Muay Thai shin guards are necessary equipment you’ll need to participate in Muay Thai training. Like boxing gloves, shin guards are critical to your training and development.
In this blog post, we’ll cover what Muay Thai shin guards are. We will also discuss some of the top rated shin guards available for purchase. You will even learn more about what Muay Thai is. It can be frustrating trying to learn more about Muay Thai equipment when you’re getting started. If you’re that person beginning your Muay Thai journey, this blog post is designed to help you achieve your goals. Now that you know what you’re getting into, let’s cover what Muay Thai shin guards are:
What are Muay Thai shin guards?
Muay Thai shin guards are used to protect the lower legs and shins during training or sparring. The shins are often used to deliver powerful kicks in Muay Thai, and they can also be vulnerable to injury when receiving kicks from an opponent. Shin guards can help to absorb some of the impact of these kicks and reduce the risk of injury to the bones and tissues of the lower leg. This equipment is especially valuable when checking kicks from an opponent. They can also provide some padding and support to the shin area. This can be helpful for maintaining proper technique when delivering or blocking kicks.
Let’s cover more benefits you receive from using Muay Thai shin guards. You will find that most of benefits have to do with reducing injuries.
What are the benefits of using Muay Thai shin guards?
- Increased protection from injuries: Muay Thai shin guards provide extra protection to the lower legs from impacts from kicks, knees, and elbows. The padding creates a buffer helping reduce the chances of injuries that can prevent you from training and fighting.
- Improved balance: Shin guards can help to improve balance and stability when executing kicks and other striking techniques. Muay Thai shin guards allow you to focus on footwork since it absorbs impact for you.
- Reduced fatigue: Shin guards help to reduce muscular fatigue by supporting the lower leg muscles during training and sparring. Shin guards help you absorb the impact of kicks you receive. There’s often foam padding in the shin guards to distribute the force from an opponent’s kicks.
- Improved performance: You can expect your performance to improve in competition since shin guards help you safely train. You’re able to get in more kicks during training sessions. This results in better kicking technique and checking techniques when you’re fighting.
- Improved confidence: By providing a layer of protection, shin guards can help to build confidence in practitioners and reduce the fear of injury. High quality shin guards allow you to feel more free as you drill and spar because you know your legs will be ok.
Muay Thai shin guards assist you in training by reducing injuries while allowing you to get valuable repetitions in. Since you’re more familiar with the Muay Thai shin guards are and their benefits, we will now move onto some of the most popular Muay Thai shin guard brands.
Popular Muay Thai shin guard brands
Here’s a list of the top 10 shin guard brands for Muay Thai fighters. Depending on your build, preferences, and budget, some brands may be better options for you than others.
- Top King : Top King shin guards are popular and have a good reputation.
- Fairtex: The shin guards from Fairtex are handmade from Thailand. They’re known for comfort and durability.
- Twins: Twins shin guards come in three categories. These categories are high impact shin guards, competition shin guards, and signature shin guards.
- Venum: Venum gear is widely available and can found on Amazon. It’s not uncommon for new Muay Thai fighters to order a boxing gloves/shin guard combo on Amazon.
- Hayabusa: Hayabusa shin guards can be pricey but the fight brand does have a loyal following.
- Yokkao: Have you heard of Yokkao shin guards? If your answer is no, then now you have! They have great reviews.
- Bad Boy: This classic fight gear brand has its own line of shin guards. They have Muay Thai shin guard options for both training and competing.
- RDX: Whether you’re looking for MMA shin guards or Muay Thai shin guards, RDX has you covered.
- MTG Pro: Consider MTG Pro shin guards if you’re looking for something a little more budget friendly.
- Boon: Boon Sport offers worldwide shipping in 3-4 working days which is convenient. Like MTG Pro, they’re also budget-friendly.
Are there any brands you’d add to the list above? Let us know in the comments below!
How to choose the right Muay Thai shin guards for you
Picking the right shin guards is easier than you think. The ideal pair of Muay Thai shin guards comes down to a handful of factors like your budget, how often you train, and sizing. Here’s a video on how to select the right Muay Thai shin guards for you:
Are you ready to start purchasing the best combat athlete gear for you? Visit our official Combat Athlete Gear store where you’ll find the best equipment you need to pursue your martial arts goals. You’ll love our selection and array of options for you!
What is Muay Thai and where did it originate from? (plus the answers to your other Muay Thai questions)
Muay Thai is a combat sport that originated in Thailand. It is known as the “art of eight limbs” because it utilizes a combination of punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes. This is far more than the two arms used in boxing. It is also sometimes referred to as Thai boxing. Muay Thai is an ancient martial art that has been around for centuries. It has its origins in Thailand, where it developed as a way to defend against invaders. Over time, it evolved into a sport, which is now practiced around the world.
