Advice for choosing a gym for going long term

[Yodmati]

Hello! I'm a 21 year old fighter who is just starting my pro career, I've had 2 pro fights and 10 amateur fights.

I'll be going to Thailand on August for 1 year but hoping to stay more by being sponsored by a gym and fighting for them. I have already been on Thailand twice (3 months & 1,5 month) on great gyms but now I really want to inmerse myself in a gym where I'll be getting really good training and fight opportunities, as my past experiences I've been getting good training but neglected some aspects of Muay Thai, like clinching, which is something I really like. It doesn't matter the location of the gym I'm at as long as I'm fighting constantly and getting good training.

Also, I'm 6'2 (1,85m) and weigh about 80kg (fight at 72 - 70kg), so that's a thing to consider while choosing a gym, as not many gyms have thai people around my fight weight to train with!

I've been searching for a while now and these are the gyms that seems good for to start at:
- Sitsongpeenong Gym Bangkok: Good fight opportunities, they have high level Thais around my fight weight to train with and their training structure looks really good but I don't like that they separate Thais and foreigners and I don't think they sponsor foreigners.

- Lamnamoon Muay Thai: Good fight opportunities, I know they have Thais and foreigners around my fight weight, and for what I've read and heard their training structure looks like a traditional thai gym.

- Sitmonchai Gym: Already been here, they offer great fight opportunities and training, have Thais around my fight weight to train with, but the thing I didn't like is that I didn't clinch much while I was there!

Does anyone know any information about those gyms or recommend me another one for what I'm looking for? Would it be better to choose a gym in a more touristic area for what I'm after?
Any information will be greatly appreciated!

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

Would it be better to choose a gym in a more touristic area for what I'm after?

 

You have some good gyms there, but as to the above I can't imagine that it would be easy to become a sponsored fighter in a non-tourist area. If you are going for a year though, perhaps it is best to try a few gyms, spend 2 weeks at each and see how they feel, see how receptive they are to you.

An interesting alternative is perhaps the new Pumpangmuang gym in Lampang. We haven't a clue about the training there, as it was just being set up, but it is very connected, and as it seems like they are trying to develop a fight team up there, and may be open to sponsoring a fighter with less experience (a unique situation).

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Hello! I'm a 21 year old fighter who is just starting my pro career, I've had 2 pro fights and 10 amateur fights.

 

I'll be going to Thailand on August for 1 year but hoping to stay more by being sponsored by a gym and fighting for them. I have already been on Thailand twice (3 months & 1,5 month) on great gyms but now I really want to inmerse myself in a gym where I'll be getting really good training and fight opportunities, as my past experiences I've been getting good training but neglected some aspects of Muay Thai, like clinching, which is something I really like. It doesn't matter the location of the gym I'm at as long as I'm fighting constantly and getting good training.

Also, I'm 6'2 (1,85m) and weigh about 80kg (fight at 72 - 70kg), so that's a thing to consider while choosing a gym, as not many gyms have thai people around my fight weight to train with!

I've been searching for a while now and these are the gyms that seems good for to start at:

- Sitsongpeenong Gym Bangkok: Good fight opportunities, they have high level Thais around my fight weight to train with and their training structure looks really good but I don't like that they separate Thais and foreigners and I don't think they sponsor foreigners.

- Lamnamoon Muay Thai: Good fight opportunities, I know they have Thais and foreigners around my fight weight, and for what I've read and heard their training structure looks like a traditional thai gym.

- Sitmonchai Gym: Already been here, they offer great fight opportunities and training, have Thais around my fight weight to train with, but the thing I didn't like is that I didn't clinch much while I was there!

Does anyone know any information about those gyms or recommend me another one for what I'm looking for? Would it be better to choose a gym in a more touristic area for what I'm after?

Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Lamnamoon seems to have good clinching and I've seen two of their foreign fighters on Max; they have solid technique. I have no idea if they sponsor fighters or not.  Khem has a gym in Khorat (Khao Yai area) which has very good clinch training. I don't know if they have larger fighters though and no idea if they sponsor.

