Starting out...

[Sv_Mtl]

Would anyone here have any insider tips for a newbie just starting out in Muay Thai? Picture a flux capacitor salesman cutting you a deal, if you had to start again, what would you do differently? Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

[zghfd]

Well I've been training in MT for about 6 months. Most important thing I found was putting of calling up and starting training. I thought about doing it for a long time before I got off my arse and actually started, and now I love it.

Make sure you find a good school. You can tell one because the head trainer will have had multiple fights, and there should be some fighters there too. If not make sure they at least spar.

Train hard, go regularly.

[Jamiefighter]

I would really focus on form. When I first started training my old trainers would tell me "kick and punch with everything you got till you collapse and then eventually form will evolve"-don't do that, rather do the opposite where you focus on form then work it out. My first fight was under my old trainers and it was ugly, but then I went to a different gym that focused on form as well as working out and my next fight was awesome and I scored a KO. I really wish in the beginning I would have taken the time to shadowbox, work on the stance, making sure my chin was tucked and hands up and tight, etc. instead I worked on hitting the pad as hard as I could, as fast as I could, and for the longest peroid of time. So I try and remember this (a qoute from one of my trainers) "Without thinking, Muay Thai is just a workout"

[jcolvin]

As for the class I agree with JamieFighter. The other thing that I would stress is what you do outside of class. First, you really need to improve your cardio. This will improve your endurance and recovery. Second, you need to practice. If you want to improve you have to put the work in. If you can't work with someone every day then do some shadowboxing. If you can do this in a mirror so that you can see any errors you are making. Finally, you are going to have to start a weight training program to complement you MA goals. Also, watch your diet.