So I’ve been here for about a week now and I’ve enjoyed myself. Spent a lot of money, yes… but that’s alright in small doses. From this point on it’s time to cut out the drinking and nightly gogo bar visits and focus on my training. Actually, that’s not true. I’m still going to go to the gogos. Who am I kidding? Walking street is like a magnet and honestly, I can’t seem to stay away. I’ll just make the switch from Thai whiskey to orange juice and water.
So what better way to start things off and settle into a serious training groove than a visit to Sityodtong? Sityodtong is one camp that I was really looking forward to visiting just based on its reputation for producing quality fighters. The Sityodtong camp is what a Muay Thai camp should be. It’s far away from the madness of central Pattaya and the environment allows you to completely immerse yourself into the training.
As I arrived, I was welcomed by the thunderous sound of a shin hitting the heavy bag. Unfortunately, the battery in my camera ran out a little prematurely so the noise coming from the stable to the right wasn’t captured. Anyway, check it out, my arrival to Sityodtong…
Immediately upon arrival, I was greeted by a trainer I had seen in a few youtube videos. “You come for training? Ok, I train you” he said. He said his name was Paul but I’m pretty sure that’s just the name he gives to foreigners as they think it’s easier for us to remember. It’s like bargirls telling foreigners their name is “Ice”.
I started with the usual skipping. I asked how long I should skip for and my response was what seems to be the slogan of Thailand – “up to you”. So after about 20 minutes or so of skipping and some light stretches, I was ready to begin my pad-work. I grabbed my hand-wraps but Paul insisted that he do it for me. He had a unique way of doing it as I had never seen his method before. The finished product felt awesome though. It felt like I could punch threw a wall without hurting my hand. I’ll try to record it next time so you guys can see the wrapping technique he uses.
During the pad-work, he simulated things in a way that resembled a real fight (which is what a good pad-holder is supposed to do). Overall, I was really impressed with the place. There’s something about training in such a prestigious gym that’s really motivating. On another note, I should mention that before going to Sityodtong, I popped a couple Beta-Alanine pills for the first time. I noticed a difference for sure. I still couldn’t complete all the rounds at a fast pace but there was a definite improvement. Beta-Alanine = good stuff!
Here are a couple videos I took to give you an idea what the training environment at Sityodtong is like. I didn’t want to be the tourist “falang” (foreigner) that shows up for 1 workout and films the entire time so I tried to be a discreet as I could. Check out all the little soldiers jumping on the tires. Sityodtong has at least 20 young Thai kids training there (just from what I saw). These kids are going to be fighting machines in a few years. I wonder if any future Lumpinee champions were training there today.
On a different note, I think I messed up. I went out on Saturday night (my official get crunk night) and I dealt with the wrong girl. When I checked into this apartment, I told myself that I wouldn’t hook-up with any of the girls that work here because it’s obviously a recipe for drama. Well, when you drink, logical thoughts get thrown out the window and you do things you shouldn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, the girl is beautiful, but this is Pattaya – where the girl to guy ratio is somewhere around 10-1. Beautiful girls are everywhere here. It’s not the place where you want to be tied down. There’s this one girl that works here during the daytime named Rung. She’s beautiful as well and she’s who I paid for the room. I think she just does the administration stuff here.
Anyway, Rung came up to me last night to say hello and the other girl intercepted the greeting and basically sent Rung on her way. I think she’s claimed me. I’m dealing with a “stage 5 clinger” here.
Listen to me. Complaining about being stalked but a hot Thai girl. I guess that’s just life in Thailand for you. Rough stuff.. haha
I’m pretty sure that if I met this girl in Canada, I’D be the one lockin’ HER down…
Anyway, I’m going to take a video tour of this place so you guys can see how I’m livin’ in my next entry.
Next Entry = Pattaya, Thailand CRIBS
Stay Tuned..
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!
hey man, what would it be like to show up at a camp like this without any previous muay thai experience?
Hi,
You blog is very insightful for I also want to spend some time in Thailand to train and maybe do some business in the future. If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me roughly how much your are spending on food,hotel,training, and other living expenses? Again, I understand if you don’t want to disclose this information, I’m just really curious.
Can’t wait for the next post.
Oleg.
