Jump to content

My List of Muay Thai Gyms I Recommend in Thailand


Recommended Posts

So here is an informal list of gyms I'd generally recommend, and a short synopsis why. These are maybe one-month-stay recommendations. These are not reviews, just quick overall impressions. Keep in mind, I don't really spend a lot of time in gyms during regular training hours, and I'm not drawn to mega-gyms with lots of trainers, students and new facilities. I just get asked this question a lot so this is my best answer on my experiences, and sometimes from feedback I've heard from people I've sent there. If you have a question you can post it on this thread, or create a new thread in this Topic. I've included links to filmed sessions with some of the krus that head these gyms, I'd strongly recommend watching them to get a sense of the gym and the teaching style. [updated March, 2022]
 

1515043202_RecommendedGymsThailand.thumb.jpg.5bbc2c07a4bc519ce0e9ebfbb437c404.jpg

Sit Kru Thailand (Chiang Mai - contact here) Thailand Pinsinchai is a late- Golden Age fighter, so well rounded in beautiful technique, powerful striking, and a great teacher. He was originally part of the Santai krus, so he has experience with western fighters, but has opened his own gym in Chiang Mai. Importantly, he trains his own son as a fighter, and a handful of young (teenage) fighters who are frequently on Channel 7 and Petchyindee shows. The reason this is important is that gyms can have a sweet spot they hit when a Thai team is being built, which makes them very full of focus. Kru Thailand streams training often, you can find video of it here. The gym is on the premises of a resort, so you have a room right there if you wish. The facilities are nice but not fancy, but mainly Thailand is just an excellent teacher and a funny and sincere man. You can see how great Kru Thailand is as a teacher in my hour long Muay Thai Library sessions with him. Session 1 all about technique, Session 2 on clinch

Yodwicha Muay Thai Gym (Buriram - contact here) Yodwicha is kind of the last of the great Muay Khao, at least in the true sense. Since he doesn't fight in Thailand anymore, his style is more of an "international" hands and forward-fighting, but he never forgets his roots. You'll be training with one of the best fighters in the world. He's a very generous and patient teacher and his wife Yanisara is a wonderful woman who speaks quite good English which is always a bonus. The gym has moved to Buriram from its former location in Bangkok. I have not visited or seen this new location but have heard from a recent couple who trained with him there that the experience was great. Another perk is that Yodwicha is still an elite fighter, so you can be there while he's preparing for fights and see what that looks like, as well as help him if you're of a suitable size. You can see Yodwicha's teaching style in this great Muay Thai Library session in his gym.

Or. Kham/Fight House Thailand - Singburi with Kru Diesel (Singburi - connect to them here) Famed Kru Diesel is the big draw of this gym, but there are a number of very good fighters training there too. Kru Diesel is best known for having brought up two Muay Khao superstars at F. A. Group (Petchboonchu and Yothin) but he has moved to be the head trainer up in Singburi, where at the time of this writing he's rebuilding Sirichai (formerly Tanadet Tor. Pran49 - see this quick interview here), a handful of young male fighters. Female superstar Sawsing also trains there and brings female fighter teammates like Dangkongfah, Fahseetong, Petsaifaa, et al. Kru Diesel is a mastermind for the Muay Khao style, an amazing padman and a truly great teacher. For Muay Khao, this is a top option. The gym currently has nearby apartment options, but they tell me to build fighter dorms early 2022. Importantly, this is a legendary kru involved in building a legit Thai fight team, who also has lots of experience of training western fighters as well. These kinds of sweet spot gyms that are authentically Thai, but also understand western needs are rare. This session was filmed at FA Group, but you'll get a strong sense of Kru Diesel's teaching: Kru Diesel F.A. Group - The Art of Knees (84 min). A new session is coming to the Library that I've filmed at Fight House in Singburi. Follow Kru Dieselnoi Facebook, he live streams a lot. This gym is not easy to find, but here is the Google Map link to it.

Manop's Gym (Chiang Mai) - For those that want a gym that is a bit more personal in their training Manop's gym in Chiang Mai is definitely something to check out. Manop is famously known as Saenchai's Yokkao trainer, and he's left Yokkao now to start his own life in Chiang Mai. He is incredibly perceptive as a teacher, very, very technical. I'm not sure I've run into a more precise and intuitive teacher of technique, a man with a gentle spirit as well. He also works really well with young western fighters. The gym is in a quiet neighborhood outside of the city, and seems like a great opportunity learn and train hard. If you check the threads of this forum you will find some very positive, thorough reviews of the gym a solid year or more into its foundation. Also it would seem very women-friendly, as Kru Manop raised his daughter Faa to become a fighter. You can see Kru Manop's teaching style in my Library sessions with him: The Art of the Teep (90 min), Session 2 - The Art of the Sweep (57 min) We did this quick video edit of the gym in 2020 if you want to take a look

Gyms I Haven't Been To in While But Probably Still Recommended

Kem Muaythai Gym - clinch heavy, gorgeous mountain location, run by a great fighter in Kem, access to Isaan festival cards. 

