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Topic:This Is Whats Wrong With Muay Thai...
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 06:06:36

This is whats wrong with Muay Thai...

ANYONE can set up a club with no teaching qualifications or experience and were supposed to sit back at let Muay Thai get watered down?

A new club has started in Telford and quite frankly its a joke, for the sake of the poor innocent people who are going to be conned into joining them people need to act now and stop these dreamers from taking money from innocent people..

This for me epitomises what is wrong with the Martial Arts in general – ANYONE can claim to be a martial artist and start a club. There is no recognised body that regulates new clubs and the local council aren’t interested. New clubs like this one are being set up across the country bringing the sport of Thai Boxing and the Art of Muay Thai into disrepute. What is REALLY concerning is that when I called them up on the phone they claim to be recognised instructors with the UKMF - this brings the of the best organisations in the UK under fire for not doing checks (If its true)

According to the clubs website www.revolution-mt.com - the team “really do feel passionate about the sport and value the traditions that have been around for centuries” Having spoken to a few instructors from my area it appears that the four people running this club have recently broken away from an established club and Ironically have NO teaching qualifications or experience – How can they honour values and traditions when they don’t know them?

To put it into context most clubs have Children in the junior class who are more qualified and have achieved higher grades than there teachers and senior instructors. How do members of the paying public know which clubs they can trust?

I'm not saying that you need qualifications, many instructors have proved there worth through competition or producing fantastic fighters / champions - these 'Experienced fighters' have only had a couple of interclubs between them.

We as Muay Thai Practitioners need to bear in mind that the people fooled into attending these new clubs (being set up all around the country) are the future of Muay Thai and several years down the line these new students are going to think they are accomplished Martial Artists and maybe even set there own clubs up.. thus the broken chain of Muay Thai continues… getting weaker at every link?

This whole is “Laughable” and I believe that there website backs up my case. For some reason the contacts prefer to be called by nick names and display cartoon characters as profile pictures, (The attached file) very professional in its own right? An example of the contacts mentality? Or disrespectfully mocking Muay Thai?

In my opinion this club is just a CBeebies spin off of the tellybubbies minus tinkywinky.. How can anyone take them seriously?

The website also unlocks some truths or rather “untruths” that again should make people question the credibility of the contacts –

“Smurf” (Sarah Offland) claims to have been instructing for three years? She has hasn’t been training for three years!! She claims to be an experienced fighter – so two less than satisfactory “light contact” sparring competitions with no winners or losers makes you experienced? Again I introduce members of our junior team who have had over 6 fights in the last 12 months – does this make the kids Arjarn?

Don’t know what Arjarn means? Good job for “PO’s” (Colin Hales) Encyclopaedic knowledge! Give him a call for information on “famous combat moves”, “dates” and “historical artifacts” mentioned on the website.

“Paulie” (Paul Jones) has no qualifications at all, but according to the website he too is an experienced fighter, again two very poor light contact interclubs makes you experienced? Pmsl

“Meggie” (Meg Purkis) has never done a Muay Thai class, But she has done a couple of one on one sessions with the experienced fighter known as Smurf so that’s ok then. Two years training again is an exaggeration.

One of my personal favourite pages is the Muay Thai History page, instantly recognisable as a Wikipedia extract - again surprising given the knowledgeable “PO” is in the camp. Now for continuity – Is it Khru? Or Kru? How do you spell Muay Thai?

I actually feel sorry for Steve Broom of Reaper Gym, it would appear from there website that they are linked? If I were Steve Id get in contact and get them to remove all links - these clowns will discredit your club...


Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 06:07:41

Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 06:07:59

Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 06:08:23

The Phoenix
Posted: 2011-10-12 06:47:52
Oh my days, thats meens i can open an club in my area. NOT

these people are either having a laugh or have delusions of granduer. it is sad and shocking the scary thing is i have heard people at my club saying why dont we open our own gym.....

everyone wants a quick buck or some limelight, put the hard graft in 1st get recognised earn some respect witin the thai community get some an actual fight record mayeb just mayeb one day you might get somewhere.

mickey mouse clubs will always be around, as long as the real clubs are aware and make jo public know where they can realy learn thai thats all you can do

Liam R
Posted: 2011-10-12 07:50:05
sweet, they have a Kru, show me the monies!
weazeldeazel
Posted: 2011-10-12 08:47:26
For f@cks sake,

"Ricky" as your profile says the only 4 posts you have ever put on AX are all on this thread.

