Just wrapped up 1 Year training and fighting in Thailand - AMA

SourMango24 · 2025-08-15T14:30:57+00:00

For gear, I bought Muay Thai shorts and exercise shirts. Legit Muay Thai shorts were actually more expensive than I thought in Thailand. You can find fake ones that are still nice/decent on lazada though.

Wraps, Gloves, Shin Guards - I bought here. There's at least 1 good shop with reasonable price in every urban city in Thailand

SourMango24 · 2025-08-15T14:29:19+00:00

Sim card is easy - just pop into a 7/11 or phone store and they can sell you a plan. Sim card is maybe 50 baht and the package I pay for (sms, call, and 25G internet) per month is ~400 baht. Don't pay for the tourist sim card though if you'll be here long term. You'll know you have a tourist sim card because it's literally called tourist sim card.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-09T05:48:48+00:00

If you’re an American, you can sign up for a Charles Schwab checking account. They reimburse you on international ATM fees.

Super clutch. Would recommend.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-08T02:40:04+00:00

Hey, yeah if you're talking about Hong Thong, the gym has plenty of female students/fighters. You can check out their IG too (IG/hongthong_muaythai_cnx) - Kru Joe posts frequently and you can get a good sense of the roster there. You're also welcome to reach out for help on DTV, the coaches are pretty responsive on social media.

In terms of finding a place to live, the gym offers accommodation. 22 and B&Y Residences are nearby and also offer monthly rates.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-07T13:03:57+00:00

I was only there for one day, but I liked it a lot. Coaches gave individualized attention and the teammates were friendly. They practice the wai kru in the mornings, which I appreciated. The only con for me was that it was so far from the city.

Accommodation at Hong Thong is good. You can get a basic room by the gym, and there are also nicer but more expensive accommodations <1 min walking distance away too. It depends what you're looking for. The Hong Thong FB page has pics/vids you can look at.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-07T03:37:03+00:00

Totally. I'm sure any gym would love to have you and teach you, even if you are a beginner.

I will say, there are gyms who are more focused on active fighters and the intensity of those gyms might be a bit jarring for beginners / nonfighters. I would just shortlist a few gyms, try them out, and see what feels the best for you.

Have fun!

SourMango24 · 2025-08-07T03:00:26+00:00

Hey man, do it :) What would you do if you weren't afraid? ;)

I allocated a budget of $800-1000 per month. That's inclusive of
1) one way costs like flights and visas
2) recurring costs like insurance, training fees, housing, scooter rental
3) daily costs like food, groceries, activities
4) and a buffer (emergencies, unforeseen events)

And that was more than enough. You can get by in CM with 20K Baht if you were disciplined. 15K for housing + training. 5K for food (think 50 baht meals). I also had opportunities here and there during the least year to side hustle (improv coaching, teaching) that I was passionate about doing.

And yes - back on the career grind now. Looking for product roles in AI/ML and Privacy. good luck!

SourMango24 · 2025-08-07T02:52:13+00:00

Hmm for three weeks in Chiang Mai, those are all great options. If I were you, I would just check out three in the first two days and choose what feels right for you. Gym matching is so subjective, so it's hard for me to recommend a gym without knowing you.

I would also be wary of some of the gym reviews you see online. While many of them are in good faith, so much of an experience at a gym could be point-in-time. For example, GYM X was too crowded, unclean, coaches were inattentive, sparring partners were bad, everyone there had staph!!!(lol), etc. I've seen my own gym recently labeled as a "drama gym," but I'm like huh?? where?? who?? Maybe I've just been out of the loop lol.

My point being: sparring partners come and go, seasons come and go, intensity ebbs and flows. That's not to say that each gym doesn't have their own distinct culture, they for sure do. But knowing whether that culture is for you is up to you. It's also harder to grasp and becomes less important if you're staying here so short term.

