Quote: (02-23-2013 04:01 AM)shibby Wrote:
I also looked into Escrima, or was it Arnis? Or are they same thing? Whatever it was, it looked pretty badass, and it's definitely something I am considering in the future. I was actually ready to book a ticket to Palawan and just do it, after being so frustrated with not finding a MT/MMA camp. However my main goals for this was 50% improving on MT which I had practiced back home and 50% on getting my 6pack back after the months of booze and partying. For that, a MT camp seemed the natural choice. I also got the impression that the type of person who would benefit most from only a short time learning escrima were the more experienced martial artists who could concentrate solely on the technical and spend less time lifting weight/doing cardio etc. I derived all this from my very comprehensive research of 30 mins on youtube.
I totally agree with you on the cliche muay thai tourist thing, people wanting to avoid the beaten track while inadvertently making the muay thai track one of the most beaten in thailand. imo it still is a great way to get in shape and learn something new, albeit a little touristy and overdone. This largely depends on the camp itself, however.
Here's a plan for you (albeit from a guy who doesn't know muay thai).
Coach John Wooden became legendary because he drilled players, even the best of the best, on the basics. No matter what level they were at, he had them do the basics, over and over and over and over and over.
You could do the same in Phils. Practice the basics of muay thai until they become absolutely natural to you. Until you've perfected them. Boring but effective.
Focus on physical training as much as possible when not doing this, to get in great shape. And study eskrima on the side to learn something new (not to mention I'm sure they value and train for all-around fitness as well).
If you're dead set on getting some muay thai sparring in, put together your own group of guys to practice - I'm sure plenty of other travelers in the area want the same thing, and they may even have their own thing going already.
Barring that, as it may not be ideal for you, why avoid Thailand? If it's the tourist track you're worried about, you can surely find a place that's not so played out. Or go to Myanmar or Laos and find a local fighter with passable English to give you Muay Lao or Muay Bhurma lessons. Both bad-ass sports that are similar to Muay thai. Prawdal Serey, in Cambodia, is another choice - I believe it's the fighting style from which muay thai originated.
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling
