Guide to Muay Thai in Phuket
Most reknowned Muay Thai gyms in Phuket - Tiger MT, AKA Thailand, Phuket Top Team, Sinbi MT.
Muay Thai sports, Thailand is where it all started. They call it the art of eight limbs because you use not only both fists and feet (like kickboxing), but with the added element of both elbows and knees. The sport is brutal and demanding, and Muay Thai training is one of the best ways to build up all round body conditioning. Many people come to visit Thailand Phuket, to train with the best and most experienced teachers in the game. A mix of professionals, like George St-Pierre, Christine Cyborg to name but a few and many more year round have been seen training in Phuket camps such as Tiger Muay Thai and AKA Thailand.
Aside from the professional fighters who visit, the Muay Thai camps in Phuket welcomes anyone from all levels, all walks of life. Beginners who are just looking to get fit, lose weight, and condition their body, and also people who want to learn the sport seriously with the goal of fighting in the ring, through to intermediate and professional world ranking fighters.
In Phuket's tropical climate and heat, combined with the twice daily two to three-hour training sessions, it is one of the quickest ways to completely change your body, and then reward yourself afterwards by visiting one of many of the finest beaches in Phuket.
Why Phuket? The pearl of the Andaman Sea, the biggest island in Thailand!
The veterans of Muay Thai, who have trained since childhood, most having at least 200+ fights to their name, many championship holders, come and move to Phuket because they know it is a hotspot for tourists, and thus enabling them to share with a wider audience their skills, and teach the art. Let's face it, where else in the world can you have a one on one session for 600 baht (circa $15) for a whole hour by a veteran of the sport. For example, London private one on one sessions can be anything up from £35 - £60 depending on the reputation, experience and rank of teacher - i.e. his record.
Generally speaking, aside from the big name camps ( to follow below in the 'Best Muay Thai Camps in Phuket section) there are many smaller Muay Thai training camps spread throughout Phuket that is not as much commercialised. These camps are more like the spit and sawdust 'raw' training camps. Still with highly experienced trainers, slightly lower prices in comparison to the more commercialised camps for example Tiger Muay Thai, and have only the basic Muay Thai equipment needed - a ring or two, some heavy sandbags, tyres, skipping rope, pads, gloves, etc. It is down to the individual, yourself, to decide what suits you best.
You will also find that in low season, these lesser commercialised camps are not very busy, thus giving you more time with the trainer as an individual rather than a group so you certainly get your monies worth. Do not under-estimate these camps; they will put you through your paces, you will train hard, be pushed to your limits, and end up by the end of the session in a pile of your sweat, but feeling somewhat accomplished in getting through it.
Upon arriving at Phuket International Airport, you will be greeted by many taxi drivers, they will all know where these Muay Thai camps are, but beware you may be charged more than what you should be paying. If you are serious about training Muay Thai, then you would already have picked a camp to train at before arriving, and thus the camp will arrange all transport and airport transfers for you, and at a cheaper rate than the regular taxies.
In terms of accommodation whilst staying at a Muay Thai camp in Phuket, the main camps mentioned all have on-site accommodation, and you will have a good choice of renting out whatever fits into your budget/criteria. For example, if you are on a tight budget, then you can room share, or get a single bed room with a fan, no air con, and so forth. The best thing to do, to be safe, would be to find the Muay Thai camp you want to train at, book in a weeks accommodation with them, and this will give you a chance to check out the nearby area. In some cases depending on the season, you will find even cheaper accommodation. On the other end of the scale, you can rent out private bungalows, deluxe rooms with air-con, fridge, showers, shared swimming pools etc.
There are many options to choose from. Bear in mind the low and high season prices. This affects most of Phuket, in terms of everything, renting room, some Muay Thai training camps, places to eat and excursions should you wish. High season the prices go up extensively compared to low season. However the majority of the more commercialised Muay Thai camps in Phuket will stick with their training prices all year round, one for example being Kingka Supa Muay Thai (formerly Rawai Supa Muay Thai).
If you need some training equipment or clothing, you will be able to pick up most accessories in the Muay Thai camps itself. There is also some very good independent shops around the area that will stock more fight gear and accessories. One of my favourites is FightLab in Rawai. Check out my new kit below :)
Best Muay Thai Camps in Phuket
AKA Thailand, situated in Rawai Phuket. If you haven't checked this place out, you must go there! Top level teachers, trainers and fighters in a gorgeous rural surrounding, with state of the art training facilities.
Tiger Muay Thai
The biggest and most well known Muay Thai camp in Phuket, Tiger Muay Thai situated in Chalong area on the famous fighters 'Soi' road has a state of the art training complex, which caters for everything a student in training needs. This is not only a Muay Thai camp, but a full mixed martial arts camp, offering tuition and training in MMA (mixed martial arts) BJJ (Brazilian Ju-Jitsu), Yoga and other fitness activities based on strength and conditioning.
Year round, you will bump into famous UFC fighters who train here. The training schedule here is split into 2 time slots, morning and afternoon. This is usually the same through out all the Muay Thai gyms.
Tiger Muay Thai (TMT) has over 30 dedicated experienced trainers, all the equipment, and supplements at your door step (on the Soi Road) this is fighters training paradise. There are a variety of options for accommodation, training plans, diet plans, meal plans, to fit into ones budget. This place is known for its reputation as being one of the best training schools/camps in the world.
