ya know, i have this dream too but i'll have to see how circumstances pan out in my life. things have gotten a little more exciting these past few months for me, heh heh.

Would love if anyone could highlight the good points or their bad points of staying in Tiger Muay thai...if anyone has been there before...The things I like best from reading the website is the training, trainers, padded flooring(apparently quite rare in Phuket, cheaper equipment and size of the camp)...

Gascoigne

I've tried to answer your post as best I can.
Perhaps the real test of a gym's worth is, would I go back?
Yes, without a doubt.
I tried to give it some kind of balance, so some of the bad points I've mentioned are views that other people expressed to me.
You get out of training what you put in.
I trained very hard for 2 weeks, lost a few kgs, put on some much-needed muscle, sorted out my kicks, and made some good friends.

Good points
* Big, 3 rings for different levels of ability
* Plenty of Thai instructors (Kru), most of them are very friendly
* Padwork with the trainers is very good
* Can do 1-1 training if you want outside of class times
* Training is hard, and long (approx 2.5 hours x 2 each day (8am - 10.30-11am and 4pm - 6.30-7pm)
* There's a routine. eg Boxing sparring 2 x mornings (Mon & Weds) and MT sparring 2 x evenings (Mon & Weds) - I think
* Some people stay for a few weeks/months, so you can get to know them
* If you train every session even if just for a week, your body will be transformed
* finish off each session with 200 x sit-ups
* there's a snack bar (Tiger Grill) on-site, and you can get drinks etc..
* There's a shop on-site which sells a good range MT gear, including Tiger Muay Thai t-shirts & vests
* Very reasonably priced if you pay for the month, fairly reasonable if you pay by the week.
* There's MMA there too, and the trainer knows his stuff, especially on the grappling side
("Magical" Ray Elbe)
* You can spar with some of the Thai trainers, and most have very good control
* you don't have to stay there. You can get very good accommodation with pool, fridge, aircon, cable TV for 18,000 baht/month elsewhere
* lots of small Thai-run places to eat at near the camp which are very cheap
Eg. Mammas, 40 baht for rice + whatever
* There are some really good guys going there for training, both in terms of ability and friendliness
(Oops, guys and gals too)
* You don't have to be a serious fighter to enjoy the training, but remember that some Nak Muay go there and intend to get a few fights while they're there.
* the padded floor, which means you're not training on concrete
* It's quite far from the distractions of Phuket nightlife (Patong beach)
* If you really want entertainment, you can still go to Rawai (15 mins) or Chalong (5 mins) by bike
(bars etc...)
.
.
.

* Mac, supposedly the best teacher there, only teaches the beginners
* 1-1 isn't cheap (but then, the same goes for anywhere else too)
* The 1st 30 mins of training is skipping. Just arrive and do it with your group - last few to arrive get the heavy ropes which really hurt your feet if you hit them
* Some people just do a few sessions, and you might not see them again
* Some lazy people just drift in and out of the sessions. Eg, a few miss out the skipping altogether
* sometimes it feels as if there isn't enough sparring
* The on-site shop isn't cheap. You can get stuff cheaper if you go into Phuket town, at a sports shop near Ocean Park, which is beside Robinsons
* Annoying if you pay for the month, then get injured
* Accommodation is pretty basic, and only gets cleaned 2 x week.
* Sometimes it feels as if there isn't enough space to do your thing
* the padded floor - I saw 2 guys who had problems with their feet getting ripped to shreds, so toughen up the soles of your feet before you go.

wow man...this is the best reply i have gotten and itz totally what i'm looking for...and thanks abt the bit of the cheaper sports shop near Ocean park...when I go, I'm planning to travel as light as possible and buy the stuff there..

ok I will pray i don't get injured when I pay for a month and hope that I push as hard as i can for the training (LOL 200 sit-ups for warm down is exciting)

Thanks alot for taking the time to write the detailed description of Tiger Muay Thai..I would definitely be going there next year.

Chok Dee
Josiah

i think it's a great idea to have the best teacher teach the beginners. that way, the beginners can be assured to have a good foundation before they move up. the other teachers actually have their work cut out.

Been into watching mma and muay thai for a few years now, never actually done it though, tiger has been reccomended quite a few times so thought why not, hoping to go out in mid may so probs gonna see ya out there.

Hey Guys,

I recently got back from a month of training in Thailand at Phuket MMA/Tiger Muay Thai. It is the camp that Season 9 TUF Contestant Ray Elbe is the head MMA trainer at.

Anyway, here is my review of the camp. You can check it out at www.dansmuaythaimma.com
Hope you enjoy it.

Dan

Hey, this place looks and sounds great and i plan to go sometime next year. When would be the best time to go? Like, if there are special events certain months. I plan to go for a 2-3 month period. Any special months that are great for training with lots of people?

Mike

There will be people there year round, but the high season is between September and March. It gets pretty hot starting in Feb/March. The best time for heat and lack of rain is Nov to early Feb.

You won't get any discounts unless you pay for training all at once, but I don't recommend that because if you get hurt you are screwed. I recommend paying for your training 1/3 at a time. So if you are going for 1 month, than pay week to week, if you are going for 3 months, pay only 1 month at a time.

I hope you have a great time. If you have any other questions, message me or visit my website. Thanks.

Dan

I've recently been to Tiger Muay Thai... review here: http://martialartstalk.co.uk/?p=15