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Home stretch of the year! A great month to reflect on all the things we are grateful for. And of all the things I can think of to be grateful for, I am grateful to be writing this newsletter and grateful that people read it. 😌
Thanks team!
On Abundance:
Someone asked me the other day ‘How do you feel about members from your gym eventually becoming coaches themselves at other gyms, or even becoming coaches for your competitors?’
And I immediately thought ‘That’s cool—I love that.’ Not out of some arrogance about my legacy, but rather because I believe all knowledge should be free and all resources should be abundant.
‘Abundance,’ being the third TBI core value (GHAP), is how we must conduct ourselves with our knowledge, skill, patience, and relationships at TBI.
What is the opposite of abundance? Scarcity.
Scarcity comes in different forms. One of the most toxic ones I can think of is ‘Gatekeeping’.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines gatekeeping as ‘the act of controlling, filtering, or limiting access to resources, information, power, a community, or a cultural identity. ‘
This manifests in different ways at the gym such as cliques, avoiding being partnered up for pad holding or drilling with people you don’t know (favoritism), not asking for people’s names or even not saying ‘bye’ to everyone in a conversational circle.
In order for us to continue to be a prosperous environment that contributes to our personal growth, we must have an abundant view of our resources. In the grand scheme of things, EVERYONE matters.
In order for us to be competent Thai boxers, we must uplift everyone to our skill level.
That’s how community works, that’s how retention works, and that’s how skill leveling works.
So say ‘hi’ and be open to training with someone new. Ask their name, ask if they need help, and if so, offer a suggestion.
Read more about our core values here:
https://thaiboxinginstitute.net/core-values-and-mission-statement/
Changes to Drop-Ins:
Thank you to everyone who has been an ambassador and to all members for your patience working with our new trial members in our new ‘drop-in’ program. We are still trying to figure out the logistics and I am really grateful for the help and support.
*In case you missed it last month:*
So, Jonathan has been helping out with new member intake temporarily, but this week has taken a leave of absence since he is now a new father. (Congrats Jonathan!)
I’m looking for 4 to 6 members who can help out once a week with new members during our Monday and Wednesday 6 PM Intro/Beginner classes.
The role is pretty simple: Just be kind, helpful, and courteous, and help new people feel comfortable training at TBI.
You’ll work out with them and help show them how to be a good training partner. Show them how to drill with someone, hold Thai pads, understand intensity, and modulate it depending on who you’re working with.
You don’t need to coach or teach technique. It’s more about helping brand new people understand how we train together at TBI and making their first few classes a little less intimidating.
I will have the intro members arrive 10 mins before class, and I will show them around the gym and teach them the basic techniques. Then they will stretch with the class and proceed to train with you in Coach Robbie’s class.
If you’ve ever been interested in coaching at TBI, this is a great pathway toward that.
Ideally, I’d like enough people involved that everyone only has to commit to one class a week.
If this sounds like something you’d be good at and you’d like to help out, let me know!
Thank you!!
Log Attendance and Add a Profile Picture
Also from last month:
I hired an assistant to help me organize TBI in order to help provide the best experience to our members. Her name is Mary, and she will be messaging you from either the GymDesk messaging system or info@the thaiboxing institute DOT com under the title “TBI Management and Operations.”
It is super important for y’all to track your attendance in order for us to maintain our records. You can use the tablets at the front and back door to do so, or you can use your phones to log attendance.
Also, it would be super helpful if y’all can upload a picture of yourself so that we (including all the coaches, front desk, and now Mary) know who is who.
Thanks team!
TBI Holiday Party
Please join us for all-you-can-eat KBBQ at our Annual KBBQ Holiday Dinner!
Date: Sat., Dec. 5th
Where: Road to Seoul
1230 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Time: 7:00 PM
Meet there or at the gym at 6:30 for carpooling!
We will have a reservation for 25 people.
