in circumstances, different arts will have different advantages over one another. Would a sweep be better defence, to ground an opponent, to then land a further knock out or devastating blow, to then gain the time to run away? Or is this just competition scenarios?

[@mikejezek5214]

That's the problem. For someone with limited time to train, having to work on and try to integrate all 8 points takes too much time investment. Being able to throw an elbow or a knee isn't much of an advantage. Everyone's seen MMA. Odds are your low kick won't stop someone either. Everyone's seen that on TV. Most fights happen up close. You don't want to be on one leg in that situation. You want to be able to fight in the pocket effectively and only boxing offers that. Boxing has TONS of nuances and tactics that you won't find in other martial arts. I came from a martial arts background and use to think boxing was just two dunces throwing arms. Bruce Lee studie boxing, realized Asian arts were seriously lacking in comparison and switched to western boxing as his core. There is just so many finer points to offense, defense, that make a heck of a difference in surviving in the pocket. Boxing works any terrain, close up and distant too. Takes less training time to develop enough proficiency that most folks won't have. Most folks are stuck in shiny object syndrone, ah, the magic flying knee, the calf kick, the question mark kick, blah, blah. The time they waste investing in that, you can develop hands and footwork good enough to override their kicking offense and hands capability.

[@sebblackmore3697]

@@mikejezek5214 ..."everyone's seen MMA". This quote is the same issue but its important. How often in a street altercation or spontaneous attack are both parties in the same weight class? Or wearing padded gloves/wraps for hand protection? Or within 1-5 pounds of weight of one another? Or the parameters of the fight terrain are set and fixed, with no objects or intruding influences? Can you guarantee with bare knuckle punching that you wont break your hand within the first few throws? Can you guarantee that you still will be able to throw full pelt if say a bone breaks in your natural good hand? Can you defend with that broken hand? Are 96% of today's population complete novice's, compared to the 98% of the pre-internet days? With the growth and popularity of combat sports now and the better access to information(especially different arts and techniques from around world), is it wise in the first place to be "fighting in the pocket", with somebody potentially bigger, armed and well versed in some type of effective attack? With unknown, unpredictable opponents who may have zero to lose? How often is a fight finished with punches (or just one, first punch)if the weights of both combatants are quite close, along with both of their skill sets being similar? What are the odds of finishing a random battle within 20-30 punches or a few minutes? Regular joes i mean, not pros in anything. Bare hand. Who's tougher to beat? A proficient boxer who's never fought on the street. Or a similar level trained boxer who has group fights every weekend and has a knife or sharp object in their hand(s), and has lengthened their reach with the weapon? Remember we are talking survival mode in a life/death situation. What if weight discrepancy is 4-5 stones or 20-30 kilos? Isn't it about who attacks first and with what technique and force/speed applied? Im unsure. I do know from both combat sports and real life, spinning elbows in the pocket, knee stomps, teep kicks or knees to the head/body and hard body/head kicks can stop an aggressor moving forwards. Or make them hesitate enough to render the conflict over. Even groin shots or eye pokes. No time limits here and the unpredictable environment means is trading hands always the go to move? I can understand it to go on the defensive quickly. Is it wise to use boxing even 50% of the time? Can a wrestler or BJJ/Judo player control where/when the battle takes place and slam/throw somebody into unconciousness in 1 or 2 moves, faster than a knockout punch? Or just more efficiently taking less damage? Or can applying a choke or being able to control an opponent safely, leaving the threat of attack from them useless? If your lying on your back 2 seconds in, all punches will be futile. In winter if people are in many layers of clothing and with big padded jackets on(leaving many handles and grips for grapplers) hows your movement, footwork and elusiveness going to be affected? I fully agree about the number of nuances and the shiny object syndrome. I just cant believe boxing is the only viable, realistic option. Yes boxing is a good base and plenty of time should be taken with it to fully master and understand it. But if you lack punching power and prowess even with training+experience and learning, a different art maybe much more well suited, depending on the individual. I wouldnt be stepping into wars with crack heads with just that skillset though. Even in just a basic hand fight, the head, fore arm, elbow, clinch, eye gouges, bites and foot battles will come into play organically. I havent even mentioned the likelihood of cuts and concussions, in relation to performance once the happen mid fight. Human body's have similar weakness like all the vulnerable areas. Eyes, nose, throat, neck, back of the head, groin, stomach/liver, joints etc. But each person has individual strengths and weaknesses. Some tall, some short. Some heavy, some light. Naturally athletic or not. Fast twitch fibre percentage versus slow? Body dimensions/shape? Age? Is looking at this part of self defence lost when trying to use combat sports to find the best outcomes to solutions for this age old question about true self defence? What about reaction times or natural reflexes that are difficult to control? And the quality of sensory information gathering and pattern recognition? Fight intelligence and desire and spirit? Calf kicks nowadays have been refined in some circles to the point where nerves and tendons are being aimed for to shut them off or snap them. On somebody with strong legs or who is natural at checking or avoiding kicks(or just an excellent kicker in general), whats the point? Flying knees(depending if they are from static or from a long run up position) can generate much stronger forces than punches or kicks, if practiced at the right time and used in the most appropriate, well timed situation. But in a random, uncontrollable event i doubt serious self defence learners are focusing on those or question mark kicks. Unless its with the delusion of being filmed on somebody's phone for a viral KO. Sport is way different to the human/animal nature of attack. But with boxing styles i just remember one simple example from MMA over the years. Alot of the time a fighter with good hands wants to strike. The opponent knows this and feigns a hand war, only to change levels and complete a takedown swiftly. Strike to grapple, grapple to strike. The true battle is in the transition. Wanting and knowing how to attack and defend in many various situations is key, whilst reading the signs or there will be tears or injury at the very least. Dont watch sport and try to apply the same rules to an unpredictable non sport situation. Although lessons can be learned too. Bruce Lee said something like, if i want to be a proficient swimmer i need to get into the pool first of all. Self defence in life and defence in sport are very different indeed. Its like swimming in the atlantic ocean compared to going down to your local beach or leisure centre. Get on the spectrum. But how far will you truly be able to move up it, without lifelong damage. Look up Socrates quote about "knowing".

