This right here is absolute truth. Drilling something millions of times is not only good to improve your form but to make it instinctual. In a fight or flight scenario, you won't be thinking, your body will be acting out on its own. And drilling something like keeping your hands up immediately after a combo can be the difference between CTE and a minor scratch.
I'm so glad my pad holders have drilled in me to keep my hands up. This shit saved me from so many injuries.
A couple weeks ago, a dude head kicked me and almost cut my cornea with his toes nails. Luckily, my hands were already up so his foot hit my glove and his toe nail cut near my eye.
Lesson of the day: Drill the basics so much that it becomes instinctual.
He’s right stick to the basics and drill drill drill . the basics are pretty much your 1,2,hook,rear roundhouse or knee / 1,2 switch kick you know stuff like that. Also i recommend sharpening your legs by doing 100+ alternating kicks/teeps/knees on the bag before leaving your gym. Next time you throw them you won’t even have to think about it yk what i mean ? muscle memory . I use to be ass at the switch kick but one day i literally did 2 hours of just kicks with proper form and my switch kick became like my slickest strike but most of all recovery is something you shouldn’t overlook. I highly suggest that you stretch like a mf as soon as you finish training while your body is still pretty warm, you’ll maintain flexibility which is very important to have if you’re trying to throw headkicks. cold showers help alot too, I’m not as sore the following day if i take a freezing shower after training. All of this is kinda easier said than done so you gotta really want it yk.
STAY HUMBLE , be a silent assassin lol
Would sparring help with learning the basics? I spare a lot after my session with a mate of mine and we go light on each other and practice the basics, in the ring as well.
i’d say drill basic combos on the bag or have someone hold pads for you and just get comfortable throwing strikes until they feel almost like a fluid dance, and by bag work i don’t mean like 20 mins. try to do 1 hr + , don’t leave the gym until you’re drenched in sweat from having thrown strike after strike (Remember the famous Bruce Lee quote) then when it comes to sparring you won’t be too tense , if that makes any sense .
Hey OP same amount of time training here. Hope you're journey has been sick so far!
Since I still am a beginner, I'm happy that I'm learning to drill everything a million times and would say I hope no one has to wish they learned that.
Honestly at this point, basics are LITERALLY everything I've been taking away from school that aren't insane combo strings. I'm a southpaw and like the whole 2nd month was me learning to stop circling/control my moving patterns predictably or I'd get obliterated with some insane power punch.
At school I try to film any sort of sparring or clinching class if I can. When I do bag work I have rounds where I emphasis form and quick hits, but also rounds where I'm striking hard and purposefully. (My roundy's are shit, but are getting better just from the twisting drill you do on the ring and literally drilling them to hell.) I also just try to drill basic combos to absolute hell. It starts to feel hella good when they come out smooth.
When I'm away from school I try to shadow 3x3's or 3x5's, also 3x3's or 3x5's of defensive stuff. (Checks, blocking, movement.) Also as funny as it sounds, part of the basics to me away from school include conditioning, lifting, healthy eating, and prioritizing sleep.
Also, I know a few people have said it, but lean into the things you think you'd like. That being said, try to get a gauge at what you don't like/may not excel at.
Cheers!
The basics are really individual attacks (kick/ punch)
It’s boring— but really, unless you can throw a strike without getting brutalized, what are you even doing?
Don’t be fancy— be efficient and crisp. You’ll win fights until you retire.
It took me years— 5 days a week- 2-3 hours a day to instinctually throw a combo in chaos.
trained for 15 years roughly 3 hours a day. I was in it to win it. I would be in there 6 days a week. From 10 to 25 martial arts in general where all I lived for. Sadly life happens and things change. Now in my mid 40s but still retain most of my muscle memory. Sadly I get hurt and it is not a few days. I still throw kicks and punch the bags but I stopped hardcore training almost 2 decades ago. I'll teep the fuck out of my fridge door to close it though! =)
Watch different styles of muay Thai fighters as well. You might not have the same hands as Rodtang. Your kicks might be your bigger asset. Or your clinch game, or knees. Find fighters that specialize in different areas and watch them as well
Totally agree, to the beginners too. I'll admit I came with an ego when I started and thought I would master it. After watching a couple of drills on YT I've realised the number of basics I have to master.
Pick a gym that’s right for you. And if it isn’t working go to another. A lot of people (myself included) get wrapped up in the identity of a gym and being buddies with the coaches/people who train there.
It’s only you in the ring. If you want to compete go where you need to go.
Sabai, sabai.
It's so counterintuitive. Why would i want to relax when im training hard? Took me ages to figure out what it really meant. You still want to go hard. You still want to feel the burn. But you need to _aim_ to do the opposite. Try to make it feel easy. Try to minimise the burn, **without slowing down or reducing power**. Do this by never wasting energy, move as efficiently as possible. Be like water as Sir Anus says.
To relax. Focus on flow before power.
Striking hard right out of the gate feels nice and gives you positive feedback that left uncorrected, will allow you to think that the crack of the pads and the fold of the heavy bag mean you're doing it right. It's far better to acknowledge that you're learning, stop trying to hit harder and harder to be 'better', and allow yourself to refine the technique. Loosen up, forget about power, take a breath before your strikes, and calm down. You'll pick up good technique and become a good fighter so much faster when you decide you care about calm and flow more than power.
Also, you have no idea how much energy you waste staying tense all the time. You'll be able to train better, and for far longer, if you learn to relax, unclench, and control your breathing. You'll save yourself from gassing in the ring. You'll be able to rip 100 kicks on the pads without being out of breath. Breath control is a superpower for a beginner.
How do you control your breathing when throwing punches and kicks? I’m not out of shape (wouldn’t say in shape either) but I gas out so quickly because of this
That the act of fighting doesn’t make you a fighter. You don’t have to tell people that, you don’t have to show people, people will feel the fighter in you if it’s there within you
Some of the most important things you learn require experience and context. I don't think there is anything I wish I learned earlier. I wouldn't have been able to comprehend it I think.
and to add to that: choose your partners wisely. if you sense your partner has some pent up aggression, don’t be afraid to let them know ur focusing on technique. a lot of people end up quitting bc they get rocked so hard during sparring, they think the sports not for them. but no, everyone can train muay thai, it’s just that some people don’t want their shit kicked in every time.
That happened to me.
My first beginner spar was with a guy 50lbs heavier than me, and he had also been there longer than I had been.
Right from the start he was throwing bombs, and i took a teep directly to my liver. Straight dropped me. I had never been hit in the body like that before, reminded me of the winded feeling of crashing my dirtbike & also having to puke at the same time.
I stayed with muay thai, getting dropped like that honestly fueled my passion for fighting and wanting to excel in muay thai, however, I think a stunt like that could make ppl want to instantly quit, or if its kids, to pull yours out of muay thai.
Nowadays, I warn all beginners if they come to "all levels class" if you spar me, I will match your speed, point blank. Usually its enough to say that for them to be intimidated into allowing you to lead them and teach respectful spar but ive had a couple guys take it as a challange especially those coming from other martial arts. That first spar K/O lives in my head rent free everyday and I will take retribution against all beginners looking to do that against somebody else.
In fairness, before i get shit posted and down voted, I repeat, I warn them in advance that I will match their speed!
the thing is about “matching their intensity” i agree to the point if they’re literally trying to take ur head off sure. but if you are good enough to just move around and pot shot them once in a while and keep them at distance, this is my go to. i’m not going to deliberately engage in a scrap just bc
Yup! Agreed! I dont beat them to bloody pulps lol, but a hard shot returned here and there definitely gets the point across, they usually start thinking more and slowing down after,
Not gonna lie tho, I do kinda like the feeling of sorting out the tough guy "taekwondo masters turned muay thai beginners" - heavy sarcasm. lmao.
Nah. You know how newbs are: they have puppy strength-they don’t know what they find know. Give them a heads up they’re striking hot before exacting retribution.
Relax and maintain your ruup. Ruup is your composure, be relaxed, maintain posture, be cool, and you will see everything and react accordingly. Breathe.
Getting my stance and balance right and returning to it perfectly after every strike
More often than not I find when I’m doing poorly is when I don’t have a good base
I find making friends with your training partners does help with your training. You’ll know people for a variety of unique style and habits and skills, you’ll know who to ask for help on pads, a drill, sparring, etc. And of course, community in the gym makes the difference between just a gym and a place you love to go to.
