Before anybody jumps down on me,yes,I know I didn't fight and nobody really! BUT just wanted to say thanks to everyone who trained me over the last 13 years non stop at Thai boxing,and to the people I have trained with and met through this great sport.
I packed in 2 weeks ago due to arthritis getting in a lot of my joints and suffering at work.I had a knee op 9 years ago and told to pack it in then! But no chance....
I could have carried on and as fit as ever but my joints are knackered and I'm 50 now with 20 yes manual work left. I am ticking over at a normal gym.
Managed 7 inter clubs(some may as well have been fights! LOL) and did some gradings/ram muays too.
Been a lot of gyms but mostly with Elite at Bolton with Sean fogg(foggy)my last lesson with him was very emotional for me and a bit for him too I suppose (known him a long time and 7 yes out of 13 with him)I fully got the respect thing and only people who trained hard and a long time understand.
Thanks to GFC,Waterloo St gym,BTBC,HKS,Premier gym(Nigel Ashton),AAC gym and of coarse Elite.
Thanks to Gilly for giving me the opportunity to work in the corner at Waterloo St gyms fighters at ikon show,never forget that.

I will be around at shows and supporting the fighters and the sport as always!!

Cheers,chalky

All the very best Phil. Stay close to the sport buddy.

Cheers Shaun,i intend to and loved the last 13 yrs.... Apart from the pain. And spewing after training at times ha ha. Wore my black eyes like medals around tesco shopping lol

Chalky ,for a guy your age involved in the sport you are truly inspirational.
Been nice to hear you being around the sport, full respect to you for everything you have done and achieved. I do hope to see you at a show someday and have a catch up.
OSU!!!

Thanks,and yep I will be around... Supported shows for years and fighters not stopping now. ;-)
Come say hello

Chalky email me an address I can post a club t-shirt down to you mate. My email address is markgtba@gmail.com. Take it as a leaving present mate.
All the best mate, Mark.

All the best Chalky,people like you are the heart and soul of Muay Thai,people who train for the passion and the pleasure of the sport,not everyone has the desire to compete regularly,without people like your good self we wouldnt have gyms to run,all the best mate:)

Thanks mark,will do.
And paul cheers for the very kind words. I put 100% into every session and trained hard. My desire and love of the sport is the same. Just my 50 year old joints have had enough. Anyone I have trained with whether it is instructors,fighters and fellow students I hope I made a good impression and I know for many younger ones I helped and inspired a few.
Still ticking over doing no impact gymwork and may pull the gloves and shinnies on once every once in a while

Cheers,
Chalky

I know I haven't always seen eye to eye on some things and some people,but always been big enough to admit I was wrong and shake on it. And fight my corner if I believed I was right! Not everyones cup of tea,but that is human. On the whole got on well with everyone

Good luck mate

Cheers ;-)

good luck phil i think me and u might have even done an interclub together at our gym many moons ago lol you are doing the right thing and listenening to your body not an easy descion to make my friend and i can't imagine when i will knock it all on the head many years from now i hope , enjoy going to shows mate and hopefully catch up with u in the future you are an inspiration my friend for training late into your 40's and i miss your updates on facebook , you were sometimes outspoken but you had your own opinion and stuck by it but if you were wrong you always did say sorry and i admired you for that keep in touch phil and u can fbook me if u ever want a chat :)

Thanks Paul,I think your right about the inter club!
Had a great time and 13 years non stop is a fair achievement. Started just to get fit/lose weight at 38 yr old and went on from there.
Yes,always said sorry if wrong and thanks for your very kind words.
Still keeping fit just no Thai
Will see you at the shows mate,keep well

best wishes

All the best Chalky

Chalky and Smiffy interclubbed together? That would be awesome!

That would HAVE been awesome!

My mistake.

It was ha ha ;-)
Also had 2 very,very tough inter clubs with nick Sinclaire,it was full on at times.… loved it.

Thanks again to everyone.

yes farhad it was funny we had a good inter club finished with a big man hug lol :)

;-) that's how it is

Im gutted i wasnt there. Id loved to have seen 2 cool guys go toe to toe with each other.

it was good and thanks phil

I miss it but had a few rumbles and surprised a few coaches with my ability for a old geezer!
All the best in Thai boxing world,see you out and about!

Well enough is enough..... lol
Back at it after 7 or 8 months away,like my mate at work said "you love Thai boxing/training... You may as well ache/hurt for something you enjoy! You ache anyway!".....

So just keeping my hand and shins in... lol but only when I can do it. Go to a " normal" gym to keep the blubber off.