How To Improve Balance for Muay Thai

Have you ever watched an elite Muay Thai fighter and thought, “They make it look so effortless”? It’s not just their technique or strategy that sets them apart—it’s their balance.

You see, balance isn’t just about staying upright. In Muay Thai, balance is the foundation of composure—it’s the ability to dominate exchanges, win rounds, and control the fight. Under the Thai judging system, it’s absolutely crucial.

Scoring in Muay Thai isn’t just about landing strikes—it’s about proving their effect. Cuts, bruises, or a limp demonstrate impact, but nothing screams dominance more than causing your opponent to lose balance.

Think about it:

• A well-balanced fighter absorbs even powerful strikes without flinching.
• An unbalanced fighter stumbles—even from weaker hits—giving away points.

Here’s the catch: if you lose balance after throwing a strike, it won’t score as highly either. 

Professor Tony Myers, in his 2013 research on elite Muay Thai fighters, summarises it perfectly:

“The findings also point to the need for athletes and coaches to focus on balance before, during, and after technique delivery.”

Balance isn’t optional–if you want to level up, it’s your 80/20 priority.

How Do You Train Balance? This week’s video tackles this topic head-on... KEY MOMENTS Follow along using these quick timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 What balance really is 01:35 Training for better balance 02:11 Using a heavy bag to practice balance skill 02:46 Using multiple kicks to train balance 03:19 Feeling your balance shift 03:56 Balance as part of the Optimal Performance Pyramid 04:27 Sport-specific balance example 05:27 Rounding things up Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/01/24/how-to-improve-balance-for-muay-thai/