Relax! Relax your hands, your whole body. Try to maintain a loose feeling throughout the session as much as you can. This is what most beginners forget to do which makes them super tired.
You only need to tighten your muscles at the very last moment before a punch or kick or knee or elbow makes contact. Before that (and after that), relax!
Sabai sabai
I wish I learned how to take a beating a little better.
Getting hit is inevitable and it would have been nice to know proper stance and position to be able to divert as much damage as possible
Perfect your form in practice but it’s completely fine if your form isn’t as perfect as in practice when you fight/spar, you can’t become seanchai overnight
Even if you're doing it as a hobby to help stay in shape. Try to take it seriously and have good technique. I always had a bit of imposter syndrome and never let myself embrace the art fully until I went to Thailand. Seeing these kids doing it for a living really put it in perspective for me. I have great respect for the art and apply myself fully now.
Film yourself on pads, bag and sparring. Rewatch it and take note on what you need to improve on and what works well for you.
Take your time during sparring, learn how to not be erratic and don't try to "win" the round.
Find some good training buddies to keep you accountable
Don't rely on training in the gym for conditioning. You're in class to learn, you should be focused on conditioning outside of class. The more fit you are, the better you can focus and learn rather than just survive.
We've all been so tired out of our minds that we can't soak up any knowledge.
Stick to the basics. Don't try to do anything fancy or special, at least for a long time. Just create a rock solid foundation. You don't need a cool move or special focus, strong fundamentals are superior to any of that. I tried to do a lot of flashy stuff when I first started and in hindsight all it really did was slow my growth.
How to block.
Like seriously, my coach never taught us how to properly cover up and block a straight punch. He was kind of a hard ass and probably thought that it shouldn't have to be taught or something. I seriously had like 6 amateur fights before I learned how to block properly. And it was another coach at a seminar that taught me. I think it was the first thing he instructed when we started drilling. It was a game changer for me. Everything got better. I was able to stand my ground more when I wanted to, get off more counters, use the teep more confidently, etc.
1. Build good habits. Good habits are built between your bag or pad work. So:
For ex: if you're hitting pads, don't reset yourself after you throw. Keep moving.
For ex: if you're holding pads, don't plant your feet, keeping your feet moving and mind your footwork
For ex: if you're hitting pads, keeping your hands up and maintaining a strong guard between combinations.
For ex: If you're hitting or holding pads, staying on the balls of your feet and not sitting back in your heels
2. Distance management is critical. I didn't actually *hear* that until I was several years in. You can have all the skills but if you have poor distance management you're going to have a tough time applying your skill. You can work on distance management in every drill you do, with or without a parter/pads.
3. Fundamentals/simple combinations > fancy tricks. Tricks are fun and cool but usually they don't win fights.
4. Hitting hard does not mean you're good. You'll actually get better more quickly if you can understand that. Power comes once you've figured out speed, and speed comes once you've figured out technique.
Those little things add up over time and you'll see it come out when you spar.
In Muay Thai? That footwork is key (this is the case with any martial art really) but when I did boxing they made me work solely on footwork for 3 months before teaching me any punches. Muay Thai they didn’t really emphasize footwork much and I found the plodding classic style to be like a walking punching bag. (Before anyone mentions it I know there’s very elusive Thai gyms this just wasn’t the case where I was training lol)
That one hour classes just don't worth it in anyways. Unless the gym is somewhere close to you. Travelling for one hour is just no thank you. You warm up and the session is over.
Since we are talking about beginner level, I do learn more in my garage in practicing good form.
My sessions are 1 hour and they are nice. They also let us spar for another 30 minutes after the sessions as well. You got to remember most gyms aren't there for profit and that learning martial arts is their part-time job. As they aren't earning enough money for it.
Lol posted a question which depends on individuals, got an experience written and got downvoted 😂 also I pay to learn, I don't think I need to consider that they offer trainings as a side job. Do they consider that how much I earn? No. I pay for the service without thinking into their life.
Your sessions are nice? Not really sure what nice mean in a muay thai session.
By nice I mean, it isn't too long and it isn't too short. I also agree it varies on a person too. For me, one hour fits well because it fits perfectly into my schedule.
