Muay Thai training in Tilburg
Do you want to learn Muay Thai? Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is taught at our gym Renzo Gracie Tilburg by head coach Kemail Verhoeven. We offer Muay Thai as an alternative to kickboxing and as part of our MMA program, which typically combines various martial arts disciplines.
Muay Thai will make you fitter and help you become a more complete martial artist.
Clinching
In addition to elbows and knees, clinching is a defining element of Muay Thai. You are allowed to hold your opponent, but there are rules. For example, you cannot hold someone around the waist. This is why you often see the head being controlled while knees are thrown (double collar tie).
You may off-balance and dump your opponent, but wrestling-style takedowns are not allowed here (you will practice those in our MMA classes).
Training
Elbows and knees are powerful tools on top of Muay Thai’s kicking and boxing arsenal. We primarily train these through drills, but we do not use them at full power during sparring.
A standard training session includes a general warm-up followed by technical drills. The class ends with voluntary sparring. We place strong emphasis on controlled sparring so students can focus on technique rather than turning it into a fight. Elbows are never allowed at full contact.
Who is Muay Thai for?
Muay Thai is a highly effective martial art that also offers great conditioning benefits. It is suitable for all ages and genders. You do not need to be in top shape to start, because training will get you there. We train all levels together, from complete beginners to competitive fighters. This works because everyone respects each other’s level and trains responsibly.
Why Muay Thai at Renzo Gracie Tilburg?
Experienced instruction: Kemail Verhoeven, head coach of Renzo Gracie Holland and Tilburg, has a strong background in BJJ, MMA, boxing, and kickboxing, and integrates these disciplines with Thai boxing.
Comprehensive program: Muay Thai is integrated into our MMA curriculum alongside BJJ, kickboxing, boxing, and submission grappling.
Muay Thai vs. Kickboxing
Although Muay Thai and kickboxing may look similar, there are clear differences in technique, rules, and style.
Muay Thai uses eight points of contact: fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Clinching, controlling, and manipulating your opponent is a crucial part of the game. Within the clinch, fighters apply knees, elbows, and even throws. Kickboxing focuses primarily on punches and kicks; elbows are generally prohibited and clinching is usually limited or not allowed at all.
If you prefer kick boxing, we have kickboxing classes as well as cardio kickboxing
Broader arsenal in Muay Thai
Muay Thai stances and movements tend to be more upright and balance-oriented, emphasizing powerful close-range attacks. Kickboxing often features a more mobile style with more footwork and angle-based combinations.
Muay Thai also places more emphasis on delivering targeted damage with heavy strikes, whereas kickboxing often prioritizes speed, combinations, and point scoring.
In short: where kickboxing emphasizes speed and combination striking, Muay Thai offers a broader range of weapons and tactics, including clinch work, elbows, and knees.
Veelgestelde vragen
What do I need for a Muay Thai class?
- Gloves: In Muay Thai training we use boxing gloves, not MMA gloves, which are much lighter.
- Hand wraps: To protect your wrists. You don’t necessarily need them for your first classes, but they are more comfortable in the long run.
- Clothing: Comfortable, flexible shorts and a shirt.
- Water bottle: You will be working hard, so bring one.
- Mouthguard and shin guards: Often required for classes with more contact, but usually not needed for your first session.
Don’t have gloves or shin guards yet? You can borrow them from us during your trial class.
You can request your trial class through our trial-class form.
Who is a Muay Thai class for?
Muay Thai classes are suitable for all ages and fitness levels, for men and women alike.
You do not need to have ambitions to fight in the ring. Most participants train as a hobby and for fitness. For those who are interested, competition pathways are available.
Is Muay Thai healthy?
Muay Thai improves mobility and balance. Training sessions provide a demanding full-body workout that supports fat loss, muscle development, and overall conditioning.
Is Muay Thai dangerous to practice?
Muay Thai is a contact sport, and like all contact sports there is a risk of injury (just as with football, for example). Most injuries are accidental. With good coaching and controlled training, the chance of injury is small and usually limited to minor bruises.
Is Muay Thai physically demanding?
Muay Thai is an excellent full-body workout, so it is definitely a challenging sport. How intense it feels depends on your own effort and whether you choose to participate in sparring.
If you have zero experience, the first class can feel tough, partly because you need to get used to the stress and adrenaline that come with a contact sport. That feeling goes away quickly. Experienced athletes know it is safe and approach training more relaxed as a result.
As you progress, you will also become better at clinching and use it more, which requires significant isometric strength (core stability and control). It can be just as tiring as grappling. While clinching may look like a moment of rest during sparring, it definitely is not.
Do I need martial arts experience to start?
No, of course not. It can help if you have experience with the physical element of a contact sport. Even rugby, for example, can be an advantage. But you come to our gym to learn this, right?