WTBA Student Manual Phase 1
WTBA Student Manual Phase 1
WTBA Student Manual Phase 1
Version 1.0
World Thai Boxing Association
Table of Contents
Mission Statement .................................................................................................................... 3
WTBA Background ................................................................................................................... 4
Starting Out Right ..................................................................................................................... 6
History of Muay Thai ............................................................................................................... 6
What is Muay Thai? .................................................................................................................. 7
Rules & Etiquette ...................................................................................................................... 8
Cleanliness .................................................................................................................................. 9
School Creed ............................................................................................................................ 10
Thai Boxing Qualities ........................................................................................................... 10
Student Rank Progression .................................................................................................. 12
Phase 1 Foundations ............................................................................................................ 13
White-Orange Armband (Minimum of 6 mos. training) .................................................... 13
White Armband Requirements ................................................................................................... 13
Phase 1 Testing Requirements.................................................................................................... 14
Stripes .................................................................................................................................................. 14
Roadmap to Success: Personal Fitness.......................................................................... 15
DRILL SHEET............................................................................................................................ 27
WHITE ARMBAND QUIZ ....................................................................................................... 30
Acknowledgement of Student Handbook...................................................................... 33
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Congratulations on joining a
World Thai Boxing Association Affiliate School!
Mission Statement
To advance, promote, educate, and instruct the martial arts of
Thailand throughout the world while offering the student, fighter,
and instructor the highest standard of teaching Thai Boxing (Muay
Thai).
Through Online Video Instruction, Seminars, Instructor
Development Camps, Certification and School Accreditation, the
WTBA develops the personal goals of those interested in being
part of a Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) community.
With a comprehensive Thai Boxing Training Curriculum and
Testing Standards for Instructors and Affiliate Schools around the
world, the WTBA serves to become the authority of knowledge on
training and teaching to uphold a quality level of instruction for
future generations of Thai Boxing enthusiasts.
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WTBA Background
The World Thai Boxing Association (WTBA) is the oldest and
largest Muay Thai organization of its kind in the world and was
founded in 1968 by Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute. (Ajarn is Thai
for master instructor.) Ajarn Chai came to the United States with a
vision to spread Muay Thai throughout the world. He is the first-
ever Thai boxing instructor to teach Americans this art and has
worked tirelessly for 40 plus years to that end. We are indeed
grateful to Ajarn Chai for his gift of the knowledge of Muay Thai.
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The WTBA has now expanded to establish affiliate organizations
in countries around the world. Ajarn Chai continues to promote
Muay Thai through his select personal seminar schedule,
handpicked seminar team, and yearly Instructor Development
camps in the USA, UK, and Australia.
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Starting Out Right
You probably already have an idea about what Muay Thai
Kickboxing is about. Some of you will have read about it in books
or magazines, or seen Muay Thai on TV as the preeminent style of
kickboxing in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Some
of you will have heard about it from friends and acquaintances. We
ask you to forget about these ideas for a moment and approach the
subject with a clear mind, or a beginner's mind. This is the ideal
way to approach any martial art.
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and has been embraced enthusiastically by practitioners of a
variety of self-defense, sporting, military and law enforcement
activities.
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Rules & Etiquette
Always address the instructor as Coach, Kru or Ajarn, Sir or
Ma’am during class.
Wai to seniors and instructors first when you see them.
Never Wai with something in your hands.
When you wai make sure your hands are at the center of your
face, any lower is disrespectful. Higher=more respect.
Wai towards the mat before entering or leaving the mat area.
Be on time for class, being late will result in push ups.
Attend class in proper uniform: school shirt, muay thai shorts,
hand wraps, and armband.
Have your Student Notebook and a pen ready so you can track
drills and goals, etc.
If you are late or out of uniform; notify the instructor before
entering class.
You must always train with a shirt on.
Never step on the mat with shoes on.
Remove ALL jewelry before entering class.
Keep your shoes, gym bags, personal belongings in the locker
room or stored neatly in a cubby or shelf.
To train in any class you must do the warm up.
After using any academy equipment, you must put it back neatly
where you got it from.
Write your name on all your equipment and shirt tags.
If you have lost or found something, ask or tell the front desk
about it.
When an instructor is teaching or talking you must be in
attention and not talking.
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If you must leave the training area for any reason (water,
bathroom, etc.) you must ask the instructor.
Absolutely no inappropriate language allowed in class.
No inappropriate outbursts (foul language) in class, even if
injured.
Turn off your cell phone during class or set it to vibrate.
If you are in the guest area during class, keep quiet, if the
instructor can hear you, you are too loud.
If you are not part of an ongoing class- do not train or warm up
on the same mat while class is going on.
Sparring is NOT mandatory.
Cleanliness
We request that you leave the guest seating area as clean or
cleaner than you found it.