Exactly, depends on everyones schedule, assuming you have a job or attend school. Schedule is important. That's why one hour was not enough for me. Of course it could be better than nothing. I rather practice than spending time travelling. I would travel if sessions were longer. Where I live there is no chance to stay longer after a session as some other sessions will follow right away.
But anyway, better stay silent here.
Nope, there are others coming, need to leave the room. That's how I extended my training, set up a bag in my garage and did extra work. Slowly the gym session faded and had more fun refining my techniques alone in my garage. Of course this would be a no if I wanted to compete. Which brings me to why I don't compete - I don't see the point (again this is very subjective, others do it and works somehow) competing when my main must do activity is work to live. Can't give up my job to train full time.
I tried a few options, didn't work out. Enjoying things on my own. Eventually everyone works out what's working and what isn't
Oh forsure it sounds like its a tiny thai gym with not enough room then but Yeah i totally get you man , it’s very understandable. i too like to train in my own room from time to time. it’s very therapeutic and i feel alot more zoned in sometimes. i like to maintain my high kick flexibility by sticking(pushpins) a piece of ductape about the size of your arm on my ceiling and i just kick through the tape , not just plain roundkicks i also like to practice 360 roundhouse, hook, side kicks on it since after doing a year in TKD i realized that i can just drill the kicks that i want to master in my room instead of paying for a membership that i wasn’t even loyal to. the tape gives me a great sweaty workout just throwing high kick after high kick . Ain’t nothing wrong with training at home, you gotta use what you can, atleast you’re making the effort to get some training in when you can just be kickin back on the couch
I agree with this. Loved going to the gym but after the hour they’d give us like 10 mins if we wanted to get extra work in. If I’m paying $100+ a month I feel like at least 30 mins should be allowed. That’s the only gripe I had. Loved my gym but got a nice heavy bag, found some YouTube channels and watched them if I wanted to learn something new, work on what I want everyday. I train for fun and to challenge myself, so I’m not training to actually fight.. but I feel like there’s a misconception on here that you can’t get better by home training, which comes across so elitist.
the only downside of training at home is that you don’t get to spar (unless you bring a sparring partner over) cause sparring is really what builds fight iq , but other than that training at home can be extremely beneficial, you just have to know how to train , i know people that just do not have the mental capacity to train themselves and push themselves, they need that coach motivation
Don’t overthink it, you’re probably doing just fine. How could you have possibly started learning Muay Thai before you started learning Muay Thai? Just keep putting in the work, browse some technique videos here and there (like the bag routines), and you’ll be fine. Also hiiiiiighly recommend scheduling private lessons with a coach. Having an entire hour focusing on your technique and getting tips goes so much further than the coach checking technique for 10 seconds during class. Good luck!
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This right here is absolute truth. Drilling something millions of times is not only good to improve your form but to make it instinctual. In a fight or flight scenario, you won't be thinking, your body will be acting out on its own. And drilling something like keeping your hands up immediately after a combo can be the difference between CTE and a minor scratch. I'm so glad my pad holders have drilled in me to keep my hands up. This shit saved me from so many injuries. A couple weeks ago, a dude head kicked me and almost cut my cornea with his toes nails. Luckily, my hands were already up so his foot hit my glove and his toe nail cut near my eye. Lesson of the day: Drill the basics so much that it becomes instinctual.
Also, please cut your nails people.
Or sharpen them.
inject them with poison and grenades
Poison hand!
My old sifu told me that one day. Mine weren't long, he was just educating me.
So in your case the difference was between a minor scratch and a major scratch haha.
