Two weeks in doing Muay Thai fundamentals at Stout:
I'm really enjoying my training so far. I've always wanted to be comfortable with a martial art and Muay Thai at Stout really appeals to me: class feels like I'm among colleagues of varying abilities, all of whom are willing to help me (a total novice) out with an air of mutual respect. I don't like the stratified authority--bowing to masters, etc.--that a lot of martial arts have. So the informal but rigorously structured makeup of Muay Thai classes at Stout has been just what I'm looking for.
Most of my life I've been a physically fit person. I used to think "eh, I'm tall and in good shape, I could handle myself in a fight". Two weeks here has, to my happy surprise, proved me wrong. My coordination, reflexes, and technique are all pretty bad (but are improving with every class). I'd like to keep improving these; I'd like to feel competent at self-defense. Mostly I just enjoy learning things and getting a workout while I do. It feels good to get exhausted in the process of internalizing technique.
I signed up at Stout in particular because I was hoping for classes that make me feel comfortable and like I'm learning every time I come. So far that's how it has been.