Rawai Testimonials

Dear Diana / Tuk / Lindsey / Jo Jo and Rawai Crew:

On behalf of Richard and I, I would like to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to train in the Rawai Gym environment – everyone was very kind and patient. It was an exceptional experience and one which we both will never forget. I certainly learnt a lot and such were the quality of the lessons I will now take this knowledge back to my College's Physical Education / Strength and Conditioning Programs and attempt to integrate parts.

I will indeed be returning to train again. Further, the Le Piman Resort was wonderful as was their staff (great suggestion).

As discussed before we left (Hehm) could Richard and I please be forwarded a certificate to say that we trained and participated in your programs for a period of 12 days? An email attachment to this address would be appreciated.

Kindest Regards,
Peter Thatcher

PS. I completed every session!! - Great trainers!

At the age of 14 I tried on boxing gloves for the first time. Six months later I participated in amateur city boxing championship in Tallin, Estonia. Next day I proudly demonstrated my shattered nose and ultraviolet bruise to my classmates. Most of the girls were dazed and since then I have always been in love with combat sports and have always been able to spend at least a couple of days a week in the gym (though with years watching HBO attracts me more than running up and down the hills in the mornings).

But approximately 6 years ago I suddenly found myself in the middle of whirlpool consisting of University studies, work, books and hundreds of delicious snacks masterly cooked by my lovely Korean wife. I had no time- and more important- no will to enter the gym.  And once I saw in the mirror a fat 30-year-old stranger dude whose potbelly was about the size of "Chevy Tahoe". That disgusting picture frightened the hell out of me.

So I decided to postpone all my "urgent businesses" and get back the real me. This is how I found myself in Rawai. I spent here two weeks (most of the time dying on the floor under the bag) for which I want to thank the wonderful Rawai Team. Thank you, guys, for everything. Most of all- for the boost you gave me.

I used to travel a lot and visited numerous fighting gyms in Germany, Sweden and Russia. Based on this experience I can claim that Rawai is indeed a great place to train no matter your goals or training backgrounds.

If you think that few days in the camp can possibly turn you into a fighter after years of fish-and-chips- beer- nightclub- office life you should keep watching your Harry Potter movie. But you can be 100% sure that even two weeks in Rawai will build up a solid foundation to continue trainings back home and you contaminate yourself with this unique virus that will demand you to come back.

The picture "before" was made on the day of arrival to Phuket in 2010. The picture "After"- nine months later and 13 kilos after. Today I run 7 kilometers six times a week then skip for 20 minutes and do some plyometrics stuff. I feel fitter than ever. 

Yesterday I bought a ticket on 7 of June back to Rawai. 

This is basically just to say a massive thanks. My first visit in October 2008 opened my eyes to many things and knew I was coming back the following year which I did in May/June 2009. Again I fell in love with Thailand and everything about it and also met a very nice lady who I'm still with and she even came and stayed in Scotland for a while and is planning on being back for Christmas so have you guys to thank for that as well. I knew I wanted to live there so when I got the chance from Tuk and yourself I jumped at it and gave up a very good job and came to fight for the gym. I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart I love Rawai and everybody there. I've met some great people whom I still stay in touch with and even visited one of them in L. A. 2 months ago.

I owe you guys so much for giving me the chance to live and fight for the gym so I'm ever in debt to you guys.

Please say hello and thanks to Wod & Ronnie for working with me. Without their teaching I would be nothing in the ring. Everything they taught me has worked so well since coming home and fighting MMA everybody goes straight to take me down and none of them stand up and fight me :(

Also thanks to all the other trainers there all great people. Also say hello to Nom for me he is a great kid and I wish him the best in his future fights.

Last but not least thanks to yourself and Tuk for giving me this experience. I'm a better person because of everything Thailand and the gym have done.

P.S. I'll be back on holiday next year as I can't stay away. Maybe even have a fight. I wish everyone else at the gym the best.

"I wanted to write something as a testimonial for your site, but also as I felt I needed to tell you all a huge thank you for the last few weeks!

Thank you and also to everyone at Rawai Muay Thai for the fantastic training and hospitality that I received while I was there over Christmas and New Year. I have trained in so many ways in boxing , Kick boxing and Muay Thai over the years, but I have not trained as long and hard as I did with the guys there yet with such a big smile on my face!!!

Thank you all again and I know I will see you all again very, very soon!"

Richard, January, 2011

I had the best time of my life at Rawai Muay Thai. I never trained so hard in my life. Training at Rawai Muay Thai was more than I ever imagined. The trainers are the best in the world and really know how to motivate you to be your best. The people I met have become some of my closest friends and I feel like I became a part of something very bug in a short time. My only regret is not staying longer. I will see you all very soon. Kob Khun Krab,

Lonnie Beck, USA.

Hey Diana,

I've been meaning to take a moment and write to you for a long time now, but I've been short on time.

Basically I just want to thank you, Tuk and all the trainers for giving me the opportunity to train at Rawai. It was a truly unique and amazing experience, the second I landed in Montreal I wanted to go back right away haha.

Honestly I'm having a hard time describing how awesome training at Rawai, and how much it actually changed my life. Before I came over, I was working in computers and I wasn't really satisfied with the jobs.

Training at Rawai made me realize that getting up every morning, working out and especially seeing the passion and dedication of the fighters and trainers was something I wanted to pursue. I've always been into sports, but honestly lacked the confidence to go ahead and try to make a career out of it. The trainers were truly confidence inspiring. So much that they convinced me to agree to fight in Thailand under pro rules as my first fight!

Anyways.. it's been quite a few months since then, but I decided to return to school and I'm currently attending a program called Physical Fitness Management in Ontario! The trainers and fighters have displayed such an awesome training etiquette that I've definitely brought that back to the gym in here, I've also had a few fights and competed quite a bit.

All this to say, thank you. Thanks to Tuk for managing the gym and arranging fights, and thanks to all the trainers. If you could transmit my thanks to Nee that would be awesome! I still watch the video that Cha-Cha took of my last private with Nee and I can't believe how much of an awesome time that was. Rawai truly changed my life, and I've been recommending the camp to everyone in the gym!

Carl

June 2010

Mark wrote: "I needed to experience authentic Muay Thai training. Also to show people back in Australia that at 48 Years old anyone can still train hard!"

The girls wrote: "We have been waiting to train at Rawai since February, when we booked our stay. The gym is awesome and we are really enjoying ourselves`and we're learning lots about Muay Thai. We are big fans of the sport and are glad to be able to experience it here at Rawai.

Thank you so much and keep up the good work!

P.S. We also hope to see Yud in Evolution in Brisbane later on this year.

Before and after shots of Murray from Australia

On March 2010 Murray wrote:

Just wanted to send you this email as I enjoyed my time here at the Gym. Can I start off by saying that what is written and listed on your website is a true reflexion of what happens here at the camp. The directions for food, laundry, beaches, etc, made it so easy for me. Accommodation is great in these deluxe bungalows. The ladies that clean our rooms are so polite and do an excellent job.

My goal was to lose 20 kilos and and at the end of my 2 months stay I lost 25 kilos! I am so happy with myself. It took hard work, healthy eating and plenty of rest. Stay off the drinking which is an easy trap to fall into. I firmly believe what you put in is what you get out. I completed the 4 Day full detox at the end and that gave me my edge. I had a much better understanding of different food groups and how they are processed in the body.

But my weight loss could not have been possible without the magnificent trainers. They were so helpful and very patient with me! Bang is the best at organising the training sessions. He is so much fun and really gets the best out of the class. All the trainers are of top class and experts in what they teach. I would personally like the mention Jang. I completed all my VIP sessions (can't remember how many - but heaps) with him. He knew of my goal and helped me all the way to reach it. He still taught me the technical side and most importantly worked me hard.

To you Diana, the girls and Cha Cha, many thanks as nothing was too hard and you assisted me in every way.Tuk runs a tight ship and all training sessions are to his high standards. The gym is well layed out and very clean. It has everything you need. In summary, I lost 25 kilos in 2 months. Starting weight 118kgs, current weight 93 kilos. Had a life changing experience and made a lot of friends here while training. Would love to come back but I don't know when. I will keep in touch through the website. To those that read this, Muzza's Golden Rules are listed below:

1) Complete both morning and afternoon sessions

2) Throw in a couple of VIPs during the week and work hard.

3) Stay off the alcohol! (you have plenty of time to drink when you get home).

