June 2008 - Pictures from all around

Pictures from our guests and from the backstage of the Thai Boxing Stadium in Koh Tao.
All Pictures in this Gallery are taken by Taggie Giebels

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Thailand, Koh Tao in June 2008

The opening fight of the Muay Thai tournament.
All Pictures in this Gallery are taken by Taggie Giebels

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Next Muay Thai Tournament on Koh Tao Coming Soon

Don’t miss out on the next great fight night in the Sairee Thai boxing stadium. On May 16th at 9:30pm we’ll hear the gong for the first out of eight exciting Muay Thai fights. We will also see two European Thai Boxing fighters in action, Bee from Italy and Aleksander from Germany. Bee has been training at the Island Muay Thai Stadium in Koh Tao for more than two years now and we are looking forward to a very exciting fight here.

If you don’t know exactly where the boxing stadium is, have a look at our little Koh Tao Map. If you’d like to be picked up at your resort for free, just call Pi Thun at:

+66(0)898 685266

It’s wild at Koh Tao right now. We just had a truly great Under Water World Festival with lots of fun and live music. There is a Festival Pictures Gallery available on the Koh Tao Community Website with more than 250 pictures from several photographers. One of the festival highlights was the release of baby turtles and mini shrimps into the sea. another highlight was the life music with a touch of internationality by “Asto Na Pai”, a cultural mixed band from northern Thailand with beautiful gypsy music.

Following the Koh Tao Festival, we went right for Songkran, the Thai New Year. The water festival where just about everybody gets wet, very wet! Hope you’re not in bangkok today.

The next highlight is coming up only four days after Songkran; the next Thai boxing Tournament at the Sairee Stadium. In the evening of April 17th, at 09:30 the first gong will open the tournament. Steve Grayson will be fighting himself amongst many other local and western (Farang) fighters. One of the interesting fighters to watch out for, will be Jesse from Holland. He has been training at the Island Muay Thai stadium for quite a while now. Some of the Thai fighters we will see are

• Hanuman
• Samingchart
• Tawachai
• and Narubed

see you all at the 17th. Get there early to get a good seat. Beer and soft drinks are sold at the tent and there is always some fried chicken around in case you get hungry.

We have asked a top professional in muscle building and muscle training for his opinion on how to find the right gym for any kind of fitness training, thai boxing, muscle training or just fitness training. So, without taking any special training in consideration, what are the 10 main points you should look at when you choose your gym and what is important to get the most out of your training hours? Here are the answers:

Choosing A Gym - 10 Things To Look Out For

By Vince DelMonte

Now that you’ve made the commitment to starting a workout program, the next step is choosing a gym that you will feel comfortable going to on a regular basis. If it isn’t, chances are you aren’t going to stick with any type of regular plan and will eventually just stop going altogether. By being sure your gym is a good fit for you, you help take yourself one step further to realizing your health and fitness goals.

1. Location

Who really wants to spend twice as long driving to and from their gym as it takes them to do their workout? After a long day of work you are not going to want to spend a good hour fighting traffic, another hour working out and then another half an hour driving home. Think about either choosing a gym that is located close to your house or else on the drive to or from work. This is a great option since if you have to pass by it every day, you’ll be reminded of the fact that you should be working out if you choose to skip it.

2. Membership Cost

Gym memberships can really vary in costs so it’s a good idea to shop around before making that final commitment. Also consider how long you are signing the contract for as this can vary too. Many gyms like to rope you in for years and if you aren’t quite sure it’s going to be a long-term arrangement, you’re better off finding something that is more short-term.

Additionally, if you can wait until around late summer or New Year to sign up, you will find that often many gyms will have special promotions going on at this time.

3. Membership Demographic

Another factor to consider is the membership demographic that goes to the gym. Some women will prefer going to an all-ladies gym as it increases their comfort factor. For others, a mixed gym is the perfect solution because half of the reason they go there is to socialize and perhaps even find a date. Whatever your needs, make sure you enquire about this and take it into consideration.

4. Additional Benefits

You will want to ask if the gym offers any additional services or benefits along with your basic membership and if there is a fee for these. Such examples would be daycare services, physiotherapy, massage therapy, nutritional counselling, and fitness testing.

5. Operating Hours

Always be sure to check the hours of operation of the gym. If you are an early morning exerciser you will want to be sure they are able to cater to this preference. Additionally ask about their holiday policies. Many people enjoy working out on the holidays because it is a relaxed day for them when they can really get in a good workout. If you are looking forward to this and then go and find out the gym is closed, you are going to be more than disappointed. Similarly there are some people who prefer working out late at night so you need to be sure that if this is the case you will be able to do that.

