Sitsongpeenong Overview

I enter the large 3 story complex at the end of Soi 34. I walk pass the pool room and lounge room, it look’s . . . expensive. A staircase in the next section leads to the second floor. That’s where Sitsongpeenong gym is. Sitsongpeenong is considered a fighter’s gym with authentic muay thai training at the highest level.

It’s 3.30 pm as i climb the staircase to the gym. I spot the owner Tim walk up the stairs behind me. He greets me with a handshake as we introduce ourselves to one another. Tim’s half Aussie half Thai. He grew up in Australia but has spent the last 14 years here in Thailand with his wife and two young boys. Tim is softly spoken, tall with broad shoulders. “Make yourself at home” he tells me as i make my way into the gym.

I’m instantly impressed by the gym and it’s facilities. It’s a modest size, two Top King Rings, plenty of open space, non slip mats, and more. Two sides are completely open to let the breeze flow through one end and out the other. Despite my best efforts I’m already sweating as i watch everyone skip. There’s only 4 foreigners training here. I spot a familiar nak muay at the back. It’s Chantel Ughi. I come up to her and say hello. She’s very quiet and passive. It’s then that i notice the star of the gym Kem Sitsongpeenong. Current WMC champion and former Kings Cup, Rajadamnern and Thailand champion. He skips by himself, focusing on his training. I call out his name and he gives me a nod with a slight smile.

I start to take some photo’s of the gym and the fighters. They skip for 15 minutes, then do chin ups followed by pushups. They sweat all over the mats. It make’s me want to train. Before I know it the jazzy rhythms of work begin to cohere. I strain my ears as they slap their powerful legs against the pads. “Whack, Whack, Whack”. They rain punishment on the heavy bags and pour thunder on the pads. I quickly realize the training is in full swing as the nak muay grunt and snort away.

They do Thai pads at 4-8 rounds at 4 mins each depending on how much you can take. It’s followed by 2 rounds on the focus mitts to improve your punching prowess. Once out of the ring you hit the bags and then shadowbox with small weights. Then you move onto the grinding clinch work for 45mins. If there’s one thing i notice, it’s that they work hard here. Nobody talks once training starts. The foreigners don’t even let out a word to each other. They are in a world of their own, focused solely on training and concentrating on improving. The Thai trainers are attentive and follow them around under a watchful eye. I’m very impressed with this gyms work rate and ethic.

Between photo’s Tim comes up to me with a drink. We start to chat about the gym. He’s very laid back and cool as anything. I didn’t get the chance to tell him what i was her for exactly. Our introduction only stretched as far as names and country of origin. “What are you actually taking photos for?” Tim asks, “Who me? I’m a professional. Professional dammit”. I explain to Tim about the website. He tells me the gym could do with more exposure as it is lesser known than most.

He explains who’s fighting where and when. Chantel Ughi has a fight lined up for the Kings Cup. Kem Sitsongpeenong will fight Abdullah Mabel in France on the 26th and then on December the 18th will fight Nopparat Kaetkhamtorn at Omnoi stadium in a Isuzu tournament. He’ll have to fight 5 times for the next six months once the tournament starts.
He then points out his next rising star. Mapichit is a 15 year old ranked 3rd in Lumpinee. He will fight for the Lumpinee belt on the 7th of November in Petchyindee’s birthday promotion. Being so big and talented at such an age means he has to fight with men in their 20′s. Tim promises me he will be the next big thing. Bigger and better than Buakaw and Yodsaenklai were at his age.

The gym only caters to people who are serious about training. If you want to go out clubbing, drinking or out to the beach than this gym isn’t for you Tim explains. He makes a point that he doesn’t want too many foreigners training here at one time and makes sure they student to trainer ratio is just right so that he can take care of everyone. Tim brings me for a tour throughout the complex where he and his family actually live. The top floor is where the Thai fighters live. He provides them with a cabinet full of supplements and vitamins. They have a T.V and a Playstation. The upstairs is also where you can get your laundry service. Downstairs you have a pool room with a large LCD cable T.V. The lounge room next door to it has a long couch, dining table, computer with free internet, T.V and the kitchen where all the meals are made by the cooks. We check out the accommodation which is simple yet pristine. It’s what you would expect out of an international standard hotel. air conditioning, hot water, cable television, refrigerator, writing desk and free wireless internet. They’ve even gone out of the way to have some decorative art put on the walls.

We go back upstairs to the gym where he lets me know that Steve Wakeling will be making a come back and fighting out of Sitsongpeenong Gym starting next month. Very interesting.

I see Kem and the other two young boys Mapichit and Jomhod enter the ring. They are all training for upcoming fights. Khem is a hill of meat with legs as think as my torso. Kem’s padholder is active and pushy. He dishes out just as much as he takes. Pressuring Kem at every instance while catching kicks and punches on the pads. Kem stands his ground and fights back. Pop pop! his punches snap out. He eyes off the pads with his gunmetal gaze.

The kids get no special treatment. They sweat it out. They engage in a dual with the padholder. They pour out kicks, knees and elbows with murderous ease. Being so young, they are mesmerizing to watch. Their yelling combines into a chorus. They aren’t just building up their bodies. They are becoming a team. Their sweat sprays into the air above and mixes into puddles on the floor. This is apart of growing up in Thailand. You sweat, you belong, you’re part of a team. You don’t need to think. You train. You keep sweating. Keep working.

From my first visit to Sitsongpeenong i can say nothing but good things about this gym. It’s really impressed me. Take away all the luxury facilties and it’s a pure raw muay thai gym. It was awarded “New up and coming gym of the year” award in 2009. This year it’s in the running for “Gym if the Year” and “Trainer of the Year”. Do yourself a favour and go to this gym. I tell Tim i’ll be around again the next day to take some video’s as i wrap things up. I’m happy to have met him. Very knowledgeable and informative about the muay thai scene.

Born in Australia, training in martial arts since the age of 9. My first trip to Thailand was back in 2007. Since then i have made numerous visits back to the "land of smiles" to feed my addiction of Muay Thai. During the month of November in 2010 i had to decide between working a 9 to 5 job back home for the rest of my life, or sell all my worldly possessions and move to Thailand to live and train for the next few years. Thankfully i chose the latter. I now spend my time training Muay Thai, meeting new and interesting circles of people, sipping coconuts under palm trees on the beach and measuring the cost of everything on how much Pad Thai i could buy with that money.

Mike (Admin)

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