[@paulwalker1687]

One propper low kick, teep or knee or elbow and the other guy does not want to fight anymore, promised. There is a video where a MT guy fights a boxer, the fight is over after like 20 seconds because the boxer took 3 low kicks and could not stand anymore.

[@isthi000ify]

One clinch followed by a razor sharp elbow would drop any boxer, that's if the hellish low kick didn't drop him already. However I do see what you're getting at here.

[@Rahzarusfilms]

i respect this opinion. i personally believe a mixture of both disciplines is the best thing to do. the muay thai low key i think if used properly would defend against punches just kicking the legs hard enough to knock off balance. and when to use head movement and when to shell up. but i think the boxing punches fundamentals should be mandatory for anyone interested in throwing a punch.

[@bofa722]

Exactly my thoughts. MT offense and boxing defense / evasion

[@desgroid]

Do you actually train mate, or how many different Thai fighters have you seen irl or on video? Cause there’s all sorts of fighters and some of it make it look like the Matrix.

[@carlossssssss5492]

​@Jahan_BurrellSearch Samart or Lardsila

[@FightFan210]

This is why Dutch style Muay Thai is so effective. The emphasis boxing more than traditional Muay Thai

[@DYELGAINZ]

I don't think so. Muay Thai will teach u boxing in itself and if you get clinched Thai will def help you better than boxing

[@ulhasanzk2249]

this is crazy you show one clip from a good thai guy saying this stance is bad becuase i saw another guy do the same and he did not blovk punches but just bounced of lead leg. why even show Tawanchai then? show his boxing? show hoew he uses teeps so oppenet cannot get close and punch also there is multiplie stances. head movement is also really not taught that much and Loma then folk dance to get good feet

[@SoldierDrew]

Master Sgt Tu Lam, retired U.S. Army Special Forces, was raised training Muay Thai from childhood but he defeated Thai fighters in the ring in Thailand by lighting them up with western boxing, according to his testimony.

