First Time training Muay Thai in Thailand: What to Expect

After training muay thai for over 2 years in the UK and becoming obsessed with the art of 8 limbs, I planned my trip to Thailand.

I packed my bags ready for a month of training throughout December in the land of smiles.

With it being my first time visiting Thailand, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Having visited Thailand a few times for training, my instructor provided me some valuable tips to help me navigate and stay on track. I've included some of them in here as they definitely helped me.

Here’s what to expect and what to do on your first time training Muay Thai in Thailand.

Train Muay Thai Through Jet Lag

This will massively depend on where you’re travelling from. My flight from the UK was a total of 13 hours, so I was sure to have some level of jet lag… And I did.

One of the best pieces of advice I received was to train through your jet lag. The reason for this is if you rest, the jet lag will likely last longer and you’ll just be sat around or sleeping.

Go for those morning runs (or walks), see Thailand come to life in the morning and enjoy the culture change.

Training in the intense heat and humidity is going to take your mind off the jet lag and keep you focussed on why you’re there.

My first Muay Thai camp in Thailand was just outside of Bangkok at Samart Payakaroon’s gym in Sai Mai.

This was perfect as there aren’t as many foreigners here so it’s a bit easier to stay on track with less distractions such as bars and clubs.

Staying Hydrated Training Muay Thai in Thailand

This goes without saying. With the intense heat and humidity, your body is going to be sweating much more than you’re used to.

This, along with jet lag will sap your energy and strength and will leave your body feeling a bit drained.

It’s crucial that you drink plenty of water whilst your circadian rhythm is adjusting and you’re sweating the jet lag out of your system.

Eating When Training Muay Thai in Thailand

The Thai’s love food and so should you. Rich with spices, soups and the juiciest fruits, the Thai diet has everything to keep you going throughout the day.

During my first week training Muay Thai in Thailand, meals were provided to me at Samart Payakaroon’s gym. Authentic Thai food, just like the fighters eat.

Yes, it’s very different to what you’re used to eating in the West but make sure you’re eating.

As a Westerner, I’d lay off going too spicy in your first few days to a week. You need to give your body time to adjust to all the changes, some spicy Pad Ka Pow might leave you on the ropes if you indulge too early.

Learning Thai Language

Whilst the majority of Thais speak great English, if you’re staying in Thailand for an extended period of time, knowing the basics will make your life that bit easier.

Not only will it make your life easier, it shows the Thais that you’re trying to embrace their culture and can often lead you down some great paths to meeting new people.

Since I returned from Thailand I've been learning how to speak with with Kru Bo. She's an excellent teacher so if you want to get a bit more conversational experience and make your time in Thailand a bit easier, don't hesitate to book a lesson.

Embrace Thai Culture

Thai culture is amazing. Whilst training Muay Thai, you don’t want to be too focussed on just training.

Explore the temples, islands and even visit some of the tourist hotspots like Khaosan road. Find your feet and explore.

Sabai Sabai

Relax! You’re in Thailand, after a day of hard training, wind down and relax into Thai culture. Whether you’re visiting some temples, going to tourists hotspots, having a drink in a bar or just walking around, relax.

Sabai sabai is a common expression in Thailand and is one that I’ve become more accustomed too whilst travelling in Thailand.

Translated into English, the word ‘sabai’ (สบาย) means comfortable. In Thai culture, repeating a word twice puts emphasis on the word.

Make a Note of What You Learn

From language to training, be sure to make notes. Even if it’s a simple note of left uppercut, right cross, you’ll have a document of what you’ve learned.

This will help jog your memory as you look back on your notes at a later date. I personally filmed most of my training sessions so I could watch back and listen to instructions. Most gyms are fine with this but make sure to ask first.

Don't Pre book When Training Muay Thai in Thailand

When heading out to Thailand, the only thing I booked was my taxi from the airport and my first fight camp.

The reason for this is you don’t want to be rushing around without being able to take anything in. Thailand is a very easy going country and with everything so readily available, there’s no need to worry about finding a place to sleep, eat or party.

During my travels, I met and got speaking to loads of people from all around the world. You don’t want to be the one that’s constantly saying “no sorry, I can’t come to that because I have to be here”. Remember… Sabai sabai.

Last but not least…