Good Muay Thai in Orange County? (Now Hear Me Out and Don't Throw Your Tomatoes)

[tech9]

I know this topic has been reposted a million times, BUT I realize that all the threads I look up are from YEARS ago (2007-2010). So as of 2014, what school provides a great Muay Thai program in the local area? I'm planning on doing Muay Thai only this time and pass on the BJJ.

I know certain schools get better or worse over the years so I feel like the posts from years ago are not relevant anymore. My gym is closing it's doors this week and I need to find a new Muay Thai gym.

OC Muay Thai sounds like the best school but I get off work at 6 and I can't speed to the gym in time with all the rush hour traffic. Any other suggestions would be welcome! Thanks

 

[Ryeyou]

what part of orange county are u staying at? Team Oyama(Irvine),Total Mma(Tustin),Spider Muay thai(Costa Mesa),Seuua Daao Muay thai(Los alamitos).

 

[Harukaze]

Are you looking for MT for MMA or MT for MT? How much experience do you have (and di you train "Thai-style" or "Western-style")? What do you hope to get out of your MT training? Where in the county are you and how far are you willing to drive?

 

[Cyclone Mike]

I trained at Team Oyama for a few months while I was in town for work. Pretty good training there. Some good guys out there, although as an outsider they did have the tendency to want to "bang, bro" with me in sparring. Also, they might hassle you about graduating from their cardio kickboxing class first... if you have experience and they see you move around a bit they will put you in the right place if you talk to someone.

I also checked out OC muay thai and from what I could tell it's decent training there too, but it didn't work with my schedule. I think the edge goes to Team Oyama in terms of quality of training.

 

[tech9]

what part of orange county are u staying at? Team Oyama(Irvine),Total Mma(Tustin),Spider Muay thai(Costa Mesa),Seuua Daao Muay thai(Los alamitos).

I am South OC (Mission Viejo) and I'm willing to drive anywhere Santa Ana to Costa Mesa if the time permits, as I get off of work at 6pm.

Do you have any personal experience with any of the gyms? I was eyeing Spider MT and Team Oyama, but I heard Oyama focuses heavily on their actual fighters more than the regular students, but that was just from word of mouth.

1) Are you looking for MT for MMA or MT for MT?
2) How much experience do you have (and di you train "Thai-style" or "Western-style")?
3) What do you hope to get out of your MT training?
4) Where in the county are you and how far are you willing to drive?

1) I am looking for straight MT, not for MMA.
2) I have been with my previous gym for 7 months now and my instructor's been teaching pretty traditional MT.
3) I joined MT to learn the art. It's very intriguing, aesthetically beautiful (in my eyes), and great for self-defense as well. I'm not learning to beat people up for fun, although sparring is fun. I receive the beating though, I'm only 5'6 130lbs!
4) I'm in South OC (Mission Viejo), but I'm willing to drive anywhere from Santa Ana to Costa Mesa if there are programs at 7 or after.

 

[tech9]

I trained at Team Oyama for a few months while I was in town for work. Pretty good training there. Some good guys out there, although as an outsider they did have the tendency to want to "bang, bro" with me in sparring. Also, they might hassle you about graduating from their cardio kickboxing class first... if you have experience and they see you move around a bit they will put you in the right place if you talk to someone.

I also checked out OC muay thai and from what I could tell it's decent training there too, but it didn't work with my schedule. I think the edge goes to Team Oyama in terms of quality of training.

Interesting. I don't have many experiences with other gyms but I find those that want to beat up outsiders kind of unappealing. But I'd have to see for myself to make a decision.

OC MT has always been on the back of my mind but it's the same story for me regarding work and scheduling there.

How were the rates in Oyama when you attended?

 

[Harukaze]

I am South OC (Mission Viejo) and I'm willing to drive anywhere Santa Ana to Costa Mesa if the time permits, as I get off of work at 6pm.

Do you have any personal experience with any of the gyms? I was eyeing Spider MT and Team Oyama, but I heard Oyama focuses heavily on their actual fighters more than the regular students, but that was just from word of mouth.



