Both Muay Thai and Karate are ancient martial arts with Asian origins. However, the differences between the two are significant. While Muay Thai is best compared to kickboxing, Karate has a lot in common with Kung-Fu. Both can be used effectively in combat, especially for self-defense, but focus on different strategies and methods to neutralize the opponent. So, what is the biggest difference between Muay Thai and Karate?
The main difference lies in the strength of the impact. While Muay Thai strikes are more powerful and deal more damage, Karate relies on speed and accuracy. Also, Muay Thai focuses on using your elbows and knees as weapons. Karate has these types of attacks in theory.
Of course, many other big differences can be spotted, such as posture, footwork or technique, but there are also stark similarities. This stems from the fact that both martial arts have evolved by mixing other ancient martial arts and creating something new. Let’s dive a little deeper into each of the disciplines and their development.
A little bit about Muay Thai
Muay Thai, otherwise known as Muay Thai, is a martial art indigenous to Thailand that was developed centuries ago. The first mention of it dates back to 1548. And in the 18th century it was introduced as a compulsory class in all schools. However, the real evolution of what it is today became in 1921, when the first matches and tournaments were held.
At first, the Muay Thai fighters miraculously fought. Gloves were not used, only bandages to protect the wrists. Also, most matches are decided over 11 rounds, 3 minutes each. Nowadays, professional Muay Thai fighters compete with gloves (6 ounces regularly). Also, they fight with a maximum of 5 rounds of 3 minutes, but most of the other rules have remained the same.
Unlike other boxing disciplines – which is Muay Thai – the use of elbows and knees is essential, along with grabbing, clinching and shooting the knees from there. This is the biggest difference that separates Muay Thai from other boxing disciplines, but it is also a huge difference from karate.
However, due to the nature of the sport, Muay Thai artists are very strong and resilient, as their training can be brutal. From kicking trees with their legs to kicking their gut repeatedly in practice, these guys are as tough as any martial arts in the world.
Other than the elbow and knees, the most devastating blows in the sport come from round leg kicks. Low kicks to your opponent’s front leg are essential in Muay Thai. It allows you to limit their movement to set up your attack more effectively and easily.
Muay Thai versus other martial arts
It is difficult to compare martial arts to each other because most of them are very different in nature. So, the best way to find out how one outperforms the other is by developing mixed martial arts. Today, with the development of MMA, Muay Thai fighters have achieved great success in that combat sport as well.
Although it may not be a perfect indicator due to the other martial arts styles that must be implemented in any MMA fighting style, the success of fighters who are primarily Muay Thai specialists is an odd thing.
As we said, the fighters are versatile, used to getting into the rings, and many Muay Thai schools even teach grappling. So. Adjusting to new rules and techniques becomes easier for them, especially if they can keep their opponent afloat and avoid takedowns.
However, some of the best MMA fighters – today and in history – are primarily Muay Thai fighters. Most notable are Valentina Shevchenko, Anderson Silva, and Jon Jones – all of whom are considered to be among the greatest of all time.
This is not to say that karate fighters are not successful in fighting either, but the nature of the sport has limits in strength and contact. It also limits its effectiveness against other, more aggressive martial arts.
A little about karate
The literal translation of karate means “empty hand,” and that says a lot about the fighting style you use as well. It is a fight without any weapons, intended only for self-defense. Techniques are developed in such a way that they can incapacitate an opponent as quickly as possible, without any unnecessary damage.
This was an ancient martial art On the island of Okinawa In southern Japan, where the influence of ancient Shaolin and other Chinese martial arts began to develop a new technique, known at that time as Te.
Not until the 1930’s. Tee was recognized as extremely beneficial for both the physical and mental condition of soldiers. That’s when the Japanese emperor asked Okinawan martial artist Gichin Funakoshi to perform a demonstration. Later, Funakoshi added the prefix “kara” to the name, and the rest is history. He is known as the father of modern karate.
Modern Karate, as it is taught and trained today, has three main parts: Kihon, Kata, and Kumite.
Kihon translated as “basic technology,” which gives you a better picture of what it is. Here, you learn all the basics of karate – stance, blocks, punches and kicks, takedowns, etc. A beginner learns Kihon along with the second part of the training – Kate (or Kata).
Kate sets Kihon in motion. It is a set of movements in an organized manner that enables the fighter to feel his balance and ultimately enhances decision-making, concentration and speed in real combat. Today, they have more of an illustrative purpose, but Kate’s contests remain.
