Our time in Pai was very limited as there was so much to do and see. It’s a very nice, nature-oriented but also super chilled out and artsy town.
Unfortunately we didn’t quite have time to try out True Bee Gym, but we did make some time to find it… but it was definitely one of the hardest gyms I have tried to find, there’s an old washed-out bill board which is the only advert in the town and if you squint your eyes in the sunny sky you probably miss it. Their website isn’t that informative and the few signs along the dirt path do lead you in the right direction across the river, it’s just finding these signs that’s key. We just had to ask the villagers.
The gym feels far from everything else and has very nice hilly views, its a quiet place along the river and seems like it’d be a good place where you could really focus on your training. You can tell the rain got the best of the actual muay thai ring, but it still seems functional and evident that it gets a lot of use. Even though the place was very open, you can really smell the sweat off the pads and gloves.
The trainer who lives there comes out to greet you immediately and asks if you’d like to train, and inform you of the times. Besides other types of physical things like trekking and white water rafting, Pai is a very chilled vibe and definitely offers a good atmosphere to do intense training.
I was pretty impressed with this camp as they have a lot of equipment (definitely enough heavy bags & training gloves) and definitely push you to your limits, be prepared to go straight into clinching one your first day!
When we arrived, people just looked at us and no one approached us initially. But that’s probably a one off thing.
Right as the training starts you can see that people are serious and mean business in this gym. Everyone is motivated and go about their business straight from the get-go. From all the young ones to the elders to the women. Everyone is treated equally regardless of ability, so if you’re new to it, a lot will be learned the tough way, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all. Depends on your pace.
Some of the trainers at Lanna Muay Thai have trained other people in gyms abroad (i.e. New York) and speak near-perfect English.
Unfortunately the gym didn’t have any fans and is pretty closed up with the roof spanning the whole camp. It gets really hot in there sometimes when no wind blows and even then, if it’s not hard enough, you won’t get that cooled off.
There are huge mirrors like a proper boxing gym and the instructor to student ratio is really high, you won’t feel left out for too long. Someone is always on your case.
This gym was easily found as Tha Pae Stadium is related to it and they usually have fighters from the gym featured in one of the bouts they have. You can simply turn up any time during the day to tell the person in charge there that you would like to train. They’ll make you come around an hour before the time of training and pick you up in a little truck so that you and other Muay Thai trainees can head to Chay Yai Gym together.
I noticed that this gym is very accessible, because of the pick up they provide and therefore there were many tourists that go there for single sessions or for a few times in their stay in Chiang-Mai. Having said that though; it’s definitely not a walk in the park and at times feels like a boot-camp when it comes to conditioning and core exercises. They involve everyone, from new to regulars in a sort of circuit training way.
A lot of emphasis was put on stretching and keeping the body flexible. But the exercises that stood out the most and was the hardest for the newcomers were the abs conditioning.
Training in the art of Muay Thai means many things. If you want to receive the best training you need the best equipment. Of course, if you train at a gym they probably already have all the equipment that you need. That being said, you may still want to buy some items for yourself. This is where Muay Thai bags come into play. With the right Muay Thai bag you can train at home, or anywhere else that you can set this up. But before you buy just any bag you need to learn more about what is available, what you should get, and how much it costs.
With the right Muay Thai heavy bag you will be ready for a full contact workout. It is important that you purchase a bag that is not only high quality, but will stand up to your force day in and day out. In other words, a Muay Thai bag that is going to break after a few training sessions is a waste of money.
There are many types of Muay Thai bags on the market, and you should find one that is made of vinyl and reinforced with nylon web loops. These are the most durable materials, and help to ensure that your bag will stand up to the test of time.
How much does a Muay Thai bag cost? Generally speaking, you should be able to find a durable, quality bag for $150. If you search around you may be able to find one for a little bit less; especially if you are open to buying used.
Now that you know more about Muay Thai bags you are ready to make a purchase and beginning training like a professional.
There are many traditional techniques that are used when practicing Muay Thai. In its earliest form, this form of fighting consisted of the use of nine weapons. They include: fists, knees, elbows, the head, and feet. In today’s day and age, head butting is no longer allowed during Muay Thai competitions, both amateur and professional. That being said, the other eight weapons are still used extensively, and make up a large portion of Muay Thai fighting. Although, if the trainer wants to teach the head-butt, by all means take a stab at it! You never know when there might be a street fight.
There are two subcategories of Muay Thai traditional techniques. They are Luk Mai, or minor techniques, and Mae Mai, or major techniques. It is important for a fighter to be skilled in both subcategories to ensure an equal balance of offensive and defensive moves.
Stand up fighters often times turn to Muay Thai traditional techniques to improve their chance of winning. The Thai style of Muay Thai features each fighter landing punches one after the next. But in the Western World, thanks to the increasing popularity of mixed martial arts, this is not so much the case. Instead, these fighters have taken the hand striking techniques of Muay Thai and use them in a more traditional “boxing manner.”
Almost every type of traditional technique of Muay Thai uses the entire body. For instance, a hand strike involves not only a punch but also the rotating of the hips to ensure maximum force. In fact, you’ll want to work on your core as much as possible as it is the main driving force to most of the damage inflicted. This is true in almost all sports, from golfing to discus throwing.
As you can see, Muay Thai traditional techniques are still common but are advancing as this method of fighting spreads throughout the world. But no matter what type of fighting takes place, when you look back to the roots, Muay Thai is where it all began.
Logan Stanton is the newest, freshest UFC ring-girl from Niceville, FL. And nice she is!
Ever made it to Thailand? If not, what’s your idea of it?
No I haven’t but I would LOVE to go. I’m fascinated with their culture!
What was a typical day’s schedule when you moved to Miami alone?
Lets see.. I’d roll out of bed around 9 or 10 (depending on what kind of trouble I got into the night before), go for a run on the boardwalk, go to a couple castings, meet my friends on the beach for a few hours, grab lunch at Lime (my favorite spot in Miami) and then go out that night. It’s a rough lifestyle but somebody has to do it
Have you ever tried Muay Thai or Kickboxing?
I haven’t, but since getting involved with the UFC I would love to try it.
Favourite Muay Thai style fighter?
I don’t have a favorite yet
Do you prefer watching a stand-up or a ground game fight?
Definitely a stand-up.
What perks come with working for the biggest MMA organization in the world?
Great seats! Haha seriously though.. I’ve always wanted to travel and I’ve done more traveling in these past 3 months than I have done in my entire life. I’ve also met some amazing people.
Did you watch any MMA before being a ring girl?
I watched UFC quite a bit actually.
You have a killer body, how’s your nutrition? Ever been on a diet?
Thank you! I think I eat pretty healthy for the most part. I love to work out which actually motivates me to eat better. Although.. I do love my sweets!
Now for some quick-fire ones:
What is sexier? An MMA fighter or a humorous guy?
A humorous guy. I love it when a guy can make me laugh
You a Mac or PC?
Mac
iPhone or Blackberry?
iPhone. I’ll admit that I do miss my Blackberry at times though.. Like when Arianny’s BBM is going off in the dressing room.
Partying or chilling?
Chilling. Although when I do feel like partying I prefer a house party to a club.
Rock or Pop?
Neither. I listen to mostly R&B or Country.
CSI Miami or CSI Las Vegas?
Miami. Even though I find David Caruso a LITTLE creepy..
