Namsaknoi Gym?

[RichardN7]

reviews/opinions?

 

[Mongoosemk12]

Interested and hope someone has some info. I just recently started watching his videos and I LOVE how he cuts off the ring and makes people move the way he wants them to move.

 

[RichardN7]

Interested and hope someone has some info. I just recently started watching his videos and I LOVE how he cuts off the ring and makes people move the way he wants them to move.

There is far too little info on it. I am hesitant of going there as I feel I'm going to this small island blind. No info on on-site accommodation, number of fighters, etc.
Just doesn't seem established like other gyms. Yet, the few reviews there are are overwhelmingly positive.
I'm probably doing a trip in late July to either Sitmonchai or Namsaknoi's.
Really hope someone here can shed some light on how things are there.
I've written them and will update the thread if I have relevant info.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

It's a gym for tourists on a tourist party island. He might be a great coach, but most people there are going to be tourists.

 

[RichardN7]

It's a gym for tourists on a tourist party island. He might be a great coach, but most people there are going to be tourists.

Do you know that from experience?
They have a winning fight team and plenty of western pro and amateur fighters seem to go there for training...

 

[Mongoosemk12]

It's a gym for tourists on a tourist party island. He might be a great coach, but most people there are going to be tourists.

I don't do the islands either due to tourists, but that doesn't mean it should be written off immediately. I'd imagine it's like most gyms though. You typically get out of it what you put in. Anyone going there for a few weeks or a few months isn't going to be taken seriously by Thai trainers. If you show you are serious (never miss a session or quit on them) and learn a little Thai, you might be able to get a little extra attention that might make it worthwhile.

 

[RichardN7]

I don't do the islands either due to tourists, but that doesn't mean it should be written off immediately. I'd imagine it's like most gyms though. You typically get out of it what you put in. Anyone going there for a few weeks or a few months isn't going to be taken seriously by Thai trainers. If you show you are serious (never miss a session or quit on them) and learn a little Thai, you might be able to get a little extra attention that might make it worthwhile.

Well I'll be going for about three weeks.
What do you mean by 'not taken seriously'?

 

[Mongoosemk12]

They know you are only around for maybe 1-2 fights at best so often it's not worth their time/energy from a financial standpoint. Your own trainer may bet on you in a fight (or even against you) so there is a financial aspect to the relationship that often times gets overlooked. I didn't mean you won't get good training, but it will be different than if you stayed for a year or two with the same trainer. Let me know how the training is, I am super curious and I hope you enjoy the hell out of it.

 

[Uchi Mata]

I don't do the islands either due to tourists, but that doesn't mean it should be written off immediately. I'd imagine it's like most gyms though. You typically get out of it what you put in. Anyone going there for a few weeks or a few months isn't going to be taken seriously by Thai trainers. If you show you are serious (never miss a session or quit on them) and learn a little Thai, you might be able to get a little extra attention that might make it worthwhile.

You don't think that depends on the gym? Tiger Muay Thai is on the islands, but they're starting to get a lot more short term traffic from fighters (mostly MMA) going over to learn for short periods of time and the reviews seem pretty good thus far. Of course, it's not anything like a trad MT gym.

 

[Mongoosemk12]

You don't think that depends on the gym? Tiger Muay Thai is on the islands, but they're starting to get a lot more short term traffic from fighters (mostly MMA) going over to learn for short periods of time and the reviews seem pretty good thus far. Of course, it's not anything like a trad MT gym.

I'm sure it depends on the gym as well as the trainers there. I've had long time trainers who seemingly wanted nothing to do with me (I was too old at 30), and others who had only been there a couple weeks but took really good care of me. The latter really helped me define my individual style and tools. I've heard super mixed reviews about the quality and attention at Tiger Muay Thai. The people I personally know who have enjoyed it though aren't really folks I would consider "fighters". Mostly people who want to look tough or get attention on Facebook. Also women who had Thai trainers take them under their wing because they are "naturals" XD Had nothing to do with the trainer wanting a piece of that white ass I'm sure lol. That is simply my anecdotal experience though, and I have not personally been there. If I was going to spend that kind of money though I would skip Thailand all together and head to Evolve in Singapore where there are less people and named high quality trainers. I have no clue who is training at Tiger, but I know the fights they put people in are laughable.

 

[RichardN7]

I'm sure it depends on the gym as well as the trainers there. I've had long time trainers who seemingly wanted nothing to do with me (I was too old at 30), and others who had only been there a couple weeks but took really good care of me. The latter really helped me define my individual style and tools. I've heard super mixed reviews about the quality and attention at Tiger Muay Thai. The people I personally know who have enjoyed it though aren't really folks I would consider "fighters". Mostly people who want to look tough or get attention on Facebook. Also women who had Thai trainers take them under their wing because they are "naturals" XD Had nothing to do with the trainer wanting a piece of that white ass I'm sure lol. That is simply my anecdotal experience though, and I have not personally been there. If I was going to spend that kind of money though I would skip Thailand all together and head to Evolve in Singapore where there are less people and named high quality trainers. I have no clue who is training at Tiger, but I know the fights they put people in are laughable.

Definitely avoid Evolve.
I went there for a month while I was visiting family in Singapore. 600 dollars/month for hitting pads on a coveyer belt. 45 minute session with 15 minute warm-up = 30 minutes training. Pathetic.
Also, as an amateur fighter, I go there and they tell me I can't spar until I get at least 100 hours of training in... wtf...
I went and found another gym in Singapore which was a lot more Thai style. Granted, the trainers weren't Pornsanae and Yodsanan, but they definitely were a lot more invested and down to earth.
Money =/= quality in some cases.

 

[Mongoosemk12]

Definitely avoid Evolve.
I went there for a month while I was visiting family in Singapore. 600 dollars/month for hitting pads on a coveyer belt. 45 minute session with 15 minute warm-up = 30 minutes training. Pathetic.
Also, as an amateur fighter, I go there and they tell me I can't spar until I get at least 100 hours of training in... wtf...
I went and found another gym in Singapore which was a lot more Thai style. Granted, the trainers weren't Pornsanae and Yodsanan, but they definitely were a lot more invested and down to earth.
Money =/= quality in some cases.

That's good to know. You're the first person I've heard from who has actually trained there, too bad that sounds like a cash grab as well. No sparring for 100 hrs is crazy, I'd be curious to know their reasoning behind that. I did a private at Sitsongpeenong and it was kind of similar. One hour session, but the trainer was 15 min late, had me warm up with 15 min jump rope, then just walked around the ring semi-holding pads for the next half hour. Not sure I'd head back their either lol.

 

[RichardN7]

That's good to know. You're the first person I've heard from who has actually trained there, too bad that sounds like a cash grab as well. No sparring for 100 hrs is crazy, I'd be curious to know their reasoning behind that. I did a private at Sitsongpeenong and it was kind of similar. One hour session, but the trainer was 15 min late, had me warm up with 15 min jump rope, then just walked around the ring semi-holding pads for the next half hour. Not sure I'd head back their either lol.

How was Sitsongpeenong aside from this private? I'm interested as it's on my list of gyms to visit... What with Sittichai's successes and all. Just seems like the curse of these Thai gyms getting international renown results in a serious decrease in training quality. Go train at Tiger or Sinbi which have been westernized to hell, and compare that to Kiatmoo9 Gym... Haven't been to either but I'll bet the difference is astounding.

As for Evolve - I have no idea. When I asked why, the staff were like 'when the instructors say you're ready, then you can spar' so I thought 'OK, I'll just stick to the whole pads and bags, 45-minute shit for a few days until they notice I've had training and promote me' but that never happened.
FYI, class was 5 min running around the gym, 10 min rope, then the instructor calls out some basic combos (1-2, 1-2-3, step forward, left block) and you follow as a group. Then you split up into groups, 3 ppl/instructor, and you all do the same pre-set combo on the pads for 5 minutes. Then its 50 kicks on the bags, 100 knees and some push-ups, sit-ups. No clinching technique. Far from pure Thai-style training.
I was in a class with old ladies and kids who have been doing this for a few weeks/months at most. Then some American guy who trained at Sityodtong in Thailand (they are partners with Evolve, half the Sityodtong guys are trainers at Evolve) told me it takes 100 training sessions before they let you spar... And looking at the sparring class at Evolve, those kids weren't good. I don't want to sound like a douche, but I know I was far ahead of those guys. And I don't want to come off as arrogant or thinking that I know better than guys like Pornsanae or Yoddecha, but I should have been let to spar. I felt like the trainers, while very experienced, were just disinterested as hell in us. Just going through the motions and sticking to a very rigid system with NO exceptions made.
I've no doubt the experience they share with the fight team is invaluable and the training they put the pros through is top-notch, but I guess amateur fighters like me don't get to benefit from that. Too bad, I was stoked about going there.
Gym I ended up going to there was out in the open, Thai-style. About 1/8th of the price. No Thai legends for instructors. In fact, most of the coaches were active pro fighters. I still learned a lot more there and found it to be a much more caring environment... You don't always get what you pay for.

