Part of the guide: Muay Thai in Great Yarmouth: the complete guide
If you want to learn to punch and kick, Union Thai in Gorleston-on-Sea is a good place to ask. We teach striking in Muay Thai and MMA classes. We also have coaches with a boxing and kickboxing background. This guide explains how it fits together.
Can I learn boxing and kickboxing at Union Thai?
You can learn striking, including punching and kicking, in our Muay Thai and MMA classes.
Check the timetable for the sessions we run. If you are looking for a specific boxing or kickboxing session, use the contact page and ask what is possible. We would rather give you a straight answer than guess here.
Who is the boxing and kickboxing coach?
Joao Lopes has 15 years of experience in boxing and kickboxing. He has trained his entire life and he loves the way of life of a fighter.
Head coach and owner Marcos Lopes also coaches boxing. He has over 40 years of experience in Muay Thai. Brett Semtex is a multi-title K1 champion, and K1 is a kickboxing style. Meet the team on the coaches page.
What is the difference between boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai?
Boxing uses punches only. Kickboxing adds kicks. Muay Thai adds elbows, knees and the clinch.
Boxing is the simplest. Your hands do all the work. Kickboxing gives you your legs too. Muay Thai uses eight points of contact. That is fists, elbows, knees and shins. It also teaches clinch work. Each one has its own rules and feel.
Is Muay Thai a good way to learn striking?
Yes. Muay Thai covers punches and kicks as well as elbows and knees. A class has pad work where you practise each strike.
You learn stance, guard and basic combinations first. Then you build up. Read our complete Muay Thai guide for the full detail.
Will I have to spar?
No. Sparring is optional. It never happens in your first session.
Beginners start with technique and pad work. You only spar when you are ready.
What should I bring?
Bring water and wear comfortable clothes. Shorts and a t-shirt are fine. We can lend gloves for your first session.
Please do not buy gloves before trying a class. Ask us and we will tell you what is worth buying.
Can I get 1-to-1 striking coaching?
You can book a 1-to-1 session with our coaches. See the 1-to-1 section of the coaches page.
If you want focus on boxing or kickboxing, tell us what you want when you ask. 1-to-1 is also useful if you want to build skill before joining a group. Read 1-to-1 martial arts coaching in Norfolk.
What do striking sessions look like?
Most sessions have a warm-up, technique drills, pad work and conditioning. You learn stance, guard and basic strikes first.
As you improve, you add combinations. A combination is a short string of strikes, such as a punch followed by a kick. The coach watches your form and corrects it.
Is there a difference between a boxing gym and a Muay Thai gym?
A boxing gym focuses on punches. A Muay Thai gym teaches punches plus kicks, knees, elbows and the clinch.
If you want to learn the widest range of striking, a Muay Thai or MMA class gives you more tools. If you want to learn hands only, say so when you ask us. We will tell you honestly what we can offer.
How do I get started?
Choose a session on the timetable. Pay as you go has no commitment. See the memberships page.
Tell the coach it is your first time and they will look after you.
