Muay Thai

List and Links Of Gyms In Thailand -
Below is a list of many of the Muay Thai gyms in Thailand you might want to consider
training at. Although these are not all of the camps in Thailand, this list will give you a
good foundation to base your decision off of. Take your time and do your research!

CHOOSING A LOCATION

Location is most likely going to be the single most important factor in finding the perfect gym that fits your needs. Choosing the right location will have a major influence on your cost of living, atmosphere of daily life, quality of training, and amount of distractions that could stop you from reaching your goals. You might already have an idea for where you want to stay or what gym you’d like to train at, or maybe you want to train at multiple gyms and live like a nomad throughout the country. Either way, knowledge is power and the more that you know about the provinces these gyms are located in, the more likely you are going to be able to enjoy yourself, save money, and get the most out of your training. The following chapter is going to outline six of the main areas where the top Muay Thai gyms are located. Here are the six categories I’ll be breaking down for each area in Thailand: Just because a Muay Thai camp is heavily marketed does not mean it’s the gym for you. More often than not, the camps that have the most prominent internet presence also have the most people coming to their camps to train, which is a good and bad thing. It’s good because you’ll meet a lot of new people and get to train with all different levels of nak muay. It’s bad because you’ll most likely get much less individual attention than if you were to train at a lesser known camp that doesn’t focus primarily on the numbers they bring in. Like I’ve repeated plenty of times already in this guide, make sure you take the time to do your research by reading reviews and asking advice from people who have trained at the gym your considering. I’m not trying to scare you, but in order to get the most out of your time in Thailand you want to make sure the gym you train at fits all of your wants and needs!

RECOMMENDED GYMS

Although I haven’t trained at a majority of the gyms in Thailand, I figured I would share my input on some of the gyms I have either trained at, researched, or heard about from other friends and fighters. Do not let my suggestions stop you from doing your own research or exploring other options!

COST OF LIVING

Your budget will be a major factor in deciding what kind of living conditions you will end up in. The province you choose to stay at will influence your costs and final decision, as well. Generally speaking, though, if you are on the higher end with your budget, you should be able to easily find a place that fits your needs. If you are on the lower end of the budget then you might have to deal with the fact that you’ll be sleeping without air conditioning and in a less than luxurious environment.

All this being said, however, there are deals to be had regardless of what area you are in. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do your searching after you arrive in Thailand, you could easily find a more affordable place to live (although, that is not always the case). Another thing to keep in mind is that if you get the help of a local when doing your housing search, you are even more likely to find a great deal.

FOOD

Anywhere you go in Thailand you will save money by eating Thai food rather than western food. For most areas, Thai food costs anywhere from 40- 150 baht, where western food is at the minimum 150 baht. Also if you plan on staying in Thailand for an extended period of time, it might not be a bad idea to buy a tea kettle, hot plate, and other simple appliances to cook with. The initial investment might cost a little bit, but the amount of money you’ll save by cooking your own food will definitely add up.

TRANSPORTATION

There are taxis almost everywhere you go in Thailand. These taxis tend to be a lot cheaper than taxis in places like New York City, but can still hurt your wallet if you’re not careful. Other than that (depending where you live) there are other forms of transportation like busses, tuk-tuks, songthaews, and railways. But by far the most common way of transportation in Thailand is definitely the motorbike.

When you first arrive, you will be surprised to see that there are basically no road rules to abide by and you might even be lucky enough to see a whole family of five Thais squeeze onto one little motorbike. Chances are you will also see people weaving in and out of traffic without any hesitation and driving on the other side of the road to pass cars and busses. It’s insane Even though motorbikes are cheap, relatively easy to maneuver, and extremely convenient, they are also very, very dangerous and one of the leading causes of death in Thailand. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle or motorbike before, do yourself a favor and use a different form of transportation to get around. Maybe even rent a car. Naturally, renting a car will be more expensive, but it’s going to be a lot safer than whipping around on a small piece of metal that you’ve never had experience driving before.

The road death toll in Thailand is one of the highest in the world, probably because they drive like possessed maniacs (no exaggeration). Don’t be stupid and become a statistic. Even if you were to survive a spill, you better hope your travel insurance (if you decided to get any) helps covers the medical bills and damages of the bike, but I wouldn’t count on it all being covered. Also, make sure you read about and are aware of the common motorbike scams that I go over in a later chapter. I know of plenty of tourists who have had their trips ruined because of either accidents or scams, so just be aware of the risks of riding a motorbike. Okay, I’m done scaring the shit out of you now. If you still decide that you are going to rent or buy a motorbike, then that’s up to you and I respect your decision. I can’t even blame you because that’s what I do too, but I do have previous experience owning a motorcycle that I drove around without any issues (except one time I hit a deer at 70 mph and somehow survived without a scratch). With that in mind, make sure you ride with a helmet! Jh\s isn’t just for safety reasons either, it’s so you don’t get a ticket from the police that will put a small dent in your savings.

SHOPPING / ENTERTAINMENT

Chances are you will end up doing some kind of shopping and souvenir hunting during your time in Thailand. There will be plenty of pretty, shiny things that get your attention, so make sure to set aside some type of budget for this type of spending! Almost everywhere in Thailand (with the exception of malls and other corporate stores), you can haggle down prices for almost any item. If you take the time to learn some Thai and use it while trying to lower a price, you might be surprised how often the Thai vendor will give you a better deal since you are at least trying to speak in their native tongue.

QUALITY QF TRAINING

All gyms are different and your perspective is the most important factor in determining whether or not the training at a certain gym is quality. Do you like intense, no nonsense training? Or do you like a more laid-back, go at your own pace type of setting? Determining what you consider a quality training session is a key factor in choosing the right gym and location.

GENERAL ATMOSPHERE

The province you choose to live in will have a major influence on the scenery, attractions, shopping and general vibe of the day-to-day life.

PROS AN1) CONS

Each province has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should weigh the pros and cons and determining what the most important factors are will be crucial in coming up with your final decision. And although all of the locations will be thoroughly covered, I still encourage you to do your own research on the specific places you could see yourself staying.