Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp and Fitness Center @ Phuket, Thailand

Tiger Muay Thai: Trainer of the Month

Each month Tiger Muay Thai will profile one of our champion trainers and fighters as they will be chosen as Trainer of the Month.

April 2008

Kroo Muay Thai: Gae

Pichai Maitong “Gae”, was born in 1971 in Surin, Northern Thailand. Muay Thai runs in Gae’s family, his brother Pairot “Koi” was a 3 time Lumpini champion and won the awars for fight of the year two yearsin a row. Gae first started training at 10 years old and fought soon after. He lost his first fight by decision, but then found his style and went on to win his next 10 fights by KO in round 1 or 2.

Gae continued honing his hard punching and kneeing “fighter” style in north Thailand until he moved to Bangkok at age 17 to train at the famous Kiatsingnoi camp, where many of the TMT trainers built their careers (Samart, Neung, Robertlek, Rattanasak). Gae first fought at Rajadamnern stadium in the 100lb division, and as he grew physically he also grew in fame, becoming a superstar of Onesongchai, the biggest promoter in Thailand and fighting on TV regularly, sometimes as much as 3 times a month. During this time he fought the biggest names in Muay Thai at the time, such as Orono, Attachai, Thongchai, Chatchai and Yokthai Sitor and was ranked no 3 in his weight division at Lumpini. Ajarn Mac witnessed many of Gae’s fights in Bangkok and likened his style to a tractor “he always went forward, never took a step backward”. At age 27, Gae fought his last fight, ending a 17 year career in which he had more than 250 fights.

He then went to work as a trainer at Sitsin gym, where he trained many fighters who went on to fight on TV and become champions. Gae continued training champions until Kru Yod, also from Surin, contacted him asking him to train at Tiger Muay Thai. Gae moved to Phuket and quickly became one of the best loved trainers at the camp, pushing guests to their limit every training session, but always with a spirit of fun. He emphasizes basic, effective techniques and building stamina to be able to use those techniques for the full 5 rounds, as he puts it “if you have no power, you have no technique”. Recently, Gae was featured in Muay Siam magazine (the biggest Muay Thai magazine in Thailand) as their trainer of the month.
When not training guests, Gae enjoys karaoke, football and is an expert on Buddhist amulets, having a collection in the hundreds. Typical of Thai people, he loves spicy food his favorite being Tom Yam Goong.

Thanks to Jonny Betts for conducting this interview with his favorite Muay Thai Instructor: Kroo Gae

March 2008

Ngoo: Trainer of the Month at Tiger Muay Thai March 2008

Sanun Sonthong "Ngoo / Anaconda"

Ngoo stated training Muay Thai when he was 14-years-old in his hometown of Surin, Thailand. Even at 14, Ngoo realized the value of an education and realized his love of his countries national sport could pay his ay through his last 3-years of high school and get something many Thai fighters don't have: a high school diploma.

Ngoo then continued to fight to help his younger sisters finsish their education and help his parents pay bill as he continued his fight carrer. With 100+ fights already at the age of just 21, Ngoo has won an amazing 80+ percent of his fights and has alreday won stadium championships at Bangla, Patong, and Ko Samui, Thailand.

What makes Ngoo such a special fighter is his intelligence. Ngoo was one of the first Tiger Muay Thai fighters and Thais to show interest in learning MMA. Under the guidance of Magical Ray Elbe in MMA Thailand's training program, Ngoo has shown to be a quick learner of BJJ and submisiion grappling. Combined with his natural striking ability in Muay Thai, Ngoo has gone to Russian MMA fight and China to fight MMA in last few months for MMA fights, and also holds the honor of being the first Thai in the Kingdom's history to fight Thai vs Thai in MMA here in Thailand with a victory over Pumsuk @ Bangla Stadium.

Ngoo fights in art of war China

Known for his striking ability with knee and elbows, Ngoo is a dangerous opponent for any fighter.When given some friendly kidding by a fellow trainer @ TMT that MMA can't compare to Muay Thai, Magical Ray set up a little competition. Prathet said Ngoo could not take him down to the mat from the stand-up position. The Challenge: have Ngoo take down Prathet as many times as he could in 5 minutes. When the time was up, Prathet had hit the mat 22 times in 5 minutes and found a new respect for Ngoo's ability and MMA in general.

"I love working at Tiger and training with all the farang that come to our training camp. I never think I get chance to teach my country sport to Farang and they like it so much. We both learn. I learn English and they learn Muay Thai. This is good thing for both," he says with a Thai smile.