Kem's Muay Thai gym may be one of the best in Thailand, high up on a mountain near Khorat. I call it the Shaolin Experience. Big beautiful resort like grounds, grueling training sessions, at times lots of active fighters. The connection to Isaan fighting is very special, there is nothing quite like festival fighting. It's one of the best experiences you'll have as a fighter. I wrote about the gym a few years ago here: Kem Muaythai Gym: Hardcore, Beautiful, Clinch Gym - You can see Kem's teaching style in the Muay Thai Library: Session 1: Building a System (52 min), Session 2: Mastering Everything In Between (80 min)

Hongthong Gym (Chiang Mai - contact here) - My private with Joe Hongthong was absolutely wonderful. He thinks creatively about the fighter I am, and then about how to enhance that. They've had successful women fighting out of their gym, and from personal experience I'd say that if you are a Muay Khao fighter Joe would make a wonderful teacher. The gym is very connected to the local Chiang Mai fight scene, and to Bangkok fight opportunities and is very fighter-oriented. mid-sized western fighters seem like they've had success training and fighting out of this gym. Watch Joe's training style: Developing the Muay Khao Style | 87 Minutes - Joe Hongthong - Chiang Mai

 

Please post all gym recommendation questions you have for me here on this thread, or start your own thread. That way the conversation can develop and benefit others too! (This list and its descriptions will be revised over time)

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gyms that I do not have personal experience with but have heard positive things about, or which I visited and have qualities that might appeal to a certain kind of traveler/student/fighter. These are not gym reviews, just quick impressions.

Santai Gym (outside of Chiang Mai) - lots of people have had positive experiences here, including pro female fighters. I've heard that they teach one style of Muay Thai (from the famed Pinsinchai camp), so they may try to change your kick or your fighting style. This is good in that everyone is more or less on the same page, but also perhaps limited in the sense that the variety of Muay Thai found in Thailand is incredibly rich, even in a particular gym, which for me means more to learn from. People who seem to really enjoy the camp are those looking for "technical" instruction, enjoy more organized instruction, and they who like to bond with other western travelers/fighters, as the camp seems to have nice tight-knit community. They actively recruit and support female western fighters. new note (3/4/2019) - a mainstay as one of the most dependable gyms in Thailand, I've heard that they have in high season removed the cap of students they once had, and that the gym can get a little overpopulated, with the quality of training dropping for some. This is very hard to gauge from afar, but it should be mentioned as a possibility in high-season.

Sitjaopho (Hua Hin) - This is a gym in Hua Hin that is quiet popular with those looking for "technical" instruction. It has a strong Swedish connection, as well as a following with some from the East Coast (USA). I've never been here and can't recommend on my own experience, but they have long-term and repeat clients.

Chatchai Sasakul Gym (BKK) - the former WBC world champion boxer Chatchai is highly recommended if you want to work on your boxing. Precise technician, great instructor. Probably the best boxing gym in Thailand, home of several current world champions. Private sessions are best. You can see a full private session with him here. They also have some nearby accommodation for longer-term stays as well.

Dejrat Gym (BKK) - This is a hidden gem in Bangkok run by the coach of the Thai National Team, Arjan Surat. Watch our session together. It just is a very "Thai" gym, so I couldn't recommend it in a broad way, either in a cultural or instruction sense. It's no-nonsense Muay Thai that is focused on its serious Thai fighters. They have had experience with female fighters. Go here only if you want some sort of immersion, are prepared to work very hard, and be positioned in a traditional hierarchy. Not a lot of English spoken. My session with Arjan Surat: Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min)

Burklerk's Gym (Lampang, contact here) - outstanding instruction from a Legend in sleepy and beautiful Lampang. He and his wife have opened up a brand new resort style gym in Lampang. I wrote about his original home gym here: Burklerk's Family Run Gym in Lampang. Burklerk has a beautiful, powerful style and each time I visit I learn things. Even 5 minutes with him is gold. It's a small community gym in a quiet neighborhood, but not a fighter's gym really. Go there for the time with Burklerk, but there won't be much sparring or clinching. My session with Arjan Burklerk in his original home location: Burklerk PInsinchai - Dynamic Symmetry (82 min)

Keatkhamtorn Gym (Bangkok) - This gym is an authentic kai muay gym in Bangkok in that it is still very focused on growing Muay Thai stadium champions from an early age. This means that it is a great gym for small bodied westerners especially those interested in immersive clinch. Immersive clinch the way Thais learned, but be warned it takes a while.They have tons of young male fighters between 45-52 kg, and are a Muay Khao gym, which means that you'll be encouraged to develop proper clinch fighting habits. I will definitely make this my clinch gym when in Bangkok. The owner, Teerawat Chukorn is a Police Captain and very kind, and speaks English. You can contact them through their Facebook page which will respond in English.