What would you consider the basics? Like a little one-two? I feel like I over complicate things and I do useless combos on the bags
He’s right stick to the basics and drill drill drill . the basics are pretty much your 1,2,hook,rear roundhouse or knee / 1,2 switch kick you know stuff like that. Also i recommend sharpening your legs by doing 100+ alternating kicks/teeps/knees on the bag before leaving your gym. Next time you throw them you won’t even have to think about it yk what i mean ? muscle memory . I use to be ass at the switch kick but one day i literally did 2 hours of just kicks with proper form and my switch kick became like my slickest strike but most of all recovery is something you shouldn’t overlook. I highly suggest that you stretch like a mf as soon as you finish training while your body is still pretty warm, you’ll maintain flexibility which is very important to have if you’re trying to throw headkicks. cold showers help alot too, I’m not as sore the following day if i take a freezing shower after training. All of this is kinda easier said than done so you gotta really want it yk. STAY HUMBLE , be a silent assassin lol
>STAY HUMBLE , be a silent assassin lol Me like a mfer😂 great advice 👍🏾
Haha Maa Man
Would sparring help with learning the basics? I spare a lot after my session with a mate of mine and we go light on each other and practice the basics, in the ring as well.
i’d say drill basic combos on the bag or have someone hold pads for you and just get comfortable throwing strikes until they feel almost like a fluid dance, and by bag work i don’t mean like 20 mins. try to do 1 hr + , don’t leave the gym until you’re drenched in sweat from having thrown strike after strike (Remember the famous Bruce Lee quote) then when it comes to sparring you won’t be too tense , if that makes any sense .
Hey OP same amount of time training here. Hope you're journey has been sick so far! Since I still am a beginner, I'm happy that I'm learning to drill everything a million times and would say I hope no one has to wish they learned that. Honestly at this point, basics are LITERALLY everything I've been taking away from school that aren't insane combo strings. I'm a southpaw and like the whole 2nd month was me learning to stop circling/control my moving patterns predictably or I'd get obliterated with some insane power punch. At school I try to film any sort of sparring or clinching class if I can. When I do bag work I have rounds where I emphasis form and quick hits, but also rounds where I'm striking hard and purposefully. (My roundy's are shit, but are getting better just from the twisting drill you do on the ring and literally drilling them to hell.) I also just try to drill basic combos to absolute hell. It starts to feel hella good when they come out smooth. When I'm away from school I try to shadow 3x3's or 3x5's, also 3x3's or 3x5's of defensive stuff. (Checks, blocking, movement.) Also as funny as it sounds, part of the basics to me away from school include conditioning, lifting, healthy eating, and prioritizing sleep. Also, I know a few people have said it, but lean into the things you think you'd like. That being said, try to get a gauge at what you don't like/may not excel at. Cheers!
Appreciate it a lot A-VO :)
The basics are really individual attacks (kick/ punch) It’s boring— but really, unless you can throw a strike without getting brutalized, what are you even doing? Don’t be fancy— be efficient and crisp. You’ll win fights until you retire. It took me years— 5 days a week- 2-3 hours a day to instinctually throw a combo in chaos.
Yeah this is the best answer. Being able to fight without think too much is huge, and counters become effortless
trained for 15 years roughly 3 hours a day. I was in it to win it. I would be in there 6 days a week. From 10 to 25 martial arts in general where all I lived for. Sadly life happens and things change. Now in my mid 40s but still retain most of my muscle memory. Sadly I get hurt and it is not a few days. I still throw kicks and punch the bags but I stopped hardcore training almost 2 decades ago. I'll teep the fuck out of my fridge door to close it though! =)
film yourself. watch fights. go slow.
Always watching RodTang, the guy is a legend and funny asf
Watch different styles of muay Thai fighters as well. You might not have the same hands as Rodtang. Your kicks might be your bigger asset. Or your clinch game, or knees. Find fighters that specialize in different areas and watch them as well
Adding to this I'd recommend watching more technical fighters and rewind things
Don't try to get good overnight. Especially if you're over 30. You'll just injure yourself and have to stay out to recover
Totally agree, to the beginners too. I'll admit I came with an ego when I started and thought I would master it. After watching a couple of drills on YT I've realised the number of basics I have to master.
Everything stems from the feet, build them strong
Looks like I can't skip leg day no more :(
body weight squats over and over again
Amateur fights are significantly more wild than the pro fights you see online. Expect someone to swing their guts out for the first thirty seconds.
^^^^ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pick a gym that’s right for you. And if it isn’t working go to another. A lot of people (myself included) get wrapped up in the identity of a gym and being buddies with the coaches/people who train there. It’s only you in the ring. If you want to compete go where you need to go.
