By Hansen Bay

Dropped by Sinbi Muay Thai during a short trip to Phuket last week.

Sinbi Taewoong is the Korean fighting name that Sing (born Thopadak Wanchalerm) uses when fighting in K-1. Sinbi means "mysterious" in Korean language and Taewoong is the name of the gym in Seoul, Korea whose owner brought him to fight in K-1. Sinbi is the head trainer and manager at SINBI MUAY THAI Camp.

Sing has got extensive experience in teaching foreign Muay Thai students, he worked in England, Korea, Australia and South Africa as a Muay Thai trainer and held seminars for students. He also worked in Thailand as a Muay Thai trainer for foreigners and Thai fighters for several years.

I have trained at most camps at Phuket while I was working as a divemaster there a few years back and was looking forward to an opportunity to train here as well. I was quite impressed with his fights in Korea that I saw on youtube.

It's a great training ground. My only complain is that it is not conviently located.(Then again so are most good stuff!) Sinbi had to pick me up from the nearby Rawai Gym himself as I lost my way trying to follow the so called "map" that i printed out from the web.

Unlike most gyms in Phuket which are usually dark and stale, Sinbi's refreshing as it is situated on a small knoll. The gym's one of the most spacious I have seen. It's high zinc roof allows for lots of sunshine and fresh air. Definitely a comfortable environment to train in.

Had a pad workout with Son and like most good Thai trainers, he corrects your fundamentals such as you fighting stance and how you should shift your weight when you are striking. Gosh! I didn't realize that I had forgotten so much of my basics!
Click on the image bellow to see the video clip:

Guys! This gym is worth your time. No slip-shot trainers here that teach you fanciful but "useless" stuff. You will get a good workout and get your fundamentals reinforced.