Rambaa Somdet M16 (Pattaya) - Want to train with a Thai MMA legend (their first MMA World Champ), and to do so for cheap? Rambaa's gym is awesome in a very Thai way. Mostly it's neighborhood kids, and a few Thai fighters, but every day this small gym pulses with Rambaa's personality. I'm not sure what his current rates are, but he has some accommodation right on premises, a daily/weekly/monthly building right up the street (with air-con and wifi) and his private sessions are some of my favorites. His gym is mostly young kinds, so maybe not ideal for bigger bodied fighters who need clinch and sparring partners (other than the trainers or a few of his late-teen fighters).  This is all about his love for the sport. I wrote about Rambaa's Gym here. I'd say it is only for the adventurous, those who know at least a little Thai.

PhuketKing Muay Thai Gym - I don't have any experience in the regular training of this gym, but I went to do a private with Kru Pot, the head trainer, for the Muay Thai Library and can say he is excellent. Anything he's in charge of will be worthwhile, especially for Muay Khao style, and he's a really wonderful man. I'd highly recommend private training with him, if you can. My session with him in the Muay Thai Library: Kru Pot" Bunpot Sor. Boonyaa - Muay Khao Depth (63 min)

PK Saenchai Gym (Bangkok) I have never been to this gym at all, but it is a favorite of Westerners both who are seeking to train under a big name and those who have been in Thailand for a long while and decide to move over there for the fight opportunities and training alongside contemporary stars of Muay Thai. The head trainer is Detduang Pongsawang, who was a great fighter in the Golden Age. From what I understand it's a kind of "build a bear" method for training, so you can decide how much or how little you want to do by speaking with the manager and he works it all out for you. He sounds very personable and his English is very good.

Lanna: [for those of you who have followed me for a really long time, I used to train at Lanna Muay Thai in Chiang Mai - my first 2 years in Thailand I fought out of that gym. It is no longer the same gym I trained at, but it is the same location and under new ownership it is called Boon Lanna Muaythai Gym.] I cannot comment from experience on what training at Boon Lanna Muaythai Gym is like now, but two of my favorite trainers are still there: Nook and Kru Daeng (one of the best privates in Thailand) are still there, and the training seems like it's become much more regimented and thorough. On the other hand I've heard that in high-season months it can become quite crowded (like a few other Chiang Mai gyms) and that this can impact the amount of guided work you can get. I'm only speaking from afar, but I'd say that if you go to Lanna you should plan to also take a few privates with Daeng to make sure you get the most out of it. I still recommend this gym as a place where you will be able to get fights if that's what you are interested in. Chiang Mai is full of fight opportunities and the gym is well integrated into the various promotions.

  • Like 10
  • The Greatest 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just throwing this out there: an interesting thing would be to build a criteria list for judging/recommending gyms, maybe something like:

Active Young Thai Fighters - young, developing Thai fighters are a sign that the gym is a living Thai-focused gym that does not only prioritize western tourist, commercial interests

Active of Top Stadia Thai Fighters - some people find this to be important. It's great to have high level examples to look at and imitate.

Convenience of Location - how hard is it to get to?

Surrounding Location - what is the surrounding location like? Is it hospitable? Enjoyable to live around?

Gym Atmosphere - what does the gym feel like, it's tone?

Food - If food is served (or local food options) what is it like?

Fight Opportunities - how easily can you get fights, and what kinds of fights? And how invested is the gym in finding you fights, and why?

Female Safety and Respect - is there is history of respecting female fighters and students? are there reports of unwanted advances? are females given top training and enough fight opportunities? 

Ownership - Management - sometimes management/ownership can be a big positive for a gym. It speaks to the gym's motivations. It can also help smooth difficulties.

Language - How much Thai do you need to know? Is English spoken? Are there other western language connections? (Some gyms have specific ties to other countries...Sweden, Italy, etc)

Trainer Stability/Turnover - this can go two ways. Sometimes trainers never turnover, and become really entrenched in negatives or lack of caring. too much turnover can suggest unstable management.

Quality of Equipment/Facility - some people find new equipment important.

Cleanliness - gym cleanliness can reflect the quality of care invested by owners/management. Some people also find this to be very important.

Clinch Training - does the gym provide substantial clinch training, practice?

Pad Work Training - what is padwork like? Is it consistent? Between different trainers?

Technical Instruction - is there much technical instruction or correction? some people really value and look for this.

Privates - Are privates offered worth the cost? And do you have to pay for privates in order to get good instruction/training?

