If you’re as passionate about martial arts as I am, you’re interested in comparing the different ones and seeing which prevails. Whether you want to learn one of them or are just interested in the outcome, you’ll benefit and enjoy reading this article. Let’s see which will prevail in a fight, Kung fu or Muay Thai.
A Muay Thai fighter (Nuk Muay) is more likely to win against a Kung fu practitioner because Muay Thai is more suitable for real fights. It conditions their practitioners to have extremely high pain tolerance while teaching them to use all of their bodies to inflict tons of damage.
While Kung fu is definitely suitable for fights and self-defense, it’s not as focused on real fights, which has its advantages and disadvantages. We’ll review these later on in the article, so stay tuned for that.
Throughout the years, Chinese Kung fu practitioners have met Thai Boxing trainees and faced them. You could see that Thai Boxing is simply more effective and realistic than a real bout.
What we’ll do in this article is compare Muay Thai, aka The Art of Eight Limbs, and Kung fu. We’ll examine which is better for which purpose and scenario. Frankly, I think that Kung fu exceeds what Muay Thai can bring to the table in many instances.
So let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Who Will Win in a Fight?)
- Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Differences)
- Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Similarities)
- Which Is Better for Self-Defense, Kung Fu or Muay Thai?
- Testimonials
- Final Words
Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Who Will Win in a Fight?)
Let’s begin by examining the background of the two martial arts. Kung fu is an ancient martial art that originates in China. It teaches its trainees anything from striking to grappling, including many values and principles, such as strict discipline and hard work.
Muay Thai originates in Thailand, where it’s their national sport. It has continuously developed throughout the years and has become one of the most widely practiced and powerful martial arts on the globe. It’s mostly practiced in Southeast Asia, such as in Thailand and Laos.
To answer the question of who will win in a fight, we have to assume two perfect fighters from each martial art and face them against each other. Here’s the answer.
Muay Thai prevails against Kung fu in a real fight because the Muay Thai fighter (Nuk Muay) is more conditioned and is an overall more effective fighter. While there is never a 100% answer to this, Thai Boxing is one of the most powerful martial arts worldwide, as it focuses on real fighting and sparring.
Many Kung fu schools don’t spar as often because of injuries. So while Muay Thai is more dangerous, it’s definitely more realistic and conditions its fighters to real fights more than most Kung fu schools.
And this is why Muay Thai fighters are more likely to win against a Kung fu disciple.
Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Differences)
The next part of this article is going to be about the differences between Muay Thai and Kung fu. Whether you’re trying to understand which one you want to learn or are just interested, this is perhaps the most important and interesting part out of all the other ones.
The reason for that is that the difference that exists between these martial arts is what makes them so unique. If you’re trying to choose one to learn and are unsure, you want to know how they’re different. Then, you’ll be able to make a much wiser choice.
So let’s dive into the first difference.
#1 – Origin
Some of you might be surprised when I tell you that the origin of any given martial art influenced the techniques and rules we see today. Let’s take Karate for example. It was heavily influenced by the fact that it originates from Japan. It developed into the martial art that it is today because it originates from Japan.
Now back to our case, because Muay Thai originates from the place it originates from (we’ll see where soon) it’s as effective as it is today. This is why I’ve selected the origin of the two martial arts to be the first difference in this article.
So let’s begin with Muay Thai, aka “The Art of Eight Limbs.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai originates from Thailand, as you can guess. It’s currently the most popular in Thailand because they’ve selected it to be their national sport. I don’t know many other countries that chose a martial art to be their national sport, which I find astounding and refreshing.
If you want to learn where Muay Thai is most popular, follow this link.
Let’s move on to Kung fu!
Kung Fu
Kung fu originates from ancient China. I won’t dive into its history, although it’s exceptionally intriguing to read. I encourage everyone who is currently reading these words to follow the link and read about Kung fu’s rich and enthralling history.
Kung fu has developed into what it is today because it originates in China. While it might have been just as popular if it were to originate from another place in the world, it became such a prevalent and widely practiced fighting style because of its roots.
So we want to appreciate that.
#2 – Fighting Techniques
The second, and perhaps the most important, difference between Kung fu and Muay Thai is what they teach. Their teachings, aka fighting techniques, are what’s going to separate these two the most.
This is the difference you want to spend the most time understanding because this is the most important part of all martial arts. If you still haven’t decided which one you’re going to learn, you’re going to have a decisive answer when I’m done presenting this difference.
Therefore, I want you to pay close attention to what we’re about to cover. Without further introduction, let’s dive into Muay Thai’s teachings.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is also known as The Art of Eight Limbs, and that’s for a good reason. It teaches you to use your “eight limbs”, which are your two fists, two shins, two knees, and two elbows.
That’s why it’s one of the most effective fighting styles in the world. Not only does it teach you to use all your weapons, but it also teaches you to use them effectively, so you’ll be able to cause tons of damage to your opponents. And eventually, the fighter who causes the most damage while having a higher pain tolerance will be the one who prevails.
