Schools in Bangkok,Thailand?

[Jeremy]

Hello krup,

Can anyone recommend a Muay Thai school in Bangkok? I have no experience in Muay Thai, and I'll only be able to study for 3 months during this summer. I'm looking for a good introduction course so I can learn the mechanics and thusly, at least look as if I know what I'm doing. I'm really interested in learning proper form for using elbows and knees. I'm ok with schools that ony teach with Thai language, as long as they will also teach westerners. Thank you! Khawp khun krap.

[Damian Mavis]

Sawasdee krup,

They aren't called schools heh, they are camps. Most of the camps will just throw you right into the training but might not teach you technique so well. Give me an email, I live in Bangkok and have trained at a bunch of different camps and can advise you on where to go. Plus I have pro fighter friends that might be interested in teaching you proper mechanics personally.

dmavis@honourtkd.com

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[MAMike]

Gyms at bangkok

For traditional Muay Boran and Krabi Krabong you should try to train at the buddhaiswan institute of swordmanship.

For other gyms you can get informations at the Lumpini stadium at the rama IV road or the ratchadamnoen stadium at the ratchadamnoen nok avenue.

You should also try:

International visitors who wish to learn Thai boxing can contact:
The Muay Thai Institute, 336/932, Prachathipat, Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12130, Tel: 992-0096-9

Best regards, Mike

[Damian Mavis]

Ya and most of those camps he can learn about at Lumpini will just take his money, tire him out as quickly as possible each training session and never actually teach him a damn thing.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[MAMike]

Different experience

Ya and most of those camps he can learn about at Lumpini will just take his money, tire him out as quickly as possible each training session and never actually teach him a damn thing.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

Experience can vary......

[Damian Mavis]

Well no not really. heh I did say MOST camps and that is the truth, nothing to do with differing experiences. Why don't you tell me about your experience so I can keep that camp in mind as a good one to train at.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[silapathai]

camps

I once asked Ben Garcia the same question about what camp he perferred the best and he told me Jockygym in terms of training/instruction. The thing you have to take in account is are you going to be staying at the camp or at a nearby hotel? Some of the best camps for actual training in Thailand have bare living necessities compared to what us spoiled farlangs are used to.
I wouldn't reccomend Fairtex in terms of training in BKK, the camp is beautiful and has great accomodations but from personal experience you'll be socializing more than actually training.
I agree with not training at any of the stadium camps if you want to learn good Muay Thai. The room accomadations are good but the actual instruction won't be much unless you're a phenom that they want fighting right away which I doubt.
I have a question, does anybody here have any experience training/staying in HOlland? I'm planning a trip to HOlland so I can train at Mejiro gym and just wondering anybody's experience, thank you.

[Thaiboxinggear]

They aren't called schools heh, they are camps. Most of the camps will just throw you right into the training but might not teach you technique so well. Give me an email, I live in Bangkok and have trained at a bunch of different camps and can advise you on where to go. Plus I have pro fighter friends that might be interested in teaching you proper mechanics personally.

Damien - I remember you from another board and you may remember me. i've been here in Thailand 8 years now, have fought here, I'm married to a Thai, with two kids and I read, write and speak Thai. How long have you been in Thailand now because I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that most of the camps don't teach technique as this definitely hasn't been my experience. You said you are working. What sort of visa and work permit do you have?

Ya and most of those camps he can learn about at Lumpini will just take his money, tire him out as quickly as possible each training session and never actually teach him a damn thing.

Again, not necessarily true and while some of the people who fish for farang to train at their gyms are in it strictly for the money, someone who is serious about training properly will research and find out where a gym suited for them is. There is plenty of information on the net and if you are in the Ramkhamhaeng area, there is always the Sasiprapa gym which has turned out many champions and has been around for nearly 40 years. They have a current Rajdamnern champion there and while they do accept farang at the gym, they don't baby them.

It's been my experience that if you want to socialize, the Thai's won't waste their time. If you want to train your ass off and give blood, they will always train you and put in alot of effort.

I've also trained at a handful of gyms and there used to be one at the Lumpini police station which trained a few well known fighters, including Rambo and C.C. something or other. I never paid one satang there and all they taught me was technique! There are an awful lot of gyms that offer excellent training but IMO, if you are going to train here, it shouldn't be halfway.

About 10 years ago I trained at Maeng Ho in Breda, the south of Holland. This gym is where Cor Hemmers, Ramon Dekker, Michael Liewafat, Luc Ver Heyen and Daniella Sommers all were at the time. I went there 6 times, each time for 3-4 weeks at a time. Training is hard and at times, the partying was harder...Be prepared.

