GYM REPORT REVOLUTION MUAY THAI CAMP

REVOLUTION MUAY THAI CAMP PHUKET THAILAND

Hi Tim, good to see you´re keeping busy! So much going on I hear… Yes, it‘s exciting times. Revolution Muay Thai has now opened a strength and conditioning gym with Coach Wallis at Surin Beach. Training for athletic performance as well as body transformation and body balancing through resistance training. The Revolution fighters are busy, with Salim Ibragimov fighting for a WBC World Title in February and Magnus Andersson fighting Sudsakorn for the Lion Fight World Title at 72kg. Felipe Lobo, Lemac and Valeri Abramenko are all fighting at Rajadamnern Stadium on Petchyindee Promotions and in April Yurik and Lucas compete in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.

We are grateful to have some Superstar trainers back in the gym, with the return of Pettawee, Penthai and Pipah. These guys are living legends in Thailand and add strength to our team.

Revolution Promotions will present MTGP in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide this year, with Gavin Fuller presenting two shows in Perth. It‘s exciting times for Australian Muay Thai. MTGP will be viewed on UFC fight pass giving fighters and sponsors global exposure. MTGP is a fast growing global brand with shows all over the world in 2020. It will bring higher level fighters to Australia and also give Australian fighters more opportunities to fight on big shows overseas.

Your journey so far has taken you from a fighter in Australia to a gym owner, successful promoter, a world-class coach and now to the owner of a major gym in Thailand and a champion maker. What´s the secret? I have been very lucky to have trained with some fantastic coaches over the years and had great support from my

family and friends. Everyone will agree that plenty of hard work, determination and sacrifice are necessary to achieve your goals. A great team around you builds self-belief. I believe in my fighters and staffs dreams and help them believe that anything is possible. From that point it‘s just a matter of time before you reach your goals if you refuse to give up and keep believing.

Revolution Muay Thai has hit all the headlines in the past year or so, with many of your fighters picking up major accolades around the world. Tell us a little about your coaching team, I know there a few stars in there amongst them!

SAGADPET: Is a tough taskmaster that demands 100% every day. He is a former superstar with both Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium belts. He has a winning mentality and creates champions.

SAYANNOI: More technique than you can find on YouTube. Can develop all aspects of your game because he was a complete fighter. Also a Lumpinee Stadium and World Champion.

YODVISANU: Master of clinch and knee technique, with K-1 experience at the highest level having trained k1 Max Japanese Champion Masaaki Nori to become champion.

PENTHAI SINGPATONG : Little wizard with more tricks than Merlin, has an exciting punch and leg kick style. Penthai is a jovial character and always brings smiles to the training.

PETTAWEE: Passionate teacher and fighter. Advice for outside the ring as well as strategies and technique. Unbeatable at the peak of his powers in Bangkok. Has knockout wins over superstars PAKORN, SAM A and KANOR PK SAENCHAI and scored draws in classic fights with the likes of SAKSAN, THANONCHAI AND SUPERBANK.

SAKUNTHONG: Quietly spoken master of knees, popular with the girls and kids because he make everyone feel comfortable and confident.

SAKMONGKOL: Is the master of sweeps, be prepared to spend a lot of time trying to work out why you are back on your butt again!

SAMRANCHAI: Former superstar, master of the dark arts it seems. Highly skilled and highly recommended. Like a Ferrari of Muay Thai trainers, be prepared.

PIPAH: Living legend, 58 years old, still holds pads and passionately teaches his tricks. SAENCHAI, LERDSILA, SOMRACK, SKARBOWSKY AND YOUSEFF, some of the greatest, are all former students of Pipah.

What have been the biggest obstacles or hurdles along the way Tim, it surely wasn’t a given that the gym would be so successful so quickly… Thailand is a land if smiles but a difficult environment for business. Without my friend Tim Dhamajiva and his guidance and support I would not have even got started. I was lucky to have good advice from local businessman Khun Manus and local leader Khun Rnut too. Aside from that, I started with Pettawee and Yodvisanu and as we grew, we added more great fantastic trainers, with my family staff and together helping each other we all grew together. I gave the trainers wives jobs and we tried to keep all the families together and create a big family environment.

You told me “Revolution is for everyone” on my last visit to Phuket, so how is the training structured? One size fits all or select schedules depending on the students? People come to Thailand not just for Muay Thai. Often people want to reset themselves, reassess their lives, break bad habits and get into a healthy routine. They find Muay Thai lifestyle is the solution to many problems. We separate our beginners and intermediates from the professional fighters. We have 10 trainers so it‘s possible to divide people up. Pros need more physical training and beginners and intermediates have different limits and fitness levels and are usually looking to learn and improve and still be able to train the next day.

What´s the basic fight training like for serious fighters? Training is twice a day. We have a daily running program, and on different days it´s a different run. Supervised by a coach it´s a mix of distances, sprints, hills and stairs. Fighters spar two or three times per week boxing and Muay Thai. There are two strength and conditioning trainings with a coach two mornings a week, instead of Muay Thai.

What would you say has been your most memorable moment to date? 1. The presentation of the Lumpinee Stadium belt to Thongchai at the old Lumpinee Stadium. Standing up there with my best mate Tim it was a great moment for the two of us.

2. Holding down the ropes for Chadd Collins as the “Men at Work” song “Land Down Under” boomed in a packed stadium in Japan. Chadd went on to win a classic fight against the Japanese superstar Fukashi, and I lost my voice yelling instructions to Chadd.

3. Magnus Andersson in Sweden, when he got up from a knockdown, his face covered in blood, he smiled, stuck out his tongue and screamed a defiant battle cry. The packed event and all the Swedish fans felt the Viking Spirit, and the whole place erupted with wild cheering and chanting. Only a minute later, Petsanguan, the Thai superstar, was knocked out and Magnus crowned Lion Fight World Champion. It was Magnus´ first fight in Sweden after two years living in Thailand fighting the best Thais. The whole nation celebrated their Viking hero and it was a fitting result for a lot of hard work and sacrifices.

And to close - what makes a Champion Tim? To become a champion you need to be focused on your goals and bounce back from setbacks and defeats. It‘s important to know how to lose and make the necessary decisions and sacrifices to win. Everyday you need to make the right choices - running, training, eating correctly, avoiding distractions. If you never give up then you will reach your goals.

Thanks Tim – please answer our “5 Rounds” questions – and all the best mate! Favourite foreign fighter? Liam Harrison Favourite Thai? Petchpanarung Favourite food? Thai Favourite band/music? U2/Hip-Hop When I am old I want to: Be loved Happiness is: Sharing special moments with the ones that you love.

Email: revolutionphuket@gmail.com Phone: +66 8727 65024 Web: www.revolutionphuketgym.com facebook-square revolutiongymphuket