Sinbi Muay Thai
Sinbi Muay Thai camp, situated between Rawai and Nai Han, has a very strong team of veteran trainers, excellent state of the art equipment, accommodation on site, and all round a very decent Muay Thai Camp. Sinbi has been around for many years, and built up a very good reputation amongst the Muay Thai world in Phuket. Their camp is one which is closest to Nai Han beach, and Thursdays they take they're students to train on the beach for the afternoon session. Prices and accommodation are very reasonable here, and the trainers will train you hard! Sinbi Muay Thai welcomes beginners, intermediate levels and professional level fighters.
Kingka Supa Muay Thai
Formerly known as Rawai Muay Thai, who have now moved to Kho Lak to set up a camp. Kingka Supa Muay Thai located in the heart of Rawai village is a fantastic Muay Thai - Tae Kwondo martial arts camp.
Stable all year round good training prices, and a variety of accommodation from shared room, single deluxe bungalows, a wealth of facilities including in-house cardio gym, weights section, and plenty of kick and punch bags, including 4 large boxing rings, this is another top Muay Thai camp in Phuket not to be missed. All trainers here are veterans with 100+ fights to their name.
They also offer for students who want to train long term, a Thai Education Visa, where you pay a fixed fee for 1 year, which includes all the training, certificates, and the 1 year Education Visa, authorised by the Thai Government.
The training schedules are pretty much the same as most the Muay Thai camps, morning training 7:30 - 9:30, and afternoon training 4:30 - 6:30, with the inclusion of Saturday morning training at the very beautiful Nai Han beach (about 3.5km down the road).
Phuket Top Team Muay Thai Training Camp
Phuket Top Team Muay Thai, a high ranking training camp in Thailand, been voted in the top 5 training gyms/camps in the whole of Asia, located fairly close to Tiger Muay Thai, on the same Soi road, another gym/camp that offers not only Muay Thai, but also mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu (BJJ), western boxing, wrestling and strength and conditioning training. With nearly 20 veteran trainers here, state of the art equipment - air conditioned matted area, 3 full size Muay Thai rings that are outside, MMA cage, and also onsite accommodation for students.
Suwit Muay Thai Gym and Stadium
One of the best value for money Muay Thai camps in Phuket, a fantastic team of trainers, and very good fitness and weight lifting area. Accommodation and training packages here can not be beaten in Thailand. Suwit Muay Thai gym are also the owners of a near by stadium, so if you train and stay here, every Friday you will have the opportunity to go and watch live fights for free at the stadium! Located in Chalong area, but slightly away from the main fighters street where TMT and PTT are located.
Siam Muay Thai Academy
Re-opened after full renovation mid 2015, a highly regarded Muay Thai camp focusing on traditional Muay Thai Combat training, whilst also embracing the newer form of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Opened to all levels of students, young and old, beginner through to intermediate and onto professional. Siam has state of the art facilities, inclusive of supplement and equipment shop for every ones needs. Based in a huge space - 7 Rai of land to be exact, plenty of on site accommodation private and shared, a large swimming pool for a dip after training, and a very nice garden to rest the mind in peace. One of the top 5 highly rated Muay Thai camps in Phuket Thailand!
Lion Muay Thai
Catering for seasoned fighters to beginners, Lion Muay Thai, situated in Rawai Phuket, sits hidden away in a jungle type atmosphere, offering a multitude of training options for anyone to join in on. Muay Thai being the heart, but also Western Boxing, Crossfit, and Strength and Conditioning. Similar training structure as with 99% of the Muay Thai camps you will find in Phuket, split into morning and afternoon training, excellent equipment, Muay Thai rings, sandbags, added to this, highly regarded veteran trainers. Offering fantastic value for money for training and on site accommodation packages.
Less Commericalised Muay Thai Camps in Phuket
A short list of a few highly recommended off the beaten track Muay Thai camps that are situated in Phuket:
-Kaewphitak Muay Thai Camp
-Asia Muay Thai Camp
-Vorvichanchai Muay Thai Camp
-Yudtajak Muay Thai Camp
You will find these Muay Thai camps very good to train at, the trainers here are all veterans in the sport, many with championship records, who have left the bigger camps to start their own Muay Thai camp, and the prices won't be beaten for this type of training. The best way to find the details of these Muay Thai camps in Phuket would be via google or Facebook. These camps have set prices for training all year round, be it high season or low, pricing won't change. Just because they are not commercialised as much as the bigger names, does not mean in anyway that you won't receive just the same amount of training and put in the same amount of effot. The Thai trainers know the drills, and understand how to develop a fighter or student in training to the highest levels. Don't be surprised when you go and watch 'Live' matches at Bangla Stadium or Rawai Stadium and see fighters from these gyms fighting and in many cases winning. Many say this is the true essence of Muay Thai training, pure Muay Thai, back to its routes, and not mixed with MMA or BBJ for that matter. However this may change and they may incorporate more fighting styles as the camps grow over time.
Live Muay Thai shows in Phuket - at Bangla Stadium Patong.
If you want to see the sports live in all it's glory, head to Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong!
Which ever Muay Thai camp or venue you choose to visit or train at, you will undoubtably have an experience of a life time, and meet some great people along your journey. Be it for personal fitness goals, to learn a martial art, or to progress as a fighter. There is no right or wrong Muay Thai camp to train at, it is all on personal preference and what you want to get out of it as an individual.
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Picture above taken 2010 - Rawai Muay Thai Camp now known as Kinga Muay Thai!
Thanks for reading!