February 2008

Muay Thai Trainer of the month: Ritt (Intermediate Ring)

Waritt Wanjai "Ritt"

Ritt began fighting when he was seven-years-old. Born and raised in Chang Rai in the farthest Northern reaches of Thailand, Ritt grew up learning traditional Muay Thai or "Northern" style Muay Thai. He fought in his first fight after he had trained only one month and has been fighting all over Thailand since more than 12-years-ago.

Ritt comes from a very poor family in North Thailand. He freely admits," I first fight Muay Thai to make money for my family. I make 120 baht ($4) for my first fight in Chiang Rai." Ritt, like several other members of the camp come from our Master Instructors original gym, Sawtaneekhun and Ajarn "Lom Issan Noi" a respected veteran and Master Muay Thai instructor.. Kru Mac knows good trainers and asked Ritt to join our camp. He has several fights available for viewing on you tube (Ritt Body KO) + ( Ritt in Kao Lak)

Ritt: Intermediate trainer of Muay Thai

Ritt's fighting has taken him from one end of Thailand to the other in 150+ Muay Thai fights. From small stadiums in Ciang Rai and Chiang Mai to Lumpinee and Rajadamnoen in Bangkok to Nakorn Sri Thammarat's biggest stadium ( biggest city in Southern Thailand). Ritt has several titles under his belt including North Thailand Champion and 4-time stadium champion. " I am known for my punching power, but I like to clinch too. Sometime people look at me and say I am small, but also very strong," says Ritt as he points at his legs which are large and strong.

"I am proud to be teaching my countries sport to the foreigners that come to our camp. I never knew I could be a trainer and teach Muay Thai. My life change and make me very happy be here," Ritt says smiling.

Away from Muay Thai, Ritt is a jokester and likes to laugh and pull practical jokes on his friends. He is a favorite trainer among any of our guests and stays quite busy giving private lessons.

January 2008

Winit Gaomala aka "Prathet"

If you have worked pads with him just once, you might not look for another trainer. An incredible fighter in the ring with a chin of steel and hands of stone, Prathet is just as good outside the ring while teaching guests at Tiger Muay Thai. That is why, Prathet has been named the Tiger Muay Thai: Trainer of the Month for January 2008.
There is a long list of guests whom can attest to Prathet's skills with teaching on the pads, in the ring, and on the bags. Sometimes, it is the attitude of the trainer that the guest is working with on the pads. Prathet has a way of capturing a guests attention making sure they pay attention to the details of his Muay Thai instruction.

Winit Gaomala "Prathet" was born in 1978, the 6th born child in his family that all loved Muay Thai in the Northern city of Khon Kaen, Thailand. Prathet liked watching Muay Thai more than fighting when he was a young boy. His father loved Muay Thai and kept wanting one of his children to fight in the sport. Prathet first entered the Muay Thai gym when he was just 11 years old. Three months later he fought in his first fight to a draw against a superior young fighter. " I wanted to make my father proud and Muay Thai was always a lot of fun for me," said Prathet. "My father always wanted one of his son's to be a Muay Thai fighter, it turned out to be me," he says with his typical humble nature.

At the age of 14-years-old, Prathet made his way to the prestigious Bangkok gym, Sawtaneekun, and met Ajarn Mac. It would there that Prathet's career would take off under the guidance of Mac and his years of experience and contacts in the Ringsit fighting community of Bangkok .Twenty years and 250 fights later, Prathet has pieced together a fine career winning 80% of his fights and having fought many great fighters. Tiger Muay Thai is proud to have Prathet as a member of our training and fighting team, and congratulations on being the TMT: Trainer of the month.

Favorite Color: Red (Shorts and Gloves)

Favorite Food: Gaeng Keawan Gai (Spicy)

# of fights: 250 + with 200+ wins.

Guest Comments:

"Prathet is great to train with as the sessions are intensive, technical, and Prathet keeps on pushing you," says TMT return guest, Piki. "He is always ready to help when you have any questions or are in need of extra guidance."

Excellent Technical Skills
Good Motivator
Goes with students own skills
Pushes students to try harder
Great Personality

"Prathet helps me a lot when I am preparing for my fights. When we do pad work together he shows me patience but also pushes me and encourages me to train harder and be prepared," says Marko a long time TMT guest from Finland.

"What I like most about Prathet is I find his training to be very relevant to fighting. And, with him still an active fighter and with his experience, he got so much to offer his students. After I started training with Prathet, I have definitely improved in the ring. and still improving," said Veronika Lundemo (5-time Women's Muay Thai Champion)