Dates for 2006: June 25 – July 15
This schedule is subject to slight variations depending on local conditions. The Muay Thai training itinerary is for guidance only. Our instructors will themselves choose a precise course of Muay Thai training that is appropriate to your needs and abilities.
Day 1 Sunday June 25
Arrive at Bangkok Airport to be met by our international coordinator. Transfer to the hotel where you can have lunch, relax by the pool and recover from the journey. Afternoon meeting at the hotel for orientation; we will run through the tour program and answer any questions. Those not too tired from the flight can accompany Horizon Camp staff to discover Bangkok at night. Visit Pat Pong Road, world-famous for its ‘go go’ bars and open-air night market. Accommodation is in spacious and comfortable air-conditioned rooms.
OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Bangkok
Day 2 Monday June 26
Sightseeing tour of Bangkok: Spend a cultural morning at Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and observe urban river life on a cruise of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. Visit a Muay Thai equipment factory where you can order personalized Muay Thai shorts and gear at discount prices. Board an overnight train with air-conditioned sleeper carriages and travel in comfort to Thailand’s tropical south.
OVERNIGHT: Air-conditioned sleeper carriages on train to Surat Thani
Day 3 Tuesday June 27
Early morning ferry transfer to tropical paradise island Koh Phangan. Arrive at Horizon Thai Boxing Camp and take the rest of the day to soak up the island atmosphere. Relax in your hammock, lie on the beach or explore the local area.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 4 Wednesday June 28
Early morning: initiation ceremony at Horizon Camp attended by monks from the local temple. Wai Khru: pay respects to your new teachers and pledge to be a good a student. In return your instructors will promise to teach you to the best of their abilities. Enjoy the rest of the morning at your leisure. In the afternoon meet with instructors in the gym to discuss training objectives and outline training plan for the duration of your stay. Light training session giving our instructors a chance to assess your abilities, and for you to loosen up after all the traveling.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 5 Thursday June 29
Training day:
7:30 – 10am Morning Muay Thai training session
Warm up:
Running 30 minutes (if you are already very fit you may wish to run for longer, if you are not in great shape just be sure to build up a really good sweat)
Stretching (do your own routine or follow your instructor’s lead)
Muay Thai workout:
Members of the group will do various exercises depending on their level of experience. In each part of each training session you should repeat the full repertoire of techniques learned so far. Your trainer will point out any recurring mistakes and help you to correct them. He will gradually introduce new moves as you are ready. Morning training sessions are generally lighter, concentrating on acquiring new techniques while your mind is fresh from a good nights sleep. An ordinary training session is made up of the following.
Shadow boxing: Each training session should begin with a shadow boxing warm up, preferably in front of a mirror or perhaps on the beach. In your first session you will learn basic Muay Thai footwork: how to move around while maintaining a strong guard to protect your body’s vulnerable targets. The basic punching techniques will be introduced: the straight punch, jab, uppercut and hook.
Pad work: You instructor holds special Thai pads on his arms and a wears a belly protector. Student works one-on-one with the instructor in the ring to practice the full arsenal of techniques the student is familiar with. You probably won’t begin pad work on the first day if you are a beginner.
Weights or speedballs: While instructors are busy with other students, work on your conditioning with our free weights or sit up benches. Help develop your reflexes with the speed balls.
Sparring: At first you will begin very light, very slow sparring with your instructor. As you build confidence you can begin working with a sparring partner. Sparring is an essential part of Muay Thai training during which you see how to use the offensive techniques you have learned dynamically. You will quickly learn to defend your most vulnerable points, and begin to anticipate the movements of your opponent. If progressing very well a beginner may expect to begin sparring within a week.
Bag work: Excellent way to develop conditioning and muscle memory. Repeated kicking of the long hanging bags is really the only way to condition the shins. Kicking the bags will hurt a bit to start with. We fill our bags with cloth, not sand, but still expect to bruise some (especially the ladies). You won’t start this kind of training until you have learned to properly kick. Kicking with poor technique is even more painful!
Clinch work: Basically techniques of standup grappling. Always makes up the final part of an intensive training session. You grapple your partner for the better position in an attempt to set your opponent up for knee strikes or to topple him by pulling or knocking him off balance. This is an exhausting part of training and is essential if you are interested in competing within Thailand. You will not begin clinch work until your fitness is quite good and you have mastered other techniques to a good level.
Warm down:
Shadow boxing warm down, followed by other low impact exercises.
4pm - 6pm Afternoon Muay Thai training session
Warm up:
Skipping or tyre bounces. Bouncing on old car tyres is a great way to improve balance.
