How Thai Fighters Stay Cut Without Counting Calories
Martial artists of any discipline are almost always shredded. They carry little body fat, move with agility, and typically sport a carved core. According to Gino Francisco, a retired Muay Thai and MMA fighter and current head coach of the Daly City Muay Thai Team, Muay Thai places a heavy emphasis on physical fitness. Much like Western boxing, fighters need to stay lean and agile to be competition-ready.
While nutrition matters, their shredded physiques are largely the result of the intense calorie burn from training. Muay Thai workouts combine cardio, strength, and skill drills—often lasting hours and leaving athletes drenched. If your goal is to lean out this summer, consider this your sign to check out a local Muay Thai gym. You’ll torch calories, build functional strength, and pick up a sweet skill set in the process.
What is Muay Thai?
While many forms of martial arts may seem similar—filled with kicks, jabs, and elbow strikes—each has its own unique movements, techniques, and rules. Muay Thai, for example, is known as the art of eight limbs, meaning you can strike with both fists, elbows, knees, and feet.
"What separates Muay Thai from most martial arts is its emphasis on full-contact competition, physical conditioning, and its entertainment value to spectators," Francisco says.
Related: The Thai Fighter Conditioning Trick That Will Toughen You Up Fast
Can Muay Thai Help You Build Muscle?
If a powerlifter and a Muay Thai fighter stood next to each other, you'd notice clear differences in their physiques. Powerlifters and weightlifters typically train for strength and dense muscle mass, which can sometimes come at the expense of speed and mobility. Fighters, on the other hand, aim to stay lean and shredded while maintaining quickness, agility, and endurance.
"Muay Thai can help with muscle development, but not in the same way as weight training," Francisco says. "Muscles will not be as dense, but more toned and able to move with speed and agility. Heavy muscles can cause more issues to fighters as the weight of too much muscle mass may inhibit movement."