There is a sign-up sheet in the back by the bathroom on our community whiteboard.
Please RSVP by signing your name. Feel free to bring a friend, family member, partner, or SO.
Don’t be late and don’t be a flake! (We won’t get seated if you are late, and we will get charged for your seat if you flake) Thanks!!
After Party:
We’ll meet here at like 9:30-ish for post dinner hangs, come through!
Blipsy Bar
369 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(10 min drive from restaurant)
Holiday Hours
Just a heads up for November!
We will be closed from Wednesday the 25th through Friday the 27th for Thanksgiving break. Class will resume on Saturday the 28th at 11 AM.
TBI Pullovers:
Heatwave is over and Fall is finally here!
Stay warm with our Pull-Overs. Sizes S–XL.
Our classic minimalist logo ‘Thai Boxing Institute’ is featured on the front, while the back has ‘Thai Boxing Institute-Mar Vista, CA’.
White ink on black fabric, printed on an Independent Trading Co. 80/20 cotton/polyester pre-laundered blend fleece hooded sweatshirt.
Local pickup or shipped!
🥋: $60 for hoodie
🛫: $12 for shipping
🚗: Pickup available
Venmo: @COACHVIK (last 4 digits: ‘5678’)
Zelle: info@thaiboxinginstitute.net
(Please include size, shipping cost and address if applicable)
https://the-thai-boxing-institute.gymdesk.com/product/tbi-%27minimal%27-hooded-sweatshirt/10997
Thank you!
Shirt Prices Going Up:
Starting January 2027, we will be raising shirt prices to $40 per shirt. I appreciate your understanding.
Gift Cards:
Want to give someone the gift of Muay Thai? We now have gift cards for TBI available!
TBI gift cards are available in three amounts. Choose yours below:
$50 Gift Card | $100 Gift Card | $250 Gift Card
Thanks!
Family Discounts and Referrals:
Also, just a reminder that we offer referral credits to members.
Refer a friend who signs up and you’ll receive $25 in membership credit.
If you have a family member who joins, that member receives a $25 monthly discount on their membership.
Many Thanks!
November Curriculum
November 2–8: Boxing Defense (Shelling)
November 9–15: Double Attacks, Same Side
November 16–22: Push Kick Defense
November 23–29: Freestyle Week
On/Off Topic:
British Punk:
Been on an old-school British punk phase this month after seeing the 40-year-old band ‘The Adicts’ play live. It was an hour-and-a-half set that was part punk rock show, part performance art and 100 percent rowdiness. I thought the spectrum of fans was really interesting. There were people with spiky hair, mohawks, and studded jean vests, along with families and people dressed like they were going to go clubbing afterwards. This was also one of the few shows where I sat in the balcony due to not wanting to stand up for over 2 hours :p
What’s interesting about this style of music is that, to me, it’s sort of timeless. It’s also incredibly ‘poppy’ and rock and roll versus what people think ‘punk’ is. Many of these bands’ sounds are the genesis of styles of punk.
The Adicts- Let’s Go
https://youtu.be/VlF8iG2_uR4?si=vBp8iHQZT8ruENzl
The Adicts, live at Hellfest Open Air 2026 – ARTE Concert
https://youtu.be/f3_Zl9ZltHM?si=o6Jvy_0fFjzTWrTK
Buzzcocks
Bro—how are you not listening to the Buzzcocks?
Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) (TOTP, 1978)
I love this cover of that song by Thursday.
“Ever Fallen In Love” By Thursday (Buzzcocks Cover) From Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
https://youtu.be/n7eW5Wzj5jM?si=A6BHCYLaoMgU-1Ow
Conflict
This is more in tune with the sound people associate with what ‘punk’ is or sounds like. ‘The Final Conflict’ is an album that is on repeat in my headphones.
Conflict – I Heard A Rumour (1989)
https://youtu.be/F1HSqjx5Yno?si=b5bclmFlgeyiIVLB
Rudimentary Peni:
OK—this is what I think punk sounds like. Short, fast, with shouted, unintelligible lyrics. This band is known for their schizophrenic singer who became a prolific cult artist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Blinko
Rudimentary Peni – Cosmetic Plague
https://youtu.be/PsuOeFiKoXo?si=iqUrkSyrsOEOvfO2
Discharge pioneered the style of ‘d-beat’ punk. It’s a little more ‘metallic’ and slower than other styles of punk.
Discharge- Protest and Survive (1982)
https://youtu.be/-2ZxmNfY-gw?si=AKhkBW9ORlopdgeX
Watching Muay Thai
It’s been brought to my attention that many of you don’t watch Muay Thai?
What? Why?
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give anyone if they want to learn Muay Thai is to watch Muay Thai. Not MMA, not kickboxing, but Muay Thai.
This lets you examine how techniques look, and it lets you hear the language used, along with analytical insight from the commentators, which lends to the bigger picture of the sport, which is the technical function of the attacks and defenses in context to competition/fighting and furthermore ‘self-defense’.
This allows you to learn the sport faster without being in the gym practicing it. Watching Muay Thai is a component of what I call ‘Immersive Learning’ which I cover in depth in my upcoming book ‘Thai Boxing 101 – An Introduction to the Sport of Muay Thai Boxing’ thaiboxing101.com
It’s important to watch whole fights versus clips and highlights on social media. As much as knockouts are exciting and outrageous to watch, there is nothing more satisfying to me than an evenly matched bout with technical exchanges, showmanship, and brute violence.
What to Watch?
There is Muay Thai as a sport with a uniform style of competing, but there are also different styles of competition and different rule sets… if that makes sense.
The two main schools of competition are ‘traditional’ and ‘entertainment’
Quickly summarized: Entertainment bouts, aside from title fights, are 3 rounds. Traditional Muay Thai is almost always 5 rounds, and there is way more clinch fighting, along with more nuances, such as gamblers influencing decisions.
Traditional Muay Thai (or TMT for short) is way more methodical.
Sometimes the style of fighting in TMT—the technique, the balance, and the composure—is so precise and tight, it’s like watching fine art or classical music being performed. In this ruleset, the style of fighting is strictly traditional Muay Thai, and there really is no divergence of expression of the sport. Whereas in Entertainment Muay Thai (EMT for short), the timing, pace of action, and combination of different styles of Muay Thai being exhibited create so much chaos, excitement, and unpredictability (that’s my shit).
As much as I respect TMT and the athletes bred from that style, I find it pretty dull to watch.
All these types of bouts can be found on YouTube.
If you are interested in TMT bouts, search for ‘Channel 7,’ ‘Lumpinee Stadium,’ and ‘Rajadamnern Stadium.’
For EMT, search for ‘RWS,’ ‘ONE Muay Thai,’ and ‘Max Muay Thai.’
I don’t really like watching ONE Muay Thai other than the big fights or if any Americans are on it but even then, I’ve fallen far behind. My understanding of the format is that it favors punchers and the goal is the knockout, which is the goal of all combat sports, to be honest, but I prefer when the knockouts happen from a series of techniques and setups and not through sheer brute punching force due to the use of 4 oz. MMA gloves .
RWS does both TMT and EMT in a traditional setting and i think they do it all the best. The matchups are really fun, with a mix of different fighters from all over the world, including top-tier Thai fighters all going up against each other. The last two times I’ve been in Thailand, I’ve gone to it live and the production is so fun and the energy is pretty exciting.
Highly recommend!!
Full Fight l Somratsamee vs. Ngaoprajan l โสมรัศมี vs. เงาพระจันทร์ l RWS
https://youtu.be/73zGCiu1R0Y?si=gTBS2bDfOVim1PO-
Somratsamee is a great fighter fighting out of Manop gym, which is the gym I visit when in Chiang Mai. Very cool, technical kicking style.