[@nestorarcilaosorio2457]

As someone who start with boxing at 8 then later at 17 jump to muay thai, you seems to not understand the use of the Teep you say is do not work on self defense. It has the same use as the jab, if you are good with it your opponent will never touch you, an in a self defense situation is extremely useful.

[@avo-w1s]

running commentary 1:59 having a boxing base then muay thai youd be a huge problem 2:51 what would you have alex do instead?

[@rodolfodoce]

why are you discounting 6 limbs you don't use in boxing? so many kicks that manages distance, elbows and knees in close range.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Because punching is more useful than the other limbs, you can throw punches quicker, in combinations, in conjunction with head movement and while moving. Another point is that you would need to throw multiple leg kicks or knees to cause the damage that one punch can cause. Also kicks that manage distance are nearly useless in a street fight because you’re just delaying the inevitable. Constantly throwing Teeps won’t win you the fight, but punches will. Another point to add is that if you’re close enough to knee and elbow then why not punch? They’re more useful.

[@dannyridez]

⁠@@TheScholarAthleteI beg to differ. One proper leg kick at the right spot will damn near end the game. And about getting up close, I’d much rather throw and overhand elbow then a punch, because obviously, it has more power

[@brunchmuncher51]

@@TheScholarAthlete this is such a flawed argument, I don't think you understand if I teeped you, you'd be crying lmfao and I'd be perfectly safe away from you ready to engage again if needed. You said a punch is more useful but I beg to differ. Elbows provide dangerous damage up close and knees are a great way to engage or get an easy hit. You act as if muay thai doesn't have punching either which is stupid.

[@Dryzual]

@@TheScholarAthlete Ive seen one front kick end a fight as the guy flung across the room had a reality check as he pulled himself up off the floor that he bit off way more than he could chew.

[@scrubbmunk]

I wanna see you throw some kick combos pls just asking best fan here man you are the scholar athlete!

[@Kickboxing1601]

Self defence or professional fighting. Street fighting is different. Clinch elbow foot sweep. Why not talk about this.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Street fighting IS self defence. Clinching can be viable but it definitely should not be your go-to technique.

[@andrew38617]

I like and agree with your reasoning. To make boxing even more effective for self defense, simply train to strike with elbows and knees, too. We could still call it boxe because the game of speed, footwork and even dodges would remain pretty the same.

[@thedust850]

Really nicely done video. What turned me off from training May Thai more was the lack of movement. I find the footwork aspect of striking very fascinating. It is like a beautiful dance. That being said the Muy Thai teep is the jab of kicks. It can very effective in diffusing an aggressors will to fight. It is highly effective in a street fight. Most untrained people freak out once kicks get involved. Every martial are has an element that is effective. Take a little from each one.

[@pragzter]

I appreciate what you are trying to say here but I feel that you need to understand the inclusion of clinch techniques sweeps elbows and knees in muay thai. These are the reasons why you don't see the same strategies as boxing such as ducking punches, hands held at chin level etc. In my opinion a well trained boxer is quite lethal in a street fight. However Muay Thai training offers a relatively more well rounded approach with clinch techniques and the use of all 8 limbs. That being said, a Muay Thai fighter with solid boxing fundamentals would be deadly to go up against.

[@ulhasanzk2249]

there is no way you think boxing defense works in mma or real life. long gurd wirj better in real life then basic boxing defense. boxing gloves are huge

[@jackd6372]

Muay Thai or boxing plus a grappling art is what is needed for self defense. Striking without grappling knowledge is vulnerable.

