Sitjaopho - Accomodations, Training, Food Options

[kaetsu36]

Has anyone trained at Sitjaopho camp recently?  Their methods and instructor looks top notch, but since they don't have a website it has been difficult getting information. 

-Do they have accommodations at the camp? If so, how many? There are 4 of us traveling there.

-Are there accommodations near the camp?

-What times are their 2 daily training sessions?

-I know it is away from the city, are there food places nearby? Or anything like a Big C, Tesco, 7-11?

-Any suggestions for Hua Hin in general?

[Snack Payback]

20 hours ago, kaetsu36 said:

Has anyone trained at Sitjaopho camp recently?  Their methods and instructor looks top notch, but since they don't have a website it has been difficult getting information. 

-Do they have accommodations at the camp? If so, how many? There are 4 of us traveling there.

-Are there accommodations near the camp?

-What times are their 2 daily training sessions?

-I know it is away from the city, are there food places nearby? Or anything like a Big C, Tesco, 7-11?

-Any suggestions for Hua Hin in general?

I've never trained in or around Hua Hin, but I've been there a few times. The gym is a fair way out of town, but looking on google maps there's a still quite a few hotels/guest houses nearby, so if there's no accommodation at the gym you should easily be able to find a place nearby.

There's always somewhere nearby to eat in Thailand, always!  You won't have to venture far too from the gym to find street food or a small cafe.

As for things to do in Hua Hin, it's good place to eat seafood.

Pala-U waterfall is worth a visit on a motorbike. It's out by the Myanmar border, the scenery on the way is very nice and the waterfall is pretty impressive.

If you're going to Hua Hin on a night out, see if you can find the Stonehead Band. They're a really good cover band (60's - 90's rock) fronted by a guy called Ratoon. They were playing at the Irish bar (I think it's called Murphy's), but that was a good few years ago, so they might have moved on from there now.  If they're not there ask around for Ratoon and the Stonehead band, they're well known around the town. 

[ant]

Have you been to train at Sitjaopho yet or do you need some info?

[JasonL]

hi, im going to Hua Hin & Sitjaopho on January 2020 for a week. I never been there. I neither have complete information. However i going to rent a bike and book hotel through agoda.com, where you can select accommodation based on your preference. In case anyone going there same time with me, just say HI~ ^_^  

[muay231032]

Great gym!! would definitly recomend going there

[nanibjj]

On 12/11/2019 at 4:34 PM, JasonL said:

hi, im going to Hua Hin & Sitjaopho on January 2020 for a week. I never been there. I neither have complete information. However i going to rent a bike and book hotel through agoda.com, where you can select accommodation based on your preference. In case anyone going there same time with me, just say HI~ ^_^  

Hey! I plan to go there in february so i'm curious how was your stay ? (I have a hard time to communicate with them via facebook or Instagram), was it too crowded? Thanks!

Edited January 25, 2020 by nanibjj

[Oliver]

Tried this gym for couple of days last week. Owner is a good dude, and trainer held pads amazingly. Especially for lefties that's a big deal.

But... no Thai fighters training in there - the place is a Farang Farm. So for sparring and clinch you don't get a Thai partner. (And half of them spar with you like they just saw you run over their dog.)

Just saying as this 2nd point is something that never gets mentioned by ppl online. 

[JasonL]

On 1/25/2020 at 10:00 AM, nanibjj said:

Hey! I plan to go there in february so i'm curious how was your stay ? (I have a hard time to communicate with them via facebook or Instagram), was it too crowded? Thanks!

Hi nanibjj, I was staying solo about 7km (about 10min driving) away from gym i booked online via agoda.com, which located just outside of the town area. Very convenient location for food, water, washing machine etc. I also rented a scooter elsewhere to travel around.

In their instagram (particularly the owner's instagram) he had listed 3 accommodation options nearer to the gym with prices. It will be more activities because staying with group. Please have a look~

During my stint the gym was pretty crowded, but all kru will keep an eye on you making sure you had your session. The gym runs on semi-automated + self-initiative mode. You are expected to show up on time, warm up on your own & of your choice. Krus will show up afterwards then "chaos" begins! You may pick up working partner you like to work with on sparring and clinching, else the kru will match up someone for you

I enjoyed every minute being present at there. Please be patient communicating with the owner, as he run the most of the show by himself. 

Please let me know should you need more detailed information.

On 1/25/2020 at 11:01 AM, Oliver said:

Tried this gym for couple of days last week. Owner is a good dude, and trainer held pads amazingly. Especially for lefties that's a big deal.

But... no Thai fighters training in there - the place is a Farang Farm. So for sparring and clinch you don't get a Thai partner. (And half of them spar with you like they just saw you run over their dog.)

Just saying as this 2nd point is something that never gets mentioned by ppl online. 

Yes it is true. Strangely my encounter with random partners in sparing and clinching all of them are friendly (got bashed occasionally but within my tolerable level, probably they came down to match my level ). However i aware that 2 of the kru fought in Oct and Nov 2019 respectively. There were sessions the kru will spar with us though. 

Did we meet?

[Oliver]

Hey man,

Maybe I'm not sure, apologies am terrible with names  

Unfortunately have left Hua Hin now.

[nanibjj]

2 hours ago, JasonL said:

Hi nanibjj, I was staying solo about 7km (about 10min driving) away from gym i booked online via agoda.com, which located just outside of the town area. Very convenient location for food, water, washing machine etc. I also rented a scooter elsewhere to travel around.

