Whats your gym like?

[Ling Bah Nick DC]

What kind a gym are you training at?
Big ,small? Many members?
Are there child classes?Do they have many training day?
Is there any gear for sale in the gym? Things like that...
First I'll tell about the gym I train at:
We are located on the outskirts of Antwerp,we train Thai boxing on monday,tuesday,thursday and friday evening, saturday at midday and also on tuesday and thursday morning with our adult group. On monday,wednesday and saturday we have kids training. On monday and wednesday we also have  classic boxing class. We work with 2 head trainers and 5 or 6 fighters who also teach classes in the gym. Because we have various training hours we have about 300 members who train at the gym.We welcome all levels of experience,long or short stay. Average class consist of 20 advanced students and fighters and about 25 students in starter class. In our gym we have about 25 active fighters in various weight and class
both woman and men and also kids who fight.Our gym is not small but when its a busy training it feels very crowded...its fully floor covered, we have a ring,4 heavybags,weight area. We also sell all fight gear at the gym; brands are : Booster,Twins,King,Queen.
I think training at our gym isnt cheap but neither too expensive, because all student get appropriate guidance.
Love to hear about your gym.
Nick

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

What kind a gym are you training at?

Big ,small? Many members?

Are there child classes?Do they have many training day?

Is there any gear for sale in the gym? Things like that...

 

 

My gym is Petchrungruang in Pattaya, it's medium sized. We have about 14 regular fighters, maybe 4-6 of those at the big Bangkok stadia on a monthly basis. Mostly kids and teens, but no such thing as "kids classes" or separation by time schedule in Thailand. We all train together but we get grouped mostly by size and experience, so the kids play together and I'm with the teenagers because I'm small. It's really good for me. We have westerners, too, but they tend to be bigger than I am so they train together and I only sometimes spar or clinch with them.

The kids train in the early morning before school, so they're running at 5 AM and finished with their conditioning and morning workout by about 6:30-7:00 AM. They don't do pads in the mornings. I come at about 8:30 or 9:00 for my training and I do a full workout, including pads in the AM. Then we all start again in the afternoon between 3:30-7:00 PM. People come in waves, as there are folks who only train in the afternoon and show up early, kids get out from school and get there a bit later, then we leave in waves as well. Usually the gym is quiet by 7:00. There are two rings (one is quite small, it's mostly used by the kids), six heavy bags (three long, three standard), an uppercut bag on a wall mount, a matted area for warmup or skipping or padwork spillover, and a full weight room. Plus a ping pong table :)

This schedule is 6 days per week; Sundays have no AM training, so it's a half-day.

There is apparel (shorts and shirts), Mongkol, Praejit, anklets, tape, gauze, vaseline, oil, etc. sold at the gym. Any equipment is ordered through the gym and arrives from Bangkok within a week or so, but you can pick a very wide variety for order. I've never seen any gloves, shinguards or anything like that actually in the shop already, but you can order all of that plus headgear, belly pads... anything.

Training is very inexpensive compared to other gyms I've seen and trained at. Only 4,000 Baht per month. There are very few trainers but they have different assets. Generally it's just Pi Nu, who is the best padholder I've ever had; his father owns the gym and he grew up there - it's his house. But there are also some men who can be called in to help when it's busy or who work with particular fighters. I've only ever worked with one or two of them when Pi Nu is unavailable, like if he's at a fight in Bangkok or something. I love my gym a lot.

 

[threeoaks]

What kind a gym are you training at?

Big ,small? Many members?

Are there child classes?Do they have many training day?

Is there any gear for sale in the gym? Things like that...

First I'll tell about the gym I train at:

We are located on the outskirts of Antwerp,we train Thai boxing on monday,tuesday,thursday and friday evening, saturday at midday and also on tuesday and thursday morning with our adult group. On monday,wednesday and saturday we have kids training. On monday and wednesday we also have  classic boxing class. We work with 2 head trainers and 5 or 6 fighters who also teach classes in the gym. Because we have various training hours we have about 300 members who train at the gym.We welcome all levels of experience,long or short stay. Average class consist of 20 advanced students and fighters and about 25 students in starter class. In our gym we have about 25 active fighters in various weight and class

both woman and men and also kids who fight.Our gym is not small but when its a busy training it feels very crowded...its fully floor covered, we have a ring,4 heavybags,weight area. We also sell all fight gear at the gym; brands are : Booster,Twins,King,Queen.

I think training at our gym isnt cheap but neither too expensive, because all student get appropriate guidance.

Love to hear about your gym.

Nick

My gym Stockade Martial Arts, is located in upstate New York, 30 minutes from my house.  It is a nice small space in a row of historic buildings.  The gym is co-owned by a trainer, his wife, and a current Lion Fight Pro.  I am not sure of the exact number of fighters but its pretty small, maybe 10.  Occasionally fighters will come down from farther upstate for a few weeks leading up to a fight to be coached and then cornered by our coaches.  There are a fair amount of people coming from far and wide to train with the main trainer; their presence is not felt at every class because they often have to travel.  

It is all Muay Thai with the exception of BJJ Fridays and Kali Sundays.  Usually there is a Thai fight playing on the telly as you come in the entryway, which not like being in Thailand but still nice. It is also indicative of the stylistic focus; this is not an American style kickboxing gym or a fitness center.  The focus and admiration seems to be for Thai and international style Muay Thai.  I know that's general but its based on observation and I don't want to speak for the coaches.

Two days a week there is a kids' class, otherwise it is organized as follows:  1 hour bagwork at 5 (beginner's are welcome here), 1 hour padwork and technique at 6, 1 hour sparring and/or clinch at 7.  Sparring is by invitation but its not horribly exclusive; its just to keep the absolute beginners out and to allow the trainers to make sure people have appropriate control.  There are open mat periods as well on the weekends; the gym is open for something 7 days a week.  There are two higher level pros who train at the gym on their own during the day as well as at classes (as coaches and sometimes to train).

There are only two weekday Muay Thai mixed-level classes, because around here most people work during the day.  One owner offers private lessons as well; he's an incredible teacher.  They sell shorts and you get a glove/guard/shorts package when you sign up though I already had the gear from another gym so I don't know the type or quality.  Think its Twins gloves anyway. 

This is my third gym offering Muay Thai and by far the best in both atmosphere and quality.  Its laid back yet technical and the owners are welcoming to women to train and/or fight. I'd say the price is competitive with the local places; they want people to able to train but of course have to make a living.  I have trained at one more and one less expensive place.  Very good value.