[@GabGamerPT]

i dont even need to watch the video to tell you you're wrong, the title says it all bye xd

[@StimmedPenguin]

If you can’t talk down, need to subdue or get ambushed, boxing and wrestling/judo are the most versatile styles. Blend in role playing stick-ups/escalation/deescalation/running with training weapons and you got a great base self-defense system. I think out of the sub-styles of Muay Thai, I think Muay Khao and clinch heavy work is the most versatile to self-defense as the heart of the style, I believe, isn’t the knees that it’s known for, but rather the timing, manipulation and control over another person’s balance so you can do what you want. Problem with kick heavy Muay Thai, especially with a very upright stance for self-defense and MMA, is you’re more upright and leave yourself more vulnerable to counter take downs or accidental slips. A semi-crouch boxing stance I think is the most versatile for self-defense as you’re prepared to better transition to grappling if your attacker gets passed a balanced 1-2 or to combo into a clinch/grip to control and isolate a weapon arm and grapple for control from there.

[@Vitaly3548]

If youre in a fight irl 9/10 ur opponent will be throwing primarily punches at you almost exclusively, so from a defensive perspective, being able to see and defend oncoming punches provides much more return than learning how to defend other types of strikes.

[@_GOD_HAND_]

That only applies to America. Watch videos of street fights from Europe. People spam low kicks at each other and rarely punch, because everyone grew up playing soccer.

[@rayquan4449]

I honestly believe its just because you can get better at boxing faster than muay Thai because its just hands rather than everything else and realistically you only need your hands in a street fight (I do train muayThai)

[@bofa722]

Hands only til you get grabbed

[@p-hawk1956]

"A good kicker always beats a good puncher" - Master Lec, Nottingham, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000..... plus a thousand other people who also said this

[@THEBIGBOIIII]

We defend to the head bacaus we have kicks ;-;

[@igorgontcharov6220]

One good leg kick will end a fight before a boxer would even be able to close the distance. If you're a boxer and a then wrestler shoots to close the distance and grabs you, good night. I'm not bad mouthing boxing, I think its great, excellent for footwork and head movement but there are reasons they are able to emphasize that in training, but i've also seen boxers take out multiple people in a street fight. They without a doubt, have the best hands. So its silly to say one is better in general for the street than others, it all depends on circumstance and the skill of the people involved.

[@brunchmuncher51]

Every time I see a boxer's legs I laugh because they are all built like sticks. My legs were much thicker and stronger at 11 years old compared to most of these grown adult men in boxing. The only one who has decent legs who I'd assume could take a kick would be Pacquiao with his big filipino calves.

[@EndzMMA]

I know this title is clickbait, but all a TRUE MT fighter needs to do is kick a boxers lead leg with the power of Kratos, that would FINISH him, not including SUPER Elbows and clinch of war

[@jasonpatrick-x1k]

This is more of a commentary on fight clips video. Is the video title misleading?

[@cripticceatures]

I’m boxing fanboy and i will tell you why his guards is placed above the temples and extended from the body. Its THE KICKS. A traditional boxing high guard will not be able to absorb the force of a kick, on top of that at the professional level that kick is easy to slip in as a jab because it is coming from BELOW the line of sight. That weird high guard, is supposed to provide multiple points of contact to absorb the brunt of a head kick, but still close off lanes for punches. I was holding a kick shield for a guy who was probably 145 lb and my thigh was in pain despite having that extra layer of protection. But i do get what you mean, in terms of efficiency it seems boxing is leagues above other combat sports in terms of taking advantage of minor details. They just have to be adapted properly to other sports. If you watch saenchai he is a muay thai fighter that actually has adopted the boxing principles into his style.

[@RDbodybuildingreardelt]

Interesting about the guard

[@billybobsta]

if you say that boxing is the best in the street because most of the time the guy your faceing is punching, and boxing deals with that, why isn't muay thai surely better due to how you said muay thai guys always beat boxers, if the enemy is only boxing the muay thai guy would win.

[@TheScholarAthlete]

Yes I agree 100%, Muay Thai still wins in the streets and your logic is correct. However, you must keep in mind what a Thai fighters main form of punch defence is going to be - long guard while back away and completely shelling up, the issue with this on the street is that there is not gloves, combined with their lack of head movement. With that being said, yes I still believe it’s clear that they would win.

