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Over the past two years, Muay Thai has rapidly changed my life. After training weights at the gym and losing weight, I discovered Muay Thai and have fell in love with the art of 8-limbs ever since.
As travel restrictions lifted in the UK and Thailand started to open back up, I booked my flights to go and train in Thailand for a much needed holiday.
With guidance from my instructor in the UK, a bit of research I was ready to go and live the dream of any Muay Thai fan.
Here are some of the must visit gyms in Thailand for 2023.
Samart Payakaroon Muay Thai Camp
Based about 40 minutes outside of Bangkok in Sai Mai is Samart Payakaroon Muay Thai gym.
This was the first gym I trained at in Thailand and lived at the gym for just over a week.
Samart Payakaroon’s gym in Thailand has a real family feel. The local Thai fighters train daily alongside foreigners, with both the fighters and Krus (teachers) being quick to make you feel welcome.
A typical day of training starts with a morning run at around 6 AM, this isn’t compulsory but I’d definitely recommend it as you see Sai Mai come to life.
Once the morning run is done you’ll head into training at around 7 AM. After your hands are wrapped you’ll be warming up with some shadowboxing. Here instructors will watch and help you make adjustments to your technique and stance.
Moving onto padwork, you’ll work with one of the experienced Krus’ that will work to your level, making sure your form and technique are correct.
You’ll do around 3 or 4 rounds of 3 minute rounds on the pads, in between rounds some form of conditioning is incorporated such as sit ups with hitting the pads between reps.
Once training has finished you’re free to relax, get friendly with other students at the gym or you can hop into Bangkok which is about 40 minutes in a car.
The evening training session at Samart Payakaroon’s gym starts at 3 PM and runs to 5 PM. You’ll probably see a few more students here as walk-ins are available.
A similar flow of training will follow with light technical sparring at the end. As some of the local fighters had fights coming up I had the amazing opportunity to do some clinch training. As a foreigner this was an eye opening experience, children of all ages train here.
One of the fighters who I trained clinch with was around 10 years old, safe to say I really wasn’t expecting the level of strength and precision they had. If you get the opportunity, I’d definitely take it up as it will show you a lot about your clinch work.
Once the evening session is finished you’re free to go and get cleaned up, relax or go and explore.
I booked my Muay Thai training package at Samart’s for one week which included 2 meals.
Without knowing I’d booked my time at Samart’s on his 60th birthday. They invited me to the birthday celebrations which was an incredible experience. Being blessed by monks, indulging in the delicious Thai food and of course, drinks.
As a fairly new Muay Thai fan of around 2 years, I truly had been blessed as I got to meet golden age Muay Thai legends such as Samart himself, Dieselnoi, Karuhat and many others.
If you’re in Thailand and get chance to train at Samart Payakaroon’s gym I’d definitely recommend going. If you can, try and go for a length of time like a week or two to really get the most out of your training.
You can find out more about Samart Payakaroon’s gym in Sai Mai on the links below.
Visit Samart Payakaroon Muay Thai Camp
Where to find Samart Payakaroon Muay Thai Camp
After living a week indulging in Thai culture and the way of training, I needed to relax a little and do some sightseeing.
I headed for Khaosan road, the backpackers playground which was great to see. Continuing my morning runs I explored Bangkok and saw the city really come to life.
After a day of relaxation I trained for a few days at a new gym.
Sangmorakot Muay Thai Gym - Bangkok
Hidden away just outside the mayhem of Khaosan road was Sangmorakot Muay Thai gym. I hopped in a taxi, struggling to find it at first I spoke to the security guard who pointed me in the right direction.
If you’re not looking you can easily miss it, hidden next to a school and surrounding temples sits Sangmorakot.
This is an incredible gym to train at, now looking back I wish I had more time to do a few more sessions here.
As I did the drop in classes I got to training quickly. Again, starting out with skipping and a few rounds of shadowboxing, the instructors will pay close attention to your form and technique. After already training for a week at Samart’s and offering a similar training style, there wasn’t an awful lot that they picked up in terms of form correction.
Pad rounds lasted around 3 minutes and went for 3 rounds. Each round just perfecting my form slightly and showing different variations of techniques.
Like most gyms in Thailand, Thai fighters will be training alongside and some foreign students too.
At the end of the session we did some fighter conditioning. Knees on the heavy bag and round kicks.
After training for a week at Samart’s gym, and training just a few days at Sangmorakot, I’d definitely recommend spending at least a week at gyms in Thailand.
When visiting Bangkok to train Muay Thai, Sangmorakot should definitely be on your list of gyms to visit.
