Monday, 26 August 2013

Luxury Muay Thai

Khun Bee is a nugget of man, a good head shorter than me but a solid ball of muscle. But when he asks he to kick him in the kidneys, I hesitate. 

“I don’t want to, I’m afraid I’ll hurt you!” I laugh. 

“You no hurt Khun Bee. Bee Lumpini champion. No hurt.” 

Oh yes, of course. My matchstick shins are no match for a world champion Muy Thai boxer, who is very graciously taking a wimpy woman through the basics of this violent, sweat-inducing and highly addictive sport at The Siam Hotel’s state-of-the-art boxing gym. 




“Leb, li, leb, li” Khun Bee instructs, holding up his pad-protected hands in case my jab sends him flying. It takes me a minute to realise he’s actually saying ‘left, right’ ... and ‘gar’ means guard, the most essential part of any form of martial arts. If you don’t protect your face, you’ll lose it. And in the case of Muy Thai, that’s usually in the most spectacular fashion. 


me giving Bee hell

This most deadly of martial arts dates back at least 700 years to the Sukothai period, when it was refined in the royal courts of Ayutthaya. It is often referred to as the ‘art of eight limbs’, a marriage of grace and savagery that involves punches, kicks, knee and elbow strikes and head clinches. It’s incredibly physical - trust me, it’s an amazing aerobic exercise - but also requires speed, lightness of foot and nerves of steel. 

Thailand’s first boxing ring was built in 1921; it has since become the national sport, with Bangkok’s Lumpini Stadium the headquarters of the World Championships. Anywhere you go in Thailand, however, you’ll find an arena holding weekly fights - and there’s nothing quite like being amongst a crowd of locals and farangs literally baying for blood. 

Watching Muy Thai is one thrill - but actually learning the sport is another. I’m having a lesson at The Siam Hotel, Bangkok’s most exclusive boutique hotel, which boasts Bangkok’s first professionally-equipped luxury boxing gym. And what a gym it is - fully air-conditioned, with a full-size boxing ring, mirrored walls and all the training gear you’d ever dream of. Even the lobby of the gym is incredible, with a fantastic collection of Muay Thai memorabilia - old posters, gloves, all very cool. 


memorabilia from Muay Thai golden era

The gym was installed at the personal request of General Manager Jason Friedman, who is a self-confessed Muy Thai addict; Jason can often be seen training in the gym, taking advantage of its incredible facilities. 

After an hour’s introductory session, I was sweating like a pig, dying of thirst and exhausted. I also felt amazing, re-energised by the surges of adrenaline through my veins. 


Take that!

And what better way to relax afterwards than with a 90-minute massage at the glorious Opium Spa specially designed to iron away the aches and pains of Muy Thai. The Muy Thai Massage uses slow, deep strokes and firm pressure to ease built up stress, perfect for recovery after a boxing session. Such a brilliant combination of sport and relaxation!


The Opium Spa

www.thesiamhotel.com

46 comments:

  1. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away free. I love seeing website that understands the value of providing a quality resource for free. It’s the old what goes around comes around routine.
    Regards,
    Best Bangkok Holiday Package

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have done a great job. I will definitely dig it and personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this site.
    view

    ReplyDelete
  3. It was great to see the old printshop and everyone who works there again. I am excited to see a printing business still operating and growing, great job guys
    Muay Thai

    ReplyDelete
  4. What do you first notice when you walk into a room? If you view the carpet, you could have an issue. No one likes their eyes to immediately fall on unsightly stains. If the carpets are standing out, it’s time to get them cleaned. The following tips will help you do just that.
    www.energopomiargliwice.net |

    www.adolfocamarillobirthday.com |

    www.fsutenniscamp.com |

    www.fsutenniscamps.com |

    www.jennifergoodmanlinn.com |

    www.seminolehighperformancecamps.com |

    www.siegfriedandjensen3.com |

    www.texas-ediscovery.com |

    www.myfloridacoach.com |

    www.25in2012.org |

    ReplyDelete
  5. Likes substantially increase the recognition within your website page and together with the proper range depend; many folks will very likely be drawn to your account. The businesses that offer these products and services, get instagram likes fast will supply you with non-automated or robotic likes and provide you with severe Instagram likes. The great detail referring to this is that they are instantly sent to the account this means you wouldn't have to attend that a great deal. And when you're a business organization, growing your Instagram likes will be useful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is really a helpful blog to find some different source to add my knowledge. I came into aware of new professional blog and I am impressed with suggestions of author.
    ออกแบบกระเป๋าผ้า

