Q&A on Thailand

[BodyHook]

There are tons of gyms you can go to and tell them you will fight for them and they will let you train there for free. You will usually have to pay for your first month of training and then after that you train for free as long as you fight for them. i've seen foreign guys take years off fighting and still train for free whenever they want at the same gym they used to fight for.

Most gym owners or promoters will want around 30 percent of your purse and you won't be expected to fight any more than every 1-2 months. Again i've seen guys take years off fighting and still train in the gym everyday and not pay a thing

i doubt they would let you live with them for free though that i've only seen with champs.

[Ron Powell Jr]

I always figured that as long as you were polite, gave 100% during training, didn't whine too much, and fought regularly for the gym, you could train for free, at least eventually.

Being a rich farang i'd probably pay for my training anyway just because....

[SarahSunwalker]

Mostly only the non touristy gyms provide free training; the more tourist ones will be very hard to get free because they will be viewing you constantly as a tourist; money source; Bank of Bankok ATM...

The gym I'm at now, I showed up and said I wanted to fight for them and would fight twice a month, but not less than once a month, and money was never asked for. It's a very poor gym, but; they've never had a foreign fighter here before.

I had my wife translating for me when I showed up; she told them I left Phuket because I was sick of racism and overpricing for white guys, and thus they treat me like a friend, not a customer.

Of course, the gym is very poor, and I've voluntarily bought a lot of new equipment (2 sets of sparring gloves; 2 sets of shin guards; 2 sets of pad/bag gloves; 1 XXL heavy bag; a new set of pads for the trainer - there is only 1 trainer here). I just thought I should give as much back to the gym as I could. But the only money I've ever given was a share of my fight money; they did not ask for that, either. My manager got a little money from the promoters for producing a fighter, but it was his money, not a cut from my share. But I gave some of the money to my trainer; he was reluctant to take it but I made him. He ended up sharing the money with everyone, including me, anyway (mostly whiskey).

But yeah, if you go to gyms like Tiger or Rawaii in Phuket or something, it may be several months before it's free, and that's only the training, not the room and food.

If you want to be treated like a real Thai pro, you have to go out into the sticks where there are NO OTHER FOREIGNERS about; places where they're not accustomed to ripping whites off, so it does not cross their mind to do so. Even then; if you are getting everything for free, give as much back as you can afford to give, like I did (it's probably better to buy gear than give money; this way the young Thai boys learning Muay Thai will benefit for years to come with your gear; but if you give money it just means your trainers will blow it on whiskey and you'll get no training the next day coz they're all hung over!).

[Sok Ti]

Originally Posted by SarahSunwalker

Mostly only the non touristy gyms provide free training; the more tourist ones will be very hard to get free because they will be viewing you constantly as a tourist; money source; Bank of Bankok ATM...

The gym I'm at now, I showed up and said I wanted to fight for them and would fight twice a month, but not less than once a month, and money was never asked for. It's a very poor gym, but; they've never had a foreign fighter here before.

I had my wife translating for me when I showed up; she told them I left Phuket because I was sick of racism and overpricing for white guys, and thus they treat me like a friend, not a customer.

Of course, the gym is very poor, and I've voluntarily bought a lot of new equipment (2 sets of sparring gloves; 2 sets of shin guards; 2 sets of pad/bag gloves; 1 XXL heavy bag; a new set of pads for the trainer - there is only 1 trainer here). I just thought I should give as much back to the gym as I could. But the only money I've ever given was a share of my fight money; they did not ask for that, either. My manager got a little money from the promoters for producing a fighter, but it was his money, not a cut from my share. But I gave some of the money to my trainer; he was reluctant to take it but I made him. He ended up sharing the money with everyone, including me, anyway (mostly whiskey).

But yeah, if you go to gyms like Tiger or Rawaii in Phuket or something, it may be several months before it's free, and that's only the training, not the room and food.

If you want to be treated like a real Thai pro, you have to go out into the sticks where there are NO OTHER FOREIGNERS about; places where they're not accustomed to ripping whites off, so it does not cross their mind to do so. Even then; if you are getting everything for free, give as much back as you can afford to give, like I did (it's probably better to buy gear than give money; this way the young Thai boys learning Muay Thai will benefit for years to come with your gear; but if you give money it just means your trainers will blow it on whiskey and you'll get no training the next day coz they're all hung over!).

Or buy the kids coke....they drink that shit like it's the last batch ever made!

[CharmingCritic]

all right guys, I have the urge to get out of Pai in the next month or so, the hippie bullshit is starting to drive me a little crazy. im going to be going to Bangkok for a couple of months, and then Phucket. Gonna go to Jitti Gym and Keatkhamtorn, and then Patong Boxing Gym and Sinbi in Phucket.

What can a guy who just wants a room with a fan and manual flush toilet expect to pay in Bangkok and Phucket? I don't want AC, wifi, TV, refrigerator, or any of that.

[SarahSunwalker]

It depends on your own personal intellectual skills, dude.

Cheapest thing is to look for places called "Mansions". Basically, apartment complexs.

In Bangkok, you can find ones like you decribed for 3,000 - 6,000 THB a month pretty damn easy (usually have air con, also).

In Phuket, you'll find these places about 6,000 - 8,000 THB.

Good luck finding them, but. Hope you bought your walking shoes...

You may find cheaper places, I dunno.

I heard Pai has some ferals. How bad is it?

[Sok Ti]

Originally Posted by CharmingCritic

all right guys, I have the urge to get out of Pai in the next month or so, the hippie bullshit is starting to drive me a little crazy. im going to be going to Bangkok for a couple of months, and then Phucket. Gonna go to Jitti Gym and Keatkhamtorn, and then Patong Boxing Gym and Sinbi in Phucket.

What can a guy who just wants a room with a fan and manual flush toilet expect to pay in Bangkok and Phucket? I don't want AC, wifi, TV, refrigerator, or any of that.

Chiang Mai, 2500 to 4000 a month. I'll let you know when i get to bangkok or down south. Won't be for another month or so though.

[TZP]

Hi, I'm currently a kyokushin black belt who's training in kickboxing and BJJ. My goal being to compete in MMA fights, I want to train in muay thai too. I have 1 to 4 months available to make the trip and stay in Thailand. I'm willing to train hard 6 times a week and I don't have tons of money. What would you guys suggest me to do (and where to go)?

[Ron Powell Jr]

^lots of options here...City or country? Near a beach?

[TZP]

i really don't mind. whichever costs less and has helpful trainers for someone who's just getting into this particular fighting style