ไฟต์เต็ม Full Fight l ยอดวิชา vs. แดเนียล l Yodwicha vs. Daniel l RWS
https://youtu.be/EIC4C1EgQ-M?si=aqQqpzcQlSWHidyi
Daniel Rodriguez is considered to be top 3 in the world in that weight class. Very exciting entertainment style with a lot of TKOs and KOs in his record.
Full Fight l Dmitry Menshikov vs Emerson Bento l ดีมิทรี เมนชิคอฟ vs เอเมอสัน เบนโต l RWS
https://youtu.be/L4fsBykZ4v8?si=u5e9bTyihjlYQkfT
This Russian dude is scary- proof that you can rely on a set of tools to be successful in the ring.
Channel 7:
MUAY THAI-Baowee Sor Gor Soongygym vs Retidetch Gor Sakoncheua
https://youtu.be/Kckp8i_WOzI?si=iaIFCoUmxnBrAYG_
I got a chance to visit the channel 7 tapings this last time in Bangkok. We were seated in the gambler section and that shit was WILD. it’s all filmed in a tv studio and you have to dress up with a collared shirt and shoes to make the presentation look classy lol.
Raja Title Fights:
Youssef Boughanem’s Most BRUTAL KO | The Sound Of That ELBOW Strikes 💥 | Boughanem vs Noppakaw
https://youtu.be/JQeoAADc35g?si=L8jMnSQPv63KKJZ6
Youssef is a great fighter who fought a lot in the last decade and a half? He has a very scary, pressing-forward, cerebral style.
Full Fight l Kumandoi vs. Khunsueklek l กุมารดอย vs. ขุนศึกเล็ก l RWS
https://youtu.be/_L3Tw3crnoY?si=5BQc6Fg9xEgnJnKd
Khunsueklek, along with his twin brother, has a very technical Muay Femur style. Probably the most emotionally cool fighters I’ve witnessed. They will come up again in the future when I cover ‘Muay Femur’ style fighters. Out of the two brothers, I think Khunsueklek is the better, although his little brother (same name with ‘noi’ appended to the name, which means ‘little or small’ in Thai) is the more popular fighter.
Lumpinee
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao vs. Panpayak Jitmuangnon | Lumpinee Stadium Championship | Full Muay Thai Fight
https://youtu.be/HdEXRKzJH_I?si=y9-n5XQzBemuJR0B
Sam-A is a legendary fighter with almost 400 fights.
Saenchai vs. Phet-Ek Sitjaopho I | Lumpinee Stadium | Full Muay Thai Fight
https://youtu.be/xVfy000zr-Y?si=shJ7VLGsdubxdpjS
Early Saenchai fighting one of another set of Muay Thai twins from the now legendary on social media gym ‘Sitjaopho Gym’ in Hua Hin (been there a few times too).
ONE:
Rodtang vs. Jonathan Haggerty | ONE Full Fight | Bringing The Belt Back Home | August 2019
https://youtu.be/FfZt2b8nzCo?si=CSYuZj8OiGc-2nBv
Jonathan Haggerty vs. Sam-A Gaiyanghadao | ONE: Full Fight | Super Series Shocker | May 2019
https://youtu.be/6PfwH-IMk9c?si=FliuUNj_EUIE2IBM
Rodtang and Jonathan Haggerty are probably the biggest exports of Muay Thai to mainstream culture. I’m not particularly fond of their fighting styles, although they are exciting.
There was a time when ONE did Muay Thai in boxing gloves. This is one of my favorites of that era. Not enough people have watched this fight. The amount of technique displayed by Nong-O in this fight needs to be studied over and over.
Nong-O vs. Fabio Pinca | Full Fight From The Archives
https://youtu.be/b-H0IwAHHAQ?si=ygAaLfejccaHZ_T4
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., The Drum Major Instinct (1968)