I actually feel sorry for Steve Broom of Reaper Gym, it would appear from there website that they are linked? If I were Steve Id get in contact and get them to remove all links - these clowns will discredit your club...

Where does it say my gym is linked to them? because they have a link to my website? By that logic then why have you not mentioned Fight Shop or any of the other links? Have a quick look round and you will see that the majority of clubs swap links all around the UK. is their one on my website to their gym? could it be that they have actually linked themselves to my gym? possibly?

I couldnt give a fook, it means by your logic they will find a real Thai club very local to them so by all means keep my link on your site.

You seem to know an awful lot about the individuals ie how long exactly they have trained, exactly how many interclubs they have had? could it be you are connected to the "established club". If you really want to throw stones then lets, if not as you have contacted the Revolution club please also ring me and warn me directly.

I await your call "Ricky"
JordSMT
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:13:08
Ricky, I think you know to much about this 'gym' for your own good, also how come you have screen shots etc of this 'website' but i cant find it on google, do you have a link??
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:18:22
Steve,

I gave you the heads up via your website, check your emails.

I didn't suggest that you are linked to them mearly that they were linked to you.. I don't train in Muay Thai anymore (for about 10 years) however i did used to train with you under Nick at Adams Grammar and was pleased you set up on your own.

I do however work in Telford and commute from Shrewsbury each day i was looking for a club to continue training, I looked at your website along with others in the area before posting.

I did my research on the phone & Internet (as any new student should do) and joined Ax to discover the best clubs to join in my area so i am new to the forum - and also discovered a lot about this new club. I was mortified that someone can set a club with no experience or credability and it undoes the hard work credible clubs like Reaper do for the sport... It's not a slur on Reaper or you.

Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:27:37
JordSMT

When i found the site I p*ssed my self laughing so much i took screen dumps to circulate to my mates who I trained with..

One mate still trains in the area and knows "of" one of the guys who started the club through work.
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:29:11
www.revolution-mt.com
weazeldeazel
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:30:23
I am a little sceptical as you do know an awful lot about those people involved in Relolution, its interesting that you are shocked at this, if you have been away from the sport for 10 years then you really should do a search on here for Nic Hewitson! that may shock you further :)

Good luck with your search.
JordSMT
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:39:45
fair enough lol
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:49:02
Hi Steve,

Yeah I'm new to writing on here but not new to looking on here! Yeah read the
Nick H, comments a couple of years ago i was shocked. Shame nice guy.

Yeah been at uni then got a job in Southampton before moving bk
to Shrewsbury last year. Do the old guys from PYD train with you?

I'm p*ssed off with cowboys cause i enrolled my lad in Karate in Southampton and it turns out the guy was a fraud.
crazylegs
Posted: 2011-10-12 09:58:28
I can't even find that instructors page :-/ sure the coaches look inexperienced but they won't last long if they are lol
crazylegs
Posted: 2011-10-12 10:01:50
Plus if you hear any students saying 'lets open a gym together' to make money then there in the wrong sport....we do this for the love of it and nothing else trust me I never made a penny in the long run from my gym. Get into MMA or boxing gyms and when you have lads in there that are getting good tell em it's free training and you'll take 20/25% management and training costs :-) now your making money
weazeldeazel
Posted: 2011-10-12 10:03:06
One of them is involved with Revolution and another runs Telford Thai so Nics legacy remains, the majority of the old lads from PYD dont train anymore. Sometimes they drop by or come to my shows to say hello though.

Shrewsbury has a good Thai club, you can find them online.






Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 10:10:50
Cheers, I'll look them up..
-Jonno-
Posted: 2011-10-12 12:42:13
lmfao at colin "po" hales's little thing , jeeeesssus
welsh eagle
Posted: 2011-10-12 16:54:34
Ricky was it you asking me those intrusive questions on the phone yesterday?

A bit naughty if so, i was under the impression that i was helping a guy with advice on insurance requirements for setting up a club.

Also i told the guy on the phone yesterday that i have witnessed screening of prospective new clubs by the UKMF previously. And also informed that person of other associations requirements that i was aware of.

A withheld number and a series of questions when i was busy yesterday and i forgot the name of the guy i was speaking to. Although the peron i was advising did state he was looking for insurance and qualifications to open a club in the midlands.

I stated that there was no one body and no sports council recognition although the ukmf were working towards that high accolade.

Was it you Ricky?
Fight Sport MC
Posted: 2011-10-12 17:13:39
This is too obviously just someone with an Axe to grind.

Here's the thing...with the exception of practicing medicine, law, dentistry, accountancy or installing gas or electrical appliances...what else DO you have to show accreditation for?

There are charlatans out there claiming to be plumbers, mechanics, carpenters etc...why not Muay Thai instructors?

The future of Muay Thai is not in their hands at all...this will not water down or weaken the sport...instead it will just make the camps of better pedigree appear even more dominant.

If these folk are running keep fit classes loosely based around the sport of MT, then so what?

It's not some franchise that you buy into and you are guaranteed exclusivity to a postcode area like you would if you bought a 'Cash Converters' or such like.

If they take the next step and try to become a fighters gym then they will be found out in the ring if they are shit...at which point their students (who are essentially just customers) will have the freedom to upsticks and move to a different gym if they feel it will advance them as fighters.

I recently presented a fight show for a gym which teaches...wait for it...karate, tae kwon do, boxing, Thai boxing, mixed martial arts and Kung Fu. One person was the senior instructor for all of the disciplines and during the show this person was handing out grading awards and black belts and who knows what else.

Do I agree or disagree...I just don't care!
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 17:37:13
Welsh Eagle -

No me I'm afraid.. Just looking for a gym close to work!!
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 17:42:02
Fight Sport MC

The point is that ppl in the know will avoid like the plague, my concern is with those who don't know the difference!

Not knowing about Karate I was conned, parents of the next generation looking for a club in there own town face the same ordeal..

I have no axe to grind, checking out Shrewsbury MT on Steves advice..
Ricky Davies
Posted: 2011-10-12 17:45:03
What I'm saying in a nutshell Is that there should be a nationally recogised body who regulates MT in the UK.
Colin Payne
Posted: 2011-10-12 17:59:48
Here are the two questions that have to be asked about an Instructor of martial arts (any style)

are they teaching safely??
are they teaching ethically??

that's it. Technical competence?? well beauty as they say is in the eye of the beholder.

Other arts, Karate, etc etc have HUNDREDS of people whose level of instruction and understanding is very poor, not sure why anyone would think Muay thai would be immune to that.

Strong Hand
Posted: 2011-10-12 18:16:02
Dougie just killed this thread with logic, theres no need for anymore discussion imo
david eckersley
Posted: 2011-10-12 21:46:48
The truth is its not Smurfs that set up "coz the think they can"

But many many Muppets!

I Have believed for years that ALL martial arts instructors should be regulated and approved just like school teachers.

The reason it wont happen is EVERY instructor believes they are RIGHT! and EVERY style thinks they are the best!

Simply put English isnt better or worse than French Arabic or Welch, but try telling each of them that!!

Pride and enthusiasm / belief in your preferred system or choice makes you very blinkered.

Smurfs are easier to spot though being BLUE

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daveh2001
Posted: 2011-10-13 04:57:56
I've trained under a few different instructors over the years and am curious to know at what point do you take the plunge and start instructing (if that's what you want to do)? What qualities do you need to have, level of experience etc... from reading this forum for years now it seems like as soon as a new gym opens up, with instructors nobody is immediately familiar with then they are torn apart and slagged fit to burn. If nobody had decided to go out on their own then the sport wouldn't be as widespread as it is and wouldn't be as readily available to a lot of people. The 'smurf' pages above (if they are pukka) may well be viewed in hindsight as a slight professional faux pas, on the other hand they could turn out good students and good fighters all painted blue. Who knows, but just because someone in not inside the 'inner circle' of Ax and UK MT does that mean they won't make a good instructor?
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