If your mentality is, “I want to start learning Muay Thai in Bangkok,” there are quite a few things you should know first. For the regular Joe, Muay Thai offers a way for you to become fit. For combat athletes and mixed martial artists, Muay Thai could be that competitive advantage you need in your strike game. Regardless of your reason behind learning this ancient Thai martial art, there’s no better place to Learn Muay Thai than in Thailand itself. If you want to understand the origin of the art and catch a glimpse into the history and culture of Muay Thai, the capital city of Bangkok remains as the premiere destination to do so.
Welcome to Bangkok – The Mecca of Muay Thai
Bangkok, the sprawling metropolitan capital of Thailand is typically known for its beautiful ancient temples, vibrant street life, and delicious food. Its location serves as a business hub for the region of Southeast Asia, so you’ll see people from all over the world there. According to World Population Review, the city of Bangkok has a population of 8.5 million people. It remains as the most popular tourist destination in the world, being “The Most Visited City in the World” in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The people of Bangkok can be described as friendly, charming, and kind. Bangkok is also home to the best Muay Thai fighters in the world and is a popular fitness activity among women and children. Those who are inclined to gain a deeper knowledge of the sport and to start training Muay Thai in Thailand, both fighters and trainers are happy to share their knowledge to foreigners who visit!
Getting Around Bangkok
It’s a huge, sprawling metropolis. Fortunately, its public transportation is quite easy to figure out. You have the following options to get around the city:
- Taxis — The standard option for most travelers. As long as you know where you’re going, a taxi will most likely take you there. Make sure you always ask for the meter, as a taxi driver will potentially charge you an exorbitant fee to get to your destination. Travel tip: download the taxi app called GRAB (it works like Uber).
- BTS (Sky train) — The primary choice of transportation for the locals of Bangkok, the sky train gets you to most major spots within the city. Siam stop is where the largest shopping malls in Bangkok are located. Asok is considered the business and financial district of Bangkok. Thong Lor has a vibrant nightlife scene and lots of delicious (and pricey) restaurants. Take a look at the map below to get an idea of the stops that are on the BTS line. Prices range from 20-50 baht, depending on the distance traveled.
- MRT (Subway) — The Bangkok subways are an alternative route to get around the city and to avoid the heat! Known as Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT), it covers most of the Bangkok Metropolitan area. Prices range from 16-42 baht for adults and 8-21 baht for children.
Exploring Bangkok’s Attractions
Bangkok has many shopping options, many food options, a large nightlife scene, and there’s always something new and exciting going on within the city. For someone who is learning Muay Thai in Bangkok, this means there are a ton of distractions to prevent you from getting the most out of your training. It’s important to stay grounded while at camp and to stick with the other people training. If at any time you need a question answered, a request, or even a buddy, don’t hesitate to talk with the staff and trainers! They will be more than happy to show you around.
Weather in Bangkok
The weather in Bangkok is generally considered as being hot. The average temperature varies between 30-40 Celsius year round. The hottest months are April, May, and June. Thailand has a rainy season that lasts from June to October, where it will rain at least once a day. The dry season, also known as the high season due to the amount of tourists that come during this time, is from November to February.
From a training perspective, it will take four to five days to acclimate to the weather if you’re coming from a cooler and/or dryer region. The humidity of Thailand means that you’ll also be sweating a lot. The following tips are going to make your Muay Thai training in Thailand less difficult and more pleasant:
- Drink lot’s of Water — This may seem like a given, but it’s important to stay hydrated, especially in a city like Bangkok, where the heat drags on until the evening. Your body is made up of 60% water, and you will typically lose 3% of your fluids during a Muay Thai training session. It’s considered an optimal routine to drink 8 ounces while exercising and at least 8 ounces after exercising.
- Avoid Training during the Hottest Part of the Day — While exercising in blaring heat can build up your mental strength, it’s considered unwise and even unhealthy to exercise during the hottest part of the day. If you’re training during this time, overexertion can cause heat strokes.
- Maintain Energy by Eating and Snacking Right — Stick with juicier snacks like fruit. At KST Muay Thai for instance, there’s a fruit vendor down the street and you can get most tropical fruits upon request. If you’re training twice a day, consider an energy bar or high calorie snack that will give you more energy.
- Try Not to Drink Too Much Alcohol — You’re in Thailand, you’re doing Muay Thai training in Bangkok, and you’re having a good time. It’s okay to indulge and treat yourself to a beer or two, but binge-drinking can lead to sluggish reaction times the next day. Not to mention, with the heat, that hangover will escalate.
Eating in Bangkok
There is a high probability that your standard eating habits and diet will change significantly when coming to Bangkok to train Muay Thai. As with all types of exercise and training, if you want to see positive results to your technique and your physique, your diet is an integral part of achieving success. But not to worry, Thai food can be extremely healthy and delicious. It also packs a combination of tastes that you won’t get anywhere else. Khongsittha will be creating an in-depth blog post taking a look at the best and worst foods to eat while learning Muay Thai in Bangkok, and to give you an idea of the nutritional information for the most commonly consumed foods in Thailand. Stay tuned.
Traveling to Bangkok
At the present moment, the cheapest month to fly to Bangkok is currently November; with December being the most expensive. Prices will vary depending on multiple factors such as booking in advance, airline, and departure airports and times. For a taste of Thai airline service, be sure to check out Thai Airways.
