13 Things Every Nak Muay Wished They Knew Before Their First Fight (Reddit Insights)

Muay Thai fighters on reddit share tips for new Nak Muays entering the ring for the first time. Find out what these seasoned fighters only wished they knew before their first fight. The insights below have been summarized for a quick read!

1. It’s going to be difficult as hell, but do everything you can listen to your coach and react to his voice. If he’s telling you to throw something, it’s because the shot is there.
2. I walked away from my first fight with a broken nose and slight concussion, I wish I would have known how hard it is to keep going.
3. Keep your hands up, no matter what.
4. Get your stamina high… you’ll need it! Seems like a obvious thing, there is nothing more physically exhausting than fighting competitively in a ring.
5. The most important thing I’d like to have been told is in regards to aggression. I simply was not aggressive enough.
6. One of the things that I remember being super difficult to remember was breathing, especially in the clinch. I still need to work on it.
7. I’ve always found that the worst thing you can do is to be predictable. Find a balance between changing it up and doing what is comfortable for you in the ring.
8. Don’t let stress throw your rhythm off.
9. Watch yourself in a mirror and spar to become more aware of your body language. Your body language tells your opponent what your next move is.
10. Get a sense of spatial awareness in the ring. In my first fight, I was hesitant to make sudden direction changes such as dashing backwards or any circular movements.
11. Moving around on your feet while simultaneously striking requires strong calves. Strengthen your calf muscles to prevent you from getting tired.
12. Work on your lower body mobility for better balance.
13. A flexible spine can help make sure that your strikes are executed in a relaxed mode rather than a tense mode (which can lead to fatigue). Stretch more!

—Want to learn Muay Thai or fight competitively? Learn more about Muay Thai and MMA classes for adults in Northern Virginia. For those of you who don’t live near Sterling, VA, or Calvert County, MD, check out our youtube channel for Muay Thai how-tos.