Is it normal for a Muay Thai gym to require your SS#?

[quickman007]

Hey guys, this is my first time posting here and I had no clue where to post this question. Sorry if it's in the wrong spot!

Anyways, I was checking out a MT gym in my area (the only one within 30 miles, actually) and the registration form requires a social security number. Is this normal? I thought it was odd. I thought maybe for background checks or something, since my area is known for having a lot of low lives, maybe they don't want to teach just anyone. I'm 19 and my parents don't want me to join because of that. Just wondering if this was normal practice for MT gyms before I go and ask.

Thanks

 

[NoSmilez]

its probably just a form... fill in anything... i doubt they will double check

 

[swirldog]

Give them a made up number.

 

[SAAMAG]

Ask THEM why they need it. We won't know.

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Hey guys, this is my first time posting here and I had no clue where to post this question. Sorry if it's in the wrong spot!

Anyways, I was checking out a MT gym in my area (the only one within 30 miles, actually) and the registration form requires a social security number. Is this normal? I thought it was odd. I thought maybe for background checks or something, since my area is known for having a lot of low lives, maybe they don't want to teach just anyone. I'm 19 and my parents don't want me to join because of that. Just wondering if this was normal practice for MT gyms before I go and ask.

Thanks

It is for collection purposes. They will want you to sign a half year or year contract and send you to collections if you don't pay. If they did background checks I think most fight gyms would lose half of their students.

My advice is to not give it to them and do not sign a contract. Pay in cash and never pay a enrollment fee (I have talked every gym out of it, even AKA).

 

[thecrosby627]

It is for collection purposes. They will want you to sign a half year or year contract and send you to collections if you don't pay. If they did background checks I think most fight gyms would lose half of their students.

My advice is to not give it to them and do not sign a contract. Pay in cash and never pay a enrollment fee (I have talked every gym out of it, even AKA).

How? lol

 

[Jalalipop]

anything thats not goverment or job related I leave SS out, no has said anything yet...

 

[nomilkforsanta]

How? lol

I asked AKA what is was for and they said it was for equipment. After I explain that I already owned all the equipment for grappling and striking, they offered to reduce the enrollment fee by 50%. I told them I would sign up on the spot (cash in hand) if they would take away the enrollment for a university student... No enrollment.

As for the other two gyms, I came in with a friend and said that we will both sign up if you wave the enrollment for both of us ($200-300 in cash is harder to pass up than $100-150...).

I never got the chance to try this out at Fairtex*, because, after they told me the monthly dues and that water was not free, my girlfriend and I left.

*Fairtex Mountain view, the last Fairtex in the US, was stripped of its name...it is now FTX.

 

[Harukaze]

*Fairtex Mountain view, the last Fairtex in the US, was stripped of its name...it is now FTX.

Yeah, what's the story behind the name change? I've been wondering about that. Is it because Anthony Lin pretty much drove the American part of the camp into the ground so Philip Wong didn't want the Fairtex name besmirched or some such thing?

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Yeah, what's the story behind the name change? I've been wondering about that. Is it because Anthony Lin pretty much drove the American part of the camp into the ground so Philip Wong didn't want the Fairtex name besmirched or some such thing?

He is trying to act as though, through his own free will and accord, he re-brand Fairtex into FTX. However, Fairtex INC cut ties with him. He still sells equipment though ftxgear.com after fairtex.com was taken away.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...-as-FTX-4384531.php+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[SAAMAG]

"Our goal is to be “BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER and SMARTER,” which are the base of our foundations. Greatness is achieved when passion meets commitment and determination. Thus the X factor in FTX! Let’s Aspire for results!"

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/prwe...rands-Itself-as-FTX-4384531.php#ixzz2WaTYqZDa

Man they should have just used Kanye's EXACT lyrics for their "rebranding". LOL

 

[Harukaze]

He is trying to act as though, through his own free will and accord, he re-brand Fairtex into FTX. However, Fairtex INC cut ties with him. He still sells equipment though ftxgear.com after fairtex.com was taken away.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...-as-FTX-4384531.php+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

"Our goal is to be “BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER and SMARTER,” which are the base of our foundations. Greatness is achieved when passion meets commitment and determination. Thus the X factor in FTX! Let’s Aspire for results!"

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/prwe...rands-Itself-as-FTX-4384531.php#ixzz2WaTYqZDa

Man they should have just used Kanye's EXACT lyrics for their "rebranding". LOL

Thanks for the info, gents. So much BULLSHIT coming from Lin in that article, Alex Gong must be spinning in his grave. I feel worst for all the Thai trainers though; they all came over together and even after Bunkerd left, they'd still kick it together all the time. Now they're split up all over the state, WTF. If Anh ever gets pissed and leaves, the whole ship is gonna sink methinks. :icon_neut

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Thanks for the info, gents. So much BULLSHIT coming from Lin in that article, Alex Gong must be spinning in his grave. I feel worst for all the Thai trainers though; they all came over together and even after Bunkerd left, they'd still kick it together all the time. Now they're split up all over the state, WTF. If Anh ever gets pissed and leaves, the whole ship is gonna sink methinks. :icon_neut

Most of the old timers say that Fairtex died along with Alex Gong...

