Fighting Spirit Overview
Posted in Fighting Spirit, Reviews on November 21, 2010
My taxi driver drops me off at the front of soi 9 in Silom. Fighting Spirit can be found between soi 9 and soi 10, so i continue onwards towards the next soi. I walk past a sign “Fighting Spirit Gym”, i head inwards past the gate. I find myself walking through a cemetery so i know I’m on the right path. It starts to rain and in Thailand when it rains it pours. I shake my head “these clouds are going to make my photos shit” i think to myself. Oh well, i move on and stick to the path.
I spot the gym up ahead and as i near closer i see a tall figure. It’s Dan the owner, who’s a gargantuan beast of a man. His back looks like a walnut shell and his arms like an action figure. Not the kind of guy you tap on the shoulder from behind. You’d think he was going to tear your arms right out of their sockets and start drinking from them right before your eyes. I shake his hand hoping I’m not right. Turns out Dan is one of the nicest and funniest people I’ve met. We exchange pleasantries as i unholster my camera and ask one of the students if he’s ok with me taking his photo. “Of course he is, he’s our resident Polish pornstar!” says Dan “Gay porn that is” replies the Polish pornstar. It’s evident right away that everyone here is really comfortable with each other.
Photo coutesy of Mymuaythai.com
Photo coutesy of Mymuaythai.com
Training moves into action. I continue to talk with Dan and move around the gym to check it out. There’s plenty of floor space on non-slip mats. One ring with a few bags. Upstairs you’ll find treadmills and elliptical striders along with two guest rooms, both twin share. But what catches my eye is something Dan set up a few days ago. It’s the gym’s very own weights room. I snoop around and they have bench press, 45 degree leg press, squat rack, power tower, lat pull down, chest press, full dumb bell set and more.
Just above the main training area are some big whopping speakers playing heavy tunes as everyone trains. This gym is sleek and clean. It even has it’s own gym pet. Dan’s budgie sits on his shoulder as he floats around the gym. There’s two little rat like dogs hanging about. And the most interesting animals he has are the two dinosaur like Iguana’s he keeps in a cage next to the ring!
Dan informs me that there usually 8 to 10 people in the morning class and up to 20 people in the afternoon class. There’s only 5 people at the session i attend. Must be the rain. The gym set’s up fights at the local British club where they have a small event with evenly matched fight’s. It’s a great place to come for people starting out in muay thai. It’s foreigner friendly and hold’s fights where you won’t be thrown to the lions nor will you fight a tuk tuk driver on his smoke break.
Most of the farang training her are sparring hard getting ready for their fights in the next few weeks. There’s 4 trainers here including Dan. If there’s one thing that stands out at this gym, it’s how connected Dan is with the training of the nak muays. He pays attention to everyone training. Keeping a keen observant eye on someone tearing up the heavy bag or two men sparring in the ring. “Don’t let him set” “Keep him off balance” Use your jab, use your jab”. As a veteran of the sport he imparts his knowledge upon the students. Dan is right there beside them throughout as they enjoy the simple pleasures of sweat and exhaustion.
For me this gym is the perfect place to drop by for some casual training or for foreigners looking to be taken care of for their first few fights. It’s perfect to help you develop slowly with a good mix of training partners. It is also full of light hearted banter and laughter between both students and trainers. A great atmosphere is what makes this gym unique and the location is perfect for those who want to let loose after some hard training in Siloms nightlife.
