Q&A on Thailand

[pliftkl]

Do you need a special visa to go from the usa?? If so, how do you get it?

As FF mentions, the default US visa is 30 days (meaning, you don't have to apply, and this is stamped in your passport on arrival). If you want to stay a little bit longer and avoid the hassle of a visa run, you can get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai embassy/consulate.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Tourist.aspx

(Note that the Thai embassy webpage misbehaves under some non-IE browsers)

I've been told, but have not personally confirmed, that these 60 day visas can be extended for an additional 30 days while in Thailand.

 

[Haider Qayyum]

As FF mentions, the default US visa is 30 days (meaning, you don't have to apply, and this is stamped in your passport on arrival). If you want to stay a little bit longer and avoid the hassle of a visa run, you can get a 60 day tourist visa from the Thai embassy/consulate.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Tourist.aspx

(Note that the Thai embassy webpage misbehaves under some non-IE browsers)

I've been told, but have not personally confirmed, that these 60 day visas can be extended for an additional 30 days while in Thailand.

They can be extended in Thailand, you're correct. Same applies to 90 day visas.

 

[Josh Nordin]

It used to be that you could have unlimited visa runs (that's what I did) but I think they've changed the law now. I think you can only get on "visa run" type renewal. However, I've heard that you can get a student visa to Thailand if you are there to learn Muay Thai. Those last 6 months I believe and you can get longer.

 

[Haider Qayyum]

It used to be that you could have unlimited visa runs (that's what I did) but I think they've changed the law now. I think you can only get on "visa run" type renewal. However, I've heard that you can get a student visa to Thailand if you are there to learn Muay Thai. Those last 6 months I believe and you can get longer.

Yeah you can still have unlimited visa runs, the only problem is that you have to do two a month which gets ridiculously annoying and thats time and money lost...so yeah the visas are a much better option at least now that the visa run renewal is cut down to 15 days from 30.

 

[gotobread]

Who are these "world class grapplers" at Tiger?

Training MMA in Thailand is an enormous waste of your time and money.

 

[Haider Qayyum]

Who are these "world class grapplers" at Tiger?

Training MMA in Thailand is an enormous waste of your time and money.

Tony Eduardo was here for a long ass time. He's a third stripe Gracie Barra blackbelt who is well known in BJJ circles. Ray Elbe, whatever you may think of him personally, is a high level grappler and has the credentials. Thomas Kenney was here as a guest instructor.

Oh and Tiger Muay Thai has partnered with the Lotus Club ( BJJ people should know what I'm talking about ) so there are Blackbelt instructors coming in and out of the facility at a feverish pace.

I'm not saying you should come to Thailand solely to train MMA. All I was saying was that if you get the chance to keep your submission grappling sharp all the while improving your Muay Thai, I don't see why you wouldn't jump on the opportunity for minimal costs.

Any way, everyone else here must be right because that's how Sherdog works.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

Being a black belt doesn't make someone world class. You would need to place in Mundials, ADCC, Pan Ams, ect...

 

[Haider Qayyum]

Being a black belt doesn't make someone world class. You would need to place in Mundials, ADCC, Pan Ams, ect...

I don't know of any sources to look up grappling records but I know Elbe has placed in Abu Dhabi, Tony has in the mundials and is competing in the worlds.


I'm no jits expert though.

 

[gotobread]

I didn't realize that he had competed in ADCC. That's definitely an accomplishment, so I'll give credit where credit is due. Before that, the only time I had heard is name is when people talked about that video of him throwing up on someone that was included on one of the 101 Submissions DVDs.

The last time I was at Tiger -- in October of 2008 -- the grappling class was held at the same time as one of the muay Thai classes, so by partaking in the grappling class, you'd be missing a chance to train muay Thai. Is that still correct?

 

[Haider Qayyum]

I didn't realize that he had competed in ADCC. That's definitely an accomplishment, so I'll give credit where credit is due. Before that, the only time I had heard is name is when people talked about that video of him throwing up on someone that was included on one of the 101 Submissions DVDs.

The last time I was at Tiger -- in October of 2008 -- the grappling class was held at the same time as one of the muay Thai classes, so by partaking in the grappling class, you'd be missing a chance to train muay Thai. Is that still correct?

Yeah man, morning Muay Thai is at the same time as morning grappling but afternoon MMA include padwork with the Muay Thai trainers and is essentially a Muay Thai session with integration of those and other techniques into MMA.

Are you coming back any time soon?

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

The ADCC event Ray competed in is not the ADCC world championships you are thinking of. It was a gi event.

Still a good win, but not the ADCC

 

[gotobread]

Yeah man, morning Muay Thai is at the same time as morning grappling but afternoon MMA include padwork with the Muay Thai trainers and is essentially a Muay Thai session with integration of those and other techniques into MMA.

Are you coming back any time soon?

To Phuket, yes, but not to Tiger and certainly not to grapple. I train under Wilson Reis and Jared Weiner here at home.

 

[steppingrazor]

why would you go all the way to thailand to train in mma? thats like going to japan to learn taekwondo. if i was in thailand, id concentrate on muay thai. brazil for bjj, usa for mma, etc.

ive never been out the u.s. dude, im 23 years old. so i get a chance to travel and train for less than living in the u.s. for 3 months and i shouldnt take it? besides even if im getting the best training there is here in the states, which im not. i would still have the chance to train with a whole new set of people. i have been training with the same few guys since i started. i dont see in any way how this could be a bad idea

not to mention i wont have work to worry about or anything else, i can train 110% for 3 months, regardless of whether or not the training is better, if im able to put that much energy into it i will come out a better fighter, have the chance to travel and do so for hella f*ckin cheap, sounds win win to me

 

[Payak]

im leaving the 20th and will be at tiger muay thai for 3 months, does this seem a little long for a first visit? i will do it regardless but im still curious.



im bringing a bunch of shit to entertain myself. lap top, ipod, xbox 360 etc etc. how safe is my shit going to be if left in my room? any tips on keeping shit safe?

whats the atmospher like at the gyms ad around town? im a nice guy, super respectful and friendly to all so long as its returned, i fuckin hate tough guys and douche bags. i know like anywhere else there is going to be a mix but in general what are your experiances with this?


hat can i rent for travel? such as scooters, motor bikes etc and any average prices would be apreciated..

i had a friend who had a playstation stolen from his room, it was from one of mike zambedis recent victims, i was so happy to see mike whip his ass.
i wont say who stole it, but let's just say he was born in the middle east.

as for tough guys and douche bags, personalities in camp a many and varied, most guys are great however. you will find like minded guys to hang with.

 

[steppingrazor]

^ thanks for your response payak. I'm sure i just need to be responsible with my stuff as if i were anywhere else. dont leave things layin around and keep my doors locked. I'm glad you feel for the most part there will be some decent people there as well

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

There are over 100 other foreigners at that camp, I'm sure you will find someone to get along with.

 

[gotobread]

What kind of ding-dong brings their XBox 360 to Thailand? Go to a temple or the beach or something. Go outside and explore.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

Pay sea gypsy to take you to one of the islands for the day and chill on your own beach!

 

[Haider Qayyum]

Haha. Imagine people playing more Undisputed on their Xbox than actually training. Not saying thats what you'll do , just saying I can see it happening.

 

[gotobread]

But do the islands have wi-fi?