[@billybobsta]

@@TheScholarAthlete I do agree with this overall I believe that if you do both and combine the best of both you will be scary to come across in a fight especially if you still be evasive with slips but not so low you get caught with kicks or knees but not where you don’t move at all and eat shots 👍

[@billybobsta]

@@TheScholarAthlete also when you trained Muay Thai, when you sparred did you find yourself slipping often if so was you getting caught with kicks?

[@TheScholarAthlete]

@@billybobsta when I trained Muay Thai I didn’t have great head-movement, they also didn’t teach me any. I did eventually learn some when I decided i wanted to get ahead of the others. I found myself slipping the odd jab or cross but because of the nature of Muay Thai, I didn’t do it very often as I was concerned with throwing other strikes and blocking leg kicks and teeps. I never slipped into any head kicks although it certainly could’ve happened.

[@billybobsta]

@@TheScholarAthlete fair enough that’s one off my only concerns with Thai boxing , specially in a fight (in the ring) one head kick and you can lose

[@DissimilarT]

5 year boxer and PC Kru in Muay Thai here. You made an awesome video, but 100% backwards. Too many things to point out in the comment section on YT, but if you'd have like to have a discussion on the topic let me know.

[@brianbadonde8700]

this is where Dutch kickboxing comes in, boxing with low kicks and fast knees straight to the face

[@Prime_Legend]

The boxing stance also has a much lower center of gravity, allowing for better wrestling defense too, or even just straight up avoiding takedowns.

[@AngryGrape1337]

I'm sure that totally helped Art Jimmerson in UFC 1 against Royce Gracie.

[@ronmka8931]

Buddy you still need to train wrestling if you think you can stuff a takedown, all mma fighters who are predominantly strikers with good td have very good wrestling and practice it every day

[@michaelsmelt5218]

Boxing + grappling is probably the best. Street fights are quick and chaotic. Alot of what you know goes out the window and you stick to the basics. This is why i believe boxing > muaythai, because punching and head movement is more natural than a round house. Keep it stupid simple. Grappling is king since it slows the fight, allows for more control and takes away punchers chance. Chokes are also great for those that are small and don't have great knockout power. Only problem with Grappling is multiple opponents and thats also why you want to know how to grapple; break grips and get the fuck out.

[@xMister.Misterx]

This is one you can argue many ways. It depends on the person. Boxing is faster to learn and therefore better. Muay Thai is better for multiple attackers. Boxing is better for conserving your energy in a fight. Most times Muay Thai will beat boxing in a one on one. Boxing with kick defense beats Muay Thai more often. At the end if the day, in a self defense situation, the other person most likely doesn’t know either art. So, the one you can gain proficiency in the fastest is the best because either one will be effective.

[@Pazuzu-]

Except that self-defense situations are not a competitive event with gloves, time and a referee. In fact, most close distance styles are not really ideal for self defense.

[@TheReal4th]

And what happens if a boxer comes across a muay thai fighter/kickboxer in a street fight? lol

[@FranFerioli]

To me the main issue is distance. Kicking is extremely effective, but if you start kicking anyone that comes into range it's not defence. If you are a man, it's much more likely that someone will swing at you in a parking lot. In this scenario, boxing equips you better to deal with the punch. However: 1) Proper boxing technique is also not defence: you jab anyone that moves into range. It makes for lonely existence! 2) People that get this stuff done (e.g., Geoff Thompson) all agree: you punch first and knock them out. Another point for boxing, but rather unglamorous (forget fancy head movements). 3) If you don't knock them out with the first punch, it degenerates in a spitting 'n biting contest and boxing is of no help (you better complement with some judo).

[@Dan-fj8vt]

Mostly agreed. Just learning basics of boxing (and ideally some submission grappling) is much easier for most people. That being said, you just can't beat a teep kick for self defence lol.

[@ext1ncc898]

If you can strike, then you can run away. If they grab a hold of you, you're gonna need a martial art to free yourself, so you can run away. Therefore, wrestling >> everything else, at least in self defense.

