Boost For Thai Boxing

[george]

BOOST FOR THAI BOXING

Fairtex training camp proving very popular abroad; even Mike Tyson is considering switching to Muay Thai

The name Fairtex Thai boxing camp may not ring any bells with the Thai public.

However the camp, in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli District, is proving very popular with foreigners for its intensive private training courses.

The camp's owner, Banchong Busarakumwong, said its rising popularity has led him to open another branch in Pattaya after setting up another such facility in Japan.

It was his love of Thai martial arts which made him decide to establish the camp about 20 years ago.

Before that, he ran a boxing camp in Soi Suan Phlu which turned out to be a flop. He once had a camp in the US when his son studied in that country. The business lasted three years.

But those failures did not stop his passion for Thai boxing. Ten years ago he began to offer free Thai boxing training, and then low-cost training, for foreigners.

``I want to promote Thai boxing among foreigners,'' he said.

Mr Banchong invested around 30 million baht in the camp in Bang Phli, which includes a fitness centre, and almost 400 million baht in the Pattaya camp. He also owns a boxing equipment factory, which produces all kinds of boxing gear. Apart from those kept for use within the camps, the products are for export only.

There are 20 rooms at the Bang Phli camp, which can accommodate 60 boxing students, while the Pattaya branch has 50 rooms.

The monthly tuition fees, which includes food and accommodation, ranges from 900 to 1,200 baht per person, depending on the room type.

Currently, there are 40 students at the Bang Phli camp. However, some 80 boxing enthusiasts have booked a place within the next two months.

``Some will have to train in our Pattaya camp,'' Mr Banchong said.

Most students are foreigners with different motives. Some want to improve their martial arts skills, while others aspire to become professional boxers. A few join the course because they want to lose weight.

Somboon Lilahasuwan, 50, Mr Banchong's younger brother and the boxing camp's manager, said the students are from several countries, including the USA, Holland, Finland, Italy, France and Australia. There is no time frame for the course.

Mr Somboon said Fairtex is set to become a brand and reach out to the international market. It has cooperated with the World Boxing Council (WBC) in making lists of foreign boxers who are good at Thai boxing in a bid to promote Thai boxing and Thai martial arts all over the world. Mr Somboon said he learned from the WBC that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is considering switching to Thai boxing and coming for training at the Fairtex camp.

Tyson's manager was said to have visited the camp and expressed satisfaction with the facilities.

Thanes Honchaiyaphum, a trainer, said he practised Thai boxing here for 16 years before becoming a trainer four years ago. Better known as Fanta Fairtex, the 27-year-old trainer teaches students in different ways, depending on their shapes and interests.

He said it is easier to teach Thais as there is no language barrier. Training for students starts in the morning, restarts at 4pm and ends at 6pm.

The training includes practising, watching video footage of important boxing matches, and discussions.

There are about 20 trainers, mostly former boxers. The oldest trainer is the legendary Apidej Sithiran, 64, alias Bang Nok Khwaek Kicking Champion. The youngest one is only 19. The ages of the students range from 6 to 25.

Vivek Nakarmi, a boxing student from the US who has been learning Thai boxing for two months, said he chose the camp after hearing about its good private training from a friend who was a former student.

``I'll practise at Fairtex for one month and come back if there's a chance. When I learned Thai boxing in America, there was only one trainer and students had to practise by themselves,'' he said.

``A class lasts for only one hour, while at Fairtex students can have private training, practise on stage for four hours and with punchbags for three hours, and can continue practising themselves if they want.''

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-19

Related link: Thai Boxing forum

[mnoorsapl]

" even Mike Tyson is considering switching to Muay Thai "

Private lesson with Nong Toome.

[thaibebop]

Makes me want to go over there so bad. Where I am at there is no Mauy Thai.