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is actually good to read content of this blog. A is very general and huge knowledgeable platform has been known by this blog. I in reality appreciate this blog to have such kind of educational knowledge.
    เสื้อโปโล

    ReplyDelete
  8. I welcome all the suggestion mentioned in this blog related to new learning skills. It is definitely going to help me to adopt new exited way of learning. I think, others will also feel helpful this blog for their needs.
    broker forex

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am glad that I saw this post. It is informative blog for us and we need this type of blog thanks for share this blog, Keep posting such instructional blogs and I am looking forward for your future posts.
    วิธีเล่น Forex เบื้องต้น

    ReplyDelete
  10. Really inspirational to hear someone pursuing their dreams and becoming successful instead of following the traditional path. I have read your article about This topic. I think it's good and impressed to know your service. Thanks for share this Information.
    custom polo shirts

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
    วิธีเล่น MetaTrader 4

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gracefully written information on this blog are going to support me for my coming assignments. Every point was very clear and taught me few new parameters. I would like to use this information in coming future.
    สมัคร XM Forex

    ReplyDelete
  13. I found this blog after a long time which is really helpful to let understand different approaches. I am going to adopt these new point to my career and thankful for this help.
    สแกน ไวรัส

    ReplyDelete
  14. Enthusiastic words written in this blog helped me to enhance my skills as well as helped me to know how I can help myself on my own. I am really glad to come at this platform.
    Project management professional

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sometime few educational blogs become very helpful while getting relevant and new information related to your targeted area. As I found this blog and appreciate the information delivered to my database.
    หุ้นอสังหาฯ

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your post is providing some really good information. I liked its essence and enjoyed reading it. Keep sharing such important posts about this blog and its much more helpful for us .
    Agile project management course

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your blog is very informative. Eating mindfully has been very hard for people these days. It's all because of their busy schedules, work or lack of focus on themselves. As a student I must admit that I have not been eating mindfully but because of this I will start now. It could help me enjoy my food and time alone. Eating mindfully may help me be aware of healthy food and appreciating food.
    วิธีทำกำไร Fibonacci Retracement

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am grateful for this blog to distribute knowledge about this significant topic. Here I found different segments and now I am going to use these new instructions with new enthusiasm.
    dell rack server ราคา

    ReplyDelete
  19. They underhand in which variants awry, bit as well as caught up intos criticals. They acceptable unconfident explicits amid his tariff, which normally caused it to be easier to complete! Forex คืออะไร

    ReplyDelete
  20. The treatise dominate ritual dictators their emphasis by their shows. As you cancel to scan the treatise, you could draw if the correspondent has an arenal of skill or hasn't. To survey on the setting if it is fine, your expedite demand stop how it would be rated. The individually I got from you has a obvious exegesis plus flowing. XM ข้อดี

    ReplyDelete
  21. Professionally written blogs are rare to find, however I appreciate all the points mentioned here. I also want to include some other writing skills which everyone must aware of.
    Project management professional

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is really nice to read content of this blog. A is very extensive and vast knowledgeable platform has been given by this blog. I really appreciate this blog to has such kind of educational knowledge.?
    เครื่อง เซิ ฟ เวอร์ ราคา

    ReplyDelete
  23. I welcome all the suggestion mentioned in this blog related to new learning skills. It is definitely going to help me to adopt new exited way of learning. I think, others will also feel helpful this blog for their needs.
    rack server ราคา

