Having recently competed in a national tournament in Korea, and with grading sessions for our gym looming, being on the fight card for a major event in Malaysia was the last thing on Okbae’s mind. However, when Muay Thai promoter Z1 International contacted us and asked for Okbae’s participation in their Z1 8th Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship in Kuala Lumpur, we knew it was an excellent opportunity for Okbae to get some international exposure and experience before he stopped fighting altogether to focus on running his gym. This recommendation came by way of Dr Lynne Miller, owner of Sumalee Boxing Gym in Phuket, whose fighters have appeared consistently … [Read more...]
MUAY THAI
Muay Thai training information, fight videos and fighter interviews with an emphasis on traditional Muay Thai. Read about Muay Thai in Thailand with a focus on Isaan and Bangkok. This is the real deal. Not kickboxing with elbows and knees. Don't know the difference? Read on.
301 Gym – A Muay Thai and MMA Camp in Thailand
The crisp, cool air is a drastic difference to Phuket’s humidity or Bangkok’s pollution. Situated in a mountainous range just 40 minutes south of Hua Hin, this is Sam Roi Yot. Literally translating as ‘300 peaks’, Sam Roi Yot is a sleepy little beach town complete with everything from camping at Monkey Island national park, intense hikes, gourmet coffee, to a fully functioning MMA and Muay Thai Gym. 301 Gym was opened in April 2010 by Yoann Gouaida. Originally from France, Yoann has been living in Thailand since he was a teenager. It was in his early twenties that he decided to permanently migrate to Thailand, thus began the search … [Read more...]
Z1 8TH Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship Announcement
Malaysian Muay Thai promoter Z1 International Sdn Bhd has announced the preliminary details of the Z1 8th Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship. This event is the longest running Muay Thai event in Malaysia and this year's will be the eighth consecutive one. The Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship brings in Muay Thai fighters from around the world for their two day fight card. Z1 8TH Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship Details Date: December 4th and 5th, 2015 Location: The historic Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia The event is scheduled to start at 8 pm local time and is expected to last for 3 hours each night. The … [Read more...]
Ya Kiatpetch Muay Thai Gym
Ya Kiatpetch Muay Thai gym is located in the Satuek Districk of Buriram Province. The gym has only opened in the last year, but don’t let that deter you, as it has a stable of large, active stadium fighters as well as a handful of kids making their start in Muay Thai. Ya, as the name suggests, works for Kiatpetch Promotions as a scout. Prior to opening his gym, Ya was one of the co-owners of Sak Buriram Muay Thai gym. Sak Buriram however, is over crowded and can’t accommodate children, so Ya decided to open up his own gym in his native, Satuek. The gym houses four to six active stadium fighters. In addition to that, there about ten active … [Read more...]
Mongkol (Mongkon) and Prajioud (Prajeet) Set Handmade by Thepnimit Sitmonchai
Sitmonchai fighter Thepnimit is now offering beautifully handcrafted mongkols (Muay Thai headpieces) and prajiouds (armbands) made of traditional Thai textiles. The cloth is hand-woven by his mother in Isaan and by other local artisans. It takes Thepnimit a couple of days to pour his passion into crafting a set which he then passes on to a local seamstress who sews it all together. Thepnimit fights regularly at both Rajadamnern and Lumpinee stadiums, in addition to other Thai stadiums. He also fights internationally. Utilizing what has become the signature Sitmonchai style of devastating low kicks and strong hands, Thepnimit has earned the … [Read more...]
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child – Discipline in a Korean Muay Thai Gym
For the third night in a row, Seok Han’s mother comes to our gym in tears. She is helpless and frustrated. Outside, the desolate darkness of the winter night seems to echo her maternal sorrow. We calm her down and listen to her grievances. A couple of months earlier, Seok Han had come to register at our gym, his anxious mother in tow. Burly and tall for his age, Seok Han is a sophomore at a high school nearby. We find out that he has little interest in his studies, but has developed a keen interest and passion for Muay Thai after watching K-1 on TV. Luckily for Seok Han, his mother is understanding enough to allow him to pursue his passions, instead of … [Read more...]