[@SlimLu1]

From this video, it sounds like boxing can be a good way to get around a lot of thai fighters. Not all of them, but at least the ones that cant deal with the pressure of hands. Not so much that boxing is better than Muay Thai. In MT, there is very little head movement due to the fact that we have to be weary of head kicks. This is why MT fighters often start slow. To figure out the flaws in your style. Take Jonathan Haggerty vs Nong-O for example. Buakaw was once considered a knee and kicking fighter before he got more into boxing. Then he started knocking people out with hands. He can now seamlessly use both in this MT. Both are good. However, having boxing and incorporating it into MT would be the best IMO. For the street, add a bit of jit-jitsu for take down defense and you would be golden.

[@alafosca5724]

I agree that putting 3-5 months of training in boxing will most likely make you able to defend yourself rather easily on a street fight. In fact, I would argue that boxing and wrestling is the perfect combo to learn to defend yourself in the minimum amount of time. However, as for your video, I have at least one big point to make. First of all, I think it's not fair using Max Muay Thai fighters (whom, I would argue, are NOT fighting Muay Thai, but a cheap version of it) to compare them with the likes of Lomachenko. There are so many Muay Thai fighters that have good boxing background... I don't even know if you're aware of this, but they even have a name in Thailand for fighters that are centered on boxing, Muay Mat. Look at Anuwat, Coban, Deathmask... Look at these guys. Secondly, I think a better example to use would be comparing a good bare knuckle boxer with a good bare knuckle muay thai fighter. On a final note, someone like Samart Payakaroon or Somrak Khamsing are the perfect example of integrating boxing to Muay Thai, and I would argue that for self defense those skills that they display are perfect. Obviously, since it's one or the other, I would say that having a good boxing background is better, and ideally, later, I would add Muay Thai training. And I mean REAL Muay Thai, using the clinch, using knees, using elbows, using teeps, sweeps... Using everything. PS: why does nobody mention the sweep?

[@angryktulhu]

boxing + wrestling combo is best for streets

[@adfinemrising]

who is this muay thai fighter again? can you review at least a world champion. rodtang, haggerty, seanchai, buakaw, samart, nong-o, lerdsila

[@vicvic2081]

If boxing was do easy.. every contact sport athlete will do it and make more

[@riposter69]

Bit of an age old debate. Its only true because 90% of self defence involves punching. The problem of muay Thai is kicking, no matter how good it is it is bad for your balance and see how many Muay Thai fights hit the ground without the soccer kicks that ensue in a street situation. Also most weapons are held in your hands not knees, feet or elbows so defending against hands is pretty important. But having said that sport boxing is not ideal for self defence, Dirty Boxing is with its incorporation of the clinch wrestling and other dark arts is a better self defence foundation

[@markmessi9020]

Boxing with some sort of grappling or wrestling yes i agree. I came into mma from karate so i picked up boxing and fell in love with my hands. I am very dextrous though so im basically a boxer with high kicks these days. Kicks do work, but you need solid boxing or none of it works. I hope this concept makes sense

[@TheScholarAthlete]

This makes perfect sense, I agree with you. Thank you for watching.

[@Kalashnigod]

I think street wise, Boxing will always be better in defense terms; clean movement and straigth punishes, I trained Muay Thai, BJJ and Combat Sambo my entirely life at this point and one of my biggest step ups was including boxing foot drills... Muay thai will always be very good at predicting attacks but most of those attacks can simply be dodged for a smaller price in your body. I would simply recomend for someone who is only focused in self defense to be in Boxing and Krav Maga, learn the fundamentals and train where it hurts, this will save u one day. Not everyone as years of Muay Thai to stomp a knife attacker and break is rib, not everyone knows how to sweep off a big dude, not everyone can choke... Boxing will keep you measuring your distance and always moving... Take the advice of someone who fougth too much in the street and mainly in self defense scenarios

[@kelvinyu339]

Those leg kicks immediate takes power out of the punch from the guy getting blasted. Take enough of those and the boxer is all hands with half the power behind it.

[@stvillasquad]

boxing in self defence is better if you eventually want to run away like i would haha. For the purposes of having better foot work, distance management and head movement.