Many people come from all over the world to Thailand to train in Muay Thai. While everyone has their own reasons for coming to a gym, I believe that most of those who make the journey to Thailand are hoping to improve their skills, even if just a little. Thailand is home to countless Muay Thai gyms, both large and small. But to be honest, very few of these gyms are truly worthwhile.
At our gym, we often encounter people who say, "I've trained at such-and-such famous gym in Bangkok or Phuket," or "I have X years of experience in Muay Thai or kickboxing," or "I'm already at an intermediate level." However, to be perfectly frank, most of these individuals are still at a beginner level. You can tell within 30 seconds of watching someone shadowbox what their true level is. Every time I see this, I can't help but think that the gyms they've trained at haven't properly taught them the basics. It’s truly disappointing.
Most people who practice Muay Thai or kickboxing think they know what they’re doing. They assume they can throw punches and kicks just because they know the movements. But the truth is, they’re simply relying on brute force without understanding the mechanics behind these techniques. They don't even have a solid grasp of the fundamentals. They mistakenly believe that as long as they throw punches or kicks with all their strength at the pads the trainer is holding, they’re doing it right.
Of course, I’m not saying that practicing martial arts for fitness and stress relief is a bad thing. But for those who want to upgrade from the level of boxercise or basic exercise, who aspire to spar with others or even compete in the future, the current approach just won’t cut it. While individual skill levels certainly vary, I believe the responsibility also lies with the gyms. There are many gyms that only teach the bare minimum, just enough to keep customers satisfied and collect their money. You could spend three months training at a gym in Thailand and come away with nothing. What’s the point of paying for Muay Thai training if you’re just moving around for three minutes with terrible technique? Isn’t that just three minutes of cardio?
The worst part is that, like in golf, once you develop bad habits, they’re almost impossible to correct. For instance, many people drop their hand for just a moment when throwing a jab. Or they throw a "telegraph punch" by pulling their arm back before throwing a straight punch. There are also many who can't even throw a proper hook. And when it comes to kicks, it’s almost hopeless. Even someone who claims to have five years of Muay Thai experience often kicks like a complete novice. Fixing these bad habits is incredibly challenging.
At The Camp Muay Thai Academy, we teach the fundamentals with precision, even for those training for fitness purposes. It’s important to master efficient and beautiful body movements that make full use of your core, rather than relying on brute strength in your arms for punches or in your legs for kicks. Only by mastering these basics can you truly say that you've come to Thailand to train in Muay Thai.
But we don’t teach anything special—we just focus relentlessly on the basics, teaching the body’s mechanics in a logical and scientific manner. Our approach is entirely different from other gyms that just go through the motions. For example, if a professional fighter or someone aspiring to compete can’t throw a proper jab, we’ll have them practice jabs over and over for days, weeks, or even months. If they can’t throw a decent knee strike, they’ll practice more than 1,000 knee strikes a day. If their middle kick is lacking, they might practice 1,000 kicks on each side, totaling 2,000 kicks in a day. If their defense is poor, they’ll pair up with a trainer and do nothing but practice defense and counterattacks, repeating the drills over and over. These basic techniques can't be mastered in a single day, so students often repeat the same drills for days on end. It’s monotonous and tedious work, but without this intense focus on correcting technique, bad habits can’t be broken.
That’s why our gym’s training is drill-focused. We have students repeat the same movements over and over until they’re ingrained in their bodies. We don’t do meaningless pad work just to get your heart rate up; every pad session has a specific purpose. Whether it’s pad work focused on counterattacks after a strike, footwork, or speed, each session is designed with a clear goal in mind. Even in sparring, full sparring often leads to unnecessary damage and can turn into a contest of strength rather than a focus on technique. To avoid this, we usually conduct limited sparring that focuses on specific techniques.
Of course, the training menu varies for each individual depending on their skill level and progress in mastering techniques. I won’t go into more detail here, but at The Camp Muay Thai Academy, we are more committed to teaching the basics and refining techniques than any other gym in Thailand. If you start with a solid foundation, your progress will be faster.
Even if you are a complete beginner, don't worry, we will teach you the basics thoroughly. Our fundamentals focused approach is perfect for those serious about improving. Looking forward to seeing you soon !
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