We spent the night in the really cheap hotel John and I had stayed in when we first arrived in Bangkok to save some pennies then Jacqueline spent her last day shopping for gifts. We relaxed in the afternoon and then Jacqueline got a bus to the airport in the evening where she would spent the night before flying out in the morning. I went to another area in Bangkok called Ratchadapisek where I would join a Muay Thai Boxing club for a week.
I found the club in the guide book and it was called Jitti Gym. It cost just 700 baht (about £10.50) a day which included a bed for the night, breakfast, dinner and bottled water (something I found out is not free at other clubs), plus all the training sessions. The club was a real family affair and everyone there was so welcoming. One of the trainers Serm and his wife lived at the gym facility and his wife did all the cooking which was fantastic and you could eat as much as you liked. Getting rice for breakfast the first day was strange but you are so hungry and the food is so nice I didn't think about it after that. There young son Phet was always running about causing mischief and it was just a great atmosphere as there were always people around.
There were several other Europeans at the club who were doing the home stay option like me however they all had martial art or Muay Thai experience. There were also a group of Thai lads staying at the club who had all been practicing Muay Thai boxing since they were 1 foot high by the looks of things at training. Many other people came and trained at the facility, especially in the afternoon sessions which were really busy and it wasn't just men training either there were several women.
Each day we would go for a run in the morning just before 7am but would get the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport or underground/tube to you and me) to Chatuchak Park which was a massive park with lakes inhabited by Monitor lizards! We went out here to avoid the dogs on the streets of Bangkok which chase you as I already knew too well. After we return to the gym for some light pad work and conditioning drills before grabbing a shower and breakfast at about 11am. Then we would generally sleep for a few hours, grab a snack, and sleep some more before afternoon training started at 3pm. The afternoon session lasted 3 hours and comprised a warm up with the jump ropes and some stretching before some shadow boxing. Then pad work and bag work and clinch work before doing some more conditioning work involving sit ups press ups and weights before a warm down and stretch. At this point I was shattered and would grab a shower before dinner at 7pm. In the evening we would normally watch a movie and went out a couple of times including to watch one of the gyms members Adam, fight in the big Muay Thai stadium in Bangkok where he defeated his opponent by way of knockout.
The first two days I coped quite well and had energy but after that the schedule really took its toll on me. From not really doing any fitness work for 6 months (except a few runs prior to coming to the camp) 6 hours training a day was tough. In the afternoon session especially I found myself so drained. When we would be in the ring with the instructors who had pads on for us to kick and punch, I could last two rounds and would then just have nothing left. The humidity really got to me; I sweated so much it was just funny. Everyone else thought I had run a marathon or something, even just after a warm up I would be dripping and slip on the mats as I was so sweaty. It was funny for everyone else but wound me up as I couldn't keep my balance when on the mats! I got to the camp weighing about 73kg and weighed myself on the third day after the afternoon training session and was 65kg! Obviously a lot of that change was water loss but it really is a great way to lose weight training so hard in such tough conditions.
I had a fabulous week at Jitti gym and picked up the basics of Muay Thai boxing. I really enjoyed the training but don't think I'll be taking up the sport as I think I'm better suited to running! I just want to say a big thank you to Jitti and everyone at the club for making me feel so welcome and having a brilliant time especially Serm and his Wife, Camron, Piset and Jitti himself.
I am expect a reply from you.
Thanks and regards
Jayapal K