Speaking of Ben Garcia - Apparently he will coming to Thailand during the Songkran festival along with 3 other guys to take part in the Muay Kaad Chuak fights. I'm sure he and the others are good fighters but in this case, I think they are in way over their heads. The Burmese are among the toughest fighters I've ever seen, are experienced at this type of fighting and I will most definitely be betting on the Burmese. My only concern is that someone will get seriously hurt.

Damian - If you really want a challenge and a boost to your "career" fight in one of these fights. MTV and HBO will be videotaping it and I'm sure all you'd have to do is say the word if you wanted to fight.

[Jeremy]

Thank you everyone

สวัสดีครับ (Hello),
I did forget to mention that I won't be able to train "full-time" like I've heard many fighters do. I can put in about 2 hours per day (perhaps 3 hours), 5 days a week in the mornings or evenings. I have always been under the impression that the camps specifically taught Muay Thai for one-on-one in the ring bouts. I don't plan on stepping into a ring, but if I were ever to be attacked by one or more people, I'd like to know how to gracefully distribute a couple of lessons to my assilents using Muay Thai. I use the word "gracefully" as a reminder of how I want to stay true to the form. I also think Muay Thai looks really cool, and I want to be able to throw knees, elbows, and kicks in a proper fasion. I've only seen one Muay Thai bout, and it was at an arena up near Rangsit (I think the arena may have even been called "Rangsit stadium," but I'm not sure). During the bout, it seemed as if the fighters were not really keeping cool heads and staying true to their form. I can understand why, but still, I'd like to study at a school that is willing to teach Muay Thai in it's pure form and will take extra care in emphasising form and technique. In short, I'm interested in studying it more as the "art form" as opposed to simply for competition purposes. Thanks again. For the schools recommended thus far, I will look for them on the internet. ผมขอขอบคุณครับทุกท่าน (Thank you).

[Damian Mavis]

Thaiboxinggear, what on earth is your motivation for asking me about my Visa and work permit?

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Thaiboxinggear]

Damian - Curiousity really...you seem to have settled into your life here and I was curious to know what you had done regarding your visa as this is normally a reason for at least some concern for most foreigners.

Are you not interested in fighting here or ?

Jeremy - You have absolutely no experience in Muay Thai but yet you only want to study it in it's "pure" form? My suggestion would be to do a little research, make a decision on where to go and don't worry about how "pure" the art is. Really, not to be a smart ass but what do you know about Muay Thai? Learn to walk before you learn to run.

[Jeremy]

Chill out

Really, not to be a smart ass but what do you know about Muay Thai? Learn to walk before you learn to run.

Jai yen yen -- calm down.

[Thaiboxinggear]

Like I said, learn to walk before you run...

I'm perfectly calm but I'm telling you exactly how it is....Between you and Damian people might just get the idea that the training in Thailand is less than stellar as the norm. It is not, I assure you. I am also fully aware of what jai yen yen means.

One last thing...if you are coming to Thailand, you owe it to yourself to go to Lumpini stadium. It is "the" place to see Muay Thai at it's best...

[Damian Mavis]

AHHH... I tried to respond twice and my post didnt get through and got erased, not sure if its the sites problem or mine ugh.

I'll short form it:

Thaiboxinggear:

-my point was to be careful where you train so you dont waste your time, not to not come here to train! Training here is great! My friends have been here for 8 years and fought many times and they agree that alot of camps just want to make money off farangs and dont train them properly.

-we should meet sometime so you can stop thinking I'm some fat German sex tourist heh, would be silly not to meet since we live in the same city, let's do lunch! haha I know how you feel about other Farangs in "your country". I feel it too heh. But don't mistake me for those losers please.

-I'm all hooked up for my Visa and work permit and teaching TKD and getting into movies, I think you know that in this country: it's all about who you know.

-I do want to fight but it takes a backseat to movies and making money.... I can't put off those 2 things much longer as I'm 30 now. If I fight it will be periodically until I totally give up on movies so getting injured won't sabotage any work I get in that field. Last time I fought I could barely walk for a week and had injuries for months after... that would be a problem if I'm expected to do a flip and flying sidekick shortly after a fight.

-Everyone should visit Lumpini, it's a great experience.

Damian Mavis

[spetnatz]

What about the phuket island two camps? Has any of you ever trained in there?