So i'm going to be attending my first proper thai class this/next weekend- hopefully i won't be broken. When would it be appropriate to get myself some gloves? I'm inclined to get them soon as but how necessary is it? Also anything i should bear in mind when i go given that i am a noob to thai?
When I signed up for boxing I asked the coach, "Do I need bag gloves and wraps the first week?" Just saying. There's Noob Lesson #1: It's okay to talk with the instructors about what you need for their class. Noob lesson #2: It's okay to not be graceful, but try not to fall down. Every beginner looks awkward. Every beginner loses his balance.
Hmmm yes in hindsight that was a silly question to ask regarding the gloves- I'll ask next time I'm down there And getting hit and looking stupid are specialties of mine so I'm prepared for that
Wait a month before you buy some proper Thai kit. This will give you time to decide if the art is really for you before you financially invest into it. When you buy kit I recommend a pair of 8oz or 10oz velcro gloves for pad & bag work (don't bother with mitts, they don't protect your thumbs as well) and a pair of 16oz velcro gloves for sparring & interclubs (if you're on a budget then 16oz will do until you can afford a pair of 10oz gloves). You'll also need Thai Shinguards, 5 metre Handwraps, Gum Shield and Steel Groin Guard. Reputable brands are Sandee, Fairtex, Twins, Top King (or TKB), Thaismai, MTG, Boon, Windy, Raja, Tanko & Venum (making a comeback thanks to Sittichai). When you buy this stuff for the long term don't skimp on quality by buying cheaper brands, they won't last. Reputable Thai gear will last you for years. I've had my Fairtex for nearly 6 years now and the only reason I'm replacing them is because I want something new. They're still perfectly usable minus the standard wear and tear. Any other questions feel free to ask. Good luck with your training.
Pretty much this. That was also what my coach told me: Wait a couple of weeks until you sure, if you want to stay. And then get some gloves first, with the rest you can wait another few weeks, until you're *really* sure. It was for kickboxing, but the idea stays the same, I think ^^ He was just glad, I had a mouthguard from the beginning. But I already had that, so I didn't need to get it.
Hey sorry for the late reply- out of interest how do you rate the thai kit made by rdx? I've got some stuff from them and it's pretty good so far but haven't tried the gloves/ leg pads, also cheers uc for that list I'll check it out when I'm buying
RDX are ok but more low to mid range quality than high range. They're popular with Kickboxers and MMA fighters because of their cheap price. My gym got offered a sponsorship by them but turned it down because they didn't rate their quality.
Yeah I've been going to them for stuff for a while- haven't had any issues but to be fair i haven't used many other makes so I'll do some looking about