[8LimbsScientist]

I just wanted to start this thread to dispel a prevalent myth about Thai boxing, but I figured I'd keep the title ambiguous in case anyone thinks up any other myths they'd like to bust.

The first myth is about conditioning your shins. You will hear from tons of so-called experts about how you can kick trees, smack your shins with hammers and sticks, and roll bottles up and down your shins. All of these techniques are not only incorrect, but dangerous. The only way to condition your shins safely is to kick a heavybag without shin pads and to spar with shin pads. Overtime they will become conditioned, but it won't happen overnight, nor should it. There are no shortcuts that are also healthy.

Also, there is this image of training in Thailand where all the Thai fighters kick trees. Well, a long time ago Thais used to kick Banana Trees, which are pliant and aren't as hard as the average trees we have here. Now, of course, if you visit a MT camp in Thailand you will see heavy bags, and Thais kicking them. You won't see any Thais kicking Oak trees or swinging baseball bats at their shins.

[Ninja Kl0wn]

I've repeated this 120958473420957 times in all the threads that popped up about shin conditioning, and nobody ever listened. Hopefully it gets through to some people this time.

[bamboo]

Its not a myth, but could you tell me a little about the ritual to music the fighters do before every fight? Back ground, reasoning and so forth.

-bamboo

[Ninja Kl0wn]

Bamboo-

http://www.wmtc.nu/waikru.html

[8LimbsScientist]

I have another myth to dispel.

#2. Old retired Thai Boxers suffer from a variety of disabilities and they have horrible arthiritis in their legs.

This is simply untrue. I've consulted with people who train in Thailand and they all agree that this is just another horror story.

Retired Thai boxers often still fight in the Muay Thai Shows at local bars. These aren't as serious as the real thing obviously, but its still a fight, and often they will accept all challengers.

Also, many retired Thai Boxers become trainers.

[Dcrjr]

The first myth is about conditioning your shins. You will hear from tons of so-called experts about how you can kick trees, smack your shins with hammers and sticks, and roll bottles up and down your shins. All of these techniques are not only incorrect, but dangerous. The only way to condition your shins safely is to kick a heavybag without shin pads and to spar with shin pads. Overtime they will become conditioned, but it won't happen overnight, nor should it. There are no shortcuts that are also healthy.

I agree with kicking a bag as long as it?s a banana bag or using a medicine ball as you would for your stomach but only hitting the shins. But here is were I don?t agree with about condition your shins I personally don?t use a bottle I use a weighted bar to roll them. Theres a million mt gyms in the world with a Varity of teqniqes. As As far as the weighted bar I also use them for my forearms the Okinawa's did the same thing but they only called it a Tan.

[8LimbsScientist]

Myth #3

Everything you saw on the movie "Kickboxer" with Van Damme.

P.S. except for the fact that muay Thai kicks ass.

[The BadBoy]

Originally Posted by Dcrjr

I agree with kicking a bag as long as it?s a banana bag or using a medicine ball as you would for your stomach but only hitting the shins. But here is were I don?t agree with about condition your shins I personally don?t use a bottle I use a weighted bar to roll them. Theres a million mt gyms in the world with a Varity of teqniqes. As As far as the weighted bar I also use them for my forearms the Okinawa's did the same thing but they only called it a Tan.

Ok so you don't agree, that doesn't necessarily make it ok. Can we have reasons for why rolling a steel bar down your shin would condition them and why it would not damage them? Cheers bro.

[thebgbb]

Originally Posted by 8LimbsScientist

Myth #3

Everything you saw on the movie "Kickboxer" with Van Damme.

P.S. except for the fact that muay Thai kicks ass.

Hehee. That's hilarious!!

Personally, I thought that it was totally believable that Van Damme did ballet to beat the champion thai boxer. That, and the fact that the traditional way of thai boxing was gluing shards of broken glass to the backs of your hands.

Don't you guys train like that?

[The Axe Murderer]

Now days, Thai Boxers usually kick the bag then tree's.