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Hmmmmm ... new to muay thai eh ... well I wouldn't worry about a gym membership ... muay thai is famous in the respect of it's very rustic ... you don't need a gym membership ... you should work on exercises with a focus on hip rotation and flexibility ... cardio will help also ... but just training in muay thai ... fitness will come with that too ... in time ...

Maybe you can do laps around your pool ... That helps build cardio, and can be quite fun ... The stationary bike is also good (I have to get me one of those)... But try jogging as well so that you'll be mixing up your training, and tone your legs some more ... Also What kind of weights do you have? ...

I like what your doing though, I'm going to join my college's wrestling team, but I'm trying to get into better shape for that as well ... Mainly to cut down on weight ... The guys at the higher weights are HUGE!!! ... So I'm feeling what your feeling, and hoping I won't be embarrassed, and tossed around like a rag doll ...

Haha its not till fall, so I gots loads of time xD ...(Me feeling like a beginner in this expert filled guild, I don't feel its my place to give you any advice, but a lot of them can be very busy, and don't really reply as much....At lease not to anything I post... neutral ) And alright, I can understand, here I would love to have a pool since its so freakin' hot, and training feels like death ... X_x I started off Karate, and kickboxing, so I know the importance of not wanting to look like a total wimp, especially when the guy telling me to join was the incredible hulk ... I'm always training for training ... When my dads friends want to train Jiu Jitsu with me on a weeks notice, I train my head off, because I don't have too much confidence in my own strength(They're 25, 6'2 210ibs, and 28, 5'10 195, and I'm 19 5'8 165ibs crying ) ... Also! Your calve strength is highly important! ... In fact, your leg strength is key ... Make the best of what you have, Jogging does a lot for your calve muscles, and jogging for so many days in a row will take its toll, which is a good thing if your calves end up sore ... For upper body, use your dumbells, and maybe drill some punches with them to have some speed when you start ... If your up for it ... You can do push ups as well ... In the Karate Dojo, my Sensei would have us do whats called reverse pyramids ... In which you would do a set of 20 push ups ... Easy right? ... Okay ... Now that you've done 20 ... Now do 18 ... Then subtract another two, and do 16 ... Then 14 ... Get it now? ... Keep going down by twos within each set ... Do 12 ... Then 10 ... Then 8 ect ect ... once you hit two, do those ... And then your done ... It actually isn't so bad since your doing less, and less with each set ... Now add them together ... And Without even realizing it ... You've just done 110 Push ups ... Which was pretty genius if you ask me ... Most people just try to do a crap ton of push ups in one go, or have like 4 sets of 30 ... which is good, but for people like me (I don't consider myself an athlete, or a pro, or anything like the guys here) .... I like psychological tricks to fool my body into doing way more than its use to ... But maybe start off by going down 3 or 4's, instead of 2 (I.e. going down by 4 20, then 16 then 12 ect ect ... ... Same can be done with sit ups, and crunches ... I really hope I was able to help! ...

The thing to bear in mind above all others is that almost nobody enters a martial art as an expert. Being in shape is helpful (and as always, everyone should consult a physician before beginning any heavy duty exercise regimen) but its hardly essential. The martial arts, especially hard arts like muay thai will whip you into shape in record time along with everyone else in a beginning environment. It's important to remember that you'll not be the only new person there and equally important to recall that in a good school, the more experienced students are there to help, not hinder or judge.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to start swimming laps and jogging whether you intend to be a martial artist or not. In a world plagued by poor fitness, that's advice that anyone can take.

Thanks, I guess I'm just extra nervous because I've never really been good at sports but it's good to know there should be others to help!

Thanks, I completely forgot about stretching! gonk

Yeah! don't forget to stretch before, and after your work out! gonk And if you plan on working out for several hours, maybe stretch every hour! Don't try to rush your flexibility either! If you have suckish flexibility now, don't sweat it, again it all boils down to the hours, and reps you put into it, you can get really good flexibility is maybe in about 6 months, again depends on the reps ... sweatdrop Ehh, I don't think I'm good at motivational speeches, so just give it your all! gonk