Training Partners - Are there training partners for your size? Are they Thai?

Affordability - How does the gym compare in price to others of its kind and location, short term, long term.

Long Term Stay Opportunities - If you want to stay longer term, are there benefits? Discounts, sponsorship?

Living Quarters/Options - Is there onsite lodging, if so what is it like? What are nearby apartment options like, cost and quality?

Farang Gym Culture - Is there a long term western gym culture? If so, what is it like?

Off-Time Entertainment Options - What are the things to do on off-days?

 

Maybe add any aspects you find important if I missed any?

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Question for Sylvie here. 

I was expecting to see Petchrungruang gym in your list? Can you explain why it is not?

 

There's maybe a few reasons I don't put it on the list. The first is that the things that make Petchrungruang so good for me really don't apply to most other people. I'm a small woman (47 kg) who specializes in clinch, and I'm a fighter who fights a lot and books my own fights. What is great about Petchrungruang is really my relationship with the family, and how much clinching I can get as a small female. And of course the padholding and guidance of Pi Nu. But Petchrungruang is a slow cook method gym. There usually isn't a lot of technical instruction or correction, instead there is lots of doing, and lots of self-directed training (I plan and do my own bag rounds, my own side drills, etc). Its teaching method is designed to turn kids into fighters over years. This isn't what a lot of western students or fighters are looking for. 

Also, I don't really like "selling" my gym. I've written a lot about it so if people have read me over the years they know what it is about. And in some ways I'd like to keep the gym my little secret. I don't want it to change with the arrival of students and fighters who expect things different than it is. And I really don't recommend it for most people because I feel that they would be happier somewhere else. It's just a small family gym that does things in a quiet way, focused on raising Thai boys to be stadium fighters and I like that.

That being said I have extended the offer for women to come and train with me, but that is different than putting the gym on a recommended list.

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Sylvie for this detailed explanation. I thought, there was a bit of  "And in some ways I'd like to keep the gym my little secret." ;)

I was also wondering. I know that Phuket is not known for being the most serious place to train but if one would like to train there to be in a beach area what gym would you, or others, suggest. What would be the 3 top gym in Phuket or other beach area? From my research online these are the top 3 gym I found. 

1- Singpatong Sitnumnoi: Seems like a very legit gym with serious fighters thought more western fighters seem to train there (mostly from France)

2- Simbi muay thai: from what I read seems fight oriented but also female "friendly" 

3- Tiger Muay thai : That would really not be my first choice since it seems too much like a western gym and I don't really care about the tech facility and the BJJ. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Sylvie for this detailed explanation. I thought, there was a bit of  "And in some ways I'd like to keep the gym my little secret." ;)

I was also wondering. I know that Phuket is not known for being the most serious place to train but if one would like to train there to be in a beach area what gym would you, or others, suggest. What would be the 3 top gym in Phuket or other beach area? From my research online these are the top 3 gym I found. 

1- Singpatong Sitnumnoi: Seems like a very legit gym with serious fighters thought more western fighters seem to train there (mostly from France)

2- Simbi muay thai: from what I read seems fight oriented but also female "friendly" 

3- Tiger Muay thai : That would really not be my first choice since it seems too much like a western gym and I don't really care about the tech facility and the BJJ. 

 

I really hesitate to comment on Phuket gyms as this just seems like another world, very far from the Muay Thai training that I know. But I can at least give you my impression from things I've heard. Sinbi once had a very strong female Muay Thai presence, and lots of female fighters, but I've heard darker stories from more than one source. And a woman who is now a friend of mine, wrote a guest blog post about her experiences there which were so disappointing she flew out and came to train with me. Many of the longer term fighters like Gemma and Teresa also left Sinbi, so it seems that something is up. This isn't to say that women can't have very positive experiences there, in fact I've heard from a few who loved it, you can read Kay Khanomtom's very positive review of Sinbi on this forum. Gyms go through phases, and expectation plays a lot into experiences. For me though there are enough mixed messages that I just would tell a friend to stay away. As to Singpatong and Tiger, I really know nothing much at all through the grapevine. 

The only other gyms I could only very loosely suggest to look at for female-friendly reputation is Sutai Muay Thai a gym part owned I believe by Marcela Soto, a western female very active fighter, which also has a very experienced female Thai fighter, Buakaw, who is a trainer there. They seem well connected, and do have beach photos posted. Also Sumalee Boxing is owned by a western woman, Lynne Miller. From what I heard the gym went through a kind of purge a year or so ago, partly related to inappropriate advances, and completely remade its instructor staff, with an eye towards female safety. This is a very difficult thing for a gym to do. Usually when established, valuable Krus violate trust like that in Thailand ownership just turns the other way. So if what I heard was correct, Lynne really deserves credit. 