So, let’s examine the four types of techniques you’ll learn.
Here are some of the kicks (shin) you’ll learn:
- Low Kick
- Teep
- Roundhouse Kick
- Body Kick
- Switch Kick
- Side Kick
Here are the punches (fist) you’ll learn:
- Jab
- Cross
- Hook
- Uppercut
- Overhand Punch
And now, here are some knee strikes:
- Straight Knee
- Jumping Knee
- Step-In Knee
- Diagonal Knee
- Spear Knee
Lastly, here are some of the elbow strikes you’ll learn to utilize:
- Straight Elbow
- Cutting Elbow
- Jumping Elbow
- Spinning Elbow
- Horizontal Elbow
- Downward Elbow
- Poking Elbow
You’ll also learn to clinch effectively and throw and sweep your opponent to the ground, which is extremely effective in a real fight.
Kung Fu
Kung fu has countless styles. Therefore, I can’t tell you exactly what you’ll learn, as it depends on the school you’ll attend. If you’re interested in learning a particular style of Kung fu, I encourage you to follow the link to read about Kung fu’s different styles and what makes each one unique.
Kung fu is known to teach it all. You’ll learn to strike, kick, knee, elbow, grapple, and many other fighting techniques.
Here are some punches you’ll learn:
- Cannon Punch
- Thrust Punch
- Diagonal Punch
- Sweeping Punch
- Whip Punch
And here are some kicks:
- Thrust Kick
- Side Kick
- Whirlwind Kick
- Kicking the Sky
- Butterfly Kick
- Dragon’s Tail Kick
- Axe Kick
- Spinning Kicks
- Jumping Roundhouse Kick
- Spinning Back Kick
You’ll learn so much more than that. But, it all depends on the style, sensei, and school you choose to learn in. So, make sure you research the different styles before choosing a school.
#3 – Rules
Let’s now review the rules of each of the martial arts. Now, if you don’t know, the rules are one of the most important factors to consider when deciding which fighting style you’ll eventually learn.
The reason for that is because the rules dictate what you’ll learn. If you can’t kick in a competition, such as in the case of Boxing, you won’t learn to kick in training. This equals you not learning to kick or defend from kicks if you decide to do Boxing.
So let’s dive into the rules.
Muay Thai
Here are the rules of Thai Boxing:
- The object is to win the bout by either (A) knockout or (B) points
- The maximum size of a ring will be 24ft by 24ft
- Ropes will surround the ring
- The fighters can either wear rope gloves or Muay Thai gloves, depending on the tournament
- You’re allowed to punch, kick, elbow, and knee
- You’re allowed to throw and sweep your opponent
- The objective is to hit the opponent while avoiding getting hit
- If you knock out your opponent, he has 10 seconds to recover
- You win the fight if your opponent can’t continue to fight due to knockout
- Judges decide the winner by who was the superior fighter in the fight (if no knockout)
- Each round is three minutes in length
- There are either three or five rounds in a bout
- You’re allowed to clinch
To learn about the required equipment you must have to attend your first Muay Thai class, follow this link.
Kung Fu
Here are the rules of Chinese Kung fu (Sanda) :
- The objective is to win 2 out of 3 rounds
- You win a round by landing more punches, kicks, takedowns, and being overall dominant
- The fighting area will be 8m by 8m and is 80cm above the ground
- You start fighting once the referee tells you to start
- You’re allowed to punch, kick, throw, and grapple
- You can also knee, elbow, and choke
- Each round is two minutes in length
Pretty uncomplicated to be fair.
Muay Thai vs. Kung Fu (Similarities)
Now that we understood how Muay Thai and Kung fu are different, it’s time we dive into a not-less important section, how they’re similar. Indeed, their similarities are also as important to understand.
In fact, I’ve understood this way down my fighting journey, and I wish I had understood this earlier. When I first started my martial arts journey, I was convinced that Muay Thai, Boxing, and MMA are the only real effective martial arts out there. Now, however, I understand that the case is different.
ALL martial arts are, at the end of the day, here to achieve the same goal, which is to teach others how to fight while providing a self-improvement platform. I’m currently dedicating my life to martial arts because I believe in the positive influence they have on the world.
I wish more people would learn a martial art, to be honest with you. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
Similarity #1 – Purpose
The first similar trait Muay Thai and Kung fu possess is purpose. Understanding this is key, so pay close attention.
The goal of both Kung fu and Muay Thai is to teach people self-defense. The secondary goal is to be a self-improvement platform for their many disciples. Therefore, if you’re hesitant in choosing one to learn, you can know that you’ll become a good fighter in both of them.
More importantly, however, you’ll become a better person, which is, in my eyes, more important.
Similarity #2 – Effectiveness
The second similar trait is effectiveness. Both Muay Thai and Kung fu are highly effective, which is why you want to learn one of them. To be frank, I wish I had understood this earlier, but you can learn Tai Chi and become an excellent fighter if you choose the right school.
