You do not need to have thrown a punch or a kick to join your first Muay Thai class at Khunpon. Our gym in Cherngtalay, near Bang Tao in Phuket's Thalang district, welcomes complete beginners. Here is what to expect on the day, from arriving to the final stretch.
Before your first class
You can walk in to a Muay Thai group class on the day, with no booking. Choose a class, arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and tell the team you are new and whether you need to hire gear.
Muay Thai group classes run:
- Monday to Saturday, 08:00 – 09:30
- Monday to Friday, 16:00 – 17:30
Each class lasts 90 minutes. The morning class is a good first choice: it starts early, before the heat of the day. Check the weekly timetable before you come.
Arriving early gives you time to get ready, sort out any gear you are hiring and meet the coaches. Say hello to the people around you, and tell your coach about any injury or any movement you find difficult.
Questions before you visit? Message the gym on WhatsApp. You do not need to get in touch first for a group class. Only private sessions are booked ahead: one, two or three students with one coach (1:1, 2:1 or 3:1).
What to wear to your first Muay Thai class
Wear shorts that let you lift your knees freely and a light T-shirt or rashguard. You do not need Muay Thai shorts or any special kit to start.
Bring:
- Drinking water
- A small towel
- Your own boxing gloves, hand wraps and shin guards, if you have them
- A change of clothes for afterwards
If you do not have gear, hire what you need at the gym, one piece or all three:
| Gear | Price |
|---|---|
| Boxing gloves | 100 Baht |
| Hand wraps | 100 Baht |
| Shin guards | 100 Baht |
| All three | 300 Baht |
Gear hire is paid on top of your class or membership.
Training is barefoot. Keep your shoes off the mats: keeping them clean is part of respecting your coaches and training partners.
Phuket's heat and humidity make any new sport harder. Arrive well hydrated, take it steadily and use the water breaks. You can stop for a drink whenever you need one; you do not have to wait for everyone else. Khunpon Kitchen has electrolytes and smoothies for afterwards.
How a beginner Muay Thai class runs
A typical class starts with a warm-up: jogging, skipping rope, shadowboxing and light movement. If you have never skipped, there is no pressure to get it right. Catching the rope and starting again is part of learning.
Next comes technique. Beginners work on stance, balance, guard and footwork, then the basic strikes: the jab and cross, the teep (push kick), the roundhouse kick, knees and elbows. You learn these over many classes, so nobody expects you to master them in one.
The krus, your Muay Thai teachers, move around the class checking your form. A small change to your feet, balance or hands can make a strike feel natural. If a combination is too much, your trainer breaks it into simpler steps.
Pad work is the part most people remember. A Thai trainer holds the pads and calls the strikes. Your first rounds are about technique, at a pace set for your experience and fitness. An experienced student next to you may be hitting hard while you are still learning to turn your hip, and that is normal. Your job is to listen and practise at your own pace.
Many classes also include rounds on the heavy bags, which build timing and power.
Some sessions include controlled sparring. It is optional, and you will never be pushed into anything you are uncomfortable with. If your coach thinks you are ready and you want to try, beginner sparring is light and supervised, with experienced partners. The focus is timing and learning, not power.
Classes finish with conditioning and stretching. The exercises change from day to day, but expect one last effort, then time to slow down and finish the session together.
Your Muay Thai coaches
Khunpon's Muay Thai classes are taught by Thai coaches who fought professionally. Ten of them share the classes, each with their own style:
- Kru Bai: over 20 years in Muay Thai, with coaching and cornering experience at Lumpinee, Rajadamnern and across Europe.
- Kru Beer: over 240 professional fights.
- Kru Jack: over 150 fights, including Lumpinee and Rajadamnern.
- Kru Kiss: World Muaythai Council champion at 112 and 122 lbs.
- Kru Kwang: a Muay Khao specialist with over 50 professional fights, who teaches everyone from beginners to professional fighters.
- Kru Mhee: a Muay Femur specialist, Thailand and Lumpinee Stadium champion.
- Kru Pan: over 30 years in Muay Thai and over 100 professional fights, with coaching experience at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern.
- Kru Ploy: WBC World Champion at 115 lbs in 2021.
- Kru Sak: over 200 fights and two Phuket Stadium titles.
- Kru San: over 130 professional fights and over nine years in Muay Thai, specialising in Muay Tae and Muay Femur.
Read each coach's background on the coaches page.
