Q&A on Thailand

[Hagard]

Why on earth would you suggest teaching english or learning thai instead of getting two training sessions in a day and some fights?? Unless it's for budget reasons, but that's not what we're talking about.

I was talking long term here. I think it's a bad idea to spend weeks in Bangkok if you have never been before. Talk about hardcore training all you want, but everyone needs to unwind after a while and Phuket has beaches and activities in a much nicer setting than Bangkok.

Btw, to the other dude, what the fuck is wrong with teaching English (not that I have ever done it?). Are you aware that being a teacher is highly regarded job in Thailand. If not for young backpackers and the like, the English standard in rural Thailand and even Bangkok would be in the dump. English teachers in Thailand contribute ten times more to Thailand, than some wannabe fighters of whom 1 in a 100 ever fights and spends the rest of their time perpetuating the idea of the STUPID, drunk whoremongering farang.

 

[cali_chute_boxe]

Are you going to Sinbi? I'm there from Jan- sept.

No I will not be at Sinbi. I'll be in BKK for 5 weeks then heading home cause that is all the time I can spare at the moment.

 

[cali_chute_boxe]

Oh, I will be going to Fairtex Pattaya on that trip. I will be at Sinbi in July though.

I may make it back in August but I don't where be heading exactly other than Isaan. The wife wants to go see her family so I'm sure I'll be there for two weeks.

 

[Oeshon]

back in australia.

argh!

=(

thailand what have you doneeeeeeeeeee!

 

[Ron Powell Jr]

How long did you spend in Thailand Oeshon? Were you doing 2-a-days?

 

[Bryan Lee]

I was talking long term here. I think it's a bad idea to spend weeks in Bangkok if you have never been before. Talk about hardcore training all you want, but everyone needs to unwind after a while and Phuket has beaches and activities in a much nicer setting than Bangkok.

Btw, to the other dude, what the fuck is wrong with teaching English (not that I have ever done it?). Are you aware that being a teacher is highly regarded job in Thailand. If not for young backpackers and the like, the English standard in rural Thailand and even Bangkok would be in the dump. English teachers in Thailand contribute ten times more to Thailand, than some wannabe fighters of whom 1 in a 100 ever fights and spends the rest of their time perpetuating the idea of the STUPID, drunk whoremongering farang.

Evidently you do not know much about Thailand because you are pretty far off with your ideas. The very best Muay Thai Fighters all base out of Bangkok, there is more Muay Thai in Bangkok than any place in Thailand with Isaan coming in second. There are probably more fights in Isaan but its mostly kids and teenagers. The big show is Bangkok and only Bangkok.

Phuket is a beautiful place and a beautiful place to train at. If that's where a guy wants to train they should go for it but there is no reason to bitch about Bangkok just because you dont know much.

Its well known that English Teachers in Thailand are the lowest of the low. There are a few that are doing it for the right reasons but every time the FBI hauls some scumbag out of Thailand it turns out they were here teaching English. English teachers are in Thailand making money, not spending money like a boxing tourist who usually only stay a month or less, spend their money, then go home and make more money to come back.

One of my friends had a big blowout with some Christian Missionaries in Thailand. They were teaching the local kids English and he got very pissed off about it. He told them if they wanted to teach them something they should be teaching them to fix motorcycles or some kind of trade. By teaching them English they were just being set up to be sex workers because they did not have any skills, only English and their bodies.

 

[Bryan Lee]

I think -- though while inarguably a little more laid back -- the core training at Sinbi in Phuket is not all that different from the training I've personally experienced at Kaewsamrit and Jitti. Notice I didn't mention Tiger or Rawai though, because I most definitely think the training there is pretty poor (moreso at Tiger).

I can't speak for Fairtex Bangplee, but I will be at Fairtex Pattaya in February.

Also, don't underestimate the temptation a quick BTS or taxi ride to Cowboy or Nana presents: it can be far worse than anything in Phuket.

If you have a favorite gym I think that's great and you should recommend it. However bitching about Tiger in Phuket just because you dont know any better seems a little bit amateur. Ramazan was just down at Tiger and liked it, everybody I know that's been down there likes it.

YouTube - Ramazan "The Punisher" Ramazanov K-1 seminar at Tiger Muay Thai

You cannot go anywhere in Thailand without beer and hookers. You certainly dont need to go to Cowboy or Nana to screw up your training if that's what your in Thailand for. Phuket is only second to Pattaya as far as being a playground for drunk horny tourist. Bangkok on the other hand is a real city with a dark side. I recommend people dont drink in Thailand to avoid the nonsense, but few take that advice.

 

[Doughbelly]

One of my friends had a big blowout with some Christian Missionaries in Thailand. They were teaching the local kids English and he got very pissed off about it. He told them if they wanted to teach them something they should be teaching them to fix motorcycles or some kind of trade. By teaching them English they were just being set up to be sex workers because they did not have any skills, only English and their bodies.

The rest of your post was great.

Then you wrote this. Your friend made one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever read.

 

[gotobread]

If you have a favorite gym I think that's great and you should recommend it. However bitching about Tiger in Phuket just because you dont know any better seems a little bit amateur. Ramazan was just down at Tiger and liked it, everybody I know that's been down there likes it.

YouTube - Ramazan "The Punisher" Ramazanov K-1 seminar at Tiger Muay Thai

You cannot go anywhere in Thailand without beer and hookers. You certainly dont need to go to Cowboy or Nana to screw up your training if that's what your in Thailand for. Phuket is only second to Pattaya as far as being a playground for drunk horny tourist. Bangkok on the other hand is a real city with a dark side. I recommend people dont drink in Thailand to avoid the nonsense, but few take that advice.

