Last week's piece Guidelines For Training In Thailand’s Muay Thai Gyms elicited a comment by MBSB community member Geo that requires a new post in response. Geo asked two questions, the first being: About the hierarchy, what about the foreigners are they placed somewhere inside or seen as outsiders? To recap, I had written the following: Thai culture is deeply hierarchical. In regards to a Muay Thai gym, the order is as follows: owner(s) and immediate family promoters, matchmakers, anyone who is hired to do office and/or legal work the head trainer the trainers established … [Read more...]
MUAY THAI TRAINING
Muay thai training stories, instruction and techniques from Thai Boxing gyms worldwide. Learn how to prepare to train in traditional muay thai gyms in Thailand.
Guidelines for Training Muay Thai in Thailand
The following is meant to act as a cultural primer for training in traditional Muay Thai gyms in Thailand. Note, I have little experience training in gyms heavily trafficked by Foreigners. I've never been to Phuket. Nonetheless, based on my own experiences balanced by discussions with those who have, the following guidelines are applicable. One of the notable differences between gyms with a heavy Foreign presence and ones without is that many of the Thais have a greater understanding thus tolerance of Western cultural norms. It doesn't mean all of them do. Often trainers move from gym to gym and you may find yourself with one who recently arrived from the countryside for the first time. I … [Read more...]
6 Ways To Make Money To Train Muay Thai In Thailand
The previous piece in this series focused on assisting you to save money to train muay thai in Thailand; this installment will help you make money to fund your muay thai training. Take from the list what you will and adapt anything to suit your needs. Create something new and let us know about it. Here we go... Ways To Make Money To Train Muay Thai In Thailand 1. Sell What You Neither Need Nor Care About I began with what I wanted and needed the least and continued. Check out the piece I wrote on how to declutter and sell your things to learn about the process. 2. Sublet/Rent Out Your Home Find someone to … [Read more...]
Interview With WBC Muay Thai Champion Mathias Gallo Cassarino (Sitsongpeenong)
Italy's Mathias Gallo Cassarino (Mathias Sitsongpeenong) is the current WBC muay thai champion at 130 lbs (59 kgs). He defeated Cambodian nak muay Van Chan Seth by decision for the belt on January 5, 2013 on Ko Chang, Thailand. His current record is 40 fights with 25 wins (10 by KO), 12 losses and 3 ties. Mathias has never lost by KO. Mathias is 20 years old. You've had an interesting career as a nak muay. Unlike most foreign fighters, you started training at a very young age in Thailand. Let's start here. I have been coming to Thailand since I was born and I started training because my father used to train Muay Thai in Ko Samui. At first … [Read more...]
Interested In Training Muay Thai In Thailand? What Can You Really Handle?
This post proceeds Part 1, Some Things To Consider Before You Go. In Part 1 the major question at hand was, What are you really looking for? The next step is to consider what you can take. What Can You Really Handle? It's imperative that you're completely honest during this part of your process. Refusing to be anything less than authentic will set you in the direction of choosing the wrong gym, the wrong living environment and essentially sabotaging your goals. How? You risk not being 100% present. You risk adding unnecessary drama to your life. You risk being overwhelmed by fear. You risk physical injury. Please don't pretend to be someone you're … [Read more...]
Interview With WMC World Champion Teresa Wintermyr
Sweden's Teresa Wintermyr ( Teresa Sinbi Muay Thai) is the current WMC World champion at 118 lbs. She defeated Finland's Sonal Pattni (Sunanta Rawai Muay Thai) for the belt on November 30, 2012 in Phuket, Thailand. Let's begin with how you started training muay thai. It was a bit random to be honest. I was exercising a lot when I was in my teens but mostly for the sake of staying slim or getting slimmer as I was working as a model. In my twenties I stopped all exercise and got into a somewhat unhealthy lifestyle. At 27 I decided to take up training again but as I had been very fit before it didn't take long to get back into it. I felt I needed a … [Read more...]
Interested In Training Muay Thai In Thailand? Some Things To Consider Before You Go.
For many of you, the idea of training muay thai in Thailand is akin to living the dream. Be it that you train in the gym of your choice for a limited number of weeks or you train in Thailand indefinitely, I suggest you consider the following before you decide where to go and how to get there. What Are You Really Looking For? This is the major question that will set precedence for all to come. Take the time to be introspective and reflect on what it is you're really after, not what you think you're after, not what others have told you to reach for but what it is that truly drives your desire to train in Thailand. If you're stuck, reflect on the daydreams you … [Read more...]
Broken Bones And Losing Face: The Breaking Of My Hand In A Bangkok Muay Thai Gym
I try to force normal range of motion of the pinky finger of my left hand and so visits the memory of how it was lost. The reasoning behind the incident which led to the permanence of my injury is but speculation, an attempt to understand why a teacher should feel the need to assault a student, why a man of significant size, strength and martial skill should feel the need to fracture the bone of a woman. The situation in question was born on a weekday morning in the heart of Bangkok. It was 2009 and I was training at one of the country's prestigious muay thai gyms. I had completed my morning run and as I entered the gym, the shirtless trainer immediately informed me he … [Read more...]
Chris “THE POLISH PUNISHER” Kwiatkowski Training At Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym
American nak muay Chris Kwiatkowski preparing with trainer Kru Namkabuan Ratchapeutcafe (5 Panang) for his first fight of the year. A few days later, on January 14, Chris won by KO in the fourth round via a left hook on the undercard of the WBC World Title Boxing bout in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Chris' Facebook page here. … [Read more...]
Muay Thai Indonesia: Golden Camp MuayThai
Welcome to the first of the MBSB interviews. I met Golden Camp Muaythai owner Rudy Agustian while visiting Sitmonchai Gym. The following interview was conducted on October 9. Rudy and I had a fun time trying to find a time when the gym was quiet, the lighting was good, and the mosquitoes weren't on the hunt. The following is a bit unpolished, but fairly true to life at a gym, interruptions and all. This was a set-up-the-camera-on-a-muay-thai-pad-and-electorlyte-box-click-and-run production. Two takes and the gym came back to life. You're getting Take One. I want to thank Rudy for allowing me to conduct … [Read more...]
Training Muay Thai in Thailand? Beware the Poser Kru
It was about 10:00 pm. I was standing on the street when he drove up on his bike. "Lolah! He says he knows you." Beer in hand, he silenced the ignition. I walked over to meet him and one of the ladymen I was hanging with. "You're a boxer, I've seen you at fights." A conversation ensued. The details, I currently forget prior to being told he was a trainer. This interested me, as I was still looking for one. The following is paraphrased, best to my recollection. "I'll train you. I train my son." He motioned with his hands as though he was holding pads. He then looked over my … [Read more...]
Changes – Finding A New Muay Thai Gym
Finding the right trainer and/or muay thai gym in its homeland can be a difficult task, particularly for those here long term. If I had to generalize, I'd estimate that your average Foreigner who is on limited time and of limited knowledge has a fairly easy time finding the right fit. New is beautiful. Again, if I had to generalize, I'd estimate that those of us here long term generally tend to develop discerning tastes. We know what we want, we know what we don't, and oftentimes other elements influence our decisions. Among them, our financial situation. A number of us stepped away from our employment and saved considerably to follow our passion for muay … [Read more...]