You can find out more about Sangmorakot Muay Thai gym in Bangkok on the links below.
Visit Sangmorakot Muay Thai Gym
Where to find Sangmorakot Muay Thai Gym
fter a good few days in and around Khaosan road, some intense training and morning runs, I needed some of that island life.
Phuket powerhouse - Rawai - Phuket
Intending to have some relaxation time in Rawai, on a morning jog I heard the sounds of pads, and heavy bags being hit.
The sweet sound of Muay Thai 🙏🏼
Missing out on the morning session I jumped in the afternoon class.
I stayed in a hotel nearby which was a quick walk to the gym luckily.
(If you’re in Rawai I’d definitely recommend sorting out your bike licence, insurance and everything else before coming out) it will make life on the Island much easier to explore. Luckily I’d met some really great friends that were able to take me exploring.
Anyway, back to Phuket Powerhouse. Arriving for your session, you’ll do 3 rounds of skipping, in between rounds doing push ups and sit ups.
Once finished you’ll move onto 3 rounds of pads, bagwork, techniques and sparring depending on the day.
After each session you’ll stretch down with everyone and finish the session.
The training I did over a week at Powerhouse was really good and a similar way to how I train in the UK. As mentioned previously, the more time you spend in a certain gym, the more you’ll get out of it.
The trainers will be able to get more of a feel for your form, style and help you improve.
Where to find Powerhouse Phuket
After a week at Powerhouse Phuket it was time to move a short distance up the road to Sinbi Muay Thai.
Sinbi Muay Thai Gym Rawai - Phuket
Sinbi Muay Thai is known for being quite a large gym. With regular Muay Thai fighters coming through, great trainers and loads of people to meet, it was hard to pass on the opportunity.
As the gym is quite big, warmup starts with running around the main gym area. After a few laps it’s time to get your hands wrapped and start shadow boxing.
Instructors will come around and correct you or offer advice if needed based on your skill level.
Once shadowing is complete you’ll either hit the pads or bags for 3 rounds, switching once your three rounds is up and changing around with other students.
When pad and bag rounds are finished you’ll move into more of a group style of training and learn a couple of different techniques with a partner.
If you have full equipment (mouth guard) and they’re sparring on that particular day you can move into boxing sparring.
Like most gyms in Thailand, you’ll finish the session by stretching down. I love their approach to this as everyone stretched down together. Locking arms to do sit ups with the whole class for a bit of conditioning and then a full stretch down.
Sadly, my time in Rawai was coming to an end. I stayed here for a bit longer than I planned to as I was enjoying the island life and training so much. But all good things must come to an end… For now.
Where to find Sinbi Muay Thai
I headed back towards Bangkok for a couple of days at Sitsongpeenong.
Sitsongpeenong Muay Thai Gym - Bangkok
Around 40 minutes outside of Bangkok sits Sitsongpeenong Muay Thai gym. Hidden away in an estate, Sitsongpeenong has produced some of the world’s greatest Muay Thai fighters.
During my few days stay here there were a few fighters getting ready for upcoming fights.
I trained with Moonlit who was a great instructor. A very playful style like most Thai krus but firm in making sure to keep my guard up when performing certain techniques.
The teaching here was a little different for me. Throughout my time training Muay Thai I had been thought to adopt a square on, more upright stance.
Moonlit switched my stance a little, telling me to stand my base lower and having my legs at more of an angle. This was probably to compensate for the long guard he was showing me which was great.
As they train a lot of active fighters who are competing at some of Thailand’s top stadiums like Rajadamnern and Lumpini, the intensity has to be 110% in everything that you do. That’s not to say that all Muay Thai gyms in Thailand or that I visited don’t have that same intensity but Moonlit was very enthusiastic about even the smallest of details.
You can find out more about Sitsongpeenong Muay Thai gym on the links below.
Visit Sitsongpeenong Muay Thai Camp Bangkok
Where to find Sitsong Peenong Muay Thai Camp
Conclusion
Throughout my time training Muay Thai in Thailand I’ve really been able to step up my training, improve significantly in a number of different areas.
Each gym will offer something slightly different, but it goes without saying that you’ll be pushed to your paces.
All of the gyms in Thailand will welcome foreigners at all skill levels, so don’t be afraid if it’s your first time.
Even in you’re in Thailand on holiday, I’d definitely recommend just going to a session and trying it out. If you’re training for fitness you’ll love it.
The intensity, heat and how hard the trainers push you will shock you and you’ll find out how capable you actually are.
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