I want to train in muy thai but they dont have it here were I live. The reason is that I heard that muy thai is really effective for self defense. Im thinking of taking american kickboxing insted but I dont know how effective it is. Can some one tell me if american kickboxig is effective or not.

Yes it is effective as its trained alive and as its a sport it has a strong emphasis on sparring. A rule of thumb, anything that involves sparring is likely to be effective since you will learn how to fight and learn to use the tools that work, only.

A very intuitive comparison between AKB and MT would be that they both have identical punching techniques, AKB probably has a slightly larger range of kicks, but doesnt have any of the knees and elbow strikes well known in MT. Kicks in AKB will contact with the foot, whereas the fundamental kick in MT connects with the shin.

Ditto what Ayub wrote. Very good analysis.

Ayub thanks for the info.

I got an illustrated manual of MT not too long ago, it's in very bad english but it looks like it probably came straight from thailand- and I must say- it seems to have a lot of moves that your average joe warrior (or even your above average joe warrior) would have trouble pulling off in an impromptu situation without absolute mastery (and very good physical condition.) Nevertheless the basic clinch and knee seems like a relatively reliable technique, and you probably don't need a class to learn it.

As for AKB...I have no experience with it at all, so I couldn't make the comparison. But the summaries already posted seem to be accurate.

I might add that unless you plan on conditioning your legs like Thai boxers do, AKB would probably be better for you in the long run, both in terms of effectiveness and safety.

I've trained in both Muay Thai and Kickboxing, well, the modern Kickboxing that we see these days like K-1.

The difference between AKB and MT can be seen in my sticky but to make it a bit simpler.

MT basically has 4 types of punches; swing, straight, jab and uppercut. There is very little dedication put into these techniques as most modern day MT boxer would rather be able to kick hard enough to break bones (idiots).

In AKB, the emphasis might be on kicking, but in close range, AKB becomes boxing with bob, weave, slip, and many evasive movements. There is almost the same level of dedication to your fists as there is in boxing when you're training AKB for it is essential. Let's just say, American Kickboxers can punch just as hard, hell, even harder than boxers sometimes.

What are their difference? AKB has better punching techniques and wider range of kicking techniques. MT has simpler techniques but more powerful elbow and knee techniques and wider range of them. AKB is faster paced but can create many opportunity for retaliation, whereas MT is slower but there is less room for mistake.

AKB is a solid decision. It's just as good as MT, and you'll be having fun learning boxing as well as some karate kicks. Trust me, 8 years of doing the same kick tends to be a bit boring.

-Taison out

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might add that unless you plan on conditioning your legs like Thai boxers do

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And how is that?

For your knowledge, the correct way to condition your shins as professional Thai Boxers do, is to kick the sandbags. How does AK boxers do it? Kicking the sandbag.

-Taison out

Hmm..If you fill up a heavy bag with sandbags it works well as a conditioning tool, its hard as rock (or sand). Although I doubt its hard enough for pro conditioning, as I can hit it.

taison ur kidding urself if u think thai boxers to not focus on punching look at ramon dekker and how fast paced he is, i dont know where you have been training but here in the uk our champs are as good as the dutch and thais.