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Hello everyone,
First off, a little background. I'm an amateur MMA fighter, just had my first tournament a month ago. I finished first, yay
had about one year of boxing experience and almost a year of kickboxing before taking up MMA last year. Also dabbled a bit in judo a while back.
I know there are a few threads on this, but none provided enough information...
I've decided to spend most of this summer training in Phuket. I'm planning on taking Muay Thai, BJJ and MMA classes during my time there, which is hopefully going to be about 1-2 months.
(I know, I know; why go to Thailand for BJJ? Well, I live in Europe... Eastern Europe at that... BJJ as a whole here SUCKS, so these three gyms are a great opportunity for some legit grappling training).
I'm going to be taking the training seriously, training 2-3 times a day, no drinking or partying. I really want to step up my game.
I've narrowed down my options to Phuket Top Team, Tiger Muay Thai and AKA Thailand. Thing is, I'm not sure which one to go to. Yes, yes, I know I can just go there, pay for a day's training and check each place out (and I will do that when the time comes), but right now I'm interested in first hand experiences of these gyms from you guys (or stories you heard from friends who went there). The more recent the info, the better , as these gyms are always changing and renovating.
Here's the dilemma:
The first idea I had was to go straight to Tiger. My reasoning behind this was simple; it was the biggest, best equipped and best-looking gym in Phuket, so naturally they had to be doing something right. The MT trainer team looked great, GSP training there really won me over, and UFC veteran Roger Huerta leading the MMA training was awesome news. As time went on, I looked into reviews on it, and they were very mixed. Some said it was mostly for tourists looking to lose weight, others that it was overcrowded and the only way to get attention was to pay for 1-on-1s (I never trained in Muay Thai and will probably need some instruction on the basic level). I didn't like this image much. I want to go there and work hard and improve, not lose weight or be another face in the crowd that none of the trainers care about.
Next came the idea of PTT. The much smaller rival of Tiger. Despite the cheap-looking website and lack of UFC veteran trainers like Huerta at Tiger or Swick at AKA, they supposedly have a great MT team and an amazing BJJ instructor and, unlike Tiger, it's classes were limited to 80 people (compared to Tiger's 400) and mixed in level, so I'd get to spar with high level guys. All's good... except... I stumble upon this review of a guy going there and being allegedly threatened of going to jail by the owner's wife (who runs the reception). I also read in a couple of other places that said wife has, in the past, "pulled a gun" on trainers/clients (!?) and has contacts in the police, so she does whatever she wants. While it sounds far-fetched, I absolutely don't want to risk it... That put me off of PTT, sadly. It's still an option, just not a no-brainer like it would've been.
Finally, Mike Swick's American Kickboxing Academy (AKA Thailand), a world-renowned brand whose original branch in the US has produced three UFC Champions and a couple of top-level contenders. When I came across this, I thought I had found the answer. Brand new gym, great trainers across all styles, decent prices. Only problem: it's in Rawai, towards the center of the island, in the sticks and far from everywhere. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but the lack of on-site accomodation is. Supposedly, they're building rooms right now, but I don't know how long it will be until they're ready. The closest apartments and hotels that suit my budget are 2 km or so away, and I don't have a drivers license and can't hire a scooter (even if I could, I wouldn't because of they way the locals drive. Way I hear it, accidents happen daily.) Also, living on-site will be an additional stimulus for me to train each and every day. So this is what put me off AKA.
TLR;
All three have their pros and cons.
Tiger is big and well-known, but I fear it will be crowded and I won't receive enough attention. The clientele also apparently consists of beginners who train to "get fit" and the classes sadly cater to them.
PTT is the opposite; small classes, popular among serious fighters, but the things I'm hearing about the management and, more specifically, the owner's wife are worrying me.
AKA is the perfect gym, but the lack of on-site accomodation, combined with it's isolated location make it all but impossible for me to train there.
Again, I'm mostly interested in first hand experiences or stories you heard from acquaintances. How was the training, how were you treated, were there any problems, what were the people at the gym like, did you improve, would you recommend it? Feel free to get into details. How was your stay aside from training, etc.
It's my first time in Thailand so any info is appreciated. Also, when is it low season in Phuket?
Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post
First off, a little background. I'm an amateur MMA fighter, just had my first tournament a month ago. I finished first, yay
had about one year of boxing experience and almost a year of kickboxing before taking up MMA last year. Also dabbled a bit in judo a while back.I know there are a few threads on this, but none provided enough information...
I've decided to spend most of this summer training in Phuket. I'm planning on taking Muay Thai, BJJ and MMA classes during my time there, which is hopefully going to be about 1-2 months.
(I know, I know; why go to Thailand for BJJ? Well, I live in Europe... Eastern Europe at that... BJJ as a whole here SUCKS, so these three gyms are a great opportunity for some legit grappling training).
I'm going to be taking the training seriously, training 2-3 times a day, no drinking or partying. I really want to step up my game.
I've narrowed down my options to Phuket Top Team, Tiger Muay Thai and AKA Thailand. Thing is, I'm not sure which one to go to. Yes, yes, I know I can just go there, pay for a day's training and check each place out (and I will do that when the time comes), but right now I'm interested in first hand experiences of these gyms from you guys (or stories you heard from friends who went there). The more recent the info, the better , as these gyms are always changing and renovating.
Here's the dilemma:
The first idea I had was to go straight to Tiger. My reasoning behind this was simple; it was the biggest, best equipped and best-looking gym in Phuket, so naturally they had to be doing something right. The MT trainer team looked great, GSP training there really won me over, and UFC veteran Roger Huerta leading the MMA training was awesome news. As time went on, I looked into reviews on it, and they were very mixed. Some said it was mostly for tourists looking to lose weight, others that it was overcrowded and the only way to get attention was to pay for 1-on-1s (I never trained in Muay Thai and will probably need some instruction on the basic level). I didn't like this image much. I want to go there and work hard and improve, not lose weight or be another face in the crowd that none of the trainers care about.
Next came the idea of PTT. The much smaller rival of Tiger. Despite the cheap-looking website and lack of UFC veteran trainers like Huerta at Tiger or Swick at AKA, they supposedly have a great MT team and an amazing BJJ instructor and, unlike Tiger, it's classes were limited to 80 people (compared to Tiger's 400) and mixed in level, so I'd get to spar with high level guys. All's good... except... I stumble upon this review of a guy going there and being allegedly threatened of going to jail by the owner's wife (who runs the reception). I also read in a couple of other places that said wife has, in the past, "pulled a gun" on trainers/clients (!?) and has contacts in the police, so she does whatever she wants. While it sounds far-fetched, I absolutely don't want to risk it... That put me off of PTT, sadly. It's still an option, just not a no-brainer like it would've been.
Finally, Mike Swick's American Kickboxing Academy (AKA Thailand), a world-renowned brand whose original branch in the US has produced three UFC Champions and a couple of top-level contenders. When I came across this, I thought I had found the answer. Brand new gym, great trainers across all styles, decent prices. Only problem: it's in Rawai, towards the center of the island, in the sticks and far from everywhere. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but the lack of on-site accomodation is. Supposedly, they're building rooms right now, but I don't know how long it will be until they're ready. The closest apartments and hotels that suit my budget are 2 km or so away, and I don't have a drivers license and can't hire a scooter (even if I could, I wouldn't because of they way the locals drive. Way I hear it, accidents happen daily.) Also, living on-site will be an additional stimulus for me to train each and every day. So this is what put me off AKA.
TL
R;All three have their pros and cons.
Tiger is big and well-known, but I fear it will be crowded and I won't receive enough attention. The clientele also apparently consists of beginners who train to "get fit" and the classes sadly cater to them.
PTT is the opposite; small classes, popular among serious fighters, but the things I'm hearing about the management and, more specifically, the owner's wife are worrying me.
AKA is the perfect gym, but the lack of on-site accomodation, combined with it's isolated location make it all but impossible for me to train there.
Again, I'm mostly interested in first hand experiences or stories you heard from acquaintances. How was the training, how were you treated, were there any problems, what were the people at the gym like, did you improve, would you recommend it? Feel free to get into details. How was your stay aside from training, etc.
It's my first time in Thailand so any info is appreciated. Also, when is it low season in Phuket?
Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post
