How-To Prepare for Your First Muay Thai Class

Taking on any physical feat is 90% mental and only 10% physical. Training Muay Thai is no different. To Muay Thai beginners prepping for their first class, Kru Chris advises :

“You’ve got to have a willingness to learn and listen to those more experienced than you. That’s pretty much all you need for your first class. Aside from that, keep your hands up and kick with the shin, not the foot.”

YOUR FIRST MUAY THAI CLASS – KNOWLEDGE:

Before class, explore Muay Thai’s ancient history. It also won’t hurt to check out the Muay Thai scene on YouTube. We have a few instructional videos by Muay Thai greats like John Wayne Parr, Sanchai, and Miriam Nakamoto on the T.A.G. Muay Thai channel. You can also see some classic Muay Thai moves in action by looking up Vanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Genki Sudo, Noguira or more well-known fighter, Buakaw. [Related: Muay Thai v. Kickboxing]

YOUR FIRST MUAY THAI CLASS – PHYSICAL EXPECTATIONS:

In most classes you can expect to be walked through combos and punch/kick Thai pads. A standardPhase I Muay Thai class at T.A.G. Muay Thai incorporates stretches, bodyweight/cardio intensive conditioning, demonstration/application of stance + proper technique, and punching/kicking Thai pads.

Know that Muay Thai conditioning will make you really sore. In your first few classes, it is completely normal for you to be out of breath – even if you are “fit”. When you hold Thai pads, kicks can still hurt a bit. Kicking with your shins will be painful, but overtime, your shins will become armor-like. The good thing is that all of this conditioning and training will make you better, more skilled and resilient. [Related: Energy Systems Used to Prepare for Muay Thai Fights]

YOUR FIRST MUAY THAI CLASS – WHAT TO BRING:

• Open mind to learn
• Friendly attitude towards other students
• Mouthguard – optional
• Gloves are provided for your first Muay Thai class
• A water bottle, so that you can hydrate after class.

YOUR FIRST MUAY THAI CLASS – SHOULD YOU RETURN?

Conditioning was brutal in your first Muay Thai class and you are probably wondering if you should go back… Here are the questions you should ask yourself to see if you’ve picked the right Muay Thai school. *Kru Chris encourages people to visit and compare a few schools. [Related: What is a Muay Thai Kru?]

1. Did you like the students, teachers, and pace?
2. Is there an emphasis on self-defense, sport, or a balance of both? [Related: Is Muay Thai Effective for Self-Defense?]
3. How skilled and disciplined are other students in the class?
4. Consider travel times.

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If you remember nothing else from this guide, the main takeaway is that you should be respectful and understand that Muay Thai is a combat sport – expect muscle soreness and a bit of pain when you get hit, but don’t let that deter you from the awesome Art of Eight Limbs. [Related: Muay Thai Words & Phrases Decoded]

Live in Reston, Sterling, or nearby in Northern Virginia? Stop by T.A.G. Muay Thai for a 30-day trial.