Fairtex?

[JIMI]

I am interested in training at the Fairtex camp in San Francisco and i was wondering if anyone here trains there or has trained there before, can give me some input. Good or bad?

[JIMI]

I cant believe that no one in here has any thoughts or suggestions on Fairtex.

[akja]

I haven't trained or know anybody that trained there. I live in the area, kinda, but I can say from what I have heard the Fairtex Camp is going to break some ground in the MMA world. It's just a matter of time. They have Thai, BJJ amd MMA. I would think that if you show up, you better be serious!

[JIMI]

nice to meet someone else from san jose. i am originally from san jose. im interested to go out there for a week type thai camp. im not really interested in training the other stuff that they teach there, im just mainly interested in training with some champion thai boxers.
p.s. no worries about being serious. ive been doing this a few years

[akja]

From what I know of Thai in the SF bay area Fairtex is for real!
Heres some addresses and ph.#'s for ca.:

http://www.usmta.com/State-California.htm

and heres another link:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/muaythaiusa/schools.html

[terry]

I've trained at Fairtex. It's for real.

Terry

[JIMI]

Thanks guys for the input, but of course my first instinct was that Fairtex is for real! What i wanted to know was i would like to fly out there for a week fly in camp. And i was curious as to how the training goes, and how do they treat you , and how much one on one time do you get with the trainers, and is it worth the money they ask for. Thats the kind of input that i need.

[terry]

Originally posted by JIMI
Thanks guys for the input, but of course my first instinct was that Fairtex is for real! What i wanted to know was i would like to fly out there for a week fly in camp. And i was curious as to how the training goes, and how do they treat you , and how much one on one time do you get with the trainers, and is it worth the money they ask for. Thats the kind of input that i need.

They're very nice. They'll work with you at whatever level you are at. They'll work you until you puke if you are into it. Then they'll cook you dinner. Out of town guys get a lot of time with the trainers during the day. Each trainer has a forte. Just ask one of the fighters what to get from whom. Um, you may want to avoid the pros class unless you're prepping for your next fight. They regularly take time after that class to wipe up the blood from the ring--yes, heh, it's for real.

The evening classes are on a one hour schedule alternating between boxing and Muay Thai. If you take three of those classes, subtracting for the time you spend pad holding, you'll wind up with like 1.75 hours of cardio, of which some will probably be anaerobic.

As to whether it is worth it, that's a difficult thing to judge. If you have a longer interval of time to spend than a week or two I would head over to Thailand. But, for a short stint, the expense of airfare as well as the jet lag make it better to train in the U.S.

But you need to realize that what you will be learning isn't 'traditional' Muay Thai. In 'traditional' Muay Thai as it is taught to Thais they let you kick the bag for a few weeks then throw you in the ring. On the other hand, at Fairtex they'll bend over to hand it to you on a silver platter. In Thailand, after four or five fights, if you do well, they learn your name. Oh, yes, and you cannot really do 'traditional' Muay Thai without diseased animals walking around the camp, no water that you would consider drinking, and some really, um, interesting bathrooms. That's tradition.

Terry

[JIMI]

Perfect ! thank you, that is what i needed to know.

[kh_s]

Sry to interfere but I also wanted to hear about Mike Miles in Calgary now that I know how good Fairtex is. Now how about Mike Miles does anyone know anything about Mike Miles ? If this has been discussed before then I apologize

[JP Prideaux]

Mike Miles has a site somewhere. Forgot the adress. Lots of good video clips of thai matches etc. Should be a contact adress there as well. Do a search - you should find it easy enough.

[fugetsu]

Jongsanan

Go and take a private with Jongsanan.
It will be some of the best money you have ever spent.
Alex Bay

[WeMissYouAlex]

Fairtex is Great, As is Fight and Fitness and Pacific Ring Sports

Fairtex is great camp. I was lucky enough to train at the original SF Fairtex camp on Clementina as an amateur for many years (from soon after it first opened to it's closing).

Also consider camps which are run by folks who were associated with the first Fairtex camp. The original Fairtex camp is no longer open after the death of Alex Gong.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/08/24/BA297917.DTL

The people at the new Fairtex are very nice and they know how to handle pro fighters, amateurs and students at all levels of fitness. Many of these people were at the original Fairtex camp.

http://www.fairtex.com/schools/schools.php

Fight and fitness and Pacific Ring sports are even more intimate, less expensive but still offer a similar level of training (perhaps better for introductory students IMHO). Bunkerd (F&F) and Michael Regnier (PRS) are both great people and great trainers. Bunkerd is also a legendary champion. I knew them both in the 90s early 00s. They were both original instructors at Fairtex back to the days in Arizona. I wish I was still training, so I could see them again. Perhaps I'll go to one of their smokers to say 'hi' and 'thanks again for the training'. Smokers are free (last time I checked) for anyone interested in seeing Muay Thai / Boxing / MMA in action.

http://www.pacificringsports.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.fightandfitness.com/

Also, these facilities teach more than Muay Thai with programs in MMA, JiuJitsu and boxing. Last time I checked Fairtex also had yoga on a limited basis. Fairtex's new facility has pretty extensive weights / aerobic gear. These gyms sponsor fights and also foster a sense of community amongst their students. I was very happy spending time with these people, but don't get me wrong the training is very intense especially at the pro and competitive amateur level. I found watching and working with these athletes motivating. My skills improved greatly as a result of training at Fairtex.

Check out the 3 links above for current costs, class schedules, policies, etc. They are all great camps run by very nice people and they often compete against one another in very friendly, but intense, smokers.

[William]

Not much more to add. The folks at Fairtex have always been top notch in my dealings with them.




William