In their instagram (particularly the owner's instagram) he had listed 3 accommodation options nearer to the gym with prices. It will be more activities because staying with group. Please have a look~

During my stint the gym was pretty crowded, but all kru will keep an eye on you making sure you had your session. The gym runs on semi-automated + self-initiative mode. You are expected to show up on time, warm up on your own & of your choice. Krus will show up afterwards then "chaos" begins! You may pick up working partner you like to work with on sparring and clinching, else the kru will match up someone for you

I enjoyed every minute being present at there. Please be patient communicating with the owner, as he run the most of the show by himself. 

Please let me know should you need more detailed information.

Yes it is true. Strangely my encounter with random partners in sparing and clinching all of them are friendly (got bashed occasionally but within my tolerable level, probably they came down to match my level ). However i aware that 2 of the kru fought in Oct and Nov 2019 respectively. There were sessions the kru will spar with us though. 

Did we meet?

Thanks for the reply ! I will be there in a week so i have a lot of questions. It seems you didn't run? it wasn't mandatory? (yes, I don't like to run and I'm a little  bit ashamed of it, but it's also because i only stay 10 days and i would prefer keep my energy for the technical aspect of training if i train twice a day). Also do you know if it's possible to do privates ?

Thank you again!

Edited January 26, 2020 by nanibjj

[Joseph Arthur De Gonzo]

Most people don't run at Sitjaepho. You're only expected to run if you want to fight. 

You can do private in between sessions. 

I would suggest not renting the rooms at the gym, people said they did not sleep because of the dogs barking. 

Contrary to what was said, there are two thai fighters there, but it is true that it is mostly a farang fighters gym. 

The level is pretty high in general, but I would agree that several people clinched like if they life depended on it, which is unproductive. But not a clinch heavy gym anyway. 

Lots of Sweden cause the other twins lives there and developped connections with Sweden gyms. 

[Oliver]

Yeah like I said, was only there for 3 days so best to listen to these guys who trained there longer and know more. 

There's also a certain 'type' of farang that trains there. Not wanting to be rude or anything. But 3 days was more than enough and I got the fuck out of there.

[Joseph Arthur De Gonzo]

Personally. Although not a bad gym, I would not go back. There are enough better gyms out there in my opinion. My main issue with it was a certain favoritism toward some guys regardless of skills and intention to fight. I would often end up not sparring because of it. And I know what I am worth and there was no reason other that they did not care for everyone. 

That said a lot of people swear by this gym and go back over and over. And, it is the gym where there was the best sense of community I've been to. Most people except de Swedes would hangout together after training. And the trainers took us on a trip to a river on a sunday and stuff like that. That was fun. 

But in the end,  I am there to train and I expect to be treated as any other farangs who trains there. 

[nanibjj]

18 minutes ago, Joseph Arthur De Gonzo said:

Personally. Although not a bad gym, I would not go back. There are enough better gyms out there in my opinion. My main issue with it was a certain favoritism toward some guys regardless of skills and intention to fight. I would often end up not sparring because of it. And I know what I am worth and there was no reason other that they did not care for everyone. 

That said a lot of people swear by this gym and go back over and over. And, it is the gym where there was the best sense of community I've been to. Most people except de Swedes would hangout together after training. And the trainers took us on a trip to a river on a sunday and stuff like that. That was fun. 

But in the end,  I am there to train and I expect to be treated as any other farangs who trains there. 

If regardless of skills or intention to fight, what was your personal guess for this difference of treatment? Sorry to bother, it's the first time i hear more nuanced opinions so i value them.

Thanks a lot

[Joseph Arthur De Gonzo]

Sincerely, I think that part of it was body type. I am 6.4 and 230lbs and without being obese, I am not shredded. 

Thais are strong on fat and body shaming. I've received comments at most gyms I've been in Thailand but at that gym, I could see that they were talking about it and laughing at me in thai in front of me, thinking I would not pick on their body language. 

So that mixed with the fact that I am tall and pretty heavy, thus slower and not as graceful as a 140 pounder. I think they just did not have any interest in me. 

They were also very selective on which women they gave attention to. I think that besides the owner, most did not unless they found her attractive. 

[Oliver]

Dude, am a big guy myself, and didn't experience anything like that from the Thais. The owner and trainers were super nice to me.

Actually found it the other way. Like the other westerners were friendly, but didn't want to partner up for clinching - probably in their view it wouldn't be fair to them. 

Fair enough really.

It was that Thai trainer who held great pads that took pity and came over to give me 10 min clinch sparring with him. Young one with all the tatts. That was cool of him, he didn't have to do that.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Oliver

[JasonL]

On 1/26/2020 at 10:39 PM, nanibjj said:

Thanks for the reply ! I will be there in a week so i have a lot of questions. It seems you didn't run? it wasn't mandatory? (yes, I don't like to run and I'm a little  bit ashamed of it, but it's also because i only stay 10 days and i would prefer keep my energy for the technical aspect of training if i train twice a day). Also do you know if it's possible to do privates ?

Thank you again!

To be truthful i only start running on my 6th day (which is also my last day there went lost on the way back gym and missed the earlier part of training i was too adventurous)

Yeah running is not mandatory there. However we should not get too laid back then. Manage your energy expenditure smartly throughout the sessions and throughout your stay. Skip session to rest and recover if your body need to.

On private training, i aware they start offering but i do not know details. Speak to the owner and you will have your answer. 

 

Edited January 27, 2020 by JasonL