I don't think it will be easy to find a gym that will sponsor you that is a small, non-tourist area gym. It's possible that after a number of months training at a smaller, out of the way gym you could discuss it with the owner/manager, if that's something you're able to do.

[Yodmati]

You have some good gyms there, but as to the above I can't imagine that it would be easy to become a sponsored fighter in a non-tourist area. If you are going for a year though, perhaps it is best to try a few gyms, spend 2 weeks at each and see how they feel, see how receptive they are to you.

An interesting alternative is perhaps the new Pumpangmuang gym in Lampang. We haven't a clue about the training there, as it was just being set up, but it is very connected, and as it seems like they are trying to develop a fight team up there, and may be open to sponsoring a fighter with less experience (a unique situation).

 

Yeah that's true! I'll check each one for 2 weeks and see how I feel! I'll check the post about Pumpangmuang Gym, thanks! 

 

Lamnamoon seems to have good clinching and I've seen two of their foreign fighters on Max; they have solid technique. I have no idea if they sponsor fighters or not.  Khem has a gym in Khorat (Khao Yai area) which has very good clinch training. I don't know if they have larger fighters though and no idea if they sponsor.

I don't think it will be easy to find a gym that will sponsor you that is a small, non-tourist area gym. It's possible that after a number of months training at a smaller, out of the way gym you could discuss it with the owner/manager, if that's something you're able to do.

 

I'll ask some of the foreigners at Lamnamoon to get more information about the gym! But it is true that it will be hard finding a small gym that offers what I'm looking for...I think I'll be better off finding a gym in a touristic area where I can get more chances on being sponsored! Thanks a lot for the help :)

[Claire]

 Khem has a gym in Khorat (Khao Yai area) which has very good clinch training. I don't know if they have larger fighters though and no idea if they sponsor.

 

Indeed, Kem Gym has excellent clinch training, including for larger guys. Kem and a couple of the other Thai guys fight at around 68-70kgs plus there is a heavy trainer (85kg+) who is retired but clinches daily with the fighters (Thai and foreign). They don't sponsor but they do offer plenty of fight opportunities and they take good care.

[Yodmati]

Indeed, Kem Gym has excellent clinch training, including for larger guys. Kem and a couple of the other Thai guys fight at around 68-70kgs plus there is a heavy trainer (85kg+) who is retired but clinches daily with the fighters (Thai and foreign). They don't sponsor but they do offer plenty of fight opportunities and they take good care.

 

Have you been there?? If so, how was the typical routine at the gym? I'm really interested in going there for some months! 

[Claire]

Have you been there?? If so, how was the typical routine at the gym? I'm really interested in going there for some months! 

 

Yes, I have stayed several months and I love it. The training is hard - a typical day starts at 6am with a hilly 10-12km run usually followed by sparring then bag work and often high rep kicks and/or some clinching, depending on who has a fight coming up. Afternoons sessions begin at 3pm with a short run then skipping, pad rounds, bag work and a lot of clinching. Both sessions go for around 2.5 to 3 hours each and also involve the usual pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups and 100s of knees and teeps etc on the bag, all of which is supervised by the trainers. Foreigners and Thais are very integrated.

It is a great gym for people who want to focus totally on Muay Thai without any distractions.

[Yodmati]

Yes, I have stayed several months and I love it. The training is hard - a typical day starts at 6am with a hilly 10-12km run usually followed by sparring then bag work and often high rep kicks and/or some clinching, depending on who has a fight coming up. Afternoons sessions begin at 3pm with a short run then skipping, pad rounds, bag work and a lot of clinching. Both sessions go for around 2.5 to 3 hours each and also involve the usual pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups and 100s of knees and teeps etc on the bag, all of which is supervised by the trainers. Foreigners and Thais are very integrated.

It is a great gym for people who want to focus totally on Muay Thai without any distractions.

It looks great for what I'm looking for, a gym with good training, fight opportunities and lot of clinching! I really appreciate the help of everyone here :) I'll contact the gym to know further information!

[Claire]

This video shows some of the heavier clinchers at Kem Gym: