Samuel Watson
My experience at Tiger Muay Thai & MMA Training Camp over the past four months has been one of the best journeys I have taken, both physically and mentally challenging in the most positive way imaginable. I left the UK on my own with feelings of apprehension and more than a little nervous about what was in store having never trained seriously for such an extended period.
After some research I booked with Tiger for an initial month to see how I would adapt to such a lifestyle change, I started at Tiger not in the best physical condition and set myself some goals from day one. What I learned was the experience at Tiger can be as easy or as hard as you feel comfortable, with many highly skilled trainers at the camp, you will have plenty of time to get to know them. I felt that the trainers treated me as a friend rather than a customer and remembered my skill level and what I needed to focus on from class to class, constantly encouraging me and pushing for me to improve, without ever trying to force me past my limits. Some people I met were apprehensive about sparring in class, everybody I trained with had the utmost respect for my skill level and never let their ego get the better of them. I found that subconsciously you and your partner would find a level of power and pace that you both felt comfortable with and a trainer keeps watch over three pairs of partners to give advice on technique. I took a few private sessions and felt they were worth the money, the sessions are one on one and I learned a huge amount during them. I was able to work my way up from beginners to the advanced class in Muay Thai during my stay and competed in the monthly BBQ Beatdown. This was an awesome experience and a great introduction to the ring for somebody who has never competed, your trainer will corner you on the night and the crowd was behind every fighter and offered congratulations win or lose for stepping in there.
One thing I would hear was that the camp was a little too Western for some people, however anyone who has done their research would know this is no secret. I personally felt that although Tiger is plugged as a Muay Thai and MMA camp it undersells itself because it has evolved into much more. There is a huge variety of classes on offer and although I did not take them all, I was aware that each class was conducted to a professional standard. Nobody’s goals were too big or small to be overlooked whether it be training for a fight, getting in shape or losing those extra pounds there is always a professional around like Peter the Thai Hulk for your gym requirements, Orlando and the Bodyfit team for fitness, professional MMA fighters Brian Ebersole and Roger Huerta or 4th Degree BJJ Black belt Fernando Maccachero.
As for the other guests staying at Tiger I can honestly say I did not have a bad experience with anybody, every single person I met throughout my time was friendly enough to talk to, share stories and give advice. What I liked about the atmosphere was that each person was on their own journey and each person was at the camp for a different reason. Everybody was there to better themselves and learn from one another. Being surrounded by focused, dedicated and friendly people can only affect you in a positive way and I feel like I have made some real friends through the training and experience at Tiger.
I chose Tiger because the facility is huge, there is always space to train independently, hit a bag, throw up some weights or find a free ring for some private practice/sparring. There are other great gyms in the area but they are much smaller than Tiger and for me personally I felt I’d feel a little claustrophobic staying and training in one of the smaller facilities for such a long period. Everything offered on the website is available and the accommodation is true to their descriptions. The prices are as listed with no hidden costs and you can easily work out your budget from home before you arrive.
I just really wanted share with others my personal experience, the positive effect it has had on me should anybody else out there be apprehensive like I was initially when planning their trip. Its a big step to take and one I will definitely want to take again in the future. Even though the camp had many people flowing through weekly, the staff and trainers remembered my name, invited me out, treated me with respect, as a friend, and were always there to talk or answer any questions regarding the camp, training and Thailand.
Special thanks to trainers Noom, Saksee and Kru Don for always being there to help and motivate me.
Hopefully see everyone in the Tiger family again soon