Only I've trained at Tiger twice, on two separate occasions. I had a poor experience the first time, gave them the benefit of the doubt AND my money, and I actually thought my second experience was worse than the first. I know some people have enjoyed their time there, but I'm speaking from personal experience and I'm offering my opinion (rather diplomatically, I believe). What's so "amateur" about that? How many times have you personally been there?

And of course they're going to treat a pro fighter that's there, giving seminars much better than they're going to treat me or most other farang. Guys like Ramazan and other pro MT/MMA fighters don't go there because it's the best training facility available to them, and if you think that's the case, well then I dare to say you're a bit naive.

 

[Bryan Lee]

Only I've trained at Tiger twice, on two separate occasions. I had a poor experience the first time, gave them the benefit of the doubt AND my money, and I actually thought my second experience was worse than the first. I know some people have enjoyed their time there, but I'm speaking from personal experience and I'm offering my opinion (rather diplomatically, I believe). What's so "amateur" about that? How many times have you personally been there?

And of course they're going to treat a pro fighter that's there, giving seminars much better than they're going to treat me or most other farang. Guys like Ramazan and other pro MT/MMA fighters don't go there because it's the best training facility available to them, and if you think that's the case, well then I dare to say you're a bit naive.

Amateur as in Thailand has a very small community of westerners involved with Muay Thai and everybody knows each other. As a general rule nobody in the community makes negative comments about other peoples training facilities. If you had a problem there all you had to do was talk to Ray and get it taken care of.

You can make the accusation that Ramazan went there and got treated like a VIP or you could look at it this way. Ramazan went to Tiger and all the people that were training at Tiger got to work with Ramazan. Ray has had many top people coming down to train, often they give time to the students which is a huge bonus.

I have never been to Tiger. Ramazan was just there last week and came back to Bangkok and told everyone he liked it. In fact Ramazan was sparring with Tomas tonight training for a fight on the 16th in Bangkok. After sparring, Tomas called me up talking about Tiger, all good stuff.

 

[Bryan Lee]

The rest of your post was great.

Then you wrote this. Your friend made one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever read.

Maybe in your world but not this one. The man who said that has lived in Thailand more than twenty years and is very well respected by everyone here from governors to monks.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

...

 

[Doughbelly]

Maybe in your world but not this one. The man who said that has lived in Thailand more than twenty years and is very well respected by everyone here from governors to monks.

Your acquaintance's opinion carries no weight with me because it is still absurd.

Education is always an opportunity. The ability to speak English is a door opener the world over. English competency is almost a requisite for anyone who wants to better him or herself, particularly in developing countries.

The problem your friend brings up is not the teaching of English by Christian missionaries, but a matter of a problem with Thai society.

And BTW, regarding my "world," I live and work in countries that make Thailand look wealthy in comparison. In fact, Thailand is a regular vacation spot/medical evacuation hub for people like me because it's relatively well developed. The times I have worked in Thailand have been with and on behalf of non-Thais ethnics and/or refugees, who are of an even lower socioeconomic strata than the poorest Thais.

From my POV, it is your friend who has lost perspective if he believes English, not the Thai sex industry, is the problem.

 

[Bryan Lee]

Your acquaintance's opinion carries no weight with me because it is still absurd.

Education is always an opportunity. The ability to speak English is a door opener the world over. English competency is almost a requisite for anyone who wants to better him or herself, particularly in developing countries.

The problem your friend brings up is not the teaching of English by Christian missionaries, but a matter of a problem with Thai society.

And BTW, regarding my "world," I live and work in countries that make Thailand look wealthy in comparison. In fact, Thailand is a regular vacation spot/medical evacuation hub for people like me because it's relatively well developed. The times I have worked in Thailand have been with and on behalf of non-Thais ethnics and/or refugees, who are of an even lower socioeconomic strata than the poorest Thais.

From my POV, it is your friend who has lost perspective if he believes English, not the Thai sex industry, is the problem.

OK, No problem, you know better than me so you are welcome to fix Thai Society. I'm sure they will be interested in working with you on that.

 

[Doughbelly]

OK, No problem, you know better than me so you are welcome to fix Thai Society. I'm sure they will be interested in working with you on that.

If you don't think Thai civil society recognizes the problem of the tourist sex industry and isn't trying to alleviate the darker aspects, then maybe you should think again.

Changing societies is beyond my capabilities but pointing your finger at the wrong problem doesn't help, either. It usually makes things worse because you end up addressing the results instead of the actual issue.

 

[gotobread]

It's my opinion -- culled from multiple personal experiences -- and I stick to it; I didn't enjoy my time there. And rather than complain about my experiences (what would that net, exactly?), I simply took my business elsewhere.

 

[Zuskan]

Is anyone going to be at Kaewsamrit or Keatkhamtorn in July to September? I will most liklely hit up both these gyms since i have heard so much good things. For a month each, might have 1 fight while im there.

 

[radman]

Is anyone going to be at Kaewsamrit or Keatkhamtorn in July to September? I will most liklely hit up both these gyms since i have heard so much good things. For a month each, might have 1 fight while im there.

Thats awesome if you have time to train at both of those gyms! Glad to hear that. How many weeks in each gym?

 

[Zuskan]

Thats awesome if you have time to train at both of those gyms! Glad to hear that. How many weeks in each gym?

Depending, im most likely heading out once i graduate HS this year, so a solid month and a few days at each gym hopefully.

 

[Bryan Lee]

It's my opinion -- culled from multiple personal experiences -- and I stick to it; I didn't enjoy my time there. And rather than complain about my experiences (what would that net, exactly?), I simply took my business elsewhere.

If you had a problem at Tiger all you had to do was talk to Ray and get it fixed. He is such a good guy he would probably still talk to you even after what you have written here.