So, you’ve finally decided to pick yourself up and train Muay Thai?
Well, now your problem is that you have to pick the right gym. You may already have a few in mind right now, most of which from recommendations of friends who’ve been there before, or who are currently training there. If that’s the case, then you’re lucky.
But, for those who aren’t so lucky to know of anyone who’s training in Muay Thai, choosing the right gym isn’t that easy.
It’s not exactly like finding a needle in a haystack, but it’ll definitely take some time.
To help you with finding the right Muay Thai gym, here are a few proven tips.
- Check if it’s authentic. Look it up online and if possible, visit the site. You may not know much about Muay Thai right now, but I’m pretty sure you’ve watched a couple of videos already. With that knowledge alone, you should know how to tell if it’s Real Muay Thai, including all the elbows, knees, punches, kicks, clinches, guards and grapples, and if it’s not.
- Certification and Competition. Look up the accredited organizations, such as the Thai Boxing Association USA (TBA) and check if the gym is accredited. If not, check where theytrained Muay Thai. You’ll also want to check if they have a fight team and if they’re willing to train those who they see potential and competency in given time.
- Check the place. Different people have different preferences, so I can’t speak for you if you like training in rural environments, or if you prefer in a more modern gym. As such, be sure to check the place out and see if the overall vibe of the place agrees with you.
- Convenience and Versatility. If they’re authentic, have a fight team and are certified, another thing that you’ll want to check is their location and versatility. The latter by checking if they’re accredited to teach in MMA, JiuJitsu or boxing, as many who practice Muay Thai tend to cross train in those martial arts and vice versa.
- Of course, the word of mouth is a good way to assess if a certain gym is really as good as it’s advertised to be. So, don’t be afraid to ask around, especially in areas near the gym. Or, you can also look up “reviews” of the Muay Thai gym and its instructors online to see if a few satisfied, or *gulp* disgruntled trainees had a few things to say about them.
- Your budget. Not all Muay Thai gyms are priced the same. Some are a bit more expensive, especially those with multiple accreditations and certifications. So, be sure to check and see if you can afford the membership fee first before even considering to enroll in a particular gym.
As you can see, choosing the right Muay Thai gym isn’t easy. But, with these tips, it should be a whole lot easier, not to mention, a lot more fun.
