Sweat, blood and adrenaline pump through AXN in The Challenger Muaythai.

STARTS ON AXN ASIA 15TH SEPTEMBER … WATCH OUT FOR LAMAI CAMP FIGHTERS !
Things are about to get bloody exciting on AXN. The network is bringing the heat of the fight back to TV screens with a brand new series The Challenger Muaythai, and in high definition no less! Whether for glory or gain, 16 world-class fighters will fight it out to win the ultimate title of Muaythai World Champion and the grand prize of US$100,000!

From Malaysia, Thailand to Israel and South Africa, the motley crew of fighters trail blaze an impressive track record both in their countries and in the international arena, with numerous championship titles under their belts. With ages ranging from 18 to 35, the calibre of fighters is certainly unparalleled. Some have started their training since the tender age of seven, while others have fought The Contender Asia champion Yodsanklai and even won. With intimidating monikers like ‘The Cheetah’, ‘The Sniper’ and ‘Black Dynamite’, it is clear that the boys are not in town to play. With such high stakes, each and every fighter will not go down without a fight!

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I started training Muay Thai for fun and fitness mid last year and decided to come to Thailand for the experience. Lamai Gym was highly recommended by trainers at home in Sydney and I can see why. The trainers here are great and have really focused on teaching me the correct technique. The one on one sessions were especially good for this and really good value for money. I was a little nervous travelling on my own but all of the people here have been really friendly and helpful and I’ve learnt a lot in 3 weeks. Wish I could stay longer, can’t wait to come back ! infact i will be back in January 2012 !!

Belinda Separovic – Sydney Australia

Have you ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of the ocean waves undulating towards the shore, running on a powdery white beach, swimming in the South China Sea and training with superstars and celebrities from around the world? If the answer is YES!! Then Lamai Camp is the perfect choice for you.

Located on the beautiful island of Koh Samui and only 50 metres from the most beautiful beach surrounded by nature, is one of the most beautiful training centres in the world.

The camp’s gym boasts a total of 3 boxing rings, punching bags, a fully equipped weight gym, an equipment and supplement shop, travel agency and restaurant.

The camp’s resort has 30 Bungalows to fit every budget from basic fan to the most beautiful exotic deluxe bungalows.

Training is designed for all levels from beginner to superstar and many world champions are regulars at the camp whilst many champions have been made.

Many celebrities visit for fitness, well-being and simply just to recharge in paradise. You will meet people from all walks of life in this cultural melting pot of diversity.

The camp offers two public classes a day from 7-9 am and 5-7 pm and if you want to make use of private trainers, they are available all day!12 Full time trainers are at your disposal.

After training a healthy breakfast is served, and the rest of the day you can relax on the beach and treat yourself to a soothing massage before the evening session at the gym.

Make new friends from around the world, training muaythai for fitness, self-defence, confidence, or competition.

Come and join us for a day, a week, a month, or a year and be part of the Lamai Camp experience! MUAYTHAI in LAMAI… A WAY OF LIFE!

If you are looking for Muay Thai lessons in Thailand, you probably won’t have to look too far. Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport and many ex-fighters realise they can make good money by sharing their ring-honed skills with eager trainees from all over the World.

Research Muay Thai training before you arrive in Thailand

If you are looking for Muay Thai lessons in Thailand, it pays to do your homework before you arrive. There is no shortage of top-class gyms to choose from in Bangkok, but Bangkok is a big, dirty, smelly city and you might be in for a horrible shock even though the training is exactly what you are looking for. Similarly, you might have ideas about living out in the back of beyond, surrounded by rice farmers and learning Muay Thai in a ruined temple, just like Jean Claude Van-Damme in the film Kickboxer. The reality is that these remote areas tend not to have Muay Thai training facilities as trainers realise they can make more money by relocating to where the tourists are.

Where can I find Muay Thai lessons in Thailand?

So, if you are looking for Muay Thai lessons in Thailand, choose a more-touristy area or a big city. Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchatani and Bangkok are some bigger cities you might want to consider. For tourist areas, look into Phuket and Koh Samui. Smaller islands like Koh Phang Ngan, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Tao all have Muay Thai camps but the quality of their training isn’t always as high as the gyms in the busier areas which can draw in more tourists and attract better trainers.
Most Muay Thai camps offer pretty similar setups, regardless of where in the country you decide to train. Gyms will welcome first-time holiday makers who want to work up a sweat and try something new as well as hard-as-nails veterans with 30 plus fights under their belt.

Do I need to be fit to train Muay Thai in Thailand?

If it is your first time, join a Muay Thai group session and prepare to sweat. These sessions usually last about 2 hours and take place early in the morning, starting around 7am, and in the early evening, starting around 5pm. Your Muay Thai lesson will consist of a warm-up (usually a run around the block), shadow boxing, technique and sparring with a partner under the strict instruction of a trainer, bag work and finally a couple of rounds of hitting the pads with a trainer. This should cost around 250 THB depending on where you decide to train but you definitely get your money’s worth.

Can I live at the Muay Thai camp?

If you are more serious about your training, you can usually find accommodation in or near to your chosen camp and pay monthly for unlimited training sessions. This often means the morning and evening session 6 days per week, so it’s an opportunity to improve your Muay Thai enormously in a short space of time.

Is Muay Thai training easy to find on Koh Samui?

Muaythai is big business on Samui and camps like Lamai Muay Thai see loads of passing tourists, enthusiastic novices and hardened veterans passing through its doors every day. Lamai Muay Thai offers top class training facilities and the very real potential of getting ready for a fight and professional sponsorship in a very short space of time. Koh Samui features two stadiums both of which feature regular nights of combat and Lamai Muay Thai has a number of pro-fighters currently training at its camp.

When does Muay Thai training take place?

