Beginner Muaythai Roadmap
click image to download Beginner Roadmap pdf.
Starting anything new can be daunting and overwhelming! I like to break things down into achievable units to simplify my training. Here is a beginner roadmap that can help you on your way! This will also help you track your Muaythai progress and to look forward to what’s ahead! Below are more details on each of the steps above!
START WITH MASTERING YOUR BASICS
As with all new endeavours, take the time to focus on your own fundamentals. Resist the temptation to rush through the basics into more advance techniques and combinations. Take your time in building your foundation or you’ll spend a lot of time trying to undo bad habits in the future. It’s so much easier to build on good foundation so take your time, and master the basics.
PADHOLDING
Learning how to be a good pad holder takes time and a lot of practice. For starters, learn how to hold well for all the basic strikes that you know. Holding well means, not injuring yourself when you hold pads and also providing your partner good practice time (and a good surface to practice their strikes on).
Ask questions and ask for feedback from your training partner when holding pads. Is this comfortable? Am I holding this correctly for you? Also take notes from the good padholders in your class. What are they doing differently from you? Ask them and your coach for pad holding tips so you can improve.
PARTNER DRILLS
We learn how to apply our skills in a safe and controlled environment. Through set drills, we learn our range, how to set up our weapons and also how to defend. Here you will learn how to overcome the dislike of getting hit, learning how to hit with control and build confidence to move onto more free work.
To be a good drilling partner, start slow and light in your strikes. Always look to your training partner for feedback. If you are the one getting overwhelmed, always voice this to your training partner. Could you go lighter please? Could you do that again more slowly?
This is the time to learn, not to bash your partner or get bashed.
CLINCHING
Clinching is the stand up grappling section of Muaythai. Learn how to control your weight, body positioning and stay safe from elbows and knees. Clinching is also very demanding on the body - your shoulders, neck and body will get a lot of conditioning when you’re first starting to clinch so don’t be deterred if you have a very sore neck after!
Again, start slowly and pick 2-3 key things to focus on each clinch session. Maybe it’s getting and maintaining certain clinch controls. Or moving your body so you’re always squared to your partner. Build slowly and take time out of your training week to work on your clinch. 10-15 minutes per session is enough to help improve your clinch game quickly.
APPLICATION
Putting it all together!! Once you have confidence in drills and clinching, you can start to explore more freestyle sparring and clinching! Here you get to put your skills to the test. Again, start slowly and lightly. If you feel like any sparring round is getting unsafe, voice it out. It’s normal for students to get “carried away” but we try to avoid staying in those situations. You’re here to learn and improve, not brawl mid session.
For some, they would like to start their competitive careers. Not everyone trains to be a fighter but if you’re interested in testing the waters you can start with Interclubs - sparring days where you’re matched with another practitioner of the same weight and experience. Moving up from that would be the Amateurs where you’re fighting full contact in protective wear. Then, we move to the Professional ranks and no padding.
Enjoy the journey! Happy training and see you out there on the mats :)
For those starting out and thinking - what gear do I need and when? Here’s a guideline on what equipment and protective gear you will need (and when along your journey):