Muay Thai workout:
The afternoon session is generally more intensive than the morning training session, with more emphasis on quantity of exercises to improve stamina and muscle memory. You will normally continue practicing techniques learned in the morning. The basic pattern of each training session remains the same: shadow boxing, pad work, bag work, sparring and clinch work.
Warm down: After shadow boxing, a dip in the sea is a great way to warm down.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 6 Friday June 30
Training day: You will practice all the techniques you already know in your shadow boxing warm-up. Today you will begin to learn how to kick while shadow boxing. Then move on to kicking practice with an instructor in the ring. Your instructor holds specials Thai pads and will teach you to kick while maintaining good balance, keeping your guard and observing correct footwork. Afternoon: continue kicking practice and learn how to block a kick.
Friday night party at Guy’s bar for those inclined.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 7 Saturday July 01
Training free day: Day trip to National Marine Park: a magnificent archipelago of over 30 islands. Enjoy stunning views, a beautiful inland lake and excellent snorkeling. Don't forget your camera! Each Saturday night we heat the coals for a massive seafood-BBQ.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 8 Sunday July 02
Training day: Kicking and foot thrusts. If you have developed a good kicking technique you may now begin to practice on the heavy bags.
There will be a Thai language lesson in the evening. Although our instructors speak English (some more than others) in order to help preserve the art of Muay Thai in its genuine form it is important you try to learn the proper Thai terms for techniques and aspects of training.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 9 Monday July 03
Training day: You will practice everything learned so far concentrating on footwork and stance. Remember to work on your weak side.
Video night: learn by watching The Greats in action.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 10 Tuesday July 04
Training day: If you have already mastered good basic kicking technique elbows and knees come quite easily. Elbow training, three styles.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 10 Wednesday July 05
Training day: Knees.
Take a boat trip in the evening to watch the sunset from the water and night fishing for those up for it.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 11 Thursday July 06
Training day: Now you might begin very light, slow sparring with our instructors practicing every technique learned so far. This is dynamic training. You will start to see the value of correct technique and begin learning how to defend yourself. Your instructor will encourage you to use combinations of your offensive techniques during pad work right from the start.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 12 Friday July 07
Training Day: Tuesday and Friday morning is boxing only. This is essential training to develop a good eye and super quick reflexes. Remember that the fists are weapons equal importance to the legs, knees and elbows. At this stage you may have a good command of the basic Muay Thai techniques (good stance and footwork, you know how to punch, kick and push kick, and effectively use your knees and elbows to attack your opponent. Now you are ready to learn how to fight. You will first learn a number of techniques to defend against a low kick.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 13 Saturday July 08
Training free day: herbal steam sauna at What Pho temple. Receive an invigorating traditional Thai massage. Don’t forget our Saturday night seafood BBQ.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 14 Sunday July 09
Training Day: Now find out what to do if someone aims a kick or push kick around your stomach or ribs. Wai Khru – learn the pre-fight ritual dance essential for anyone hoping to compete. This is not a religious ceremony but simply a cultural way to demonstrate respect for one’s teachers. It is an excellent way to calm the mind before a fight.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 15 Monday July 10
Hopefully by this time you can begin training with a sparring partner. In the afternoon learn how to defend against head kicks. There is more Wai Khru practice for those hoping to compete.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 16 Tuesday July 11
Training day: boxing only in the morning. Practice, practice, practice: Techniques need to be repeated over and over again in order to develop muscle memory, helping you to deploy techniques reflexively.
Fight night in the local town where you can cheer on competitors from Horizon Thai Boxing Camp.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 17 Wednesday July 12
Training day: final day of training during which you can discuss future training possibilities with your instructors.
Goodbye party at camp followed by the internationally renowned Full Moon dance party on Haad Rin beach.
OVERNIGHT: Horizon Thai Boxing Camp
Day 18 Thursday July 13
Sleep late to recover form the party! Afternoon: ferry transfer to the mainland.
OVERNIGHT: Air-conditioned sleeper carriages on overnight train to Bangkok
Day 19 Friday July 14
Arrive in Bangkok early morning. Check in to comfortable air-conditioned hotel rooms in order to freshen up before heading to the weekend market to stock up on souvenirs shopping before going home. Meet famous Thai boxers from one of Bangkok's top gyms. Take ringside seats at Rajadamnoen boxing stadium to see a live Muay Thai contest. A match here is pure spectacle, not only for the first-class fighting, but also the wild musical accompaniment, the ceremonial beginning of each match and the frenzied betting around the stadium. After the match enjoy Thai-style dinner at one of Bangkok's night markets.
OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Bangkok
Day 20 Saturday July 15
Transfer to the airport and board your flight home. Remember to keep in touch!
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