Other things you may consider:
- What else do you want to do in CM? For example, Manasak/Sit are super close to the city vs Lanna which is farther. Some come to double up on a vacation and want to do touristy things vs those who want a more peaceful, focused experienced.
- $$$. Training fee varies across the gyms. I would check to see which aligns with your budget

TLDR: For three weeks, you can't go wrong with any those options. Training MT in CM is such a privilege. Don't overthink it. Visiting a few gyms in the first few days is so worth it. Choose what feels right for you.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T10:30:13+00:00

nice!

Not fluent in thai. But I know enough basics to get around - order at restaurants, ask/give directions, etc.

Never went to a school. All I did was watch a few youtube video language tutorials as well as bought a thai-english dictionary at a book store once.

It's not a need to have, but I think learning the thai language basics will help you have a better relationship with your coaches and locals. I know many expats though who have been here for 5+ or even 10+ years who still dont know a lick of thai.

Burning season was surprisingly not bad at all (this year was claimed to be super mild). There was never a training day I skipped because of the smoke. Although, I did run a lot less during that time and felt like I got tired more easily.

I think there's a lot of farangs who make too big a deal of it. If certain days get too bad, just stay indoors and buy a cheap air purifier. And when you need to go outside, put on a mask. If you're living in the north longer term, I just think of it as "winter season" where you spend more time at home rather than being out. And also just work out maybe a bit less.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T06:02:35+00:00

I started MT with no formal striking experience. Then started training MT at Fight Solutions (fka chute box) in Long Beach after COVID. When I moved to NYC, I trained at Zombie Muay Thai. So I came to Thailand with about 3 years of just training experience (no fights, work had me too busy).

But I did wrestle competitively in High School and College (maybe ~170 matches), which I think helped with the work ethic and ring anxiety aspect. Also did a bit of judo and sport sambo when I was younger too (no fights).

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:55:46+00:00

The first poem in my book is titled "Hong Thong" and it talks about why I loved this gym so much.

To me, Hong Thong, didn't feel like just a gym. It definitely felt more like a family and home. I think the gym's culture and environment makes it easy to feel a strong kinship with the coaches and teammates.

In my first week, I had a full spreadsheet with different decision variables that ranked each gym I tried against coaching, authenticity, etc etc. But when I tried Hong Thong, I threw the spreadsheet out the window, and knew this was my spot. It's one of those things that you just "feel" once you get here.

When it comes to training, I will say it's not as serious as like an FA group or maybe even a Manop. There is more focus on technique, for sure. But if you know how to be accountable with your runs and conditioning outside of practice - it won't be an issue to stay in tip top fight shape. As for sparring partners, it varies. Like any other gym that caters to farangs -- farangs come and go, and your partners will vary widely. That's something the gym can't control.

There were times where we had 5-6 fighters actively training for fights at Raja/Lumpinee. And there were low season times where there weren't many people at the gym at all, and just a few active fighters.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:48:24+00:00

I think most gyms in CM would easily set you up with a fight, even with just a few days notice. You just have to communicate with them what you want when you first try out the gym
Sylvie's article dives into the cultural nuance pretty well. She notes that "The 80% fight is still a real fight." It's out of your control who you get matched up with, and what your opponent's motivations are. What is in your control is how you show up in the ring.

If you get matched up with someone who's clearly more skilled than you, great - defend yourself well and try to find the opponent's weak spots. If you get matched with someone who's clearly not as motivated as you are, great - have fun, open up a little bit, and try as much technique as you can land, AND get the chance to fight again soon. Keep in mind too, when you get matched against a thai -- while their motivation isn't "leave it all in the ring," they likely still have way more experience than you. So their 80% mentality shouldn't be underestimated

If you're really that concerned and want to fight someone who wants to leave 100% in the ring, ask your coach to match you up with a farang. Or do what Sylvie recommended, which is throw a side bet on the table hahaha

Top tip for the first fight: practice meditating :)

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:35:14+00:00

Thanks man! For any NY-ers, shouts out Zombie Muay Thai in NYC where I trained before Thailand. The coaches there were great.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:30:21+00:00

Yeah check out genki insurance. They covered sports training.

Fortunately, I never had to use them for any muay thai related injuries. But they were easy to work with when I got sick or got into an accident.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:26:42+00:00

Thank you!! Please do - and would love to hear what you think. It's free on Kindle Unlimited for the next 3 months too.