• Ganyao went to Pacific Ring in Oakland
• Jongsanan went to El Nino in San Francisco
• The white fighters at Fairtex also left to open a gym, Ryan Roy opened T2 Muay Thai i (the gym I go to now) and I am not sure what happened to Nate.

Fairtex Gyms are Dead in the US and apparently it is slowly dying in Thailand. This is a big reason why the company is restructuring. If you want to buy Fairtex gear in the US www.fairtexusa.com is the best place around (unless you want to deal with ringside, title, ftx or ebay).

 

[Harukaze]

Most of the old timers say that Fairtex died along with Alex Gong...

• Ganyao went to Pacific Ring in Oakland
• Jongsanan went to El Nino in San Francisco
• The white fighters at Fairtex also left to open a gym, Ryan Roy opened T2 Muay Thai i (the gym I go to now) and I am not sure what happened to Nate.

Fairtex Gyms are Dead in the US and apparently it is slowly dying in Thailand. This is a big reason why the company is restructuring. If you want to buy Fairtex gear in the US www.fairtexusa.com is the best place around (unless you want to deal with ringside, title, ftx or ebay).

Yeah, Bunkerd opened his own place after Alex died due to what I was told was an issue involving the new management withholding paychecks (even the custodian got shafted and followed Bunkerd LOL), but even after founding his own gym he would always still go hang out with Jongsanan, Ganyao, and Enn. I remember Bunkerd and his son Boy even helped Enn out with errands after he had his back surgery; now Enn's all the way out in Fresno for God's sake. And Coke's got his own place in Oakland now too, right?

Yeah, I can see Fairtex is in rough shape in Thailand, too. No more active stadium champs on their roster; it's always a pleasant surprise to even see a Fairtex fighter in action at Lumpinee or Rajadamnern these days (unlike the past where it was expected to see Fairtex fighters regularly on the stadium circuit, up to and including top contenders and champs). I heard Philip Wong is just concentrating on promoting these days and has left his son in charge of the company's day-to-day business? Sad considering how big they were (my dad even owned a pair of Fairtex denim jeans back in the '70s LOL!). Any idea how their Japanese branches are doing? Seems like Weerasakreck is doing a pretty good job flying the Fairtex flag over there, eh?

At any rate, the only place I'd buy Fairtex gear these days is at Actionzone (everywhere else seems grossly overpriced in comparison to the prices I was quoted there, but then again it's not like I can get out to BKK everyday haha), but then the owner always gives me an even better deal on Twins and I can't say no to that. :icon_chee That, and it seems like the quality of Twins gear has gone up this year -- the gloves' hand compartment has been revamped for 2013, the comparably priced shinguards are leather as opposed to Fairtex's synthetic, and the new competition-cut shorts are even nicer than my old Fairtex shorts!

Holy balls I rambled in this post LOL. Sorry to OP for the thread hijack.

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Yeah, Bunkerd opened his own place after Alex died due to what I was told was an issue involving the new management withholding paychecks (even the custodian got shafted and followed Bunkerd LOL), but even after founding his own gym he would always still go hang out with Jongsanan, Ganyao, and Enn. I remember Bunkerd and his son Boy even helped Enn out with errands after he had his back surgery; now Enn's all the way out in Fresno for God's sake. And Coke's got his own place in Oakland now too, right?

Yeah, I can see Fairtex is in rough shape in Thailand, too. No more active stadium champs on their roster; it's always a pleasant surprise to even see a Fairtex fighter in action at Lumpinee or Rajadamnern these days (unlike the past where it was expected to see Fairtex fighters regularly on the stadium circuit, up to and including top contenders and champs). I heard Philip Wong is just concentrating on promoting these days and has left his son in charge of the company's day-to-day business? Sad considering how big they were (my dad even owned a pair of Fairtex denim jeans back in the '70s LOL!). Any idea how their Japanese branches are doing? Seems like Weerasakreck is doing a pretty good job flying the Fairtex flag over there, eh?

At any rate, the only place I'd buy Fairtex gear these days is at Actionzone (everywhere else seems grossly overpriced in comparison to the prices I was quoted there, but then again it's not like I can get out to BKK everyday haha), but then the owner always gives me an even better deal on Twins and I can't say no to that. :icon_chee That, and it seems like the quality of Twins gear has gone up this year -- the gloves' hand compartment has been revamped for 2013, the comparably priced shinguards are leather as opposed to Fairtex's synthetic, and the new competition-cut shorts are even nicer than my old Fairtex shorts!

Holy balls I rambled in this post LOL. Sorry to OP for the thread hijack.

Coke opened Dek Wat in Oakland with his wife, causing some drama with pacific ring (they are in close proximity). They put on the best smokers in the bay for Muay Thai.

If you want to get into the shit, fairtex sf was selling people memberships knowing they were closing down that month. Fairtex mountain view had no drinking fountain and required you to buy water or bring your own. Worst of all, they always looked for a way to charge you extra, extra money to be on the fight team, penalties for late payments and freezing accounts....

 

[Harukaze]

If you want to get into the shit, fairtex sf was selling people memberships knowing they were closing down that month. Fairtex mountain view had no drinking fountain and required you to buy water or bring your own. Worst of all, they always looked for a way to charge you extra, extra money to be on the fight team, penalties for late payments and freezing accounts....

Huh, so the shenanigans continued down there too. Real shame...
Thanks for the info.