But talking about this for me is like talking about another planet. I don't even have a concept of how gyms relate to beach life, how far they are from them, or how people integrate the two.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you. 

I have another follow up question. The thing is I am planning to go train in Thailand for a few months next year (I have a MCL partial tear that needs to heal and I need to save money so realistically it will be in about a year). 

I will probably go to Lana for the most part. But my girlfriend is suppose to join me eventually in the trip. Probably the last 3 weeks or so. I would say she's not super serious in her training yet (not that she as to become) would probably train only once a day and I thought that the area of Phuket might be nicer than a city setting. But I don't know, I never being in Thailand. That's why I am looking for a women friendly gym. I would guess thought that the dynamic of possible unwanted advances or agressions is very less likely if you arrive at the gym as a couple? (that's my actual question because I know your husband is often around when you train) But I would also like for her to be able to have female training partners (thought she's pretty big, she would probably need western partners since she's 6' and 135lbs) and a place that she feels welcome to. 

All that said, I don't know. Maybe Chiang Mai is also very nice to visit and from what I understand of Lana, it could be a nice place for her to train, also considering the fact that I would have been there for a while, know the trainers and the other fighters and stuff. 

Can you share you thoughts on this?

Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you. 

I have another follow up question. The thing is I am planning to go train in Thailand for a few months next year (I have a MCL partial tear that needs to heal and I need to save money so realistically it will be in about a year). 

I will probably go to Lana for the most part. But my girlfriend is suppose to join me eventually in the trip. Probably the last 3 weeks or so. I would say she's not super serious in her training yet (not that she as to become) would probably train only once a day and I thought that the area of Phuket might be nicer than a city setting. But I don't know, I never being in Thailand. That's why I am looking for a women friendly gym. I would guess thought that the dynamic of possible unwanted advances or agressions is very less likely if you arrive at the gym as a couple? (that's my actual question because I know your husband is often around when you train) But I would also like for her to be able to have female training partners (thought she's pretty big, she would probably need western partners since she's 6' and 135lbs) and a place that she feels welcome to. 

All that said, I don't know. Maybe Chiang Mai is also very nice to visit and from what I understand of Lana, it could be a nice place for her to train, also considering the fact that I would have been there for a while, know the trainers and the other fighters and stuff. 

Can you share you thoughts on this?

Thank you

 

Yes, you are correct. If you are in a couple advances will be much less likely. My husband isn't really around my training for the last 2 years, and I've learned how to create my own personal borders, but in the beginning when we moved to Thailand it was an advantage to have him in the gym in the afternoons. 

I can't really comment on Phuket and beach life. I haven't a clue what that is like. I would maybe just say that because you are going to be at Lanna you'll have a really good opportunity to figure out if she'd like it or not. It's very laid back, but you can get good hard work in too. You can also have her meet you there, see how she likes Chiang Mai, which is a beautiful city, and then weigh if you want to fly down to the islands. The thing to keep in mind is that it is much more expensive in the islands than it is in Chiang Mai, which is one of the least expensive areas of Thailand that easily accommodates westerners.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would maybe just say that because you are going to be at Lanna you'll have a really good opportunity to figure out if she'd like it or not. It's very laid back, but you can get good hard work in too. You can also have her meet you there, see how she likes Chiang Mai, which is a beautiful city, and then weigh if you want to fly down to the islands. The thing to keep in mind is that it is much more expensive in the islands than it is in Chiang Mai, which is one of the least expensive areas of Thailand that easily accommodates westerners.

Thanks again. Actually, I've "decided" on Lana after talking to you on facebook (facebook name being Joseph Arthur de Gonzo). I think your advice of not booking in advance and trying two gyms before I take a final decision is very sensible so I think I'll do that.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • 2 months later...

Thanks again. Actually, I've "decided" on Lana after talking to you on facebook (facebook name being Joseph Arthur de Gonzo). I think your advice of not booking in advance and trying two gyms before I take a final decision is very sensible so I think I'll do that.

Bingo!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 5 months later...

Hi Silvie!

You recommend Sasakul, but you mean only if you're interested in focusing on boxing ??

How about the new location?

I will be by BKK in a few days, and I would like to know if it is possible to have private sessions with Karuhat.

I was thinking about maybe training a week in Sasakul ...

 

Regards

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Silvie!

You recommend Sasakul, but you mean only if you're interested in focusing on boxing ??

How about the new location?

I will be by BKK in a few days, and I would like to know if it is possible to have private sessions with Karuhat.

I was thinking about maybe training a week in Sasakul ...

