Hey, I'm moving to BKK in a couple of months to study muay thai.  Any other girls studying kickboxing have any advice?

Hi Phlatline, sorry I aint a girl but just popped in to have a nose and though I could assist.

Firstly there is a big difference between kickboxing and muay thai as shown:

Kickboxing concentrates on kicking with the foot and only above waistheight, it is more of a points system than muay thai.

Thai's primary kick is a "roundhouse" or "crocodile whips it's tail" performed by the shin bone connecting with any part of the opponents body above or below waist. Thai also allows the use of knees and elbows (most devastating) and grappling.

It is scored both through points and aggression / style.

If you want to get a headstart before you go you will need to be fit, best exercises are skipping (fast 3min rounds), sit ups and pressups as these are the areas that need to be strong, basically thighs,shoulders,arms and stomach.

They are very good at learning you technique in thailand but it is sometimes difficult to u'stand what they are telling you to do so finding somewhere with good english is important, I don't know many gyms in BKK but there is one off Kao San Road where there are many other farangs who can help you.

If you stand at the top end of KaoSan by Gullivers and turn off KaoSan walking aroung gullivers for 20 yards cross over the road and you should see a small lane, go down there about thirty yards and you will see it (bit of a dive but most gyms are), another alternative would be to try an official

federation such as the IAMTF who i THINK ARE based at the National Stadium in BKK.

PS. If you go to watch any fights, Lumpini's the best but dont

get conned into ringside it's a waist of money.

Let me know how you get on, oh by the way many gyms may try to push you into fighting as they will make good money from farangs, don't do it unless you are very fit and think you are ready for it - but do try sparring it's the quickest way to learn your own mistakes.

Good luck!