Looking for a hard reset: Nature, Discipline, and Authenticity

[Zaruto]

Hi everyone,

 

I’m 22, currently finishing my Master's in IT in France, but honestly, I feel like my life is aimless right now. I’m stuck in a bubble of comfort and I need to see the world for what it really is. I want to build a real physical and mental discipline and reconnect with nature.

I'm planning to leave on March for a month (or more) of total immersion in Thailand to practice Muay Thaï. I already have few month of experience but I’m still a full beginner. I’m torn between two options and would love your advice:

 

1. Look Nungubon (Ubon): I love the family vibe and the authenticity of the gym. It feels like the "real deal," but it's in a city neighborhood (no nature) and I've heard they only do one formal training session a day.

 

 

2. Kem Muay Thai (Khao Yai): The mountain setting and the nature look perfect for a mental break. But it's expensive (36,000 baht) and I’m worried it might be too focused on westerners/tourists now. I don't want a "resort" experience.

 

Does anyone have experience with these two? Or maybe a suggestion for a hidden gem in Isan or rural Thailand where I can find that mix of nature + brutal discipline + authenticity and connection with people ?

 

Thanks for your help.

[dazak]

Hi mate, I was going to head to look nungubon a while back as it looked really isolated and i could just purely disconnect however I decided to dot around which i prefered more. That look gym did look rly good tho.

A few hidden gems i can reccomend that are more in a town / some form of life are 

 

i think yotharak is the one you'd be looking for. good spot with local food.

 

 

Kamala Muay Thai 8/10 trainer is good and fun to work with on pads 1 hour sessions plenty of bags if classes are kept small. 20 sit ups between rounds, tiring 600 baht more of a passing through gym it seems with no local regulars that I saw but trainer makes you feel very welcome if you turn up a few times

Pasakthong Muay Thai Bang Tao 8/10 Pad work is good and trainer simulated a real fight with pad work throwing kicks and punches back 1 hour 1-1 session only no group sessions Small gym on main road into bang tao only around 6 ish bags old school vibes fighter gym broken english 600 baht once again didn’t really see any consistent thai’s training at this gym besides one who was also a trainer/fighter.

Yotharak Muay Thai 9/10 small gym with only 6 bags but a heavy focus on sparring with a old school vibe 700 baht per session (group) if you do not run with group you will do extra 3-4 rounds on the pads but running is for fighters good crowd of thai fighters who know what level and power to go with your experience and will teach you new things during the spar offers a place to stay including meals training etc for around £450 a month i was told. best gym i’ve been to so far as the trainers and other members of the gym make you feel very welcome and like a family. trainers english isn’t great but a few thai fighters who pass the messages along with better english - some high level fighters in gym (one championship) & stadium belt holders

 

for reference i was doing about 1k gbp a month on airbnb brekky lunch dinner snacks and weed a month. and x1 session a day 1-1's 90% of the time.

 

 

[dazak]

Also i really looked into a load of rural gyms i may even have a post about it on here..

There are quite a few cons you think like you'll be eating at the same place every day. 

your place of sleep might not have simple things like mircowaves etc.

you'll miss just going to a 7/11 within 5 mins motorbike drive , simple things like that man. 

 

Maybe just go 30 mins from town you'll get that im in the middle of nowhere feeling trust me.