 

Regards

 

Sasakul gym is really a boxing gym (with several world champions). But the private lessons with Chatchai will improve your balance for Muay Thai, 100%. If you are going to be in BKK in the next 3 weeks you might be able to get privates with Karuhat, but I'm not sure. Send Sylvie a message on her FB page and maybe she can help arrange https://www.facebook.com/sylviemuaythai/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

Hi all,

 

I am planning to go to Thailand next year July 2019. I have looked through for gyms such as Santai Muay Thai, Sitmonchai gym, Hongthong gym, charn chai Muay Thai and kiatphontip gym. If anyone could give me more recommendations or past experiences on the gyms listed above it would be of great help :)

 

Side Note: I have considered lamnammoon Muay Thai in isaan, wondering if anyone have past experiences and I would love to train there.

 

Thank you and have lovely day

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 8 months later...

We filmed an entire session at Sangtiennoi's gym, just to give an inside look at what training there is like, one of the more "authentic" Muay Thai gyms with a history of training high level westerners as well. [edit in, November 2021 - seeing that I posted this, Sangtiennoi has since sadly passed away. The gym is still open and being run by his wife and his son Moses who have survived him.]

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/16/2020 at 12:49 AM, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

We filmed an entire session at Sangtiennoi's gym, just to give an inside look at what training there is like, one of the more "authentic" Muay Thai gyms with a history of training high level westerners as well.

 

 

Interesting

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Wow, this is just a gold mine. Wherever you turn your head around here, you encounter such thorough content, whether it is a thread in the forum or a post on patreon. I woke up to your post about the best of BKK Muay Thai, Sylvie, and decided to give it a full read later today, when I realised how long it was. It occured to me how crazy it is that that is benchmarked as just a post, I mean so much work and such quality - and then it's just right there, served along with my morning coffee. Damn. I also just finished all of Muay Thai bones, don't know what to do from here... Amazing work that you two put into this, really. Thank you!

 

  • Nak Muay 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading the updated and revised list if I could just add my own twist to it all, I think Kru Thailand's gym is the most fascinating gym of all of them. This is something we experienced in other gyms that is really special. When a gym is building a class or two of Thai fighters (age groups or weight classes), and the fighters are all being directed by a Golden Age serious kru, this is a beautiful thing to be folded into if you can. It's never sure how long this will last. One year, three years, its hard to tell, but there are special times in Thai gyms that are not organized around westerners, when if you are there you get a very different experience. This would be a gym I'd want Sylvie to train at if she were living in Chiang Mai. It's just a vibe we felt while filming there, and something you can see in the live streams that Kru Thailand puts out. This of course is not a blanket recommendation, because people are at different levels, have different needs, have differing tolerances. It's just based on the feeling I recognize from that gym's example. Take it for what it is worth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

Reading the updated and revised list if I could just add my own twist to it all, I think Kru Thailand's gym is the most fascinating gym of all of them. This is something we experienced in other gyms that is really special. When a gym is building a class or two of Thai fighters (age groups or weight classes), and the fighters are all being directed by a Golden Age serious kru, this is a beautiful thing to be folded into if you can. It's never sure how long this will last. One year, three years, its hard to tell, but there are special times in Thai gyms that are not organized around westerners, when if you are there you get a very different experience. This would be a gym I'd want Sylvie to train at if she were living in Chiang Mai. It's just a vibe we felt while filming there, and something you can see in the live streams that Kru Thailand puts out. This of course is not a blanket recommendation, because people are at different levels, have different needs, have differing tolerances. It's just based on the feeling I recognize from that gym's example. Take it for what it is worth.

Hello Kevin, I tried to look at the video of the live stream, but the link is dead and I can't find it on their facebook page, do you still have access to it on your side?

Also, I guess Kru Thailand would not be suited for a heavyweight/cruiserweight right? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Joseph Arthur De Gonzo said:

I tried to look at the video of the live stream, but the link is dead and I can't find it on their facebook page, do you still have access to it on your side?

Unfortunately he deleted the live stream (maybe so his fighters can't be studied). Sylvie put it up as it was streaming. If you follow the gym they do stream fairly often.

4 minutes ago, Joseph Arthur De Gonzo said:

Also, I guess Kru Thailand would not be suited for a heavyweight/cruiserweight right? 

It would really depend on your skill level, and your training needs. But no, at this date it doesn't look like fighters close to your weight. But, if you are there for technique Kru Thailand is ON POINT.

