Advice for a beginner???

[Gaia]

For about a year, I took Muay Thai and self-defense class (same instructor) at my gym a few years back. I fell in love with the style and sheer power of it. I no longer belong to that gym but find I greatly miss studying Muay Thai.

Does anyone have any advice on what to look for in school? How much study you should have to compete effectively (and safely)? Or any other words of wisdom you would like to impart on a novice.

[silapathai]

"Does anyone have any advice on what to look for in school? How much study you should have to compete effectively (and safely)? Or any other words of wisdom you would like to impart on a novice."

Finding a school that suits your needs is often the most difficult depending on where you live. First thing is first...do you like the art(s) being offered at the school? Do the instructor(s) seem legit and not phonies? This is one of the few benifits of belonging to a good organization(as an instructor). Ask the instructor's credentials, but try to do this in a friendly way. Quite recently I was training at a private dojo that a family near me has and every time I asked what ranks they were and who they earned there ranks under they always changed the subject and would never give me an answer to my question. When an instructor doesn't give an answer to who they earned there rank under it usually means they're hiding something. Sadly many people in the martial art's community lie about there rank and even go as far as inventing names of imaginary instructor that they received there rank from.(go to www.e-budo.com and the baffling budo or bad budo section to see examples.) If you're suspicious of an instructor's claims you can always google search and usually find out if what they say is true .
Depending on your gym a year should be enough time training in Muay Thai if you wish to compete. When I first got into Muay Thai I didn't even want to compete in Muay Thai until I was in it about 7-8 months I made the decision to compete. If you do wish to compete be forewarned that you need to spend as much time as you can doing conditioning!!! Lots and lots of rounds of thai pad rounds and bag work rounds!
Something I would impart on you is finding a school near you that works well with your schedule, a good instructor that doesn't encourage the students to worship them(own pet peeve), and doing a martial art that you enjoy! Good luck with finding a suitable school for your needs.

[Jakuzo]

ahhhh... young grass hopper. you must take what you have learned and perfect it. allow your body and mind to become one. find youre inner stregnth to reveal youre potiental. do not be limited by what u have learned. improve upon it. a true artist does not add clay to their sculptur they slowly peel away the layers to create a masterpice. the same as you must do.

[pittbulldog]

Finding a School

I have to agree with silapathai. I would like to emphasize checking credintials. It's easy for anyone to say that they are something that they are not. Believe me, I've been there. Also, look at how long the school has been open versus how many higher level students they have. For example, if a school has been open for 10 years, but the highest rank that you see is 4th level out of a possible 10 levels, there could be a problem, most likely that the instructor doesn't have enough knowledge to keep the higher level students interested. Be sure to talk to a variety of students of all levels, not just the ones that are pointed out to you.