Dejrat Gym

[Kaitlin Rose Young]

I am having trouble finding almost anything online in English about Dejrat gym in Bangkok. Have any of you trained there? Or have you heard anything about it? 

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

I am having trouble finding almost anything online in English about Dejrat gym in Bangkok. Have any of you trained there? Or have you heard anything about it? 

If you post a link or two of what you've found in Thai I can try to work some of it out for you.

[Kaitlin Rose Young]

...

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Thanks so much! This is really all I could find. 

 

I've gathered from some of the social media posts that foreigners do train there, but not a lot. I've been told it's a hard gym, so maybe that's part o it. 

Okay, so here's the unofficial page with the location. There are female fighters I know who have tagged the location (like Sawsing) and some photos of Thai women training for at least one day, so it's open to women.

And here's the FB of the guy who appears to own it Dtakroh Lek - his last name is the gym name, so maybe the son of the man in the video clip above. If you don't have any luck contacting him in message, let me know and I'll translate a quick message with your inquiries into Thai. He and I have quite a few mutual friends.

[Kaitlin Rose Young]

Thanks! My trainer suggested this one, so I thought I might try to learn some about it. It was where he trained before coming to the states, so getting in probably wouldn't be an issue. I'm just trying to figure out I can expect. Thank you so much for your help!

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

It was where he trained before coming to the states, so getting in probably wouldn't be an issue. I'm just trying to figure out I can expect. Thank you so much for your help!

 

Hey Kaitlin, things can be very different for females than they are for males in more Thai-oriented gyms. A western male might not even think about or realize how different it could be for a serious female. Anything from lack of clinching opportunities, non-clinching, or inappropriate clinching, to getting less padwork, or just not being taken seriously as a fighter (not given fight opportunities), or less sparring can happen. Not say that any of this will happen, but the more "Thai" or "authentic" a gym is, the more unknown a female training experience might be. The gym could be great for you, just like it was for your trainer. Just keep an open mind that you won't know until you get there and see for yourself. Even the experience of another western woman at such a gym, might not be telling, if they don't share your same aims or personal qualities.

[Finn Cartlidge]

Hey Kaitlin, things can be very different for females than they are for males in more Thai-oriented gyms. A western male might not even think about or realize how different it could be for a serious female. Anything from lack of clinching opportunities, non-clinching, or inappropriate clinching, to getting less padwork, or just not being taken seriously as a fighter (not given fight opportunities), or less sparring can happen. Not say that any of this will happen, but the more "Thai" or "authentic" a gym is, the more unknown a female training experience might be. The gym could be great for you, just like it was for your trainer. Just keep an open mind that you won't know until you get there and see for yourself. Even the experience of another western woman at such a gym, might not be telling, if they don't share your same aims or personal qualities.

Kevin, have you or Sylvie ever wrote about what it's like for Thai women training? I'm guessing it probably varies hugely gym to gym kind of how it varies for western women? I saw a photo Frances put up advertising a gym in Buriram, and it had about 14 boys and 2 girls (also 3 little girls), and I was just wondering there 'place' in the gym. 

I remember reading Singpatong doesn't allow thai girls (unsure about western women) because one dated one of the fighters and some drama happened.

Sorry to write off-topic.

[Kaitlin Rose Young]

Hey Kaitlin, things can be very different for females than they are for males in more Thai-oriented gyms. A western male might not even think about or realize how different it could be for a serious female. Anything from lack of clinching opportunities, non-clinching, or inappropriate clinching, to getting less padwork, or just not being taken seriously as a fighter (not given fight opportunities), or less sparring can happen. Not say that any of this will happen, but the more "Thai" or "authentic" a gym is, the more unknown a female training experience might be. The gym could be great for you, just like it was for your trainer. Just keep an open mind that you won't know until you get there and see for yourself. Even the experience of another western woman at such a gym, might not be telling, if they don't share your same aims or personal qualities.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

 He is in the US and the gym is in Thailand. 

 

Yeah, this is what we noticed about Sakmongkol - don't know if you read Sylvie's post. When he trained Sylvie in clinch in Colorado we were really surprised that there were zero issues about clinch instruction. Everything was free and easy. But when he then trained Sylvie in Thailand, even in an empty gym, everything changed. If there had been Thais around it would have been very problematic. There are all sorts of hierarchy and gender elements going in Thai gyms. This isn't to say that they aren't workable, but they are there. Many times Sylvie has been told "no problem" by Thais, and genuinely so, but still even in gyms where she is well-established she has to fight and strain for both clinch and sparring, as a woman.

These things do tend to show themselves more over time though, and maybe less in the short term. It's just that this gym from the clip feels VERY Thai, which is great. In many ways though stepping into a more traditional Thai gym can be like stepping into the 1950s. But hey, these issues can show themselves in different ways in western friendly gyms too. Sounds like you've got a nice set up with a personal connection. That's a great start. Can't wait to hear about your experience there.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

 I saw a photo Frances put up advertising a gym in Buriram, and it had about 14 boys and 2 girls (also 3 little girls), and I was just wondering there 'place' in the gym. 