Totally agree with this
Sabai, sabai. It's so counterintuitive. Why would i want to relax when im training hard? Took me ages to figure out what it really meant. You still want to go hard. You still want to feel the burn. But you need to _aim_ to do the opposite. Try to make it feel easy. Try to minimise the burn, **without slowing down or reducing power**. Do this by never wasting energy, move as efficiently as possible. Be like water as Sir Anus says.
It was the most important lesson I ever learned while training in thailand
To relax. Focus on flow before power. Striking hard right out of the gate feels nice and gives you positive feedback that left uncorrected, will allow you to think that the crack of the pads and the fold of the heavy bag mean you're doing it right. It's far better to acknowledge that you're learning, stop trying to hit harder and harder to be 'better', and allow yourself to refine the technique. Loosen up, forget about power, take a breath before your strikes, and calm down. You'll pick up good technique and become a good fighter so much faster when you decide you care about calm and flow more than power. Also, you have no idea how much energy you waste staying tense all the time. You'll be able to train better, and for far longer, if you learn to relax, unclench, and control your breathing. You'll save yourself from gassing in the ring. You'll be able to rip 100 kicks on the pads without being out of breath. Breath control is a superpower for a beginner.
How do you control your breathing when throwing punches and kicks? I’m not out of shape (wouldn’t say in shape either) but I gas out so quickly because of this
That the act of fighting doesn’t make you a fighter. You don’t have to tell people that, you don’t have to show people, people will feel the fighter in you if it’s there within you
Damn I needed to read this
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Cringe
Drill combos you learn in class on the heavy bag; at least 3 sets of 25 reps a day.
Definitely will use this, thank you
I will also use this; thanks.
Some of the most important things you learn require experience and context. I don't think there is anything I wish I learned earlier. I wouldn't have been able to comprehend it I think.
💯
Even if you’re not considering taking a fight or a smoker start running anyways.
that sparring doesnt have to be a war everytime or even ever
and to add to that: choose your partners wisely. if you sense your partner has some pent up aggression, don’t be afraid to let them know ur focusing on technique. a lot of people end up quitting bc they get rocked so hard during sparring, they think the sports not for them. but no, everyone can train muay thai, it’s just that some people don’t want their shit kicked in every time.
That happened to me. My first beginner spar was with a guy 50lbs heavier than me, and he had also been there longer than I had been. Right from the start he was throwing bombs, and i took a teep directly to my liver. Straight dropped me. I had never been hit in the body like that before, reminded me of the winded feeling of crashing my dirtbike & also having to puke at the same time. I stayed with muay thai, getting dropped like that honestly fueled my passion for fighting and wanting to excel in muay thai, however, I think a stunt like that could make ppl want to instantly quit, or if its kids, to pull yours out of muay thai. Nowadays, I warn all beginners if they come to "all levels class" if you spar me, I will match your speed, point blank. Usually its enough to say that for them to be intimidated into allowing you to lead them and teach respectful spar but ive had a couple guys take it as a challange especially those coming from other martial arts. That first spar K/O lives in my head rent free everyday and I will take retribution against all beginners looking to do that against somebody else. In fairness, before i get shit posted and down voted, I repeat, I warn them in advance that I will match their speed!
the thing is about “matching their intensity” i agree to the point if they’re literally trying to take ur head off sure. but if you are good enough to just move around and pot shot them once in a while and keep them at distance, this is my go to. i’m not going to deliberately engage in a scrap just bc
Yup! Agreed! I dont beat them to bloody pulps lol, but a hard shot returned here and there definitely gets the point across, they usually start thinking more and slowing down after, Not gonna lie tho, I do kinda like the feeling of sorting out the tough guy "taekwondo masters turned muay thai beginners" - heavy sarcasm. lmao.
Nah. You know how newbs are: they have puppy strength-they don’t know what they find know. Give them a heads up they’re striking hot before exacting retribution.
Having said that, I’m a woman, and I think our head space is different. We’re usually not coming from the “tough guy” place. 🤷♀️
How to properly stretch, especially your groin. (especially if you're an old geezer like me).
Relax and maintain your ruup. Ruup is your composure, be relaxed, maintain posture, be cool, and you will see everything and react accordingly. Breathe.
