What Muay Thai is, without the hype.
Fists, elbows, knees and shins: the art of eight limbs. It was born in Thailand as a fighting system. Today it's a sport, and above all a way of training that hooks people who never thought they'd throw a punch. Here I explain it in five minutes and show you what an hour with me looks like.
Most people who step onto my mats have never thrown a punch. They came because they moved to the coast, because they sit all day, or because they always wanted to try and a group class felt like the wrong place to start.
Four things worth knowing before your first hour.
It's called Thai boxing, but it isn't boxing
Boxing uses two weapons: the fists. Muay Thai uses eight: fists, elbows, knees and shins. That's why it's called the art of eight limbs.
The clinch is what sets it apart
Holding your opponent standing up and working knees and off-balancing. It's the part almost nobody teaches well and the one that changes how you move the most.
You don't have to fight to train it
Competing is one use of Muay Thai, not the point. The vast majority of people train it for fitness, control and a clear head.
The tradition is respected, not sold
The wai kru, the music, the mongkon. I explain them when they come up, without turning it into a show or making you buy anything.
One hour with me. Here's how it usually goes.
No two sessions are the same, because no two students are. But the first one almost always looks like this.
We talk, then we move
Why you're here, old injuries, what you want out of this. Then a warm-up that lets me see how you move.
Stance, footwork, and your first two strikes
Where your feet go, how the weight shifts, how a jab and a cross really work. Slow, then a bit faster. I correct you constantly, and that's the point.
Pads
This is the part people remember. Short rounds on the pads with what you just learned. It's hard, it's fun, and you'll feel it the next day.
Cool down and the honest debrief
What you did well, what we'd work on next, and whether this is something you want to keep doing. No pitch. You'll know by then.
I'm Dennys. I've been doing this for 15 years.
Brazilian, based in Torre del Mar. Almost 15 years on the mats, over 10 years coaching, a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu, and corner work for UFC and Rizin fighters. I've trained people who fight for a living and people who just wanted to stop feeling clumsy. Same attention either way.
I train one person at a time. That means nobody's watching, nobody to keep up with, and none of your mistakes slip past me.
What people ask when they discover Muay Thai.
Why is it called the art of eight limbs?
Because it strikes with fists, elbows, knees and shins: eight points of contact. A beginner doesn't need to master all eight before starting. In the first sessions we work on two or three.
Are Muay Thai and Thai boxing the same thing?
Yes. Thai boxing is the translation; Muay Thai is the original name and the one everyone uses.
Is it dangerous?
Training with me, no. We work technique and pads. There's no sparring until you ask for it and I can see you're ready, and even then it's controlled.
Do I need to understand Thai culture?
No. I explain the etiquette and the terms as they come up. Respectfully, without making you do anything.
Got a question? Ask it.
No booking, no commitment. Message me and I'll tell you honestly whether this is a fit for you.
Muay Thai or kickboxing? Group or coach?
Honest guides for choosing, including the times I'd tell you to pick the cheaper option.