To Tristian,
The first time I came to Thailand, I didn’t have any Muay Thai experience. It’s fine. The trainers are very good about not pushing you too hard when you first start out. “Slowly, slowly” they always say. Before you come, just try to work on your conditioning as much as you can so you’ll get the most of your time here, especially if you’re only staying for a month or so..
To Oleg,
The amount you spend here is dependant on where you are, and how you live. Here’s a rough guideline on expenses..
Room = 5000+ baht per month
(I’m paying 12,000 because I need luxuries like WIFI internet)
Training = Anywhere from 4000-10,000 baht per month
(depends where you’re training and if you’re training once or twice a day)
Food = Ranges between 1-4 US dollars per meal
(Thai food is the cheapest here. I’m trying to eat as much as I can from the roadside stands. The food is clean and it’s very affordable. It’s what the Thai people eat)
Then include some money for shopping, entertainment and transportation. Transportation in Phuket is a lot more expensive than it is in Bangkok or Pattaya. It’s tough getting from beach to beach in Phuket and the “Tuk Tuk’s”, which are driven by the Thai mafia, implement western prices. Here in Pattaya they have “baht busses” driving around constantly so you can just hop on the back and get to where you want to go for about 10baht (30 cents).
If your going to go to Pattaya you have to train at Fairtex, were the best in the world train!
Kel,
I’ll be going to Fairtex this week and documenting the experience on here. This week I’ll go to Fairtex Pattaya and in a few weeks time, I’ll go to the Fairtex camp just outside of Bangkok (Bangplee).
One thing you should keep in mind though is that while Fairtex may be a great camp (I’ll judge for myself soon), the champion fighters that fight under the “Fairtex” name weren’t created by Fairtex.
Fairtex has money so they basically recruit the best fighters by offering them and their families money to fight under the fairtex name. Yodsanklai for example. If you watch the video that’s on the homepage, when they’re talking about Yod, they mention that fairtex took over his contract once he was already a successful fighter.
What was the cost for training at Sityodtong? I’ve been on their website but it wasn’t very user friendly.
Thanks!
JD,
The Sityodtong site is brutal. I remember getting frusterated myself when I was trying to organize things.
The cost of training is 250 baht per session.
When I was presented the package deal, it wasn’t much of a deal at all to be honest. Not worthwhile at all. It was something like 6500 baht a month but why would I pay that when I could just pay the 250 per day?
I suppose you could pay the 6500 baht and train twice a day but you have to keep in mind that if you’re going to do that, you need to either rent a motorbike or find a place to rent near the camp because Sityodtong is way off the baht bus routes.
[…] resort, I also recommend that you train at some of the gyms off the beaten’ track like Sityodtong for a less luxurious, but a “real” Muay Thai […]
[…] their careers, both fighters have great skill sets. Florian trains under Mark Delagratte at the Sityodtong Muay Thai school in Boston – which is a branch of the acclaimed Sityodtong gym in Pattaya, […]
Hi, Can you post the address of the camp. I was in Pataya, but did not find it
Thanks,
[…] week in Pattaya and I wanted to try something new. I had already visited Fairtex, Scorpion and Sityodtong during my last trip so I decided to check out the RMB gym since I had heard good […]
hello.i am planning to visit sityodtong camp for 3 months.can you stay in the camp like it was before when the gym was placed in bangkok?
hey.. i trained in pattaya for a few months in sityodtong and sitjaipetch this is very good camp 2 with two wmc world champions and good pad men aswell..it’s down by pattaya park..pattaya’s a bit mad sometimes so am training in sangmorakot bkk at the mo..
Where do you stay when you train at Sityodtong Pattaya? How much for a month? Can you rate compared to Kaewsamrit and Suwit in regards to training for young Nak muay?
Khob chai mark
Hello my name is Max,
I would like for 9 months in the camp. how expensive will be and what I need to consider cost at all?
how much for 3 weeks 2x day session ?
any contact info?
Can I have you exactly adress for sityoptongcamp and your telephone number?
thanks so much
Oscar
[…] at is Sityodtong. I had trained there before a few years ago and my initial impressions of it here and […]
How did you get to Sityodtong everyday to train? I’ll be staying between Soi Buakhao and 3rd road. I’m not to keen on renting a motorbike.