HOW TO LEVEL UP AND MAKE IT TO THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR FIGHTING CAREER

Making the leap from amateur to professional Muay Thai is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—steps in a fighter’s journey. It’s not just about improving your skills in the ring; it’s about transforming your mindset, training habits, and lifestyle to match the demands of professional competition.

I’ve been there myself, going from local fights to competing in Thailand against seasoned fighters, and I can tell you: it’s a grind, but it’s worth it. Here’s how to do it the right way.

1. Sharpen Your Technique for Professional Standards

At the amateur level, raw power and aggression might get you by, but professionals know how to capitalize on every mistake. This means cleaning up your technique.

Spend extra time drilling fundamentals—perfect your kicks, elbows, and defensive maneuvers. Film your training and sparring sessions to identify weaknesses and work on them relentlessly. Professionals leave no gaps fo...

THE DON’TS OF YOUR VERY FIRST FIGHT

By Angela Chang

In my last article on Muay Thai Guy, we talked about what you should do during your first fight. Frankly, there’s plenty of fight advice of what you should do during your first fight. You’ll hear it from teammates, friends, and may even read it online through self-research.

Your first fight can be daunting. There are several things you have to keep in mind through training and the fight and make sure you do. You can just as easily make mistakes that will cost you the fight. Here’s what not to do during your first fight.

DON’T: Worry About Using Perfect Technique

It’s extremely rare to see someone throw anything with flawless technique during their first several amateur fights. Your focus should be more on landing your shots rather than executing those shots perfectly. Waiting around for the perfect shot will only waste time you could be spending at least trying to score. Hitting is better than not hitting at all, even if the te...

THE DOS OF YOUR VERY FIRST FIGHT

From Muay Thai Guy

Nobody will ever forget their first fight, not ever. The pressure, anxiety, and excitement all jumbled up together in your chest is a feeling that can’t be reproduced.

Amateur fights are matched mostly based on experience, unlike professional bouts, which consider the level of the fighter and their style. If you are confirmed to make your amateur debut, your opponent is also likely to have no fights as well. (Sometimes they do, but no more than three.)

Taking that first step into the ring and hearing that bell ding for the first time is almost like stepping into an abyss – you’re not sure what to expect. Keep the following in mind during your first fight and you’ll always feel grounded to the mat (rather than floating above it).

DO: Train Hard 

So much of how well you do in a fight depends on your conditioning. If you have good conditioning, you can keep going. If you don’t, you’re as good as dead.

Many amateur fighters gas out...