This combat system is known for its aggressive and powerful striking techniques. This combat sport has effective clinching and grappling techniques. It is a full-contact sport that tests the physical and mental strength of the fighters. It is often used in self-defense and can be used as an effective form of exercise.
Muay Thai is an important part of Thai culture and is an important part of their national identity. It is an integral part of many festivals and celebrations in Thailand. It is also a popular sport around the world, with many professional and amateur fighters competing in tournaments.
Top Muay Thai fighters in the world
There are many talented Muay Thai fighters from all over the world, but some of the top fighters considered in the sport are:
- Yodsanklai Fairtex: He is considered one of the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighters in the world. He is a three-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and a two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Welterweight champion.
- Saenchai: He is considered one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time, with a professional record of over 300 wins and only 30 losses. He is a four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and a two-time Toyota Marathon champion.
- Buakaw Banchamek: He is considered one of the most popular Muay Thai fighters in the world, known for his aggressive fighting style and powerful kicks. He is a two-time K-1 World MAX champion and a two-time Omnoi Stadium champion.
- Nong-O Gaiyanghadao : He is the reigning ONE Championship Muay Thai Bantamweight World Champion and considered as one of the best in that division. He also is a multiple times Lumpinee and Rajadamnern champion.
- Superbon Banchamek: He is considered one of the most talented and well-rounded Muay Thai fighters in the world. He is a two-time Rajadamnern Stadium champion and a two-time Thailand National champion.
- Petchboonchu FA Group: He is considered a living legend of Muay Thai , He is a three-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and a two-time Thailand National champion.
These are just a few examples of the top Muay Thai fighters in the world, and there are many more highly skilled fighters who are making a name for themselves in the sport. The sport is constantly evolving and new talents are emerging, it’s difficult to keep a static list and as the sport is not so mainstream as boxing or MMA, and different promotions and countries can have different ranking, but these fighters are considered among the best of their generation.
5 benefits of learning Muay Thai
- Improved strength and flexibility: Muay Thai training helps to build strength, power, and flexibility. It is an excellent form of exercise that combines striking techniques with agility movements to give you a full body workout. The kicking and punching techniques help to develop both upper and lower body strength while the agility training develops flexibility and balance.
- Increase confidence and self-discipline: Muay Thai is an excellent way to increase strength, confidence, and discipline. The physical and mental aspects of the sport help improve overall fitness and develop a sense of self-esteem. By engaging in Muay Thai regularly, practitioners learn to control their movements with precision and become more self-disciplined and conscious of their actions.
- Improved coordination and balance: Muay Thai is a great way to improve coordination and balance because it teaches proper body positioning and involves a lot of movements that require precision and control. It’s also a great way to improve your reflexes, agility and agility-based motor skills.
- Improved mental health and mood: Practicing Muay Thai has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health and mood. Studies have found that the physical nature of Muay Thai training can reduce stress, improve self-confidence, and increase focus. Additionally, participants in Muay Thai classes tend to develop an increased sense of mindfulness. This leads to improved mental clarity and emotional balance.
- Reduced stress and improved overall health: Muay Thai is an excellent way to improve overall physical and mental health. Consistent training helps you have fun in a controlled environment. Learning Muay Thai teaches you how to manage and channel stress in a positive way. Muay Thai training helps you increase endorphins and reduce cortisol levels, which in turn improve overall health. Additionally, Muay Thai can promote weight loss, improve cardiovascular health, and strengthen muscles and joints.
Examples of Muay Thai in pop culture
Like other well-known martial arts, Muay Thai has began to transcend the fight community. There are several examples of Muay Thai in popular culture:
- “Ong Bak” is a Thai martial arts film from 2003 that stars Tony Jaa and features Muay Thai prominently. The film follows a young man named Ting, who must use his Muay Thai skills to recover a stolen buddha statue from a crime lord.
- “The Protector” is another film that stars Tony Jaa and features Muay Thai. The film tells the story of a young man named Kham, who must use his Muay Thai skills to protect elephants from being poached.
- “Kickboxer” is an American martial arts film from 1989 that stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. The film follows a man named Kurt Sloane, who must use his kickboxing skills to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of a Muay Thai champion.
- “Fight Quest” is a television show that aired on the Discovery Channel in the late 2000s. The show follows two hosts, Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson, as they travel around the world to learn different martial arts, including Muay Thai.
- “Mortal Kombat” series of fighting video games, the character Jax Briggs is heavily depicted using Muay Thai style in his fighting style and moves.
These are just a few examples of how Muay Thai has been featured in popular culture. The sport has a rich history and is known for its striking techniques and the use of the entire body as a weapon. This unique attribute makes Muay Thai a popular choice for fight scenes in movies and TV shows.