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

    • One of the interesting things in Michael Chaney treatment is that he specifically would like to erase the highland/lowland distinction that a lot of historians focus on. This, for instance, in Thai-Siam studies can be quite emphasized. Part of this may be that highland cultures may have had more of a penchant for aggression or violence in combat - for instance headhunting seems to have persisted in the highland regions much longer than elsewhere in mainland Southeast Asia, and in Siam-Thai ideology these peoples have been positioned as "savage", opposed to the high culture of the Capital and its halo of authority out to the foothills of the North. I don't really know the distribution of ethnicity, but have you noticed an cultural connection between highland (or lowland) Burmese and present day Lethwei?    That is a very nice data point. My own intuition is that I have doubts about Muay Boran (or Lethwei) directly coming from combat itself, at least large scale combat tracing back to the 17th century, for example. My main reason for this is that practically every piece of evidence I've seen is that this kind of combat is not weaponless at all. Everyone is armed with blades, spear/lance and/or shield. I'm sure every rice farmer was very adept at using a blade for work. If there WAS a direct development of a fighting art for or from military actions it most certainly would have been a weaponed fighting art, and the shield would probably be a significant aspect of that fighting. We can make conceptual connections to how Muay Thai, Muay Boran or (I guess) Lethwei may be related to weaponed fighting...but that fact that it isn't weaponed fighting seriously undermines some of that historical picture. I could though see subduing an opponent being part of much smaller scale raiding, which would be largely focused on slave capture. I think this makes perfect sense. I think trends in culture and expression really change and can change fast, in a decade or two, and not necessarily reach back centuries. A big part of the ideological picture Thailand presents about Muay Thai is that it is the reason the Thais were never in historical fact colonized (the story that is told). Instead it is presented that a series of Kings through strategy were able to find ways to absorb Western influence & control, and retain a sense of ideological identity. [sorry, I wrote all this before I saw that you brought it up! But I'll leave it in nonetheless] In the Thai telling they "won" because they were smart and pliant before a formidable force, something they navigated with great sagacity. You can see how the two mythologies diverge (not making judgements on either). The brief (allied) Japanese occupation left a mark on Thailand, but largely there has been seldom a sense that a foreign invader had to be fought off (since the Burmese defeat of Ayutthaya, with possible exceptions of some of the 19th century slave capture revolts in the Northeast, and the fight against Communism in the 1960s-1970s, and today's insurgence in the South). Largely, Thailand has painted itself as "whole". Maybe this makes a big difference in terms of what fighting means to a culture. Much further up in the thread this is discussed in broad SEA historical view by Anthony Reid. He suggests that even the way in which SEAians thought about property, identity, wealth, was shaped by the transience of wooden houses. This flows into the idea of the perpetual possibility of retreat. Houses were not valuable. The land in a certain sense is not valuable (because fertile land is not scare, as say it is in Europe). Speaking very broadly, invaders or raiders would come, villagers would run to the forest and take all their valuables with them (wealth had to be transportable), and the village would be burned. He presents this as nearly a pan SEA pattern lasting centuries. When the Dutch came and established trading posts in, I think Jakarta?, they were forbidden from building anything with stone. Everything had to be made from wood, with the exception of the palace (and perhaps wats). In the sense or warfare and conflict, if Anthony Reid is right, then raid (and maybe burning) were a regular part of the life cycle, as was fleeing to the forest or mountains, and relocating one's village. The main point was not to be captured, and to escape with one's relative wealth (rice, valuables). Personally, I see in this transience of the abode something even of the foundations of the Buddhist conceptions of the transience of the Self. As the palace and the wat were made of stone, you have the contrastive permanence of spiritual and political authority. This is quite different than in the West where one's home/land helps constitute one's more individual identity much more. The "castle" of the Self, to which Western religions are more focused on. In any case, an interesting speculation.    
    • Yes, understood. It resonates a lot with evasive muay thai comparing it to that kind of warfare. What caught my attention is the stark contrast to lethwei which is very aggressive and forward moving. I have a limited view not speaking the language properly and lethwei teachers or students who do are very few. And Burmese people who do speak English but not too invested in martial arts have a hard time translating for me as the Burmese words used for various strikes and techniques are not self-explanatory. In addition, the sport is dominated by Karen, Mon and Kachin people with different languages. My teachers are Karen and their words for specific techniques are different than Bamar people's for example.  But having trained with very traditional teachers and shared some clips with Sylvie, seems like traditional techniques I'm being taught are very similar to muay boran. So even though the sport today might seem brutal and aggressive there is something beneath what it has become known as "most brutal sports on the planet" (and promoted as by western fighters). I've been taught techniques that would pacify my opponent like stomping their foot with my heel, push my thumb into the neck of my opponent, heel kick back of opponents knee in the clinch. Things that are effective but doesn't cause too much damage. Which would resonate with your reflections on capture not kill.  One thing though is that retreating is not viewed beautifully in traditional lethwei. And caused a bit of drama recently when two champions met in a title fight scored on points and one of the up and coming champions Thway Thit used a retreating style making champion Tun Tun Min chase him. Thway Thit won (very fairly he scored more) but his backing up caused debate.  I wonder if it has to do with more recent history. Myanmar was colonised by Britain, occupied by Japan and since independence oppressed by the Myanmar armed forces with around 26 Ethnic Armed Organisations fighting for their independence (Karen being very successful example). During the recent coup people fought back. They wouldn't have it. They won't give up. Myanmar culture has a lot of stubbornness in it. Which I see reflected in lethwei.  I might simplify your theories here by seeing how Thailand avoided colonisation, it evaded it very cleverly.  I saw something you wrote about burning villages by the way, this is of course pre-Tatmadaw (Myanmar armed forces established in 1940s), but scorching earth policy is a permanent strategy of the Tatmadaw (they just keep burning down villages as im writing this). I wonder if there's a cultural root in that depicted in the illustrations? Above views are really just my own reflections and very anecdotal. I just find this region very interesting and I'm wondering how Khun Khmer and Lao martial arts fit in. 
    • Yes I believe you are right. Leg tattoos are also associated with the Shan people (one of the hundreds of ethnic groups in Myanmar) so the illustrations could depict that. Face tattoos for example are closely related to the Chin people, and the Naga ppl have their distinctive tattoos. And since the leg tattoos are a sign of masculinity/becoming a man lethwei fighters might have picked it up since you see it among lethwei fighters of various ethnicities. .   
  • The Latest From Open Topics Forum