No trash is to be left on the floor, place in a trash can. Recycle
bottles in the recycle bins if available.
If you spill anything on the mat, clean it right away so it does
not leave a permanent stain.
Always walk into the bathroom with shoes on. Otherwise, you
will spread germs from the bathroom to the mat.
Leave the bathroom clean. If you spill on the floor or seat,
please wipe it! Only flush toilet paper, not paper towels.
Do not spit in the sink.
If you are bleeding, stop training and clean the spilt blood with
peroxide, then cover the cut before continuing to train.
Maintain good hygiene (clipped nails, clean uniform, deodorant,
etc.)
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Always have shoes or flip flops on when entering the school
from outside. Even if you forgot something in your car.
Walking barefoot from outside to inside defeats the purpose of
taking off our shoes before stepping on the mat.
School Creed
Our student creed is recited at the beginning of every class. It
is something that we consider as more than just words. It is
words we challenge ourselves to live by daily. Please learn and
memorize it from your heart and not just your head.
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Gratitude: Being thankful for what you have instead of
focusing on what you don’t
Honesty: Sincere truthfulness both about other and yourself
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Student Rank Progression
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Phase 1 Foundations
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Phase 1 Testing Requirements
• Minimum 8 classes per month
• Good attitude and etiquette
• Proper uniform
Stripes
With each test a student earns a stripe:
A= Blue Stripe = 4 points
B= Green Stripe = 3 points
C= Orange Stripe = 2 points
D= Yellow Stripe = 1 point
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your test prepared. Once you get your Yellow and then
Orange armband, you will be in the Phase 2 program full
time.
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Roadmap to Success: Personal Fitness
Everyone in your class has the same goal as you, to train to get in
better shape than you are now! This Roadmap is meant to guide
beginner level students with nutritional success tips as you move
toward a healthier lifestyle through Muay Thai. This guide reflects
personal training and fighting experiences only and is not meant as
a substitute for any medical or nutritional advice from a health care
professional.
1. Read the next page on Healthy Eating and Weight
Management!
If you want help, we offer a lot of great tips. Keep an open
mind to suggestions and the willingness to make small
changes over time. Read up on our advice and do it, it works.
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4. Make it a point to stretch after every workout!
The more flexible you are the less likely you are to get
injured. Also, stretching can help you feel more limber and
less sore after tough workouts. Consistent stretching is vital
to your long term health, skill and overall fitness.
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educational purposes and general reference only. It is not intended
to be a substitute for medical or psychological advice or
counseling. Therefore, you should consult a physician and/or
mental health professional regarding your individual physical and
mental health needs before undertaking any diet, exercise, or
fitness program.
1. Drink at least one gallon of water a day.
Drinking lots of water will keep you hydrated and remove
waste from the body. Drink pure water, not designer
enhanced waters. Bring a large bottle of water with you
wherever you go and drink it throughout the day - before,
during and after workouts. Just make sure not to chug it all
right before class.
2. Eat more often and less food.
Look to have between 5-8 smaller meals rather than 2 or 3
large meals. When you eat a meal, you shouldn’t feel like
falling asleep or fatigued - this is a classic sign of
overeating. Eat just enough to where you are not hungry, but
not full either (you should feel like you are able to eat
more). Usually 15-20 minutes after you finish eating is when
your stomach settles and won’t bother you anymore. The
reason for eating more meals throughout the day is to
increase your metabolism. Also, try not to eat a lot directly
before coming to class as it might upset your stomach.
3. Eat natural foods and, if feasible, organic.
Natural means fish, poultry, lean cuts of beef, vegetables,
fruits, black beans, lentils, and nuts. Natural foods are easier
on your digestive system. Make sure to eat a vegetable with
every meal. Avoid refined or processed foods like fast food,
sodas, candy, chocolates, chips, etc. on a regular basis.
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4. Having a good breakfast is pivotal to establishing good
nutrition habits and starting the day right.
“Breakfast” means breaking the fast that your body was in
during your sleep. Your body is starving when you wake up
and if you don’t eat, your metabolism will slow down and
begin to store fat. Good things to eat in the morning when
focusing on fat loss are nuts and proteins.
5. Eat something before going to sleep.
A common misperception is that any meal consumed before
sleeping will turn into fat overnight. This is not the case. In
fact, eating before you sleep will keep your metabolism
working while you’re enduring an extended fast. Eating
slow-digesting proteins such as yogurt, egg whites, cottage
cheese or lean meats will reap the most rewards. This is
especially important if you train at night.
If weight-loss is your goal avoiding sugary, fried and
processed foods at night is critical.
6. High Fructose Corn Syrup is probably the single worst
“food” you can subject your body to.
