Muay Thai: My First Authentic Time Training in Thailand
This essay was originally published on September 10, on my previous travel blog, Travel Creecher.
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When I visited Phuket in April, I went to my first Muay Thai gym in Thailand. I took one intermediate-level Muay Thai class at the world-renowned MMA gym, Tiger Muay Thai. Since that time, I have attended a handful of other classes at a few other Muay Thai gyms in Phuket. It’s great to learn technique from Thai trainers, broaden my martial arts knowledge, and immerse myself in authentic Thai culture by participating in their brutally tough national sport. However, my Muay Thai experience in Thailand did not start at a gym with trainers. It all started at my school with students. And that was really an authentic Thai cultural experience.
First Week, First Fight
I didn’t teach during my first week at my school in Kalasin. Students had midterm exams, so I had time to settle in and familiarize myself. I spent most of my days outside on campus, letting students talk to me according to their own curiosity. I had my frisbee ready and taught some students how to play since many had never played frisbee before.
One afternoon, some students were curious about my frisbee and we started to play together. After some time, we stopped and they brought out their phones to ask me questions via Google Translate. They asked a handful of typical questions, including my hobbies. I told them I wrestled but wanted to learn Muay Thai. I heard some of the students at the school were the best in the province, so I asked them if any of them did Muay Thai. Sure enough, one of the best nak muay in the school was sitting right in front of me.
Thrilled upon my luck, I asked him if he wanted to spar. He hesitated at first, but all his friends egged him on and laughed at my eager enthusiasm. He caved to the idea and agreed to meet me in the gym after school. They made their way back to class, and I made my way to my house. I changed my clothes, grabbed my gloves, and prepared myself for my first-ever Muay Thai training session in Thailand.
The Muay Thai Session
I showed up at the gym at 3 PM with my gloves in hand. Many students in the gym began to stare at me, most likely because I was the new foreign English teacher, had Muay Thai gloves with me, and wore shorts (which teachers never wear at school). When the nak muay student arrived a few minutes later with his gloves, then people really started watching.
We started off hitting pads and a crowd slowly formed. I am still very amateur at Muay Thai, but I am sure the fact that I, the new English teacher from America, was hitting pads in the gym even before my first class started, must have made a unique impression. When the nak muay student hit pads, even more students started watching, probably from his sheer talent and loud smacks when his leg connected with the pads.
After we warmed up, I asked if he wanted to spar. He hesitantly agreed and we started going at it. Except, it was more me going at it and him blocking everything. He hardly threw any punches back and played defense the whole time. After a few rounds, I was gassed out while he hardly broke a sweat. He had to leave shortly after, so I thanked him for his time, and we parted ways.
In hindsight, it was obvious that he didn’t really want to spar me. I’m sure the last thing he wanted to do was hurt me and knowing how amateur I am compared to him, it probably seemed unjust for him to make a fool out of me in front of all the students watching. Regardless, it was still a blast to try some Muay Thai with a native Thai, a respected local fighter, and my very own student.
Continuing My Muay Thai Training
Following my debut at school as a Muay Thai enthusiast, I naturally gained more opportunities to continue to practice. A few other students of mine began helping me after school a couple of times a week. They held pads for me, fixed my technique, and even sparred with me (really this time). And since we could not communicate with words, I learned all by showing, not telling. In reciprocation for their teaching, I taught them some wrestling and jiu-jitsu, which they enjoyed learning for the first time.
Unfortunately, my run at the “Yang Talad School of Muay Thai” (so I call it) came to a close with the start of online teaching. I have not trained with the students in months, and with my program ending in a few weeks, I probably never will again.
Of course, this will not be the end of my Muay Thai career. I still hope to train at other gyms in Thailand and soak up as much knowledge as possible. Ideally, I would like to one day even compete, whether that be in Thailand or back home in the States. But wherever my Muay Thai journey takes me, I will always remember that fateful day when I trained for the first time in Thailand with my very own students.
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Published at https://kylecreech.com on September 20, 2021.