    • I just came across your post and wanted to say that when it comes to video editing, there's a huge selection of applications out there, so it's important to find one that suits your specific requirements. Take your time to explore these options and see which one resonates with you the most.
    • Thanks for responding and wow, what a beautiful ram muay. I think I really resonate with what you said about allowing yourself to occupy and utilize masculine and feminine energies without it having any bearing on your actual gendered existence. Being able to "go back" into masculine territory with Muay Thai has really let me take ownership over the parts of myself that I was running from and contextualize them into my post-transition persona.  You and Angie are literally who I think of when I am overwhelmed and pessimistic about fighting. You both made room for me in the sport in your own ways and I am very grateful. PS, Bev Francis is so dope.
    • I will be sharing your words with Angie, as I'm sure they mean as much to her as they do to me. For me, personally, what drew me to Muay Thai was the performance of masculinity, with these simultaneous soft and fluid expressions. I've written on my blog about how masculinity does not belong to men; men "wear" it just as much as women can, it's not intrinsic or "natural" or inherent. Bev Francis, one of the most famous female Body Builders in the 70s and 80s pushed past the "acceptable" limit of muscles that "feminine" bodies into muscles that were heavily criticized as being "too much" for a woman. But Bev loved muscles and being strong for the exact same reasons males with those bodies love them: because it feels good. A pleasure not "belonging" to a gender, even if socially it is flagged or coded to the binary. As a cis woman, this is how I've navigated the very complex experiences of Muay. The parts that are masculine feel good for the same reasons they feel good to men, but I do get offended when folks comment that I "look like a man," or am "strong like a man." As a Cis woman, I have a more relaxed privilege to those offenses because I don't worry about "passing," but I do, at times, fret that I can never be unaware of being NOT A MAN in a man's arena. But vacillating in the in-between is where the real beauty is and, if Muay Thai allows you to explore and express your gender in a more nuanced way, then that's a wonder I have greatly appreciated as well. If you can find Superbank's stunningly beautiful Ram Muay, wherein he is pouring out feminine grace and at the exact same moment filling himself with masculine prowess...it's that. That's the perfect example.  
    • I started late, 25 yrs old. I have recently found Sylvie's videos interviewing Angie and while that is a huge inspiration for me as someone now a few months into training, I have found the real hook that kept me coming back to class religiously is the impact of Muay Thai on my relationship to my body. I pass fairly well when I am conforming to western femininity but I actually gravitate towards tom/butch expression (undercut, little makeup, "men's" cloths) despite being MTF. For my whole life, and especially the last few years during transition I have had basically hypervigilance/hyper fixation surrounding my body and how its being perceived/gendered and how I exist in space. Surrendering to the grind/burn of Muay Thai has been one of the biggest non-medical transition tool for reframing my relationship to my body from one centered on the perceptions of others, to one centered around learning how to assert myself in space and exercise balance and autonomy over my body. I have a lifetime of sharpening ahead of me but I have found a great deal of relief and reward in the distance I have come so far. As I become more at home in my body I am able to understand how my natural tendencies match up to the various subdisciplines/systems of Muay Thai and serves as a salient anchor for these parts of myself I want to develop in my regular life, and for getting past traumas. Making this post to share this experience, as after the fact I thought it was very ironic that this thing that is so good for specifically trans mental health (in my opinion) is socially and sometimes legally off limits to us. How does my experience compare to yours? Do you know any trans fighters that have had similar or different experiences?
    • Sorry for reviving this thread, but I wonder which video editor you picked in the end? I bought a new laptop and thinking of trying some new video editors.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      1.3k
    • Total Posts
      11k
×
×
  • Create New...