It’s been a while since I threw up an entry so I figured I should stop slacking and get on it. As I mentioned in a few other entries, I’ve been working like crazy trying to get other online businesses going so I can stay here for longer, keep this site going and who knows, maybe have the opportunity to go to Brazil next. The good news is that the other sites/books etc. are almost done so hopefully I’ll be able to shift my focus back to Fight Passport – since this site really is my “passion project”.
Anyway, I’m still training at Patong Boxing Gym and it’s going well. I feel as though I’m improving a lot here and lately, the atmosphere is changing and it’s changing for the better. The owner shut down her original location and all the trainers are now at the new camp in the hills. Most of them are still fighting professionally so not only am I getting trained by them, but I’m training with them as well. This, to me, is important since I find it very motivational.
When you’re running alone or with another foreigner, when you’re tired, you take a break. You’re not being judged so who cares, right? Well, when you’re running alongside a group of Thai fighters, you really don’t want to be the out of shape foreigner that can’t keep up so you tend to push yourself more. Running with them has been good for me since my cardio is terrible – which I really don’t understand considering how long I’ve been here. Actually, I think my problem is that when I’m doing pad-work, I focus too much on hitting the pads as hard as I can that I forget to breathe. I never thought that I’d actually have to think about breathing as it’s something that should just come naturally.
Anyway, what I’ve really been trying to work on lately is the multiple-kicks in succession. Up until about a month ago, I couldn’t do them at all. I’d try and I’d just lose my balance. Having gotten tired of seeing people being able to do it and not being able to do it myself, I told the trainer at the gym here in Patong that I wanted to focus on it and since then, I’ve been removing my gloves and dedicating a whole round to doing nothing but those kicks.
Here’s a video of me working on it. Actually, the video isn’t even that long and you’ll see that by the end of it I’m slower and I look really tired. See what I mean about the cardio? Have a look..
I’ll post another video in a couple weeks of me working on those kicks to see if there’s any improvement. And while I’m posting videos, you have to see these. Here’s some footage from a fight night that was held over at <a href=”http://fightpassport.com/muay-thai-training-journals/tiger-muay-thai-review/”>Tiger Muay Thai</a>. These particular videos feature Thai fighters – and top 10 ranked ones at that – fighting under MMA rules. I really hope MMA catches on here in Thailand because as we all already know, the Thai’s are incredible strikers. Add some wrestling and BJJ to that Muay Thai base and they could really shake up the lightweight divisions in MMA orgs.
I think it would be sick if Tiger took in a few youngsters and cross trained them in both Muay Thai and grappling. The Thai’s start training at such a young age here – and with such dedication – that they’d be incredible by the time they started competing.
Back to the training at Patong Boxing Gym. Here’s a video clip of the trainers/fighters doing some clinch work. There’s actually a gym down the road called “SingPatong” and every now and then, the owner will show up with one of his fighters and they’ll all do clinch-work together. They usually do this when one of the guys has a fight coming up (which is quite often actually) so they’ll have someone different to work with. Anyway, here’s the clip..
The guy you see in the black & white shorts is amazing. I’ve never seen anyone beat him in the clinch. He literally just throws everyone around – myself included – and I probably outweigh him by about 30 pounds. I’ll try and get some footage of the guy kicking the bag as well because it’s incredible to see. These Thai’s are so little yet so powerful. Seeing the amount of force that can be exerted by these tiny guys is really a testament to the effectiveness of Muay Thai as an art form.
On a different note, I have to leave the country (yet again) in a few weeks to apply for another tourist visa. Right now it’s a toss up between Cambodia and the Philippines although I really have to do some more research into it. Either way, both places are pretty appealing and would be cool to visit.
And as for the lady situation, I’ve actually been on my best behaviour despite the fact that I see hot Thai girls everywhere I look. I completely cut out drinking so I don’t even bother going clubbing and it’s weird but the more time I spend here, the more motivated I am to just work. I’ll go for a walk, the scene will be “bumpin”, everyone will be having fun and rather than joining in, I find that I just want to come back to my room and get some work done.
I’ve actually never been so motivated and it’s all due to the fact that I don’t ever want to have to leave this place. But I guess that’s what Thailand does to people. I’m certainly not the only foreigner that has fallen in love with this country..
That about wraps it up for now..
Oh, and about FEDOR/GSP and the STEELERS ..
I couldn’t be happier!!