So choosing the school you learn in is more important than almost everything else. The point is, you’ll become an excellent, capable fighter by doing both Muay Thai and Kung fu.
I encourage you to choose one and dedicate yourself to it.
Similarity #3 – Benefits
And lastly, let’s talk about some of the benefits you’ll experience if you decide to learn either Muay Thai or Kung fu. You’ll experience very similar results in your life outside the gym, which is highly motivating to understand and learn.
First, you’ll notice that your physical shape gets much, much better when you really start your training. It becomes easier to shed extra body fat when you’re training in martial arts, as they’ll burn hundreds of calories in an hour, which is always a nice benefit.
The second benefit you’ll experience is more confidence and self-esteem. This is more important the having a better physical shape in my opinion. When you have high self-confidence, you know what you’re worth and you’ll act accordingly, which is critical.
All in all, you’ll become a calmer, less stressed, less angry, and overall better person. This is why I encourage you to pick up your martial arts journey as soon as possible!
Which Is Better for Self-Defense, Kung Fu or Muay Thai?
When we discuss which martial art is better for self-defense, we want to examine a few primary factors, which are:
- How dynamic each fighting style is
- Whether it conditions you to a real fight
- What it teaches
Muay Thai is better than Kung fu for self-defense because it prepares you better for real fights, such as by having better conditioning, which increases pain tolerance. Likewise, it teaches you practical and effective fighting techniques while forcing you to spar more often, which is contrary to Kung fu’s teachings.
All in all, Kung fu simply doesn’t condition its trainees as much for real fights. I’m not suggesting it’s not effective and I’m definitely not saying that you won’t be able to win against the average guy on the street.
That said, Muay Thai is extremely effective and most martial arts don’t get near its level of conditioning and effectiveness. Lastly, Kung fu can be highly effective for self-defense. Watch the video below to understand how.
Testimonials
It’s now time we hear stories and experiences from people who actually participate in these two martial arts. While I do Muay Thai myself, I want to let other trainees on the stage.
So I asked some of my friends to chime in and give their opinions. I also researched and found various interesting stories online, which I’ve gathered in the following sections.
Enjoy!
Muay Thai
It’s usually people that are shy and timid that work hard. Some of my students when they came in were shy and timid, they kept to themselves, worked hard and never got deterred by failure. Over time they became some of the best students I’ve ever taught becoming champions of all sorts.
But when someone asks if they should start muay thai there is only one answer YES. No matter your circumstances do it you wont regret it.
Yes, yes and yes. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now, and everyone understands that beginners make mistakes and no one considers it to be embarrassing – it’s part of being a beginner. Everyone makes mistakes, just the other day I managed to fall flat on my bottom with an overly enthusiastic knee in shadow boxing, right in front of a group of beginners. I just laughed at myself, picked myself up and went back to shadow boxing.
I started at 27, almost 300lbs, never played a sport in my life, barely even moved around, always was the shy type. 28 now, im 200lbs and still going down, training like i was going to fight, in great shape, and confident.
Kung Fu
Haha–18 and worrying you’re too old to start anything. That’s cute. I just started at 30 and love it, but sure wish I’d started at 18. There’s a guy in my Siu Nim Tau class who’s at least 60. You’re young enough that you could transform virtually any aspect of your life with enough effort.
Absolutely! I’m in fifties and have been doing Kung fu and Tai chi since I was in my twenties. It keeps you strong and focused in body and mind. Teaches respect and honor for your fellow beings. What could be wrong with that?
Is it worth it? To us, yes. What are your expectations, what are your goals, and motivations for wanting to train Kung Fu? There’s nothing wrong with simply wanting to start it as a hobby either – you could certainly do millions of other objectively worse/time wasting hobbies. This one will keep you physically strong, mentally grounded, and instill confidence and discipline in your life, if you find that those things are lacking.
I started last year when I was 35. To be honest I didn’t think I was going to make it through because I was so uncoordinated and the least athletic person, but thankfully I have awesome instructors and training brothers & sisters who encouraged me to keep going. A year later I’m stronger, more flexible, confident, and driven. Stop putting up barriers and start training!
Final Words
Learning a martial art, any martial art is one of the best decisions you’ll make in your life. I have the utmost appreciation for my past self, who forced me to pick up fighting and start my journey.
I’ve seen countless benefits from my martial arts training, whether it was MMA, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, or Muay Thai. These have all helped me become the person I am today.
And that’s why you want to start your martial arts training as soon as possible. I would encourage you to simply pick one and dedicate yourself to it. And, worst-case scenario, if you don’t like the martial art you chose, you can always choose another one!
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
Judo vs. Muay Thai – The Ultimate Showdown (Who Wins?)
Karate VS Kung Fu | Which Is the Better Martial Art?
Muay Thai vs. Bokator – The Ultimate Showdown
The 5 Best Kung Fu Styles (Chinese Martial Arts)
Muay Thai vs. Taekwondo – Which Is Better (Differences)
12 Essential Kung Fu Kicks You Must Know (Guide)