Finally, combining the skills learned from Kihon and Kate, Kumite is the fighting part of karate that we see in tournaments today. Fighting types vary, from more to less friction, distance between opponents, etc. But in the end, none of the systems allow full communication between combatants.
This is why many believe that karate cannot compete in real combat against other martial arts. However, if a fighter can adjust the power of his kicks and punches to full contact combat and combine it with his speed and balance, this can be a serious martial art.
Many MMA fighters have demonstrated this, most notably Kyoji Horiguchi, Stephen Thompson, Lyoto Machida, and Georges St-Pierre, the last two being UFC champions.
What is the difference between Muay Thai and Karate?
By now, you might have already seen a lot of differences between the two, so let’s categorize them into segments to understand them properly: position, effect, And Technique.
1. Posture
The difference in stance, posture, and movement stem from different origins of the sport. Muay Thai, as mentioned, is kick boxing. Therefore, she uses a boxing type of movement – side to side, slashing angles, holding the basic stance firmly on the feet to increase the power behind each strike.
On the other hand, karate has a basis in ancient Chinese martial arts, which relied on balance, lateral speed, and the amount of strikes rather than their strength. Therefore, karate fighters have a more agile stance, and deliberative power of impact to increase agility, balance, and speed.
Also, due to the nature of the sport today, karate fighters tend to raise their hands a lot in their stance, because in most tournaments, punches to the face are prohibited. Muay Thai fighters hold their hands high while tucking their chins in order to avoid damage to the jaw.
2. Impact
One of the main differences we mentioned before is the power of impact, as Muay Thai is more aggressive from this point of view. However, we haven’t discussed points of impact much, which is mainly why the strength varies between blows.
Karate fighters will use the ball of their foot for leg strikes and rarely punches to the head, mainly using their hands to block the opponent’s attacks. Knees and elbows are rarely used.
However, Muay Thai fighters kick with their feet with insane force and use their limbs as weapons including fists, elbows, knees and heels. The recovery time between two strikes is slightly longer than in karateka, though, which could allow the other fighter to dodge incoming attacks.
3. Technique
When we talk about technique, we are addressing differences in approach when it comes to means of hindering an opponent.
Muay Thai fighters focus on dealing as much damage as possible to all parts of the body – legs, body or head. They do this in an aggressive forward motion.
Karate fighters, on the other hand, seek to disable the opponent as quickly as possible, using as little effort as possible. They will block the effect, and try to turn it in their favor, either by a quick in-and-out combination, or by a quick elimination.
What are the Similarities Between Muay Thai and Karate?
One of the starkest similarities between the two is the fact that they both have amazing fighting styles in the first place. Both rarely use takedowns and fights and focus on finishing the fight on the feet rather than on the ground.
Of course, their roots go back to ancient Asia, so some training principles and life philosophies are also similar, such as meditation and body movements used in mental preparations. However, this is the point where the two methods of martial arts, as a methodology for fighting, begin to diversify.
We can easily say that the two might have had more similarities in the past when used as martial arts and martial arts combat, but where they are in the present as sports, they have many more differences than their similarities.
Which is better for self-defense: Muay Thai and Karate?
With all that being said, we can say that Muay Thai today is superior to Karate when it comes to self-defense. First of all, this martial art is mostly based on self defense and also teaches how to defend yourself from multiple enemies at the same time.
He knows how to combine amazing footwork with strategy to exploit your opponent’s shortcomings and turn defense into explosive attack. Also, we cannot ignore the power that Muay Thai has, while karate today limits the impact power that a fighter can implement.
Of course, karate can also be used very effectively to defend yourself from attackers, but if they attack you with brute force, you can’t just fight back with karate. The highlight again – karate, which is taught today in gyms around the world.
Karate will teach you how to block the attack, quickly neutralizing the opponent, but not with much damage, so there is a chance that they will attack you again. Hence, karate kick is a good way to give yourself some time to escape and avoid unnecessary damage, but it will not allow you to stop your attacker from coming at you.
So, in conclusion, if you want strength and flexibility, Muay Thai is the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you believe that your strengths lie in speed, agility, and balance, you will probably choose karate.
Also be sure to check out how Muay Thai and Karate compare to other martial arts when it comes to self defense in our article 11 Best Martial Arts for Self Defense.