What to Wear to Muay Thai: A Beginner’s Equipment Guide (Melbourne)

One of the most common questions we get from people before their first class is also one of the easiest to answer: what do I wear?

The short version: comfortable training clothes you can move in, and nothing else for your first session. The longer version — what to buy, what to skip, and when — is below. Don’t overthink it, and definitely don’t spend a fortune before you’ve even started.

What to wear to your first class

For your very first session, this is the entire list:

• Shorts or tracksuit pants — something you can kick and move freely in.
• A t-shirt or training top — breathable is better, you’ll warm up fast.
• A water bottle — you’ll need it.

That’s it. Muay Thai is trained in bare feet, so you don’t need shoes. And you don’t need your own gloves or wraps for the first class — we’ll sort you out with what you need when you arrive.

Come as you are. Nobody is looking at your outfit, and every person in the room was a beginner once. If you train better in long tights or a rashguard, wear those — comfort is the only rule. The one thing worth checking is that whatever you wear lets your hips and knees move freely, because Muay Thai uses a lot of kicking and knee work right from the basics.

A quick word on a Melbourne winter: turning up on a cold night, wear a jumper, hoodie or trackies over your training gear — whatever keeps you warm walking in. You don’t have to strip down to shorts and a t-shirt the moment you arrive. Keep the extra layer on for the warm-up if you like, then peel it off once you start moving and heat up, which happens quickly. Nobody expects beginners to be in singlets in the middle of July. Comfortable and warm beats looking the part every time.

What you’ll want fairly soon (not day one)

Once you’ve been a few times and you know you’re sticking with it, there are a few pieces worth buying. In rough order of priority:

Hand wraps (~$15–$20). These protect your wrists and knuckles and keep your gloves hygienic. Cheap, essential, and the first thing to buy.

Boxing gloves (8–16oz). For bag and pad work, most people are well served by 14–16oz gloves. If you join our Beginner Course, gloves are included — so you may not need to buy these for a while.

Shin guards. Once you progress to partner drills and light sparring, you’ll want a pair. No rush at the start — beginner classes are non-contact, so you won’t need them on day one.

A mouthguard and groin guard come later again, when sparring enters the picture. We’ll tell you when you’re at that stage. There’s no need to kit yourself out like a fighter before you’ve thrown your first jab. A good general rule, echoed by Sport Australia’s guidance on protective equipment, is that gear should match the level of contact you’re actually doing — and at the start, that level is very low by design.

If you want to see where all this gear actually gets used, our regular Muay Thai classes run through the same fundamentals you’ll start with, just at a steadier pace as you build up.

What not to do

A few honest tips that save beginners money and hassle:

• Don’t buy a full kit before your first class. Try it first. One session tells you more than any shopping list.
• Don’t buy the cheapest no-name gloves online. They fall apart fast and offer poor protection. A mid-range pair lasts years.
• Don’t wear loose jewellery or anything with zips and buttons that can catch or scratch a partner.
• Don’t stress about brands. Comfort and fit matter far more than the logo.

A note on the Beginner Course

If you start with our 2-Week Beginner Course, your boxing gloves and a training t-shirt are included. So for most new members, the only thing worth picking up beforehand is a pair of hand wraps — and even those can wait until you’ve been once.

It’s a small-group programme built for complete beginners, with structured coaching that teaches you the fundamentals properly. You can read more and book here: ACSA 2-Week Beginner Course.

We’re in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s inner north. Wear something comfortable, bring some water, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to my first Muay Thai class? Shorts or tracksuit pants and a t-shirt — anything comfortable you can move in. Muay Thai is trained in bare feet, so no shoes are needed.

Do I need to bring gloves to my first class? No. We provide what you need for your first session, and boxing gloves are included in our Beginner Course.

What gear do I actually need as a beginner? Hand wraps first, then gloves, then shin guards once you progress to partner work. There’s no need to buy everything at once.

What should I wear in winter? Wear a jumper, hoodie or trackies over your training gear to stay warm when you arrive. You’ll warm up fast once class starts, so just take the layer off when you start moving.

How much should I spend to get started? Almost nothing up front. A pair of hand wraps is around $15–$20, and that’s all most beginners need for the first few weeks.

Where is ACSA? 325A Darebin Road, Thornbury, Melbourne — serving Northcote, Preston, Fairfield, Ivanhoe and the surrounding inner-north suburbs.

By Phillip Lai, Head Coach, Australian Combat Sports Academy — Thornbury, Melbourne.