Jump to content

Speaking With My New Thai Coach


Recommended Posts

I have the honor of training under a professional Muay Thai boxer here in the US. He is here from Thailand to coach and lead classes at my gym and he does an amazing job.  He is an awesome coach but does not speak a word of English. Despite this, he communicates very well through body language, demonstration, and very minimal English. He has a hilariously goofy yet extremely disciplined personality which is common among Thai boxers. 
 

Occasionally I will say things in Thai that I get from Google Translate, and despite it being broken, off-tone Thai language, his eyes still light up and and is happy to finally hear his home language in the states. 


I am wondering, what are some ways to learn easy small talk with him, even if it’s just about training,  so that he gets to hear and use his native language while he’s working here? What are some phrases are cordials that we normally exchange in the English language that I could say in Thai?

 

For instance, things like “heys how’s it going?” Or “what’s up man” (hearing him yell WASSAP MAAAAN is actually very funny, I don’t think he knows what it really means) don’t really translate well. I have been saying “saba di mai?” Which is the equivalent of how are you and he always gets a kick of that, and says “very good Thai!” ( he’s too nice )

 

anyways I figure this is a good place to ask. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 12/18/2021 at 12:00 PM, supereta said:

I have the honor of training under a professional Muay Thai boxer here in the US. He is here from Thailand to coach and lead classes at my gym and he does an amazing job.  He is an awesome coach but does not speak a word of English. Despite this, he communicates very well through body language, demonstration, and very minimal English. He has a hilariously goofy yet extremely disciplined personality which is common among Thai boxers. 
 

Occasionally I will say things in Thai that I get from Google Translate, and despite it being broken, off-tone Thai language, his eyes still light up and and is happy to finally hear his home language in the states. 


I am wondering, what are some ways to learn easy small talk with him, even if it’s just about training,  so that he gets to hear and use his native language while he’s working here? What are some phrases are cordials that we normally exchange in the English language that I could say in Thai?

 

For instance, things like “heys how’s it going?” Or “what’s up man” (hearing him yell WASSAP MAAAAN is actually very funny, I don’t think he knows what it really means) don’t really translate well. I have been saying “saba di mai?” Which is the equivalent of how are you and he always gets a kick of that, and says “very good Thai!” ( he’s too nice )

 

anyways I figure this is a good place to ask. 

That’s great you have a Thai trainer.. I’ve recently found one too.. I have no idea what we talk about, but I definitely know when I’ve done something wrong hahahah 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Talk about foooood. Food and family. Haha easiest way to get some convo going, Keep it simple. Thai language is actually much simpler in context than English (imo anyway). Google translate is pretty good with English to Thai, but it's not great going Thai to English just fyi. We have more words (especially descriptive words) so the apps have to try and extrapolate. 

Edited by Tyler Byers
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Most Recent Topics

  • Latest Comments

    • Geez. I spent the whole night watching all 11 of the existing fights of Wichannoi Pontawee, who many legends named as the GOAT. I've watched his fights before and have enjoyed them, and a few times wowed, but I felt like he's just too important a fighter to be only "somewhat" familiar with him. I had crisp idea of how he fought, and I saw him have some spectacular moments. But its an entire different thing to sit down and watch all the fights - taking lots of notes - back to back, one after another. I don't think I've learned as much watching any other fighter. It's remarkable. Hopefully I can put these notes together for others. 
    • Hi, I just started Muay Thai and I want a pair of gloves that will last me more than a year and I could use as a all around glove for training and also sparring for when I like rank up. I am 250 lb, 6'1 so I am a bigger guy and I was thinking getting the Twins Special BGVL3 16 oz gloves? Are these good for what I want or are there better options for a similar/cheaper price?
    • One of the effects of deteriorating defense in Muay Thai is that sub-optimal offenses will become more effective. Which is to say, they will no longer appear sub-optimal (based on flawed principles). The lack of eyes, or distance control, or sound principles on defense will elevate certain offensive trends which would never fly in the past...one of the subtle ways deskilling is happening. Basic combo-ing sudden is proven effective. Blind pocket trading, effective. Spamming elbows, effective. And with that effectiveness the loss of skill.
  • The Latest From Open Topics Forum

    • Hi all, Does anyone know of any suppliers for blanks (Plain items to design and print a logo on) that are a good quality? Or put me in the right direction? thanks all  
    • The first fight between Poot Lorlek and Posai Sittiboonlert was recently uploaded to youtube. Posai is one of the earliest great Muay Khao fighters and influential to Dieselnoi, but there's very little footage of him. Poot is one of the GOATs and one of Posai's best wins, it's really cool to see how Posai's style looked against another elite fighter.
    • Yeah, this is certainly possible. Thanks! I just like the idea of a training camp pre-fight because of focus and getting more "locked in".. Do you know of any high level gyms in europe you would recommend? 
    • You could just pick a high-level gym in a European city, just live and train there for however long you want (a month?). Lots of gyms have morning and evening classes.
    • Hi, i have a general question concerning Muay-Thai training camps, are there any serious ones in Europe at all? I know there are some for kickboxing in the Netherlands, but that's not interesting to me or what i aim for. I have found some regarding Muay-Thai in google searches, but what iv'e found seem to be only "retreats" with Muay-Thai on a level compareable to fitness-boxing, yoga or mindfullness.. So what i look for, but can't seem to find anywhere, are camps similar to those in Thailand. Grueling, high-intensity workouts with trainers who have actually fought and don't just do this as a hobby/fitness regime. A place where you can actually grow, improve technique and build strength and gas-tank with high intensity, not a vacation... No hate whatsoever to those who do fitness-boxing and attend retreats like these, i just find it VERY ODD that there ain't any training camps like those in Thailand out there, or perhaps i haven't looked good enough?..  Appericiate all responses, thank you! 
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      1.4k
    • Total Posts
      11.5k
×
×
  • Create New...