 

[RichardN7]

For those interested, I heard back from NSN Muay Thai and the price for training + accommodation (including 2 meals/day) at Namsaknoi is 6500 baht/week. Not bad. Cheaper than Sitmonchai, which is my other top choice. It'll be high season in July/August when I plan on being there. Think that'll affect the training?

 

[Mongoosemk12]

I trained at Master Toddy's which a ton of people talk shit about, but as long as you realize that whole persona is a marketing tool and tv character it's not bad at all. He is much different in person than on his cheesy youtube videos. He is a businessman at heart. I only paid 15,000 baht a month for both training and my room which was just above the gym. I got a discount because I told them ahead of time I would be there for a while, and they only required that I stay at least two months. All my trainers were former champions, and there are always random golden era fighters there (dieselnoi, two brothers from porponsawong, and aikpracha meenayothin used to be by quite a bit too). Master Toddy knows a ton of people and they show up to train a bit or occasionally hold pads just for fun. They took exceptional care of me overall, and I've never had anyone say something negative about my technique. The only downside to that gym in my opinion is that there isn't a lot of conditioning, and I wish there had been more clinching. You will get clinching if you ask for it, or if any of the Thai kids are getting ready for a fight. You are expected to run on your own in the mornings/night, we just formed little groups and would run by ourselves around the neighborhood. I have heard nothing but good stuff about Sitmonchai and have a couple of friends who have trained there. Any gym you can find with one on one training where they trainers care is the best in my opinion. Individual care is where you are going to make the biggest improvements and get the most for your money.

I would give Sitsongpeenong a second chance if I were going to be there longer. When I went it was kind of an impromptu trip and I didn't go to Thailand intending to train (I got detoured from Vietnam). The facility is very nice, but it was quite expensive from what I saw. Not much around there, so you are kind of forced to eat from the kitchen on site which has western prices for a lot of the food. I'm sure you can catch motorbike taxis to somewhere else, but I wasn't there long enough to figure out if there were any around.

It's gonna be hot as shit there in July/August. There actually may be less people training during high season due to the heat, so that may work out better for you. Keep us posted, we can all always use up to date info on camps (hahaha glad you gave me the run down on Evolve.

 

[Wololo]

It's a gym for tourists on a tourist party island. He might be a great coach, but most people there are going to be tourists.

I was there for 2 months, I dont really agree with that.

The vast majority of people that I met there went for the same reason as me. They saw his videos and wanted to know more. During my time there, I would say that the majority of people training were active fighters, professional or amateur in their own countries.

 

[Wololo]

It'll be high season in July/August when I plan on being there. Think that'll affect the training?

I spoke to namsaknoi yesterday, he said the gym has been pretty quiet as of late. In March/April when I was there, the most people in a class was 26 (once) for 6 instructors, averaged 15-20 people most of the time.

 

[Wololo]

They know you are only around for maybe 1-2 fights at best so often it's not worth their time/energy from a financial standpoint. Your own trainer may bet on you in a fight (or even against you) so there is a financial aspect to the relationship that often times gets overlooked. I didn't mean you won't get good training, but it will be different than if you stayed for a year or two with the same trainer. Let me know how the training is, I am super curious and I hope you enjoy the hell out of it.

I don't agree with that also, I fought once while I was there (lost Dec), but I got so much time with Namsaknoi. I never once got the feeling that he would bet against me, or not give a damn about me because I wasn't there long. He's very passionate about his students and in my experience, goes above and beyond what I expected of him.

 

[DoctorTaco]

I was there for 2 months, I dont really agree with that.

The vast majority of people that I met there went for the same reason as me. They saw his videos and wanted to know more. During my time there, I would say that the majority of people training were active fighters, professional or amateur in their own countries.

this is encouraging

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

Namsaknoi announced that he will no longer be teaching at the gym. He is leaving in November. Guess he didn't own the gym.