Phuket Top Team – Muay Thai First Impressions
Posted in Blog on June 3, 2011
Now take this post as it is. I’ve only had two Muay Thai sessions at Phuket Top Team and that’s all i have to go on for now. In that time they have had more trainers come in, one trainer has taken the role as the “Chief” and they are still getting into the motions as more students roll into Phuket Top Team.
As of now, there are 5 trainers and the maximum amount of students i’ve seen training the Muay Thai class at Phuket Top Team is 6. It’s a fantastic ratio. Most time there are more trainers than students, meaning plenty of one on one time with your trainer. The more attention the better.
The classes are very structured. Something that i have found is the norm here in Phuket. It’s not something I personally like. But it works. I think it greatly helps those who are new to muay thai and are looking for a solid foundation.
For me, i’ve been training at Sitmonchai the past 6-7 months. I’ve grown used to the way they train there, and i like it. I like to run, come into class and skip, wrap my hands then shadow box. I’ll sink my hands into some old FBT gloves lying around and see if a trainer is available. If not, i go on my own and hit the bags using everything I’ve learned over the years. I duck under the ropes into the ring and hit pads with whatever trainer is around. He doesn’t call out combos or certain techniques to do. I freestyle the way I like to hit and he catches everything i throw at him. The whole gamut of knees, kicks, teeps, punches and elbows. I go as many rounds as humanly possible. We then clinch hard for half an hour or until i feel the need to projectile vomit. On occasion we spar. After training it’s pushups, situps and pull ups. I’m taught on the spot during pads, sparring and clinching. This is the way i enjoy doing Muay Thai. Get in there, pay your dues and then exit while your still alive.
Here in Phuket they take a different approach. Each class is structured differently. One class we skipped, did our hand wraps, shadowed for awhile and then sparred with the trainers right away. I had the chance to swap between three trainers while sparring. Taking in different styles to defend and attack against. This was nice as i have seen other gyms here in Phuket where you only get to spar with other foreigners unless you take a private with the Thai trainers. Quite a good scheme as most people want to clinch and spar with the Thai trainers meaning they will have to book privates.
After sparring we went onto technique. The Thai trainers show us a technique. We repeat it with our partners under the trainers supervision. This is a valuable segment of the class for people who are looking for this type of instruction. I noticed everyone in the class enjoyed it. There were three techniques shown. All of them were “What to do if you side kick is caught”. I personally just wanted to hit some pads or clinch. This section isn’t for everyone.
Next up was a circuit. 20 kicks each leg on the Thai pads, 20 punches on the focus mitts, 20 low kicks and then 20 knees. We go through this circuit 2 times with the trainers holding the pads. It’s not something i liked, but it did make me want to throw up whatever it is i ate that day. The class ended with 200 sit-ups and as many push-ups as you can pump out. I only did 40 push-ups . . . piss weak.
The next day the class went as follows. Skip, wrap hands, shadow box with a trainer looking over you. 3 people head to the ring to do 3 rounds of Thai pads. The other 3 people hit the bags. The people on the bags change over to a different bag each time, training low kicks, heavy punches and just pure muay thai. After three rounds they swap.
The class then goes into technique and end of the day with sparring and clinching. Once again the sparing and clinching is with the Thai trainers (very cool). That’s finished off by sit-ups and push-ups again.
There’s no right or wrong way to train. But people do have their own preference and style to how they want to approach training. For me it’s as simple as skip, wrap hand, shadow, hit pads, hit bag, clinch and spar. End your session. Phuket Top Team has only been open for two weeks and the classes they have are giving the students what they need. The only thing i would change is the amount of pad rounds they let you do. At Sinbi you do as many as you can (with a maximum of 5). Maybe a few more changes here and there, but I’ll deal with them by talking to the trainers. I can’t be doing things that i don’t feel will benefit my training.
Alot of these points can fall in both the Pro’s and Con’s box depending on who’s training there. Especially things like the dedicated technique segment. Some people love these points and other feel like they could benefit more from learning technique in a more live, on he spot situation such as sparring. It really depends where your at.
And just remember that this is only the first two weeks of the Muay Thai classes. Things will change up and evolve within the next few months.
thats cool…the gym is not overcrowded.cant wait to train at sitmonchai tho.juz my humble opinion, running shld be a must for da muay thai students since the thais do it.
will be good to get you down here man.
Hope you enjoy Sitmonchai!
I agree with you on the structure thing, it’s great for beginners but I can see why guys who have been doing it for 6+ months would get tired of being told when to skip rope, shadow box, etc. But for me personally I learn better this way, since it forces me to do it for the full 5 minutes.
But I do agree with the rounds of pad work. The two main reasons why I take muay thai classes is for the Pad Work #1, and the sparring #2. Everything else I could do on my own. So definetely 5 rounds of pad work would be ideal if they have time. But I understand from the trainers point of view not wanting to hold pads for 5 rounds per student especially when it gets busier.