Fitness class or learning to hit for real?
Cardio kickboxing, body combat, boxing fitness. They're gym classes with a combat sport's name: music, choreography, strikes in the air. Muay Thai is something else: a martial art you learn. Neither option is bad. But if you pick the wrong one for what you're after, you'll quit in two months.
I don't run fitness classes or kickboxing classes. I teach Muay Thai. If what you want is to sweat to music, I'll say so and point you to a gym. If you want to sweat just as much but learn something, keep reading.
Fitness class versus Muay Thai.
Non-contact doesn't mean low-impact, and burning calories doesn't mean learning. Here's what changes.
| Cardio kickboxing / body combat | Muay Thai with me | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Sweat and have fun | Learn to strike, defend and move. And sweat. |
| Contact | None. Strikes in the air | Pads and bag. Sparring only if you ask |
| Joint impact | High: jumping, music tempo | Low: standing, no unnecessary jumping |
| Technique correction | None, it's not the goal | Every rep |
| Calories per hour | High | High, with natural intervals |
| What you can do after a year | Follow the choreography | Strike with effect, keep distance, defend yourself |
| Class size | 20 to 40 people | 1 |
| Monthly price | €30 to €50 with a gym membership | €120 for 4 sessions, €108 with the pack |
Three people, three different answers.
You want music, people and a sweat
That's the right answer and there's nothing wrong with it. Go to a gym with body combat or cardio kickboxing. Cheap, fun, no technical commitment.
You want to sweat just as much but learn something
You're tired of not being able to do anything new after a year of classes. You want to actually know how to hit by the end. That's my thing.
You already do cardio kickboxing and want the next step
You're hooked, but you can tell the technique is fake. One session with me shows you what you're doing wrong in every strike.
See Muay Thai lessons →Four truths about combat fitness classes.
Non-contact isn't low-impact
They're two different things. Non-contact means you don't hit anyone. Low-impact means your knees don't suffer. Cardio kickboxing is usually non-contact and high-impact.
A choreography isn't a technique
A hook in the air to music doesn't teach you to turn your hip or protect your face. On the bag or pad, with someone correcting you, it does.
Muay Thai burns too
Three rounds of pads with intent burn as much as a cardio class. The difference is that when you finish you know something you didn't.
You don't have to choose forever
Lots of people start with fitness and jump to Muay Thai once they're hooked. What matters is knowing which one you're doing.
Questions about fitness and Muay Thai.
Is cardio kickboxing the same as learning to fight?
No. Cardio kickboxing uses martial-arts-inspired movements for exercise. Muay Thai has different goals: corrected technique, distance, defence.
Do you run cardio kickboxing or kickboxing classes?
No. I teach Muay Thai, one-on-one. You sweat as much or more, but every minute has a technical purpose.
Does non-contact mean low-impact?
No. Non-contact means you don't hit anyone. Low-impact is about jumping and intensity. With me the work is standing, no jumping, at whatever intensity you can handle.
Can I train Muay Thai just for fitness, without wanting to fight?
Yes. Most of my students train for exactly that. Technique, pads and conditioning are a complete workout without sparring.
Sweat for an hour with me and compare.
€30 for the first session, gloves included. If you'd rather do the fitness class, I'll tell you, no problem.