THINKING OF GOING TO THAILAND TO TRAIN?
I’ve developed a 70 page guide that profiles everything you need to know about training in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. In the manual, I discuss the visa issues, the Muay Thai camps, the different areas, the transportation, the food, the culture and customs, the girls, the scams, the safety issues and most importantly, how to save a ton of cash along the way!
Nice post man, kicks look solid, Patong is at the top of my list for gyms I want to check out if I ever make it out there, good work!
Great post. Funny that you mention making a trip to get another visa. I have been on the phone all afternoon trying to get a 1 year visa from Canada. Everywhere I called said no. It sounds like Toronto might be my best bet so I’ll give it a try and worst case get a 3 month one.
Have any tips on the visa front? Who did you put as your guarantor in thailand?
And thanks for the posts. Still check everyday for the updates!
Shaun,
I got my first visa from the Thai embassy in Ottawa before I came.
I went in with all my information (letter from the camp, school registration etc.) and I told the lady that I was planning on living and training in Thailand until May, 09.
She said it wouldn’t be a problem and processed my visa that very day. It was only when I arrived here that I looked at it carefully and realized that she had given me a “non immigrant type o visa” .. a “single entry” one which was only good for 3 months.
I SHOULD have gotten a 1 year “ED” visa! I contacted the embassy in Ottawa and they responded by saying that they “don’t give out visas longer than 3 months”..
So that’s why I’m in the situation that I’m in. Luckily, if you’re unable to get an “ED” visa before you come, you still have options.
When your visa expires, you have to leave the country but you don’t have to return to your HOME country. You can simply visit a Thai embassy in a bordering country and apply for a NEW tourist visa.
At the moment, there’s no limit to how many times you’re allowed to do this although things on the visa-front are changing. Whether or not you get your visa also depends on the mood of the immigration officer you’re dealing with at the time.
It used to be that people could just go a border run and get an entry stamp every month. The Thai gov. then limited the amount of visa-exemptation stamps that someone could get to 3 within a 6 month time frame.
They have changed it yet again and now those visa exemptation stamps are only valid for 15 days (if you re-enter Thailand by land) and it’s still 30 days if you fly back in.
The one good thing about the change is that there is no longer a limit to how often someone can do this so for people with money, they can just keep leaving and re-entering each month providing they fly back in.
How long are you planning on staying for?
If you can’t get an ED visa, you’re best option might be to enter with a non-immigrant type 0 visa which will be good for the first 3 months. At which point, you can take a trip to a nearby embassy and get yourself a multi-entry tourist visa (which would get you another 6 months) or even if you just keep getting tourist visas every 3 months, that may also keep you in the country.
My visa expires on the 18th of Feb. so I’ll let you know how things go this time. I always get so nervous when it comes time to do this .. ugh ..
Anyway, go to http://www.ThaiVisa.com, do some research and ask questions. I find that the members there are VERY helpful and everytime I post a question, I have a few answers within 10 minutes or so ..
Bill
Bill, thanks for the detailed response!
I called the consulates in Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa and was told by all three that I cant get a 1 year visa, only a 3 month. I then called Toronto and he said “sure!” I said I had an invitation and business letter from a gym and that I needed a 1 year ED visa and he said absolutely and just told me to send him everything. I just sent out everything today but am still a little skeptical. We’ll see how it turns out.
I have been on thaivisa.com and agree that they are very helpful. I even saw some of your old posts while searching for experiences similar to mine.
Worst case I still have time that if it gets rejected I’ll still be able to get a 3 month visa from Edmonton. But it’s good to know that there are still options if it turns out I cant get a 1 year visa.
I booked my one-way ticket and get in to Phuket on Sat, March 21. Thinking of starting at Tiger and seeing how I like it. Will definitely move around from there. Worst case I have until October. I have a couple rental properties and both leases are up at the end of the year. If I have to find new renters I should come home. If not, I can stay longer. Also want to travel around to at least Vietnam and Nepal while I’m over there but have nothing booked so will take it as it comes.
Thanks again for the blog and if you happen to be around Tiger when I get there we’ll have to get together for a beer. Will definitely be taking my laptop so will still be checking in here and even considering starting my own (less professional of course, lol). Would be cool to hear about your experiences and contacts north of Phuket.
Shaun
i got a question is muay thai and muay thai kickboxing the samething or r they differnt cause i want 2 train