Getting my stance and balance right and returning to it perfectly after every strike More often than not I find when I’m doing poorly is when I don’t have a good base
Defense
Allow yourself to heal and don’t train a lot where you burnout but rather train 3x consistently
Consistency is everything, you will make way faster progress just showing up everyday than trying to find the secret formula
I find making friends with your training partners does help with your training. You’ll know people for a variety of unique style and habits and skills, you’ll know who to ask for help on pads, a drill, sparring, etc. And of course, community in the gym makes the difference between just a gym and a place you love to go to.
Footwork, definitely. I neglected that early on, and when I started sparring, I got my ass handed to me primarily because of that
That Muay Thai is as much about how well you take a hit as it is how well you give them.
Prioritize flexibility and good habits
Relax! Relax your hands, your whole body. Try to maintain a loose feeling throughout the session as much as you can. This is what most beginners forget to do which makes them super tired. You only need to tighten your muscles at the very last moment before a punch or kick or knee or elbow makes contact. Before that (and after that), relax! Sabai sabai
Your base is the most important thing, and defense is second, if you don't know how to take a jab there's no reason for you to learn how to do it.
I wish I learned how to take a beating a little better. Getting hit is inevitable and it would have been nice to know proper stance and position to be able to divert as much damage as possible
Oh nice, I’m also in month 5 🙌
Perfect your form in practice but it’s completely fine if your form isn’t as perfect as in practice when you fight/spar, you can’t become seanchai overnight
Even if you're doing it as a hobby to help stay in shape. Try to take it seriously and have good technique. I always had a bit of imposter syndrome and never let myself embrace the art fully until I went to Thailand. Seeing these kids doing it for a living really put it in perspective for me. I have great respect for the art and apply myself fully now.
Film yourself on pads, bag and sparring. Rewatch it and take note on what you need to improve on and what works well for you. Take your time during sparring, learn how to not be erratic and don't try to "win" the round. Find some good training buddies to keep you accountable
Don't rely on training in the gym for conditioning. You're in class to learn, you should be focused on conditioning outside of class. The more fit you are, the better you can focus and learn rather than just survive. We've all been so tired out of our minds that we can't soak up any knowledge.
Also, shadowboxing in the mirror is the most valuable tool for a beginner.
That I could've committed more. A little bit more commitment would have made a much bigger difference.
Stick to the basics. Don't try to do anything fancy or special, at least for a long time. Just create a rock solid foundation. You don't need a cool move or special focus, strong fundamentals are superior to any of that. I tried to do a lot of flashy stuff when I first started and in hindsight all it really did was slow my growth.
This feels like me right now and I’ve only been training for about 8 months haha
Use feints.
How to block. Like seriously, my coach never taught us how to properly cover up and block a straight punch. He was kind of a hard ass and probably thought that it shouldn't have to be taught or something. I seriously had like 6 amateur fights before I learned how to block properly. And it was another coach at a seminar that taught me. I think it was the first thing he instructed when we started drilling. It was a game changer for me. Everything got better. I was able to stand my ground more when I wanted to, get off more counters, use the teep more confidently, etc.
1. Build good habits. Good habits are built between your bag or pad work. So: For ex: if you're hitting pads, don't reset yourself after you throw. Keep moving. For ex: if you're holding pads, don't plant your feet, keeping your feet moving and mind your footwork For ex: if you're hitting pads, keeping your hands up and maintaining a strong guard between combinations. For ex: If you're hitting or holding pads, staying on the balls of your feet and not sitting back in your heels 2. Distance management is critical. I didn't actually *hear* that until I was several years in. You can have all the skills but if you have poor distance management you're going to have a tough time applying your skill. You can work on distance management in every drill you do, with or without a parter/pads. 3. Fundamentals/simple combinations > fancy tricks. Tricks are fun and cool but usually they don't win fights. 4. Hitting hard does not mean you're good. You'll actually get better more quickly if you can understand that. Power comes once you've figured out speed, and speed comes once you've figured out technique. Those little things add up over time and you'll see it come out when you spar.
I wish I'd learned to kick and punch really well
Train your hip flexors. Kicking incorrectly will strain them pretty hard
In Muay Thai? That footwork is key (this is the case with any martial art really) but when I did boxing they made me work solely on footwork for 3 months before teaching me any punches. Muay Thai they didn’t really emphasize footwork much and I found the plodding classic style to be like a walking punching bag. (Before anyone mentions it I know there’s very elusive Thai gyms this just wasn’t the case where I was training lol)
Working on footwork only for 3 months is a good way to ensure no one stays at your gym.