4) Get plenty of sleep. (Late nights and drinking causes sickness)

5) Watch your diet. You can have 1 day a week for your favorites like pizza or sweets, you know what I mean.

6) Most of all HAVE FUN!  That is why you are here. All the best and take care Muzza.

Dan wrote on February 2010:

Hi Diana, I was going to come back training at Rawai, but have managed to get a job in the Middle East teaching a princess Muay Thai. I leave on Monday. Can you please thank Ot for al the VIPs. He's a great teacher. And thank you for running such a fun place to workout / live. I had a great time, and will come back again for sure.

Many thanks, Dan Roberts
www.DanRobertsTraining.com

I'm back in sub-zero temperatures in Canada now, and I just want to say that the two weeks there were excellent. It was unfortunate I missed a couple days of training due to a stomach infection, but I can see why people stay for a lot longer as I was just getting used to training in the heat!

I want to complement on the experience of the trainers, but most importantly the great people you meet there from all around the world who share the same passion and interest in Muay Thai! My time there has certainly gotten me back into it, and I hope to continue my training back here in Canada again!

Regards,
Adrian

Upon arrival Diana, who is very helpful, explained a few details and said she would take me to the detox center to chat with the people there. I chatted with Michelle, and English girl, an soon decided to undertake a full fast detox. This meant no food or juice, just water and supplements for 7 days with the understanding that at any time I could break the fast into a raw food or juice detox if I could not hack the full shabang. There are 4, 7 and 10 days fasts available, or if you are nuts, 14 days or longer. As I mentioned before, I opted for the 7 day full fast and completed it losing a total of 7.2 KG in one week.

A little tip, if you are thinking about doing this. You have to do a prefast where you only eat raw food for 3 days, so do this before you come, so you can save some time, if you are in a tight schedule. I hope this has been of some help.

From my personal experience it was good to come and see what I had left in the tank and humbling to realize just how good some of the other students and trainers were.  It was a pleasure being in the ring with them.

Nothing can quite mentally prepare you for getting up at 6.30 in the morning and dragging your ass to the gym but when you are done nothing can prepare you for how good you feel for doing it.

Whilst the later time here we slipped into a holiday, the gym was always a good place to come, even outside training hours, to just hit the pads and get the music on and build-up a sweat.  The beginner sessions were great for Dawn to learn the techniques that we will take away from here, even for Dawn to train on her own.  The class sessions are great especially in the ring on the pads and sparring. The trainers really know how to take you to your limit or in my case nearly to my grave. 

I think Thailand, Rawai and your gym have become a part of life for us here and something that we will be returning to again.  We have many good memories here, some good and some painful but all of them happy. Some of the special things and people to mention from our experience:

Buoy and Ot, for always making us feel extra welcome in our first days when the gym was packed, and also for kicking us into shape in their one-to-ones. Damn they were painful.

To see Namsaknoi teach was special for me. To see someone so respected in something he is so passionate about. Some people carry a natural respect, he is one of these people.  Some morning training sessions when I couldn’t finish I felt myself sneaking out the gym so he wouldn’t see me leaving early.

Diana for answering never ending questions, great advice, and a friendly face.

From a suggestion point of view our first week here was way too busy and it took away the personal touch we found later in the gym and I think growing the gym too big would spoil it. The pool would be a great idea.

Overall for anyone thinking about training here I would say do it.  Whether you’re training for a fight, whether you want to do it for your first time and get fit or just like us, you want to have a great holiday in Thailand whilst training at our own pace and having a great time. Raymond & Dawn"

Carolyn Toh and Joe Lam wrote:

"Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the friendly and helpful staff and trainers at Rawai Muay Thai for making the entire experience so wonderful and homely. We returned with heartwarming memories and are constantly thinking about Rawai Muay Thai, especially during the days when I wish I was not working and instead kicking pads with you guys.

After leaving the camp, we visit your website a few times every week to read updates and fight results. I have to applaud that you are doing a great job keeping the site frequently updated. I really love the photographs and videos, which you must have put in so much effort in creating so as to share it amongst all your international "fans".

Here are some photos and videos we took. We can't wait to be back again for more!

Carolyn training at Rawai video
Joe training at Rawai

Till then, good luck and all the best to everyone. Yours truly, Caroline and Joe Lam"