1) I am looking for straight MT, not for MMA.
2) I have been with my previous gym for 7 months now and my instructor's been teaching pretty traditional MT.
3) I joined MT to learn the art. It's very intriguing, aesthetically beautiful (in my eyes), and great for self-defense as well. I'm not learning to beat people up for fun, although sparring is fun. I receive the beating though, I'm only 5'6 130lbs!
4) I'm in South OC (Mission Viejo), but I'm willing to drive anywhere from Santa Ana to Costa Mesa if there are programs at 7 or after.

Hmm, if you're getting off at 6pm, one option is out the window (Team OC in Orange; their MT instructor, Randy, has trained at multiple camps in Thailand and is great pad holder; however, he only teaches from ~5:30 to 7pm and the classes tend to be small i.e. not much variety in partners). However, there is another good option: NHC Martial Arts in Los Alamitos has a good MT program; it's run by Sherdog's very own gear reviewer extraordinaire ClampXVII! I work out with him every so often and his sessions are always good, it's just that he's a little far distance-wise and my schedule is rather nebulous. Those are two gyms in the county that I've personally trained at that I can vouch for.

Not to be super creeper or anything, but I'd be down to check out some of the other gyms in the county, so hit me up if you wouldn't me rolling out with you. TBH, it's surprisingly hard to find good, authentic MT gyms in OC -- I still don't get why one of the Thai stadium veterans doesn't settle down and open a business: he'd make a killing!

 

[Paradigm]

I still don't get why one of the Thai stadium veterans doesn't settle down and open a business: he'd make a killing!

screw that! we need more Thai instructors in the San Fernando Valley...all the OC brahs are about MMA anyways.

 

[Harukaze]

screw that! we need more Thai instructors in the San Fernando Valley...all the OC brahs are about MMA anyways.

They need to venture out of North Hollywood LOL. But then no Pa Ord or Sapp Coffee Shop anymore hahaha! And LAX-C will be too far away! :icon_chee

 

[Paradigm]

They need to venture out of North Hollywood LOL. But then no Pa Ord or Sapp Coffee Shop anymore hahaha! And LAX-C will be too far away! :icon_chee

who are the other Thais in NoHo besides Nokweed and Santi? Pong and Mr. Lightning are in Santa Clarita...besides them, i cant think of any other Thais in this area (SFV).

 

[Harukaze]

who are the other Thais in NoHo besides Nokweed and Santi? Pong and Mr. Lightning are in Santa Clarita...besides them, i cant think of any other Thais in this area (SFV).

Actually, I'm not sure! I'll be honest, I was just perpetuating a stereotype haha! :icon_chee

But your post actually makes a good point, the Thai guys in the States really are peripatetic. I heard Sit Rama Soon closed and I have no clue where the twins went. Malaipet wandered around a bunch before he finally settled down with a nice Laotian girl in Fresno LOL. BM, is he still in Pasadena? I don't even know anymore. :icon_conf On a broader scale, Sakmongkol disappeared for a bit after he left Zingano's, then all of the sudden months later he's back in Pattaya teaching the SINGLE Muay Thai class per day at the World Kumite Organization headquarters -- WTF haha!

 

[tech9]

Actually, I'm not sure! I'll be honest, I was just perpetuating a stereotype haha! :icon_chee

But your post actually makes a good point, the Thai guys in the States really are peripatetic. I heard Sit Rama Soon closed and I have no clue where the twins went. Malaipet wandered around a bunch before he finally settled down with a nice Laotian girl in Fresno LOL. BM, is he still in Pasadena? I don't even know anymore. :icon_conf On a broader scale, Sakmongkol disappeared for a bit after he left Zingano's, then all of the sudden months later he's back in Pattaya teaching the SINGLE Muay Thai class per day at the World Kumite Organization headquarters -- WTF haha!

My Lao friend in Fresno trains with Malaipet. "I train under Malaipet" are not words I hear frequently, jealous..

 

[tech9]

Hmm, if you're getting off at 6pm, one option is out the window (Team OC in Orange; their MT instructor, Randy, has trained at multiple camps in Thailand and is great pad holder; however, he only teaches from ~5:30 to 7pm and the classes tend to be small i.e. not much variety in partners). However, there is another good option: NHC Martial Arts in Los Alamitos has a good MT program; it's run by Sherdog's very own gear reviewer extraordinaire ClampXVII! I work out with him every so often and his sessions are always good, it's just that he's a little far distance-wise and my schedule is rather nebulous. Those are two gyms in the county that I've personally trained at that I can vouch for.

