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WHAT IS BANG MUAY THAI AND WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?

Our headline poses two quick questions, so we’re going to respond with two brief answers before delving deeper into the issues:

  • Bang Muay Thai is a mixed martial arts (MMA) discipline.
  • Six seconds.

Yeah, the second answer is a bit vague, so we’ll elaborate. Six seconds was how long Duane “Bang” Ludwig took to knock out his opponent Jonathan Goulet at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night 3 in 2006—that six seconds stood as the UFC’s fastest knockout record until Jorge Masvidal beat it with a five-second knockout at UFC 239 in 2019.

Duane developed his hybrid Bang Muay Thai MMA system as an all-purpose martial art suitable for the UFC cage or self-defense. You might not have any dreams to record a faster UFC knockout, but if you’re looking for a versatile martial art that incorporates multiple disciplines, you might want to try Bang Muay Thai. And if you’re looking for a multifaceted martial arts studio in Tallahassee, Train. Fight. Win. offers training in many disciplines and specializes in Bang Muay Thai. Let’s hear what Train. Fight. Win. co-owners Sky and Alissa Rudloe have to say about Bang Muay Thai and why you should try it.

BANG MUAY THAI GOES BY THE NUMBERS

The name “Bang Muay Thai” is a play on Muay Thai by prefacing it with Duane’s fighting nickname, “Bang.” Also known as Thai Boxing, Muay Thai has been the traditional martial art of Thailand since the 12th Century. The Bang represents Duane’s melding of Muay Thai with many moves and tactics used in wrestling, western boxing, karate, and especially Dutch kickboxing. Mixing these fighting styles gives fighters greater flexibility in their movements, stances, and angles of attack and defense.

To help coordinate the effective mixing of these disciplines, Duane also adopted an innovative numbering system developed by former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten, under whom he trained. The numbering system works by assigning each combination of strikes and kicks a specific number, like number four, which refers to a jab, cross, hook, undercut sequence. These numbers can then be combined in numerous ways to create a wide range of extended attack sequences. Bang Muay Thai training also emphasizes stance switching, which doubles offensive and defensive options and allows for greater angles from which to attack or respond.

Bang Muay Thai proficiency helped T.J. Dillashaw become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion, and several others become UFC champ contenders. These fighters trained under Duane, who was voted MMA Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2014. There are now almost 40 officially sanctioned Bang Muay Thai training centers in the U.S., with Train. Fight. Win. being the only one serving northeast Florida.

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY BANG MUAY THAI

Bang Muay Thai is an excellent discipline for MMA fighters eager to elevate their skills and fitness to the UFC’s elite level. However, it’s also great for anyone who wants to become proficient in self-defense and for non-fighters looking for a novel, high-powered, and fun fitness regimen.

In fact, many Train. Fight. Win. Tallahassee-area clients participate in our Bang Muay Thai program primarily for its extensive physical conditioning benefits and self-defense skill building. And while some of these clients join the program with no intentions of engaging with the fighting component of the classes, they end up having so much fun with the training that they opt to try competition.

BANG MUAY THAI FOR SELF-DEFENSE

Bang Muay Thai is effective for self-defense training because its numbering system helps trainees quickly come up to speed on effective moves and gives them multifaceted means for responding to threats. The training inherently develops focus and situational awareness while providing a realistic boost in self-confidence. Thus, someone with Bang Muay Thai training is well-equipped to deal with various attack types without overextending themselves in ways that might compromise their defense.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING BENEFITS OF BANG MUAY THAI

Bang Muay Thai training gives practitioners a full-body workout. With just a few weeks of training, you can experience:

  • Increased strength, power, and speed
  • Body toning
  • Weight loss
  • Boosted endurance
  • Enhanced flexibility
  • Better balance

I you stick with it and you can put your body in peak physical condition and experience the mental clarity that most martial arts practitioners reap from their discipline.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BANG MUAH THAI BY CONTACTING US TODAY

If you’re interested in learning more about Bang Muay Thai in Tallahassee, we recommend signing up for a free first-day session. With an entire day, you can try different MMA and conditioning classes to see how Train. Fight. Win. strives to make your martial arts experience fun and productive, and want more of it. Sign up for your free day by contacting us at (850) 727-8421.

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