Tourists now flock to Thailand to learn Muay Thai

With its classical architecture, magnificent Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and pulsating night markets, the island town of Phuket on the Southwestern coast of Thailand is always busy with tourists.

Scores of visitors from Europe, South Asia, and Australia often travel to the island to swim, and sunbathe, but now, they are heading to Phuket to throw in a few punches.

For Eric Jason, a marketing professional from Singapore, his maiden trip to Phuket is more than relaxing at beaches in the afternoon, paragliding across the evening sky, or visiting night markets. “The first thing which struck my mind after landing in Phuket for my holidays was to experience Muay Thai (Thai boxing). This is my first time trying a martial art. Having heard about Thai boxing from some of my friends here, I thought of giving it a try,” says Eric.

Tourists at Kata beach in Phuket in Thailand.
| Photo Credit:
N. Sai Charan

A tourist enjoying water sports at Kata beach in Phuket in Thailand.
| Photo Credit:
N. Sai Charan

Eric is at Club Med Phuket, an all-inclusive beach resort at Karon in Mueang Phuket District, which offers wide-ranging entertainment activities. These include traditional Thai cooking, entry-level training in Muay Thai, wall climbing, snorkelling, music, archery, trampoline, flying trapeze, among others.

The swimming pool at Club Med Phuket, a beach resort at Karon in Phuket in Thailand.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Muay Thai, meaning ‘Art of Eight Limbs’, is a highly popular combat sport believed to have originated several centuries ago in Thailand. It involves the combined usage of fists, knees, shins and elbows for kicking, punching and striking. In recent years, the sport has grown in popularity among tourists visiting Thailand.

Meanwhile, Lewi Sydney, a 49-year-old software professional from Perth in Australia, and his family head to the Thai boxing arena at the entrance of Club Med Phuket. Muay Thai coach Seksan Chukliang, known by his nickname San, switches on Sarama, the traditional music that accompanies the pre-fight ritual. This may be a touristy space, but San takes training seriously: anyone who comes late for the practice session has to do 20 push-ups.

San teaching a trainee on punching on Thai pads at Muay Thai training arena at Club Med Phuket.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

However, San has a bright smile on his face when welcoming trainees. He has been giving entry-level training in Thai boxing to tourists at the resort for the past 15 years, apart from training professional fighters. The 50-year-old says, “I was in real combat matches on 335 occasions in my three-decade-long Thai boxing career. As a teenager, though I was poor, I never missed Muay Thai training. Now, I have a few championships to my name.”

He starts the one-hour practice session with a warm-up round for 15 minutes, which typically includes stretching, running, and shadow boxing. San counts numbers during shadow boxing to monitor the movement of fists, footwork, and elbow work of trainees.

It is tiring without being too challenging. San says he has adapted the training routine for guests. “Traditional Muay Thai practitioners undergo tiring workout sessions for several hours, sometimes a whole day, which include jogging, stretching, shadowboxing, several rounds of pad work, bag work, sparring and much more,” he says.

San teaches shadow boxing during a warm session at Club Med Phuket.
| Photo Credit:
N. Sai Charan

After the warm-up session and a short break, San calls each participant to enter the ring one at a time for pad work training. Inside the ring, the training lasts 45 minutes, during which trainees use a combination of moves using their fists, elbows, knees, and shins to kick, punch, and strike.

San first picks Lewi, who seems like a natural as he manages to land some powerful punches and kicks on San’s boxing pads, setting the bar high. Stepping out of the ring he says, “It was tiring, but I am excited to learn these techniques.”

A tourist kicking the Thai pad during Muay Thai practice session at Club Med Phuket.
| Photo Credit:
N. Sai Charan

Eric, who goes in next, highlights the difficulties. “You need a lot of energy to stay focussed otherwise you will burn out. That is what I have learnt. Instead of going to the gym and dealing with machines, learning this cultural sport gives me immense happiness,” he adds.

The writer was in Phuket on the invitation of Club Med.