Muay Thai First Class Guide: What to Expect & How to Prepare
Stepping into a Muay Thai gym for the first time can feel intimidating. At Studio Santai, we run an ego-free, beginner-friendly studio. Here is everything you need to know to feel completely confident on day one.
What to Wear & Bring
- •Comfortable Athletic Clothing: Wear standard gym shorts and a t-shirt or tank top. Standard athletic shorts are perfectly fine.
- •Bare Feet: All training is conducted barefoot on the mats to keep the training floor clean and prevent accidental slips or scratches.
- •Hand Wraps (Generally Mandatory): Hand wraps protect your wrists and knuckles. While normally mandatory, we may skip wrapping for clinch-focused sessions or select Fitness Muay Thai classes. We recommend you bring your own wraps, but if you don't have them yet or forget them, they are available to borrow for free at the desk.
- •Gloves & Pads: We provide clean boxing gloves and Thai pads for your first trial class, so you do not need to buy gear upfront!
- •Water Bottle: Stay hydrated! We have a filtration station to refill your bottle.
Arrival & Etiquette
- •Arrive 15 Minutes Early: This gives you time to complete check-in, meet your coach, wrap your hands, and get acclimated to the space.
- •The Wai (Sign of Respect): In Muay Thai tradition, we show mutual respect by bowing slightly with hands together at chest height (known as a Wai) at the end of class to thank our instructors and training partners. At our Studio, we also thank each partner individually at the end of class.
- •Leave Egos at the Door: Studio Santai is built on humility and community support. Everyone works together to learn and improve.
- •Listen to Your Body: Hydrate and rest whenever needed. It is a marathon, not a sprint!
Step-by-Step: Your First Class
Check-In and Wrap Hands
Head to the front desk when you arrive. A member of our crew will check you in, help you wrap your hands if you are new to the process, and point you toward the change rooms.
The Warm-Up (10–15 mins)
We start every session with a light warm-up to prepare the joints and muscles. This typically involves skipping rope, light callisthenics (squats, lunges), and basic shadow boxing to establish your stance.
Technique & Partner Drills (25–30 mins)
Your coach will demonstrate standard combinations consisting of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. You will partner up to practice combinations on focus pads, or work directly on heavy bags under technical guidance.
Cool-Down & Stretching (5 mins)
We wrap up class with targeted core work and deep stretching to jumpstart recovery and keep your joints flexible.
Ready to take the first step?
Your first class is completely on us! Sign up today, book your trial session on our schedule, and come train.