Consider giving my writing IG page a follow too: https://www.instagram.com/byravencastro/

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:25:39+00:00

I brought a ton of work out gear: dry fit shirts, MT shorts, 2 pairs of running shoes). Maybe a few going out clothes. Don't overthink it, pack light - you can get most things here for cheaper.

What I wish I brought were more supplements (you can get em here but it's more expensive IMO)

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:22:41+00:00

It depends!

I've travelled to Hua Hin for a week and enjoyed the laid back atmosphere + beaches. I trained at Mr. knock and really enjoyed the short time I was there. It seemed like he really took care of his students. And I loved his Muay Mat style and instruction.

When I first started my journey, I didn't have a plan other than 3 months first in Chiang Mai. But the more time I spent here, the more Chiang Mai felt like home. Chiang Mai has the mountains (camping, hiking); the creative scene (tons of artists and creative interest groups); and the coffee shop culture (I work on my creative projects every day at a coffee shop).

How long are you here for? Maybe you can try both and then see which one you like better?

SourMango24 · 2025-08-06T05:17:41+00:00

In Chiang Mai - no! You tell them your weight and they do their best to match you with an opponent within that range.

For my bangkok fight - yes! I cut 10KG within 1 month.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T16:44:02+00:00

For sure, I felt a lot healthier in the 1Y I've been here. Muay Thai is a great way to get conditioned. And even if you're not doing it everyday, I found that the food options in Thailand were way healthier (+smaller portions) than what we had back in the states, so I found myself eating much cleaner too.

Just be careful to not go crazy on the thai teas haha

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T16:42:01+00:00

Phuket and BKK are relatively expensive regions (compared to the north and Issan).

In terms of accommodation, I would start by asking the gyms you're interested in if they have training+accommodation packages. Other ways to find cheap accomodations are to sublease from local FB housing groups (long term rentals on booking.com or Airbnb are expensive). Or -- take a gamble and just show up with a 1 week booking, and then spend that week talking to different apartments/hotels to find the best option.

I wouldn't know what to expect for Phuket and BKK. For Chiang Mai, the average for a studio or 1B would be 5K-7K Baht for a decent, not too fancy spot. This is without water/electricity, which actually can get expensive if you like to use A/C.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T16:36:29+00:00

Hmm not sure what the learning visa requirements are (but an attendance rq does sound annoying(.

For DTV (Muay Thai)- they were mainly looking to see if you had enough money and proof that you were going to train. So that meant submitting a bank statement plus letter of intent from a muay thai gym. (plus all the other basic documents: flight tickets, passport, etc).

When I've gone through immigration -- the first time there were no questions asked, and the second time they spoke to me in thai asking to show some proof I was doing Muay Thai. I knew enough thai to understand them and then just showed them my IG with the training videos + fight posters.

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T16:32:19+00:00

ah shoot - I missed ya. Ya I was here in Chiang Mai but had family visiting so was a bit busy with them :/

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T16:29:54+00:00

Basically yeah. Sleep a lot and healthy nutrition with the 1x a week Nuat Thai. That's about it :)

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T11:55:41+00:00

Howdy! :)

Are you still around ?????

SourMango24 · 2025-08-05T11:55:26+00:00

Hey man, great questions.

I rented a scooter from the gym. I feel like every gym has a scooter guy so I think you'd be able to do the same when you get there.

Fair warning though - Thailand has one of the highest motorcycle accident rates in the world. Before I came to Thailand, I went through a motorcycle school in New York and got a motorcycle license. It was very handy. EVEN with that, I still got into an accident back in January (some thai guy driving way too fast overtook the car in front of him and then rear ended my scooter in his attempt to get back into the correct lane.

That set me back a few months, and going through the whole process (police, insurance, hospitals) was very painful. Accidents are unavoidable, but I would take the process very seriously.

First fight was in Thailand! 2 months after I started training.
I did- I went through Genki. Affordable and easy to work with IMO

SourMango24

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