The Power of Positivity with Nak Muay Daniel Ketley
You might have heard Daniel Ketley’s story. On June 8, 2012, something happened and Daniel was pretty much left for dead. “A fractured skull which required 45 stitches, hemorrhaging and compression on the brain, air bubbles in the brain, a shattered eye socket, jaw broken in three places, four lost teeth, a fractured vertebra, nerve damage to his neck and shoulder, and a fracture in the skull between his nose and upper lip.” [1] Daniel didn’t die though. He survived and continues to thrive. Daniel isn’t defined by what happened to him, but it is a part of his story. Therefore, this interview isn’t specifically about Muay Thai or being in … [Read more...]
Muay Thai History – Words of Wisdom from Wun Watthanaya
"Do you want your kids to be fighters?" “Oh yes, of course.” I had to interject. We had three international students visiting the gym; they were studying Muay Thai as a way to alleviate poverty and currently were based out of Khon Kaen University. Along with interviewing the fighters, they wanted to talk to my father-in-law about his thoughts too. He wants his kids to be Muay Thai fighters? I’ve been married to his son for nearly ten years and have only heard the opposite from him. “Wait, Dad…what about Boom? You wouldn’t let him leave home to fight and you used to always tell me to … [Read more...]
Things That Hinder – The Challenges Of Running A Muay Thai Gym In South Korea
Running a Muay Thai gym is no mean feat. Depending on where you are located in the world, you will be confronted with your own unique set of issues and challenges. Here are some of the most common difficulties faced by gym owners in South Korea. General Public’s Perception Of Muay Thai Apart from those who have come across Muay Thai-specific TV programmes like K-1, most Koreans have never heard of Muay Thai before. The sport’s entry into Korea is relatively recent, compared to Western boxing, or the national sport Taekwondo. People enquire not because they are actively searching for a gym; they are truly curious and have no idea … [Read more...]
Tips for the Muay Thai Beginner
As a Muay Thai beginner, being armed with some preliminary advice will help you make the most out of your time, money and effort. So whether your current focus in training Muay Thai is recreational or competitive, here are some guidelines to help you begin. 1. Assess Your Fitness Levels Before you start training in Muay Thai, really be honest about your current fitness level. You don’t have to be in top shape to begin training Muay Thai. Rather, it’s important to understand your strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement to better help you find the training that’s right for you. 2. Research Gyms Not all gyms are suited for all people, regardless of how remarkable a gym’s reputation. … [Read more...]
Confessions Of A Korean Female Fighter
Female Body Image and Gender Stereotypes in South Korea "I want to fight." Those were C's first words to us as she stepped into our gym for the first time sometime last summer. Her words were uttered with an assured certainty and fierce determination. Yet, there was a touch of raw edginess about her, something which I later discovered to be a profound dissatisfaction about her predicament then. She told us that she had quit her relatively well-paying job at a software firm just so that she could train Muay Thai full-time, an eyebrow-raising move in conservative South Korea. C is urgent and desperate about fighting. "I am 27 years … [Read more...]
On Pushing Boundaries And Muay Thai In Phuket With Sumalee Boxing Gym Owner Lynne Miller
In Thailand it is very easy to be seduced by the apparent freedom here. Falling into this trap has smashed the dreams of many aspirant young fighters. It's hard to resist but to do so is the only path to success. -Lynne Miller Sumalee Boxing Gym owner and Managing Director Dr. Lynne Miller is one of a small number of foreigners who have been able to build a successful Muay Thai gym in Thailand amongst thousands of Thai gyms. She has been able to accomplish this feat within three years. Based out of Phuket, Lynne took time out of her schedule to give us an in-depth look into Muay Thai in Phuket; being a business owner in Thailand; and details on how … [Read more...]
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