It has no nutritional value, will spike your insulin levels and
help you pack on fat. It is found in most processed foods and
should be avoided whenever possible. Make sure to read the
ingredients below the nutritional label on most foods.
7. Despite what many people think, eating carbs is not a bad
thing.
Whole grains, vegetables and fruits are all carbohydrate-rich
foods that are very helpful in promoting fat loss. What you
want to avoid are refined simple carbs—foods like white
bread, potatoes, pasta. bagels, refined sugar, most breakfast
cereals and almost anything in the “snack” aisle. If you’re not
used to exercising, you might need to make sure you eat
properly on the days you train here.
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8. Fish oil is a great supplement to increase fat loss.
The only drawback is the bad taste. It is available in
capsules, so you don’t have to taste it going down. Be sure to
take your fish oil with a meal as that will help limit the after
taste.
9. Strength training will increase your rate of fat loss.
Just doing cardio will put your body in a catabolic state.
Lifting weights and doing functional strength training
(kettlebells, medicine balls, dumb-bells etc.) will increase
your muscle density. The more muscle you have, the more
fat you are capable of burning. Women benefit greatly from
this and should not worry about getting bulky and muscular
as they have different hormones than men.
10. Give yourself a break every so often and eat something
you enjoy that may not be healthy.
If you feel like you are trapped in a diet, you will eventually
break it. It is okay to give yourself a cheat meal or even a
cheat day, within reason of course. Your diet should be
something that is enjoyable and simple to maintain, not a
torturous feat requiring all of your will. Make small changes
over time that will become habit instead of large drastic
changes that you will hate.
11. Avoid fried foods.
Anything fried should be avoided. These foods tend to be
much higher in calories and fat and lower in actual nutritional
value. If it is fried, try to stay away from it unless you know
it has been fried in a small amount of healthy oil such as
extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
12. Stay away from sodas and other sugary drinks.
You probably already figured out that most of them have
high fructose corn syrup, which you already know is terrible
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for you, but did you know that one small can of soda has over
10 teaspoons of sugar! A liter bottle has over 28 teaspoons!
As you can see the calories in soda plus the high sugar
content just racks up and is really hard on your body, just say
no! Focus on eating your calories, not drinking them.
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GOAL SHEET (optional)
Why did you join Muay Thai?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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Your goals should be challenging. They should push you, but not
break you. They should make you stronger mentally, emotionally,
physically and help you cultivate a warrior spirit.
Once a week set a day and time to update your weekly goals.
Sunday nights are a great time to reflect, plan and goal set for the
upcoming day and week. as this is a bit much. That way on
Monday morning you will wake up with a mission to accomplish
in the next. Set 24-48 hour goals, write them down and crush them!
Every month, a new set of monthly goals should be set. These goal
sheets are just a guideline to help you realize how to set goals and
accomplish your ultimate mission here at our school—to achieve a
Black Armband.
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What are my two-year goals?
1. Attain Red Armband Rank.
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
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What are my three month goals?
1. Have drilled my favorite offensive technique 1000 times.
2. Have drilled my favorite defense and counter 1000 times.
3. Have drilled my 4 favorite combinations at least 400 times
each.
4. _________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
WEEK OF ______
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WEEK OF ______
WEEK OF ______
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DRILL SHEET
One of the most important aspects of learning in the martial
arts is drilling. You must drill the moves you learn over and
over. It is the only way to truly learn the techniques- otherwise,
you may “know” the technique, but fail to execute it
effectively… especially under pressure or against other trained
fighters. Your lifetime goals are to hit 10,000 repetitions of
your favorite moves.
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also help erase that bad rep from your muscle memory by doing
extra good reps.
Favorite Defense drills:
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________
Favorite Combinations:
1. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
****If you need more sheets for goal setting or drills please
see the front desk staff**
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WHITE ARMBAND QUIZ
Turn this in to your instructor at the beginning of your first class to
receive your White Armband.
NAME:
_______________________________________________
In order for us to assist you in achieving your goals, write WHY
you joined our gym and what your main GOAL is while training
here:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
1. The WAI is a sign of respect that is used when?
A. Upon entering/leaving the gym C. At the Start of class
B. When greeting seniors/coaches D. All of the above
2. Muay Thai Kickboxing consists of which of these strikes?
A. Punches and Kicks C. Knees
B. Elbows D. All of the above
4. What is your Coach’s name and how should you address them?
_____________________________________________________
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I, _______________________________________________,
hereby acknowledge that I have carefully read and understand the
Student Handbook for my specific program,
________________________________, at this World Thai Boxing
Association Affiliate School.
By signing below I agree to abide by the etiquette, rules, code of
conduct, attendance, dress code and all other procedures outlined
within the handbook.
_________________________________________
Student Signature
_________________________________________
Date
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