Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This physical and mental discipline is known as “the art of eight limbs” because it is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins. The sport requires good physical preparation to make full-contact fighting efficient.
Red Diamond Academy is the home of Muay Thai in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, and has a reputation for producing some of the best fight talent seen in the UK. We hold weekly classes for adults and juniors at King’s Sutton Millennium Memorial Hall (map) to which everyone is welcome, regardless of whether they’re total novices or professional fighters:
Wednesdays
17:00 – 19:00 Juniors (4-13 years)
19:00 – 21:00 Adults (14-plus years)
Fridays
18:00 – 19:00 Juniors (4-13 years)
19:00 – 21:00 Adults (14-plus years)
Unlike some martial art disciplines, Muay Thai encourages freedom of thought and flow. Juniors are encouraged to think about what is happening in each situation, and what the appropriate defence and counter should be.
We take safety extremely seriously and whilst light sparring is an essential factor in learning Muay Thai, we always enforce a strict no head/face contact rule for all under 14s. The idea of sparring is not to fight full power, but to use controlled, lower power movements to hone skills. Full padding (including body shields) is available.
Once the basics are mastered, children learn to programme their actions and, during each class, we drill and practice new skills. By enabling practitioners to master automatic reaction, Muay Thai becomes a powerful ally should it ever be needed in a self-defence situation.
For more information, click here to visit the Red Diamond Academy website or call Rob Allen on 07402 272292.