What a class costs
A single Muay Thai class at Khunpon is 450 Baht, so you can try one session before deciding whether a longer pass suits you.
| Class pass | Price | Valid from first use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 class | 450 Baht | 1 day |
| 5 classes | 2,125 Baht | 15 days |
| 10 classes | 4,000 Baht | 30 days |
Tax is included and there is no contract. A pass starts counting from the first time you use it. A rest day does not use a class, but the pass still ends when its validity runs out.
If you plan to train often or try other classes, an unlimited membership covers more:
- Unlimited Martial Arts: every Muay Thai, MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, plus open gym.
- Unlimited Full Access: every martial arts and fitness class, including HYROX and strength and conditioning, plus open gym.
| Length | Unlimited Martial Arts | Unlimited Full Access |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 800 Baht | 900 Baht |
| 1 week | 3,000 Baht | 4,000 Baht |
| 1 month | 10,000 Baht | 12,000 Baht |
| 3 months | 25,000 Baht | 30,000 Baht |
Rates may differ for expats and Thai residents, so ask the team which options apply to you.
Gear hire is extra: 100 Baht each for gloves, wraps or shin guards, or 300 Baht for all three. A single class with all three hired comes to 750 Baht. Every pass and membership is on the pricing page, and our guide to drop-in, weekly and monthly training helps you choose one for your stay.
After class
There is no rush to leave. The gym is open every day from 08:00 to 20:00, and Khunpon Kitchen is on site for a smoothie, something to eat and a chat with the people you have just trained with.
Take time to cool down, have a drink and change before you head off. If you enjoyed it, ask your coach what to work on next, and talk to the team about coming back.
Getting here
Khunpon Martial Arts is in Cherngtalay, near Bang Tao, in Phuket's Thalang district. Cherngtalay is also written Choeng Thale.
Address: 8/2 Soi Cherngtalay 2, Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket 83110. See it on the map.
The gym is about 5 to 10 minutes by car from Bang Tao Beach and Robinson shopping centre, depending on traffic and where you start. Blue Tree and KĀHLĪ Tennis Academy are nearby landmarks.
Coming from Chalong or elsewhere on the island? Check your route before you set off and allow time to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before class. Message the team on WhatsApp if you need help finding the gym.
Questions beginners ask
Do I need to be fit before I start?
No. Start at your current fitness level. Your coaches meet you at your level and help you learn at your own pace. Take breaks when you need them and focus on learning the movements. You do not need to keep up with experienced students, and each class gives you something to build on next time.
Will I get hurt?
Coaches adapt training to your level, and sparring is optional. When beginners do spar, it is light and supervised. Muay Thai is a physical sport, so bumps, soreness or injury are possible, and no class can promise zero risk. Tell your coach if anything hurts or feels wrong. Everyone in the class is there to help each other learn.
Can I come alone?
Yes. You do not need a training partner. The coaches organise the pad work and partner drills, so coming alone is an easy way to start. Many people arrive on their own, make friends through training and come back to train alongside them.
How many classes should I do in my first week?
If you are a complete beginner, three or four may suit you, with rest days between them where you can. Start with fewer if you are new to exercise or still adjusting to Phuket's heat. See how you feel after your first class and talk to your coach about the next one.
If you already train regularly and recover well, you may want to train more often. Speak to your coach before building up to daily training or two sessions a day, and increase gradually.
Do I have to sign up to a camp?
No. Khunpon is a gym in Cherngtalay, not a residential camp. Stay wherever suits you and walk in for a single group class, or choose a longer pass. You do not need to commit to a training holiday to try Muay Thai. If you are planning one, our training holiday guide covers where to stay, the heat and getting around.
Can I book a private session instead?
Yes. Private sessions are 1:1, 2:1 or 3:1: one, two or three students with one coach. Every private session is booked in advance. Message the gym with your dates, the number of people and what you want to work on. A one-to-one session is a comfortable start if you feel nervous about joining a group, and our guide to private training or group classes compares the two.
Join your first class
Walk-ins are welcome for group classes, with no booking needed. Come to the morning or afternoon class on the days above, arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and bring water. The team will help you settle in and sort out any gear you need to hire.
Prefer a private session, or have a question before you visit? Message Khunpon on WhatsApp. Private sessions are booked in advance.
Class times, prices and the full coaching team are on our page about Muay Thai training in Phuket.
