When you talk about combat sports, Muay Thai is right up there with the best of them. The ancient art of Thai boxing is considered as one of the most popular and recognized sports in the world. Because of its popularity, the number of people who’re interested in training in Muay Thai have risen as well.
If you’re interested in taking up Muay Thai and becoming a Nak Muay (Thai Boxer), one thing that you have to understand is that wearing the traditional ‘short shorts’, while not mandatory, are highly encouraged and it’s not just because they’re traditional. The fact is, there are valid reasons why you should wear Muay Thai shorts if you’re practicing Muay Thai.
What Makes These Shorts Different
Muay Thai is a combat sport that requires a lot of freedom of movement. Although the combat sport does show similarities with kick boxing, and many MMA fighters train in it, by no means are MMA and Kickboxing shorts made for training in Muay Thai. Sure, you can wear them while training and no one will probably stop you. But, if you really want to get the most out of your training, you may want to wear Muay Thai shorts.You see, the ‘short shorts’ were designed specifically for use in Muay Thai. The short length, for example, helps give the shorts maximum amount of airflow. This helps fighters cool off much faster when training or fighting. Being that Thailand is a very hot country, and Muay Thai is a physically strenuous sport, the added airflow definitely helps a lot.
The length, though, isn’t the only thing that makes Muay Thai shorts different. These specialized shorts are also made from materials that make them comfortable and cool to wear. The materials can range from either Satin, Nylon, Polyester or Cotton Blend. Although the most popular (and coincidentally, the most expensive) is Satin Fabric.
How Many Shorts Should You Own?
The more often you train, the more pairs of Muay Thai shorts you should own. It’s important that you always wear a fresh pair every time you train. Wearing an old pair of shorts that have not been washed will give you a bad reputation at the gym, as it is seen as disrespectful to the other people who’re training there.
Respect is a very important aspect of training in Muay Thai, which is why it’s important that you have enough pairs so that you’re always wearing clean ones while training.
A good number would be around 4 to 8 pairs of Muay Thai shorts, so you can wash them all that the same time at the end of the week.
Don’t worry about how frequent washing and use will damage them. If you buy quality pairs, the shorts should last you for many years, even with constant use.
When buying Muay Thai shorts, be sure to do it in a physical store so you can try out the shorts first. Chances are, you’ll have to make a few buys first before finding the right brand for you. But, don’t worry, sooner or later, you should ideally end with the Muay Thai shorts that’s best for you and your needs.
