Summer camp - advice needed

[Micc]

Hi, I need some advice as I'm not sure how to handle this situation.

I was planning on joining a summer camp in August - a 8 day camp with at least 2 trainings a day. It was planned to be catering more to the K1 style instead of Muay Thai, but as my trainer was also one of the coaches there, I was sure I would get to learn a style that I like at least from him.

I paid the advance money to secure a place last month and yesterday I learned that my trainer is out of the camp.

So now I'm facing a situation I've never really been in. Apparently, he transfered the money to the organizers, so I don't know how and if I'd get my money back. And from whom? I don't really have a contract, it was a spoken arrangement.

I didn't talk to my trainer yet as I'm not sure how to approach the topic.

My first reaction was: if he's not there, then I don't want to go. I barely know anyone there. If my trainer's not there, then none of the other trainers know me. There will be no Muay Thai, only K1 and boxing and MMA. (I'm not into boxing and MMA.) And I'm not a fan of the other coaches.

From a training camp which was supposed to be a big part of my training plan this turned into a "bootcamp" - yeah, I will work out, I'll probably learn something and spar a bit and chill a bit at the lake, but...it's not what I've signed up for...

So for now I'm thinking about ways to get my money back. Sad thing is, I already planned my days off at work, all my friends have their own vacation plans during this time, so even if I wanted to use my days off and go to the sea, I'd have noone to go with, which sucks.

I just don't see a point in going to a camp where no trainer knows me and my abilities. Thinking about it I see two options, both bad: first, I get put with the beginners and be wasting my time (and money). Second, I'd be put with more advanced then me and risk an injury.

I wanted to have this comfort of having my trainer around, who knows my skill level and can put me in the right group as he knows most of the participants - I don't know anyone, coz noone from my gym is going (my trainer teaches at 3 gyms). Now I don't see a point in going, other then working out and meeting new people...which is not the main reason I signed up for this - main reason was to train k1/MT under the guidance of my trainer.

What would you do in my situation?

[Alla]

Hi Micc,

In case you haven't sorted this out yet. It seems that you don't want to go to this camp, so probably the best course of action is to try to get your money back if possible. Ask your trainer to put you in contact with the organisers and ask them.

Failing that, I think you could actually get a lot of benefit from this camp. Training with new trainers can be very enlightening. You will be shown different ways of doing things. You might get to work on the weak spots you didn't know you had. Also, I wouldn't worry about K1/boxing. Just go to it with an open mind and try to learn what they are teaching. It is bound to help with your Muay Thai, even if just by understanding why certain things are done differently. And there is a lot of shared skill set between those different sports. I am speaking from experience of training for 5 months in a boxing gym. It had a lot of positive effect on my Muay Thai. I've also done quite a lot of gym hopping and I learned something new and useful every time.

As for trainers not knowing you, it can be a good thing too. They have no prior expectations from you, so there is no way you can disappoint anybody. You are free to make any mistakes and try to learn from them.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Alla