6. Personal Training Services

Having some good, qualified personal trainers on hand is critical to helping you realize your full fitness potential.

Even if you are fine with your program right now, consider that in a year down the road you might be plateauing and in need of a ‘check-up’ so to speak on your current regime.

Having the option available of knowledge staff cannot be stressed enough. Unfortunately many gyms hire almost anyone who has a basic interest in fitness, so be sure to inquire about the actual certifications these trainers hold.

7. Group Fitness Classes

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Be sure to ask about all the various group fitness classes that are offered at the gym you are considering. Often, when boredom kicks in on your workout plan, this is just the thing to get you going again.

These days there are currently thousands of different fitness class styles available, so there is sure to be something that suites your interest.

When checking up on this, again inquire if there are any additional fees associated with it so you are prepared for when you go to sign up.

8. Cleanliness

One very important factor you want to look for is the cleanliness of the gym. You do not want to be working out on equipment that is not clean as gyms are a place where germs can be in high concentration. Also make sure they have towels and spray bottles in various places around the gym to clean up after workouts, and have a look at the bathrooms and change rooms to make sure they are up to your standards.

9. Type/Quality Of Equipment

Looking at the type and quality of the equipment offered in the gym is another thing you must factor in. If you prefer free weights, make sure there is a large number of dumbbells present because during rush hours, these could be hard to come by.

Likewise, if you prefer doing your weight training on guided machines, you’ll want to be sure they have enough variety that you can work all the necessary muscles on your body. If you find yourself doing a lot of cardio training as part of your workouts you will want to be sure there are ample machines available. Nothing is more frustrating than getting to the gym after work to find out that there is not a single machine in sight available for you to use. Ask if they offer a sign-up list where you can write your name and time down to reserve a machine. This is a great solution that many gyms have now come up with to make sure their members can get their workouts in.

10. Cancellation Policy

Finally take a look at the gym’s cancellation policy. If you sign up for a 3 year membership and then end up moving after a year due to work, are you going to be partially refunded? It will be a bad situation if they offer no refund or transfer membership. Some gyms are good about this and some are not so you will have to weigh the likelihood of your canceling among other things that are discussed above when making your decision.

So, be sure you are considering all of these essential factors when looking for a gym membership. Overlooking just one could lead you to being less than happy with your workout facility and this could end up being the reason why you do not stick with your program.

———————————-
About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs or supplements and training even less than before.

© 2006-2008, Vince DelMonte Fitness. All rights in all media reserved. You may reprint this article so long as the article and author bio are reprinted intake and all links are made live. This article may never be sold individually or as part of a package.

Muay Thai Boxing Tournament at the Sairee Stadium

Mark the 07th of April in your calendar. The next exciting Muay-Thai Tournament on Koh Tao. Eight Thai Boxing fights are scheduled at the 07th of April starting at 9:30. This is the real stuff! No faking no cuddling. Don’t miss out on a great fight night at the Sairee Thai Boxing Stadium.

If you need a pick-up from your resort call 0898 685266 (Pi Thun) or 0862 698725 (Steve)

Be there early to get the best seat! And don’t forget your camera.

Fight Night in Trang

Today, on the 25^th of January I’ll be on my way to a place called Trang near Krabi. So will catch the night boat from Koh Tao and travel all the way to the other side of Thailand. I will go to fight at a Thai Boxing Tournament in a small town called Bang Naa. This is the place where my Thai partner, Pi Thun comes from. An old friend of his is holding a Muay Thai Tournament for the local people and asked if we would come to fight. The reason he was asking is that they don’t get any westerners to come fighting there. I feel that I’m well trained and have spent the last two days resting and enjoying a good massage. Tonight I’ll be on a night sleeper boat to Suratthani, the main town of our province, and then we’ll take the bus to Trang. Wish me luck, hopefully it will go ok.

I’ll let you know in a follow-up here.

Most Records of Thailand’s history have been destroyed by the Burmese, in 1769. Even though many historical records have been lost, Thai Boxing is such a major part of Thai culture, that the stories will never die.

Thai Kick Boxing originated from Krabi Krabong, an ancient Thai weapons art, roughly translated in “stick and sword”. When the Thais lost their weapons or fought close quarters with weapons they used their knees, elbows, feet, fists and head butting. They soon became famous for their toughness on battle fields in the constant wars with their long term rivals and neighbors, the Burmese

By the end of the 13^th century, King Ramkamheng (1275 - 1317) wrote the ‘The Book of War Learning’, the “Thamrab Pichei Songkram”, about the Thai art of war. The basis of weaponless fighting was born. For example, one of the techniques is called “Throwing Buffalo Punch” because it can defeat a buffalo in one blow.

Thai Boxing had become a substantial part of the social life in Thailand. This went so far that a whole kingdom could be won or lost on a Thai Boxing Fight. The annals of Chiang Mai, for example, tell the story of King Sen Muang Ma, who died in 1411. After his death. his two sons, Yi Kumkam and Fang Ken, fought for the throne, after many years of conflict neitherof the two could get the upper hand. Fang Ken suggested settling the issue by single combat where ach side had to select a champion boxer. The end of the fight was set when blood was drawn. The loosing party would forfeit his claim to the thron. The fight must have lasted for several hours before Fang Ken’s fighter received a tiny scratch on his foot which just showed a trickle of blood. That meant the fight was over and Yi Kumkam became the new king.

Muay Thai was quickly included in military training and became famous by King Naresuan (1560). The story is telling that during one of the many battles between Burma and Siam, the original name of Thailand, he was captured and thrown in prison. The Burmese, who knew of his name as the best unarmed fighter, gave him a chance to fight for his life and freedom with their own champion. Kink Naresuen is said to have won the fight and became a national hero in his homeland.

There are hundreds if not thousands of stories telling about the heroism of the Thai war heroes The biggest Thai boxing hero of Thailand is for sure the ‘Black Prince’ Nai Khanom Dtom. The legend says that he was captured by the Burmese and had to fight against 12 of the best Burmese fighters before he was released. Against all odds the burmese crowd themselves had forced the King of burma to set him free. Upon his return to Thailand he was hailed as a hero and Siamese-style boxing, the original name of Thai boxing, was soon recognized as a national sport. Still today you will hear his name on many Muay Thai fight nights where he gets honored. Annual Thai Boxing tournaments are still hold in his name today.

At the end of the 18th century King Pra Chao Sua trained religiously in the art of Muay Thai. He was said to have trained six hours a day with his soldiers to perfect the art of Muay Thai. All villages of this time organized prize fights where everyone could compete. No matter if his was rich or poor, young or old,. The king disguised himself as a peasant and sneaked out, wandering from village to village entering the tournaments and defeating all opponents. He has spend hours by himself perfecting his techniques. The village tournaments had become his ‘test ground’ and he was soon known as the “Tiger King”. His legend was so great that even today his techniques are still practiced and are well known as the “Tiger King Style”.

The original Thai Kick Boxing fights lasted until one of the fighters was dead or so seriously injured that he was unable to continue. Fighting rounds where unknown at this time and the fights lasted sometimes for many hours. There was no protective gear but the opposite.

Often Muay Thai fighters wore rope over their knuckles and glued some broken glass on top of it.

It took until 1929 that Thai Boxing was slightly reformed with a few rules to help protect the fighters. The government had become concerned about the high number of fatalities in the ring and forced some rules to be used. From this time on the Muay Thai fighters gave up their groin shots and eye pokes and started to implement weight classes and boxing gloves. Fighting rounds of three to five minutes where applied. The Thai spectators and even the Thai boxers themselves felt that this watered down their most beloved sport. Therefore nowadays Thais place more emphasis on kicks, particularly to the legs, knee strikes and grappling. These skills score higher points than hand strikes in Thai matches. Thai Kick Boxing is lately discussed to become an Olympic discipline of martial arts. We all hope for this to come; better sooner than later.

Welcome to the Island Muay Thai Boxing Accademy

This is the home of the Thai Boxing School “Island Muay Thai” in Koh Tao Thailand. Here is where all the thai boxing news will kick in shortly. We will add fight reports, pictures and videos on this blog not only from our own Thai Boxing Stadium here in Koh Tao, but also from Koh Phangan, Trang, Krabi and Phuket.

We will also have interviews with various international Thai Boxer and Thai Boxing Trainers. If you would like to have a go in our ring, you are most welcome to join our Thai Boxing Acadamy on Koh Tao. The island is a beautiful relaxed place in the Gulf of Thailand, where you can train and enjoy a good time at once. We offer boxing training from beginner to boxing instructor. We can also arrange real fights for you, where you can show the skills you learnd in front of a broad audience. Check back frequently to see what’s new and don’t forget to  this blog so you can always find your way back.