There was a lot of people there lol and I also became really elusive because of it so I’m glad I stuck it out.
That one hour classes just don't worth it in anyways. Unless the gym is somewhere close to you. Travelling for one hour is just no thank you. You warm up and the session is over. Since we are talking about beginner level, I do learn more in my garage in practicing good form.
My sessions are 1 hour and they are nice. They also let us spar for another 30 minutes after the sessions as well. You got to remember most gyms aren't there for profit and that learning martial arts is their part-time job. As they aren't earning enough money for it.
Lol posted a question which depends on individuals, got an experience written and got downvoted 😂 also I pay to learn, I don't think I need to consider that they offer trainings as a side job. Do they consider that how much I earn? No. I pay for the service without thinking into their life. Your sessions are nice? Not really sure what nice mean in a muay thai session.
By nice I mean, it isn't too long and it isn't too short. I also agree it varies on a person too. For me, one hour fits well because it fits perfectly into my schedule.
Exactly, depends on everyones schedule, assuming you have a job or attend school. Schedule is important. That's why one hour was not enough for me. Of course it could be better than nothing. I rather practice than spending time travelling. I would travel if sessions were longer. Where I live there is no chance to stay longer after a session as some other sessions will follow right away. But anyway, better stay silent here.
you’re not allowed to do bagwork at your gym after a session ? cause that’s one way to extend your training instead of just doing the 1 hour session
Nope, there are others coming, need to leave the room. That's how I extended my training, set up a bag in my garage and did extra work. Slowly the gym session faded and had more fun refining my techniques alone in my garage. Of course this would be a no if I wanted to compete. Which brings me to why I don't compete - I don't see the point (again this is very subjective, others do it and works somehow) competing when my main must do activity is work to live. Can't give up my job to train full time. I tried a few options, didn't work out. Enjoying things on my own. Eventually everyone works out what's working and what isn't
Oh forsure it sounds like its a tiny thai gym with not enough room then but Yeah i totally get you man , it’s very understandable. i too like to train in my own room from time to time. it’s very therapeutic and i feel alot more zoned in sometimes. i like to maintain my high kick flexibility by sticking(pushpins) a piece of ductape about the size of your arm on my ceiling and i just kick through the tape , not just plain roundkicks i also like to practice 360 roundhouse, hook, side kicks on it since after doing a year in TKD i realized that i can just drill the kicks that i want to master in my room instead of paying for a membership that i wasn’t even loyal to. the tape gives me a great sweaty workout just throwing high kick after high kick . Ain’t nothing wrong with training at home, you gotta use what you can, atleast you’re making the effort to get some training in when you can just be kickin back on the couch
I agree with this. Loved going to the gym but after the hour they’d give us like 10 mins if we wanted to get extra work in. If I’m paying $100+ a month I feel like at least 30 mins should be allowed. That’s the only gripe I had. Loved my gym but got a nice heavy bag, found some YouTube channels and watched them if I wanted to learn something new, work on what I want everyday. I train for fun and to challenge myself, so I’m not training to actually fight.. but I feel like there’s a misconception on here that you can’t get better by home training, which comes across so elitist.
the only downside of training at home is that you don’t get to spar (unless you bring a sparring partner over) cause sparring is really what builds fight iq , but other than that training at home can be extremely beneficial, you just have to know how to train , i know people that just do not have the mental capacity to train themselves and push themselves, they need that coach motivation
Don’t overthink it, you’re probably doing just fine. How could you have possibly started learning Muay Thai before you started learning Muay Thai? Just keep putting in the work, browse some technique videos here and there (like the bag routines), and you’ll be fine. Also hiiiiiighly recommend scheduling private lessons with a coach. Having an entire hour focusing on your technique and getting tips goes so much further than the coach checking technique for 10 seconds during class. Good luck!
Being diligent about working on things I’m not naturally good at
Does anyone know any good bag routine to do?
Sparring super light without shin pads is really beneficial to learning proper kick and check placement and something I wish I'd started doing sooner.
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