HELLO PAPA, MAMA and X ROACHES.
(An ode to our cockroach student body that hangs out at the gym after hours)
Summer is upon us once again — longer days, warmer training sessions, and stinkier gyms. With that in mind, please be mindful of packing extra dry clothes to change into between sessions, clean hand wraps, deodorant, and maybe even some mouthwash?
Feel free to use anything we have stocked in the restroom for these purposes, along with the breath mints found on top of the water fountain!
Many thanks from me and all the coaches. 😉
RE: Songkran New Year
Congrats to Eoin (pronounced “Owen”) on his TKO victory this past weekend at the Songkran Thai New Year Festival in Thai Town.
Eoin displayed exemplary technique and represented both the sport and The Thai Boxing Institute incredibly well. Very proud of you — keep it up!
Thank you to our opponents for the time in the ring.
And thank you again to the TBI community for all the help training him, the good vibes, and for everyone who came out to support Eoin!
MORE HOUSEKEEPING
Let’s try and keep the front desk area (with the bench and walkway) clear of bags and equipment, please.
And absolutely no shadowboxing or stretching should be done in that area. 😫
If you’re coming in to prep for class, please head over to the other side of the gym where the Thai pads are to store your bags and wrap up.
Also: In case you lose something, we have a Lost and Found!
It’s the far-right cubby, closest to the neon sign labeled “Lost and Found.”
We empty it and donate the contents about every 3 weeks.
EVEN MORE HOUSEKEEPING
We love how much you guys are enjoying the gym, but please only use the number of days your membership allows.
I get it — sometimes mistakes happen or you forget how often you’ve trained — but if it’s happening frequently, I’ll need to say something.
It would be super helpful to us (TBI Staff) if you consistently log your class attendance.
If you (or your friend/roach/partner/etc.) are dropping in for class, please use any of the QR codes near the front door to pay for the drop-in — preferably as you walk into the gym. 🙂
In case you forgot (from our super cool FAQ):
👉 https://thaiboxinginstitute.net/f-a-q/
Definition of Memberships:
Generally, the gym operates on an “X” days per week model.
“X” is defined by days of usage, not number of classes.
So, a Part-Time “2X” membership = 2 days of use per week.
Some people take back-to-back classes or train AM and return PM — both count as one “day.”
Classes do not roll over.
If you miss your allotted days due to illness, travel, etc., those unused days are lost. You cannot make them up later.
We encourage you to train 2 hours a day, honestly!
If you need more days to train, consider bumping up your membership. 👉👈
That would be very much appreciated. 😍
MORE NOTES: 13 Years of TBI
Thirteen years ago today, I taught my first group class under the TBI name at a boxing gym I was renting in Santa Monica.
And here we are now — three locations later, in one of my favorite parts of Mar Vista.
On our drive back from AZ last March after Alexis’s fights, I was staring out the window into the desert nothingness, thinking about our community — all the members, and the coaches and staff who help me manage the gym.
And I felt this huge wave of love and appreciation. I was so grateful for everyone’s help and compassion through my pain and physical struggle.
Especially Coach Tony and Coach Erin — who took time out of their lives to help train Alexis. Coach Erin also trained with Mher while I supervised.
This might sound hokey, but maybe the universe was preparing me for the next morning.
After a 6-hour drive, Alexis and I got back to LA around 2AM. I had a quick snack, got to bed at 3AM… and was bombarded with messages and calls at 8AM. That only means one thing — something bad happened.
We all know the story. But what I didn’t mention was how quickly everyone came together to clean up the gym. How upset the whole community was. I got condolences from neighbors and nearby businesses.
And I want to give Coach Tony another shout-out for buying me breakfast and coffee and telling me to relax while he and the team cleaned up the gym.
I felt loved and cared for.
Thank you, Coach.
And thank you to everyone for being a part of TBI’s ongoing story.
Here’s to another 13 years. 🤞
TBI 13-Year Anniversary Celebration
Please join us as we celebrate the gym’s birthday!
Open to the public — we’ll have food and drinks!
• Pupusa stand making hot food all night
• Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages
• Sparring matches
• Good hangs
📅 Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
⏰ Time: 6PM–10:00ish
If you’d like to participate in the sparring event during the party, write your name and weight on the back board! We’ll match you with another member for a friendly sparring exhibition.
It’ll be safe, moderated by me as ref, and you can keep your shirt on — or not. 😅
My Diagnosis:
I’ve slowly started training again and working out lightly. There’s still pain, but it’s around a 1 or 2 out of 10. A huge improvement — a few months ago I couldn’t even walk or sleep without tossing and turning from the pain.
So, what happened? Honestly… I don’t really know.
The MRI didn’t find anything wrong with my spine, which confused everyone. But my symptoms — leg and foot swelling, pins and needles, sensitivity to heat and cold, radiating heat and pain, and extreme discomfort — pointed to a rare syndrome.
My doctor said, “It can’t be… but let’s test anyway.”
They did a bone scan of my foot — where the pain was centered — taking an image before and after injecting a radioactive dye.
Ha! Sure enough, the results came back with concern for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that causes intense pain, often in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. It may develop after injury or surgery, and while rest and time may not alleviate it, treatment is available to manage symptoms.
I almost didn’t believe it — I felt like I was getting better.
Three weeks ago, I felt compelled to do a late-night Muay Thai workout. My first full one since Thailand last December. It felt… okay. I talked to my doctor, and he encouraged me to keep moving — blood flow promotes healing.
Right now, it feels like things are slowly going into remission. The medication they gave me (non-narcotic, an anti-seizure drug used for nerve pain) seems to be helping.
Wild.
But I’m feeling okay — I think accepting the pain and staying positive helped get me through the tough days.
“This too shall pass.”
Thank you for everyone’s concern, for subbing classes to give me rest, for being flexible during weird pad-holding situations, and to the coaches for helping train our athletes.
BRYAN POPEJOY SEMINAR
📅 When: Saturday, May 10, 2025
⏰ Time: 11AM–1PM
📍 Where: The Thai Boxing Institute — 3831 Grand View Blvd, LA, CA 90066
💵 Cost: Free for TBI members / $99 for non-members
I’m honored to announce a seminar with Kru Bryan Popejoy to celebrate our 13th anniversary. As always, all TBI seminars are free for members.
Note: This seminar might be too technical for total beginners — please have at least 6 months of training at TBI to participate.
About Kru Bryan Popejoy:
• Head coach at Boxing Works (Torrance, CA)
• Coached world-class athletes: Janet Todd, Nathan Ward, Jackie Buntan
• Former IFMA gold medalist and USMF national team coach
• Emphasizes footwork, defense, and clean technique
• All-around great human and phenomenal teacher
Non-members can register via:
• Venmo: @COACHVIK (confirmation digits: 5678)
• Zelle/PayPal: info@thaiboxinginstitute.net
• CC: Register online here
• Cash accepted at the door
FUNDRAISER FOR EOIN & MHER
EOIN AND MHER GO TO IOWA / COMPETITION TEAM SPONSORSHIP
Hey everyone!
We’re raising funds to help send Eoin and Mher to this year’s Thai Boxing Association Muay Thai Classic National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, at the end of June.
We haven’t fundraised in two years and our reserves are running low. Thank you to those who asked how to help!
We try to subsidize as much of our athletes’ competition costs as possible so they can focus on training. Supporting active competitors levels up our gym’s skill across the board — benefiting coaches, teammates, and the entire community.
Sponsoring an athlete = investing in a future coach, leader, and in the long-term health of the gym.
You don’t need to own a business — you can support just as a patron.
But if you do run a business, this is a great opportunity for visibility.
🔗 All sponsorship info here — including pricing tiers
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:
🌸 Leis by Jewles — Mother’s Day is coming up!
It’s not too late to order your flowers for Mother’s Day! We offer Free local delivery. Also, don’t forget to show your graduate how much you love them by ordering a custom graduation lei.
• Free local delivery available
• Custom graduation leis also available
📲 Instagram: @leisbyjewles
🌐 Website: www.leisbyjewles.com
NEW TBI ‘FLIER’ TEE
A remix of our Youth Crew Band tee “Think Lightly,” inspired by punk zines and flyers I grew up with.
White M&O 100% Cotton Preshrunk Jersey Tee
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double-needle sleeve & bottom hem
• Double-needle cover-seamed neck
• Black screen-printed front design
👕 Sizes: S–XXL (!!)
💰 Price: $27.31 (tax included)
- $5 for shipping
Pay via:
• Venmo: @COACHVIK (last 4 digits: 5678)
• Zelle: info@thaiboxinginstitute.net
• Credit Card: TBImerch.com
Shirt design here: https://the-thai-boxing-institute.gymdesk.com/product/white-%E2%80%98tbi-flier%E2%80%99-tee/80704
Include your size and address (if shipping) when ordering. Thank you for the support!
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Reminder: We’ll be closed from Saturday, May 24 – Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.
Enjoy the weekend and see you back in the gym!
MAY CURRICULUM
• 5/5–5/10: Rear Kick & Rear Kick Defense
• 5/12–5/17: Switch Kick & Rear Kick Defense
• 5/19–5/24: Switch Stances Combos & Transitions
• 5/27–5/31: All Elbows