Typically Muaythai training on Samui takes place for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the early evening. Sessions start around 7am and 5pm respectively and although most folks tend to stay out of the midday heat, it’s also possible to arrange a one-on-one training session with one of the trainers during the middle of the day if you really want to boost your technique or work on something specific.

Are there many teachers in a Muay Thai class on Koh Samui?

The group classes are probably your best bet if you are a beginner or novice Muaythai fighter. There could be up to 30 other people in a class but the ratios of students to teachers are kept low and this ensures that you will be corrected if you are picking up any bad habits or performing the technique incorrectly.

What is a typical Muaythai training session like?

A typical lesson involves a 1-3 mile run to begin with (depending on your fitness level) followed by shadow boxing. Once this warm-up is complete and you are sweating thoroughly, the lead trainer will demonstrate a technique for you and your partner to practice. Once tuition is over, you will engage in clinching with your partner followed by light sparring. The class finishes with a couple of rounds, working the pads with a trainer. They push you very hard at this point and you feel truly exhausted by the end.

How much does Muaythai training on Koh Samui cost?

An individual training session with the group costs around 250 THB at Lamai Muay Thai but you can save money if you plan on training more by paying monthly. This allows you unlimited training sessions and access to Lamai Fitness gym as well. A personal training session with one of the ex-fighter trainers will set you back about 800 THB and although this might seem a bit steep, you will be shown their own personal tips and tricks, developed from years as a professional fighter.

What is Muay Thai training at Lamai Muay Thai camp like?

Muay Thai Training at Lamai Muay Thai is hard work. The trainers push you hard but are great at leaving your feeling like you have learned something new and useful after each session. The guys have a great sense of humour and know when to push and when to let you wheeze for a couple of minutes before giving you another few minutes of padwork.

How does Muay Thai training begin?

The typical Muay That training session at Lamai Muay Thai begins with a run. There are a number of different routes you can take depending on your level of fitness but the shortest is about a mile in length and the longest is about three miles in length. Lamai Muay Thai, like most Muay Thai camps, expect you to do this run before each training session so make sure to bring trainers on your holiday!

What can I expect if I learn Muay Thai at the Lamai camp?

When you’ve finished your run, you can stretch out and get ready for the real work to begin. Most of the guys and girls will wrap their hands to protect their wrists at this point and get to work shadow boxing. If you are training for a fight, you will be separated from the mainstream class and taken aside to receive more intense tuition from the more experience trainers. Expect to be pitted against existing veterans if you are planning on fighting during your time here.

By this point, most of the class will have returned from their run and the class will formally begin. One trainer will lead the class and assistant Krus will patrol the trainees, correcting their technique and ensuring that any bad mistakes they are making don’t become engrained. They will also make sure you are putting the work in. If the lead trainer demands 10 pushups, then you better give him 10 pushups!

What does the Muay Thai class do after shadow boxing ?

After 20 minutes of shadow boxing, you will pair off with a similarly-sized and hopefully experienced partner. The lead trainer will then demonstrate a number of related techniques to the class and give you a few minutes to put them to work with your sparring partner. Again, the trainers will patrol the class and make sure you understand what you are supposed to be doing and fix any bad habits you might be developing.

After 30 minutes of technique, you’ll usually practice clinching (neck wrestling) with your partner. Clinching is used extensively in Muay Thai fighting so it’s vital that you know what to do if your opponent decides to get in close and personal. You’ll then do some light sparring with your partner before finally a one-on-one pad session with a trainer. They will push you harder at this point (when you are already exhausted) than at any other during the workout and will expect at least 2, 3-minute rounds from you. Again, if you are preparing for a fight, this will be even more intense and they will demand 3 or more rounds from you.

Muay Thai training on Ko Samui is really easy to find and the island features 3 high-class Muay Thai gyms and even an MMA gym. The camps are perfectly setup for tourists wanting to try Muay Thai out for the first time or veteran fighters with years of experience wanting to fight professionally whilst living in Thailand.

Can I train at Lamai Muay Thai camp as a beginner?

Most people who train at the gyms have a bit of experience with Muay Thai and will spend a few months on Ko Samui training intensely twice a day, six times a week. Don’t let that put you off if you are just passing through though. The trainers who run the camps are great at pushing you when you need to be pushed but backing off before the lesson becomes too intense and making sure that you leave each session completely exhausted, but feeling as though you have learnt something new.

On the other hand, if you are after regular fights in Chaweng or Petch Buncha stadium, the gyms on the island can offer just that. Lamai Muay Thai has a number of top flight fighters who compete regularly not only in Ko Samui but all over Thailand and in some cases elsewhere in the World.

How long do training sessions at Lamai Muay Thai last for?

Training sessions usually take place for about 2 hours in the morning and again for 2 hours in the early evening. The camps will usually have a few Thais floating around during the day but for the most part, the trainers and the fighters avoid the heat of the day. Ko Samui gets both hot and humid depending on the time of year and the island sees heavy rains that lead to floods at least once a year.

What is the atmosphere at Lamai Muay Thai like?

The student to teacher ratios are kept low so there is always someone nearby to correct your technique or push you that little bit harder when you feel like giving up. Most importantly for beginners, they will ensure your sparring partner isn’t getting too heavy handed and will take them aside for a bit of a beating if they take things too far. If you are preparing for a fight, you get even more attention from the trainers who see your victory or defeat as a measure of their own ability.

What does a typical training session at Lamai Muay Thai include?

The typical training session includes:

• Run (about a mile if you are new, a couple of miles if you are fighting)
• Solo shadow boxing
• Guided shadow boxing
• Padded leg-only sparring with a partner
• Padded full-body sparring
• Clinching with your partner
• Hitting the pads with a Kru for two rounds