Sitmonchai Gym VS Kem Muay Thai Gym VS ?

[Joseph Arthur De Gonzo]

I know I've asked before about gym, but my situation has changed and I will be going to Thailand for a month next summer alone. 

After reading Sylvie's list my two choices would probably be Sitmonchai Gym or Kem Muay Thai Gym.

I have two main considerations:

My size, 6'4" 240 lbs, I need a gym with foreigners even here in Canada I have difficulty finding sparring partners of my size so I can't imagine in Thailand. 

and Clinch. I want to learn a lot of clinch because in north america we don't, I least in the 3 gyms I've trained we did not do much. 

Because of the first criteria I am leaning towards Simonchai but Sylvie said they do not clinch much so I am hesitating. 

And Kem's gym seems awesome, they clinch a lot but I am afraid of lacking people with my size. 

Any advices or suggestions? I don't really care where it is or how much. It's just for a month and all I want to do is train. 

thank you

 

[Tyler Byers]

I forget his name, but there is one pretty big trainer out at Sitmonchai. From my understanding, even the big Thai's at Kem's are only 70kgs. I'd shoot Sitmonchai a message with your questions/concerns and just see what they say.

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

I know I've asked before about gym, but my situation has changed and I will be going to Thailand for a month next summer alone. 

After reading Sylvie's list my two choices would probably be Sitmonchai Gym or Kem Muay Thai Gym.

I have two main considerations:

My size, 6'4" 240 lbs, I need a gym with foreigners even here in Canada I have difficulty finding sparring partners of my size so I can't imagine in Thailand. 

and Clinch. I want to learn a lot of clinch because in north america we don't, I least in the 3 gyms I've trained we did not do much. 

Because of the first criteria I am leaning towards Simonchai but Sylvie said they do not clinch much so I am hesitating. 

And Kem's gym seems awesome, they clinch a lot but I am afraid of lacking people with my size. 

Any advices or suggestions? I don't really care where it is or how much. It's just for a month and all I want to do is train. 

thank you

 

No doubt, you are a big guy! But, it is probably better to learn how to clinch against smaller Thais that really know what they are doing in the clinch, with long clinch sessions, and it is to go against big westerners who don't really have the expertise, less frequently. You really want to be exposed to technique. Of course this operates on a scale, and it's hard to assess from afar.

Kru San (re: Tyler's comment) who is a pretty big guy at Sitmonchai, but I don't know if he clinches. I'll tell you though he's impressive with his strikes. You can watch a private session with Kru San on Sylvie's Patreon. He's kind of incredible. He's recently begun fighting again, after several years of retirement.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Both are great gyms with very different styles and strengths. 

Kem is more isolated, only in the sense that the "next town over" is pretty far over. Sitmonchai is also isolated in an immediate sense, but you can get to Kanchanburi pretty easily on a Sunday or whatever. That's only important in considering what it might feel like if you're not having ideal training - being able to venture out or if you might feel stuck. 

The kind of focus Kem has in watching his students is truly amazing and the trainers are very cool. The setting is stunning and, for some, that kind of isolation feels really good. I've had his trainers in my corner at fights and have watched them training others, as well as kicked pads with one or two, and I feel like they're just a wonderful set of men. 

I'm not actually helping you, but these are a few more balls to add into your decision making juggle, I guess.

[Joseph Arthur De Gonzo]

Thank you everyone. 

Sound advices. Since I saw the video of Rambaa Somdet whipping the dude's ass I kind of want to go try a week with him now.... ahahah although he look like a real small man. But the quality of the technique over the size of the teacher sounds good

But I think the advice of isolation is a good one. I think I might try Rambaa for a week and then heads up to Sitmonchai. Jeez, so many gym to choose from. Hard to make a choice. Especially from far away.