​You’ve decided to train in the martial art of Muay Thai!
 
Let’s make sure you have all the equipment you’ll need when you start out. 

Be sure to check out our RMT PRO SHOP for all items available on site!

​You’re a busy person. You work, have a family, friends, and other hobbies and responsibilities going on in your life, you’ll want to keep all your gear in one easy place since it can be a lot to carry. The worst thing is to show up for your Muay Thai training and realizing you dropped or forgot a piece of equipment.

https://amzn.to/3BPSLC3​

​Protective equipment is a must, we will start with hand wraps. Even though your hands are padded while wearing boxing gloves, you’ll want to provide extra support to your knuckles by wearing hand wraps. They provide extra padding, keep your knuckles from smashing together and your fingers from crunching into your palm. You can either use the traditional wraps and wrap them yourself. Or you can purchase gel slip on wraps. They are much more convenient. 

Gel Wraps: https://amzn.to/376QN22
Hand Wraps: ​https://amzn.to/3y8MYVK

There are a lot of gloves out there to choose from. As a beginner, I recommend not spending too much money on expensive equipment. Eventually, you may want to treat yourself and purchase name brand or higher end equipment, however these gloves are great. They come with hand wraps and a mesh bag to keep your gloves together and to air out after a workout to help the sweat dry. Boxing glove sizing is in ounces. For Muay Thai you will want to have 14–16-ounce gloves.

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Shin guards are an import piece of safety equipment for all levels of Muay Thai training. There are sock type shin guards and strapped shin guards. I do not recommend the sock type; they get hot and sweaty which lead to bacteria growing and smells coming from your gym bag. The shin guards with adjustable straps provide the best protection for your shins.

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In the beginning you will most likely not spar until you are properly trained and ready to practice sparring with your class. Once your Kru says you are ready, and you feel ready - you’ll want head gear that provides protection and a comfortable fit.

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Your teeth VERY important. Anytime you have fists flying toward your face, wear a mouth guard.  

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Muay Thai is hard work! Always make sure to stay hydrated before - during and after training. I recommend having a large water bottle that holds enough water for your sessions. I recommed a water bottle that has a straw, that way you can grab a drink without having to take off your boxing gloves. 

​https://amzn.to/3iSGfsB

Whether you’re a newbie or returning to martial arts or even a dedicated martial artist looking for a new school, it can be a little arduous choosing a location. 
 
Choosing a combat sports gym or martial arts school shouldn’t be stressful. This should be an exciting time as you have chosen to challenge yourself to learn something new and exciting and to get in great shape in the process.
 
Often people overthink the choice or get hung up on the wrong things when researching places to train. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. You should definitely use caution and be sure you feel you’re setting yourself up to receive the best possible instruction and training.

Don’t chase big names or clout in the business, it can hamper your ability to get started and can sometimes blind you from finding a quality gym to meet your martial arts and fitness needs. This is especially true for those who wish to train and learn just for their own passion and interest. Also, to get in great shape while learning martial arts. Not all teams, gyms, and coaches are built the same. It’s important to find the culture that best fits your goals.
 


First decide exactly which martial art or combat sport you are interested in. For example here are the instructional classes we have currently at Rad Muay Thai. 

• Muay Thai
• Boxing
• Kickboxing
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Mixed Martial Arts

Most schools will have a primary focus, for example our school’s primary focus is Muay Thai. However, we have kickboxing, BJJ and strength training. 

Martial Arts schools will usually offer a free pass to try one of their classes. If you are nervous about jumping into a class right off the bat, visit the studio and observe the class you are interested in. Martial Arts studios will usually have an area where you can watch the class. That way you can get an idea of how classes are structured and an idea on what to expect if you decide to try a class. 

Register now for a free class at Rad Muay Thai!
 
 
Learn more in my video https://youtu.be/KW4Qhj7V9go
​

I recently did a video about returning to commercial gyms. During Isolation and the subsequent months of uncertainty and change, the landscape of large commercial gyms was forced into change or closure.
 
After having to close, for however long depending on where you lived, people had to find ways to get their exercise in. Many turned to home gyms. But that wasn’t an easy thing to do either with fitness supplies drying up and equipment being very hard to obtain, so many had to learn to do more with much less. This forced so many people to learn great ways to train without machines and amenities. Did this spell the death of commercial gyms for good?  
 
Of course not, people were eager and quick to head back to large commercial gyms once permitted, but…there certainly wasn’t as many. When 90% of the gyms reopened only 60% of the members returned. Between temporary closures and smaller returns upon reopening, nearly 15% of gyms had closed permanently by September of 2020. The industry lost more than 15 billion and almost 500,000 jobs. Marquee names in the industry such as Gold’s Gym and 24 Hour Fitness filed for bankruptcy, and many others had to downsize and restructure. As of spring of 2021 some gyms are reporting being back up to 70% to 80% of their previous pre-covid volume.
 
Fitness is of such great importance to our overall well-being that the industry will never come to an end as a whole… but it can change significantly. Case in point, The industry saw a strong spike in January of 2021 as it usually does, but some businesses has reported that 50% of their memberships remain online as people still wish to train virtually from home.
 

​Chances are if you have been training in any form of combat sports you’ve shadow boxed. Shadow boxing is beneficial when developing your punching skills and enhancing your boxing flow for Muay Thai, kickboxing, and especially boxing. Not only does it strengthen your punches, but it also provides a good cardio workout while improving your footwork. Adding weights to your routine increases the intensity and your skill level.
 
The most basic method of weighted shadow boxing is holding small, weighted dumbbells (5lbs or less) in each hand. There are also specific products you can purchase which are designed specifically for weighted shadow boxing. I tested two different weighted shadow boxing products to see which product was the best.
 
First, I tested the Egg Weights. https://amzn.to/3xbNSAH These are small weights that have a ring attachment that fits around your middle finger so you can hold them comfortably in the palms of your hands while shadow boxing. According to the egg weights website, the weights are the ONLY hand weights in the world that conform to your body’s natural motion. The egg weights were very comfortable to use. They fit so natural in your hands that you really don’t feel them since they aren’t bulky.
 
The next product I tested were the Title Boxing hand weights. https://amzn.to/2QCl2J4 These are shaped much differently. They are longer with a handle to place around your palm to grip while you punch. These are filled with sand to make up the weight and are still comfortable to grip while you are shadow boxing. The only issue is the sand moves around and eventually fills up the bottom and that makes it harder to grip while shadow boxing and it feels less natural.
 
Between the two, either product will get the job done, however I prefer the egg weights in my hands while shadow boxing. Egg weights feel the most natural and they are the easiest to use while I’m working on my boxing flow compared to the Title hand weights. Comparing the two by price alone, the Title Boxing is the most affordable, however the price gap isn’t that big. Egg weights have fun colors to choose from and a small carrying case to keep them together in your gym bag.

Check these out in action here!