5 Things To Take Into Consideration When Picking A Martial Arts Gym

1. Incredible instructorIt helps to know yourself when looking for the right coach and/or instructor. Know how you learn best, is it by doing, group activities, are you a feeler or need more technical instruction? Match yourself with an instructor who best suits your learning style while also challenging you.Check the lineage of your instructor, find out who taught them to do all of those badass Muay Thai moves. Find out who your instructor trains with, do they go to seminars? Do they instruct in seminars outside of their gym? All of these is relevant when deciding who you will trust to make you a better Nak Muay. [Related: Quality Check On Kru Chris]
2. PeersYou will go through the good, the bad and the ugly with other students at your gym. You’ll train together make mistakes together, triumph together, and literally fight together. These are people you should be able to trust in that context and it helps if you like them as well. Whether your type of people are obsessed with weight lifting or veganism or party people or family guys/gals or even a mix, make sure these are people you don’t mind being with for a few hours a week! [About our gym]
3. OrganizationA disorderly class can mean a longer timeline to accomplish your goals. Look for a gym with a curriculum to make sure you don’t get stuck with an instructor who is just making things up as he/she goes along. Sidenote: Bonus points if this curriculum allows for tweaks to fit the needs of the gym’s students.
4. CleanlinessThis one is critical! Don’t let anyone tell you that a dirty/bare necessities gym is better for you or building character. Sports like Muay Thai that center around sweat-producing movements, bare feet, and physical contact can be a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria. The last thing you want is a staph infection to take you out of the gym for a few weeks. Choose a gym that requires all students and instructors to follow strict hygiene guidelines. Look for a gym that not only looks clean but smells pretty clean too with plenty of ventilation. [Related: Muay Thai, The Right Way]
5. VibesUse your gut to make the call on whether or not a gym is right for you. If you feel that you are being bs’d, take your time and money somewhere else. If no one can remember your name or never makes an effort to get to know you, it might not be a good fit.

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If you are looking for a Martial Arts gym in Northern Virginia or on the fence about your current martial arts gym, try T.A.G. Muay Thai out for a FREE two-week trial. Live far away? Subscribe to for YouTube channel for  Muay Thai and self defense tips from Kru Chris.