My First Experience of a Tourist Gym!

If you're planning your trip to train Muay Thai in Thailand, choosing the right gym is crucial for your experience. Not every gym delivers the authentic, high-quality experience that you might expect.

On my first trip to Thailand I learned this the hard way, and I hope sharing my story will help you make a more informed decision when selecting a gym.

I traveled from the UK to Thailand as a beginner in my Muay Thai journey, having just covered the basics back home. At 30 years old, I was embarking on a personal goal to push my fitness to the next level and immerse myself in learning authentic Muay Thai.

I thought I had meticulously planned and researched which gym I would train at. I even planned what classes I’d join, and even how often I'd get sports massages. But what awaited me was nothing like I envisioned.

Training at the Peak of the High Season

I arrived in January, high season in Thailand, which means busier training sessions. Still, I wasn't quite ready for what I witnessed when class began. Just before the session, a tour bus pulled up, bringing in around an extra 30–40 tourists.

While their enthusiasm for taking photos and buying gym merchandise was great, what surprised me was when they, along with 60 other students already present, joined the class. Could this gym really teach over 100 people attending the group class?

A little help from the Trainers

We warmed up and did some shadowboxing, and I must have looked a little confused as I kicked the bag. Being a former football (soccer) player. I still kicked the bag the way I kicked a football.

It was okay, though, because over walked one of the resident trainers, but to my surprise, he wasn’t interested in helping me with my kicks instead, he wanted to tell me why I should buy some private training lessons with him. Perplexed I politely declined and off he went selling his services to the next student.

A second instructor soon approached, this time, he wanted to sell me tickets to see his brother fight at the stadium tonight. Again, I politely declined. Neither of them was remotely interested in helping me. Just in relentless upselling of their services.

Overcrowding and Unsupervised Sparring

The class didn’t get much better. We did one round of pad work each with the trainers, but there were too many students, and the trainers were not overly interested - unless they suspected you might want to buy something from them.

Finally, the sparring started - and oh boy! Who’d have guessed how, if you throw a bunch of people who have never trained straight and came straight off the coach into a Muay Thai class and told them to spar with little supervision how it would go?

Punches were flying, jaws were getting cracked (some with gum shields in), occasionally, a trainer would intervene and try to calm it down but people wanted ‘revenge’ and fought even harder. I tried to figure out whether I thought it was funny or just damn dangerous.

The class ended and I vowed to find a better gym…

The Core Issue at This and other Tourist Gyms

My frustration at this and future sessions revolved around one glaring issue: profit over quality. The gym owners are more focused on accommodating enormous groups and maximizing revenue than delivering authentic, high-quality Muay Thai training.

I had to re-evaluate my entire plans for my entire trip after day one! I did stick around at that gym because I'd bought and month's training and I wanted to give it a fair go - but things didn't improve and I left after just two weeks.

Lessons for Choosing the Right Muay Thai Gym

If you're passionate about your Muay Thai training and traveling to Thailand, here are the key takeaways from my experience:

• Avoid Overcrowded Gyms During High Season

Peak months like January and February often lead to overcrowded classes, especially at popular gyms. Consider visiting during the off-season for smaller groups and more focused training. If you are a beginner consider training at a smaller gym entirely where you'll get more focused attention.

• Research Gyms with a Strong Reputation for Training Quality

Look for gyms known for authentic Muay Thai instruction rather than commercial appeal. Read reviews, watch online videos, and join Muay Thai forums to gather feedback from past students. It is difficult though, I put hours of research into my trip and was disappointed on day one.

• Ask About Class Sizes and Trainer-to-Student Ratios

Smaller class sizes mean more personalized attention. Don't hesitate to ask about class capacity and how many trainers will be present to focus on technique and improvement. You should also check on the gym's social media to gauge how many people are training there and how many students they have.

• Be Cautious of Gyms that Prioritise Upselling

Some gyms will overly upsell private sessions and event tickets. While private sessions can be very beneficial, they should never take precedence over quality group training. In my opinion, gyms that operate with this business culture are usually the most dominant on social media.

• Opt for Gyms that Focus on Structured, Supervised Sparring

Proper sparring is a vital part of Muay Thai training, especially if you're getting ready for a fight. Ensure the gym you choose emphasizes safe, structured sparring sessions with trainers actively supervising and giving feedback.

There will sometimes be beginners and/or people sparring like madmen at every gym but if the gym is serious they'll teach these students how to spar correctly (or remove them) which will minimize the risk of injuries during your trip. You can often find sparring videos from gyms on their social media to check if it meets your own expectations.

Why Finding the Right Gym Matters

Choosing the right Muay Thai gym can really make or break your trip, especially if you decide to get into the ring! Thailand is home to countless world-class gyms that offer excellent training in Muay Thai.

While my first gym didn’t meet expectations, I eventually found one that did, and it revealed just how rewarding Muay Thai training in Thailand can be when you are at the right gym.

Take the time to research thoroughly, and don’t hesitate to visit a few gyms before committing! Your Muay Thai training should be about more than just learning to throw a punch or kick; it should be a life-changing experience that connects you to the cultural roots of this incredible sport.

By sharing this experience, I hope to help other Muay Thai enthusiasts avoid mistakes and start their Thailand training journeys on the best foot possible.

Now read about the dark side of Muay Thai tourism here! 🥊