🌿 Muay Thai FAQ – Roots Muay Thai

Muay Thai is more than a martial art. It’s a tradition born in Thailand, carried by warriors, teachers, and families for centuries. It’s discipline, rhythm, and respect. At Roots, we honor those traditions while building a community here in Canada that carries the same values.

This is not a “workout.” This is a craft. A practice. A way of shaping the body, the mind, and the spirit.

1. What is Muay Thai?

Muay Thai, the “Art of Eight Limbs,” is a striking system using punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. But it is not only about striking.

1. It is about rhythm - the way a fighter moves like music.

2. It is about respect - the way we bow as we walk in.

3. It is about lineage - knowledge passed from Ajahn (Master) to Kru (teacher) to Nak Muay (fighter/student).

   
   

In Thailand, training begins young. Children grow into fighters not just through drills, but through the values of discipline, humility, and perseverance. At Roots, we teach with the same respect for tradition, while meeting you where you are in your journey.

2. Do I need experience to start?

No. Every champion began as a beginner.

The beauty of Muay Thai is that it welcomes all. You don’t need to know how to throw a punch. What you do need is commitment: to learn, to be challenged, to repeat, and to respect. At Roots, beginners and experienced competitors train side by side. Everyone starts somewhere, but the path is the same, built on consistency and heart. (ใจสู้ (jai su))

3. What should I bring to my first class?

Wear comfortable training clothes and bring water (if you forget, no worries we have some here .. and we won't charge you for it.) If you don’t yet own gloves or hand wraps, we’ll provide what you need. But the most important thing you bring is respect. In Muay Thai, tradition matters. When you step into the gym you bow to your coaches and your community. When you train, you show care for your partner. When you leave, you thank your teachers and those around you. These rituals are not decoration, they are the foundation of the art.

4. Do I need to be “in shape” first?

No. Muay Thai shapes you.

In Thai gyms, children who have never done structured training learn step by step. Their strength comes not from prior preparation but from discipline, repetition, and heart.

At Roots, you’ll find the same process. The art will sharpen you over time. Your conditioning, your balance, your endurance. What matters most is not how you arrive, but how consistently you return.

5. Is Muay Thai safe?

Yes. Muay Thai is demanding, but it is taught with control, respect, and structure. Technique is always emphasized before power.

Contact and sparring are part of the art, but they are not forced. You will never be thrown into a fight or sparring unprepared. Training partners work with, not against each other. The purpose is growth, not harm.

6. Women in Muay Thai – Strength, Legacy, and Opportunity

Traditionally, women in Thailand faced barriers in Muay Thai, but history shows they have always been warriors and leaders. Queens and heroines like Suriyothai, Thao Thep Krasattri, and Thao Si Sunthon demonstrated courage, strategy, and strength that still inspire today.

At Roots Muay Thai, that same spirit guides our women’s programs. Free Thursday classes provide an open, welcoming space for any woman to step onto the mats with no experience required, no barriers to entry. Private Saturday group sessions offer focused training and skill development for those ready to go further.

Every class is an opportunity to cultivate courage, resilience, and confidence. honoring the legacy of women in Thai history while building your own fighting heart (jai su).

7. How is Muay Thai different from kickboxing?

Kickboxing is a sport. Muay Thai is a system.

Muay Thai uses all eight limbs. Punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, plus clinching, where balance, control, and endurance are tested at close range.

But the deeper difference is cultural. Muay Thai carries ritual: the wai kru ram muay (a dance of respect performed before fights), the music of the sarama played in stadiums, the bowing and gestures that remind us we are part of something greater than ourselves.

Training Muay Thai means stepping into that tradition, not just learning strikes.

8. Do I have to fight?

No. Not every student becomes a fighter, most don't.

At Roots Muay Thai, every student is taught as if they could fight, whether or not they ever step into the ring. Technique, discipline, and focus are emphasized in every class, building real skill, confidence, and resilience.

But you never have to fight unless you choose to. The mats are a place to learn, grow, and challenge yourself in a safe, supportive environment. You train like a fighter, without the pressure of fighting, because the lessons of Muay Thai go far beyond the ring.

9. How often should I train?

It depends on your goals. Beginners might start with 2–3 classes per week, learning foundations and rhythm. Competitors train more, sharpening skills, conditioning, and strategy.

What matters most is consistency. Every time you show up, you lay another brick in your foundation.

10. Why Roots Muay Thai?

Because Roots is not just a place to learn Muay Thai, it is a place to learn tradition.

We bow as we enter, not out of habit but out of respect. We train hard, not to hurt but to sharpen. We compete, not for ego but for honour.

Here, you’ll find discipline, culture, and community. Whether you wish to learn, to grow, or to compete, you will be guided with honesty, respect, and care.

This is not a fitness class. This is Muay Thai. And here, we carry it with pride.

✨ Final Thought

When you hear the drums of the sarama or watch the slow movements of the wai kru, you are witnessing centuries of tradition, resilience and perseverance. Muay Thai is not something you “try.” It is something you live.

At Roots Muay Thai Academy, we welcome you to plant your own roots in this art and to grow into the person Muay Thai will shape you to be.