 

Sorry, just saw this. Young girls are pre-sexual (in many ways, though still have to go under the bottom rope), so they can get solid training in clinch if the gym cares enough about them. Because the earning power of girls is so much less than boys, it seems that the girls get the best training when they are part of their family gym, the family (usually the father) has an investment in them. Don't know about the Buriram gym. We've seen two girls in training. A young girl, Bai, at Petchrungruang who at times trains right beside the boys, in pretty tough, but then fades from training. Her dad is a pad holder. And Phetjee Jaa who's become the superstar at her gym, and the main provider for her family.

But generally females have a purely secondary place in most Thai gyms.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

Thanks! My trainer suggested this one, so I thought I might try to learn some about it. It was where he trained before coming to the states, so getting in probably wouldn't be an issue. I'm just trying to figure out I can expect. Thank you so much for your help!

 

This is pretty cool. Sylvie put this up last night on Facebook. The Thai national team of women all training at Dejrat gym, at least for the day. It would seem that the gym is unusually and beautifully focused on Thai female fighters. Probably both experienced with training women (important) and connected with promoting them. These are some of the best female fighters in their weight class in Thailand. Doesn't mean there won't be hurdles, but this seems like an awesome sign.

From left: Chommanee (57kg), Lommanee/Nong Naen (48kg), Duannapa (63.5kg), Nong Gif (60kg), Namdtan (54kg), Front Row, from left: Loma (45kg) and Nong Brai (51kg).

[Finn Cartlidge]

Sorry, just saw this. Young girls are pre-sexual (in many ways, though still have to go under the bottom rope), so they can get solid training in clinch if the gym cares enough about them. Because the earning power of girls is so much less than boys, it seems that the girls get the best training when they are part of their family gym, the family (usually the father) has an investment in them. Don't know about the Buriram gym. We've seen two girls in training. A young girl, Bai, at Petchrungruang who at times trains right beside the boys, in pretty tough, but then fades from training. Her dad is a pad holder. And Phetjee Jaa who's become the superstar at her gym, and the main provider for her family.

But generally females have a purely secondary place in most Thai gyms.

Cheers, the Buriram gym just made me start thinking as I read and watch a lot, but there's not much at all about Thai female fighters. I wish one of the big Bangkok stadiums would open up to females, I would assume that could lead to the trainers focusing more on them as the earning potential would be higher. Maybe in the future.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Cheers, the Buriram gym just made me start thinking as I read and watch a lot, but there's not much at all about Thai female fighters. I wish one of the big Bangkok stadiums would open up to females, I would assume that could lead to the trainers focusing more on them as the earning potential would be higher. Maybe in the future.

It's kind of hard to say because I haven't personally experienced many Thai girls or women at the gyms I train at. The women I fight all seem to come from gyms where there are small "pockets" of female fighters. For example, I'm the ONLY woman at one of my gyms and then at the other gym with Phetjee Jaa I'm one of two. There aren't many gyms that I've ever seen where there's only ONE Thai female fighter; it seems there are gyms that train women and gyms that don't.

It's hard to know how it's all being conducted at whatever gym you saw advertised on Frances' page. I know quite a few Thai female fighters who come from Buriram, so they have a "feeder system" for girls who grow up in the gyms there and then have satellite gyms for Bangkok fights and that kind of thing. But I can't say how many gyms have female fighters, how many female fighters are in the gyms, how many keep fighting as careers, or how many move to bigger gyms.

[Finn Cartlidge]

It's kind of hard to say because I haven't personally experienced many Thai girls or women at the gyms I train at. The women I fight all seem to come from gyms where there are small "pockets" of female fighters. For example, I'm the ONLY woman at one of my gyms and then at the other gym with Phetjee Jaa I'm one of two. There aren't many gyms that I've ever seen where there's only ONE Thai female fighter; it seems there are gyms that train women and gyms that don't.

It's hard to know how it's all being conducted at whatever gym you saw advertised on Frances' page. I know quite a few Thai female fighters who come from Buriram, so they have a "feeder system" for girls who grow up in the gyms there and then have satellite gyms for Bangkok fights and that kind of thing. But I can't say how many gyms have female fighters, how many female fighters are in the gyms, how many keep fighting as careers, or how many move to bigger gyms.

Thanks Sylvie, very interesting. 

[Davo]

Does anyone know the prices of training and private lessons?

After watching the videos of Silvie I'm thinking of going to Djrat..looks like a great coach.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

I paid 500 baht for my private session with Arjan Surat for that video. 

Does anyone know the prices of training and private lessons?
After watching the videos of Silvie I'm thinking of going to Djrat..looks like a great coach.

[Davo]

I paid 500 baht for my private session with Arjan Surat for that video.

Thanks Sylvie!

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

Does anyone know the prices of training and private lessons?

After watching the videos of Silvie I'm thinking of going to Djrat..looks like a great coach.

 

I would not really recommend the gym based on privates with Arjan Surat. He's an amazing teacher, and Sylvie's private with him was great footage. But I get the very strong sense that he does not "do" privates, and that the private we got was something of a one-off. When we went back to shoot another hour with him, despite having someone in the gym at the gym arranging a private session, when we got there it simply never happened. He's an older Arjan, head coach of the Thai National team, and runs his gym in a very strict and regimented way. I think getting privates with him is pretty difficult.