    ReplyDelete
  24. This blog resolved all my queries I had in my mind. Really helpful and supportive subject matter written in all the points. Hard to find such kind of blogs as descriptive and accountable to your doubts.
    โรงเรียน ged

    ReplyDelete
  25. Graceful written content on this blog is really useful for everyone same as I got to know. Difficult to locate relevant and useful informative blog as I found this one to get more knowledge but this is really a nice one.
    verloskundige amsterdam zuid

    ReplyDelete
  26. Most of educational information over different kinds of blogs do not such supportive as supportive all the points of this blog. You need not to find any other platform to verify the data stated here.
    Pedicure assendelft

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey, It really is incredibly fantastic and informative website. Good to discover your site Very well article! I’m simply in love with it.
    psychotherapeut haarlem

    ReplyDelete
  28. The site is really beneficial for everyone to know about this topic. I think if you read blog than you will get some more information from blog. This is really useful blog.
    verloskundige amsterdam oost

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am thankful for this blog to gave me much knowledge regarding my area of work. I also want to make some addition on this platform which must be in knowledge of people who really in need. Thanks.
    อุปกรณ์ศิลปะ

    ReplyDelete
  30. This blog is truly useful to convey overhauled instructive undertakings over web which is truly examination. I discovered one fruitful case of this truth through this blog. I will utilize such data now.
    smart digital door lock

    ReplyDelete
  31. I welcome all the suggestion mentioned in this blog related to new learning skills. It is definitely going to help me to adopt new exited way of learning. I think, others will also feel helpful this blog for their needs./
    หนังสือ จิตวิทยา แนะนํา

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hello, I also would like to comment over all the points mentioned in this blog. I agree with essence of few point but somewhere I found myself on other place. I hope, there might little opinion of others as well.
    เลือก Copy Trade

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am thankful to this blog for assisting me. I added some specified clues which are really important for me to use them in my writing skill. Really helpful stuff made by this blog.
    รองพื้นคุมมัน ราคาถูก

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
    ฟรีวีซ่า

    ReplyDelete
  35. Detailed and descriptive articles written in this blog is really very helpful for me as well as for other who seeking such kind of knowledge. It is definitely going to become useful in coming future.
    HPE OFFICECONNECT 1950

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sometime it becomes very hard to find a well written and well established bog which give you correct and useful information. However, I found this blog and got some relevant information which are really helpful for me.
    promotion code shopee

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am glad that I saw this post. It is informative blog for us and we need this type of blog thanks for share this blog, Keep posting such instructional blogs and I am looking forward for your future posts.
    ปวดหัวไมเกรน

    ReplyDelete
  38. It would be interesting to join such an aggressive and real discussion with readers of this blog as well as readers of other blogs or websites who really thing that they can express more related to this topic.
    QNAP TS ECx80U R2 Series

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sometimes we have to face a lot of confusion when we found different opinion of different hundreds of articles related to same question. But I think now I am close to resolve my doubts after reading this blog.
    ดีล ราคา พิเศษ JD Central

    ReplyDelete
  40. Actually, I am facing some difficulties to understand the meaning of the blog. If you have any short video film related to your blog, then I would request you to share here. It would be great help.
    Bollinger Bands คืออะไร

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for such a valuable and informative platform I find here. I am regular to read publication of this blog and definitely waiting for more articles.
    ออกแบบเสื้อผ้า แพทเทิร์นเสื้อผ้า

    ReplyDelete
  42. This blog aware me about different programs which can become very useful for our friends and kids. Few websites provide combined courses and few of the are separately for single subject. Glad to get this information.
    Point คืออะไร

    ReplyDelete
  43. Fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I'm confident, you have a great readers' base already!
    zwangerschapscursus amsterdam

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi there! I could have sworn I?ve visited this web site before but after browsing through many of the posts I realized it?s new to me. Anyways, I?m certainly delighted I found it and I?ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!
    kệ tivi gỗ tự nhiên

    ReplyDelete
  45. Spot on with this write-up, I really believe that this website needs a lot more attention. I�ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the advice!
    tủ quần áo gỗ

    ReplyDelete