Here are some tips for those that are new to Muay Thai training or are hesitating to start. So, if you need some pointers on how to make the hard stuff a little easier, please read below.
1. Attending the first session
I remember the first time I walked into a Muay Thai gym. The sounds and smell of liniment was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
Attending the first session was essentially a big challenge to overcome. For anyone starting Muay Thai, attending the first session is always intimidating. I had an image in my head that a thaiboxing gym was full of people beating each other up! I quickly found out how wrong I was, as I was introduced to a room full of people with knowledge and respect.
Absolutely everyone attending a thaiboxing gym started as complete beginner. Hence, the people around you know exactly how you feel when you step foot into a Muay Thai gym, for the first time.
The good news is that these feelings quickly pass. As soon as you get moving and ease into the session, learning technique will become your number one priority.
2. What am I doing here?!
Your first few months of Muay Thai training will feel clumsy, it’s perfectly fine. Unfortunately, what you think is the most basic of movements will make you feel completely uncoordinated!
It is important to keep consistently practising your technique and listening to improvements prompted by your coaches. Just have the listening ears on and try to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
Learning Muay Thai involves developing your skill set, increasing your fitness, strength and conditioning. The training will be challenging – the very reason why you started training in the first place!
3. Show respect
Tradition is heavily situated within Muay Thai. Such tradition is embodied within many human cultures, and in Muay Thai showing respect to tradition is essential.
You must bow to your coaches and fellow training partners. You will soon grasp how and when the bow is to be used.
4. Muay Thai is addictive
After you have been training for a while, you will become so addicted to Muay Thai that you will want to train every day.
The thing that is important is to listen to your body and rest from training when your body tells you too. Resting is very important and over-training can lead to injures that you definitely want to avoid.
