Muay Thai
Limp wrists, clenched fists
Originating in Thailand, Muay Thai is a martial art similar to kickboxing. Alongside the punches and kicks of most martial arts, Muay Thai fighters also learn sharp elbows and devastating knees, as well as trips and throws from the clinch. It’s a fantastic sport to take up for anyone who wants to protect themselves, get fit or just have some fun.
The UK has produced some excellent Muay Thai fighters over the years, but there’s one big problem with training it: most gyms are run by and for cishet men. They can be intimidating and full of toxic masculinity. At Leeds Queer Muay Thai, we provide a space away from all of that; where we can be playful, have fun and train without judgement. Muay Thai is a great way to get fit, protect yourself and meet cool queers, so get in touch today and start training!
What you’ll learn
Muay Thai is sometimes called the art of eight limbs because of its use of feet, fists, elbows and knees. Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:
Kickboxing: The punches and kicks you’ll see in arts like kickboxing, boxing and MMA are also present in Muay Thai. From a quick one-two to a huge head kick, we’ll teach you how to throw hands and feet with the best of them.
Eight limbs: Alongside your punches and kicks, you’ll be learning strikes with other parts of your body. Quick, sharp elbow strikes are amazing close-range tools, and powerful knee strikes can come from any distance or angle.
The clinch: In Muay Thai, when you get close to your opponent you can grab them in what’s called a ‘clinch’ and keep striking. You can even trip or throw them to the floor from here, and the clinch is an art all in itself.
Footwork and defence: It’s no use learning how to hit someone if you can’t prevent yourself from getting hit at the same time. You’ll learn everything from blocking to pivots, sidesteps, stance switches and more, all to keep you safe and prevent your opponents from landing anything.
Our coach
Leeds Queer Muay Thai is run by Sam, an experienced fighter who has been training Muay Thai for around a decade. Sam has been developing her skills in gyms all over the country, and has even trained and fought in Thailand. In addition to Muay Thai, she has a background in Kyoukoushin Karate. She is enthusiastic about helping her fellow queers learn all about Muay Thai, and this comes through in her excellent training sessions!
Sam has been a fantastic addition to the BENT Collective team, and we’re extremely proud of all the hard work she has put into creating and running the Muay Thai classes. Sign up for a class today to see why we think she’s so fantastic!