Not to be super creeper or anything, but I'd be down to check out some of the other gyms in the county, so hit me up if you wouldn't me rolling out with you. TBH, it's surprisingly hard to find good, authentic MT gyms in OC -- I still don't get why one of the Thai stadium veterans doesn't settle down and open a business: he'd make a killing!

Dang.. I wanted to try Team OC too. I prefer the small classes because the instructors typically pay more attention to their students. And Los Alamitos is wayyyy too far for me.

 

[Harukaze]

Dang.. I wanted to try Team OC too. I prefer the small classes because the instructors typically pay more attention to their students. And Los Alamitos is wayyyy too far for me.

Team OC is great is you have some foundation; Randy is great at pushing you on the pads and he has that distinctive Thai-style to the way he trains you. Shame that the time doesn't work for you; it doesn't work for me either, otherwise I'd still be there right now (close to home and GREAT pricing).

With how jacked up my schedule is now, I'll probably need to gym hunt to try to find a place that offers a good deal with a flexible class schedule -- 2 things that are usually mutually exclusive.

Let's keep each other posted on what we find!

 

[flamingredhead]

Not one word on kings mma? The place where Rafael Cordiero teaches??

 

[Harukaze]

Not one word on kings mma? The place where Rafael Cordiero teaches??

Not "real" Muay Thai.
Plus waaay too expensive for a brokeass (cheapass?) like me haha!

 

[flamingredhead]

Not "real" Muay Thai.
Plus waaay too expensive for a brokeass (cheapass?) like me haha!

I know man I was looking at the price $250 a month?!? Da fuq! Do you know if Oyama is a legit mma school too? This thread also peaks my interest as I will be visiting Costa mesa in May and probably moving there within 1-2 years.

 

[Paradigm]

Actually, I'm not sure! I'll be honest, I was just perpetuating a stereotype haha! :icon_chee

But your post actually makes a good point, the Thai guys in the States really are peripatetic. I heard Sit Rama Soon closed and I have no clue where the twins went. Malaipet wandered around a bunch before he finally settled down with a nice Laotian girl in Fresno LOL. BM, is he still in Pasadena? I don't even know anymore. :icon_conf On a broader scale, Sakmongkol disappeared for a bit after he left Zingano's, then all of the sudden months later he's back in Pattaya teaching the SINGLE Muay Thai class per day at the World Kumite Organization headquarters -- WTF haha!

he came to my gym one day with her...shes pretty hot haha

I know man I was looking at the price $250 a month?!? Da fuq! Do you know if Oyama is a legit mma school too? This thread also peaks my interest as I will be visiting Costa mesa in May and probably moving there within 1-2 years.

Team Oyama is where Ian McCall trains and Shane del Rosario used to train (RIP). Romie Adanza trains there as well.

Rampage used to train under Colin Oyama back in the day also during his Pride FC days.

Not one word on kings mma? The place where Rafael Cordiero teaches??

its not a traditional MT spot...go look up the history of Chute Boxe.

 

[Harukaze]

I know man I was looking at the price $250 a month?!? Da fuq! Do you know if Oyama is a legit mma school too? This thread also peaks my interest as I will be visiting Costa mesa in May and probably moving there within 1-2 years.

Oyama is... interesting. Sure, he's got Uncle Creepy and Romie Adanza, but that's not enough to sell me on his... "complicated" business practices. Generally speaking, it's not a place that ever really interested me, but I'm kind of a quirky Muay Thai practitioner versus the general MT population in Orange County.

 

[Paradigm]

Oyama is... interesting. Sure, he's got Uncle Creepy and Romie Adanza, but that's not enough to sell me on his... "complicated" business practices. Generally speaking, it's not a place that ever really interested me, but I'm kind of a quirky Muay Thai practitioner versus the general MT population in Orange County.

what does "complicated" businesss practices imply? Lloyd Irvin-ish behavior???