Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Leafs42084]

Hi everyone,

I will be arriving in Korea in August in Seoul and would like to find a thai boxing gym.

I am not certain on the location, but it will probably be in the gangnam area. I heard there is a gym at silim, but the hours do not work with my schedule. I will most likely be working from 4pm-10pm, so anyplace that has classes in the early afternoon or morning would be great

Also, anyone have any ideas on how much muay thai gear costs in Korea? if you do, please state the brand as that can make a big difference.

I dont think i'll have enough space in my luggage to bring gloves, shinguards, headgear etc etc. Would rather buy in korea if it is cheap

thanks

[Hyeon Een]

There're a bunch of gyms around Seoul. A lot of them are combined with regular kickboxing or with MMA but you can still get a good workout and even learn some new skills. You'll be able to use gym equipment wherever you end up, or they'll be able to sell it to you if you don't want to share. When you get here get a Korean co-worker to do an internet search on Naver to find your nearest gym. Most are open from about 12pm so you should be able to get a couple of hours in before work. The most common system is 1hr of training with the instructor a day whenever you like for padwork or technique, and the rest of your time you can spend kicking bags or working out or sparring with whoever is around. I believe some of the bigger gyms do group classes but I have no experience with that, and not much interest either. I prefer the 1-1 training style..

[Leafs42084]

[Hyeon Een]

Standard price seems to be 100,000won a month, though I think a couple of places may go up to 120,000won. First month you'll need to buy your gear and they might want you to buy their gym's trunks. Not sure on prices for pads and gloves and raps etc.. I'd guess less than 100,000 for a set.

For the 100k a month you should get 1hr a day 1on1 6 days a week, plus unlimited hours training on your own or whoever else is around the gym.

The fact that you don't speak Korean won't matter too much.. most places like having foreigners.. it makes them seem more high class or something haha.

[coralreefer_1]

I hope some of you have better MMA training experiences than what I am attending.

The jujitsu is Mon, Wed, Fri and I really have no complaints about it.

But Tues, Thurs. are kickboxing days. I was expecting to enjoy a good workout.However, on those days...there is literally no class. Guys come in,jump rope for 5 rounds, then just shadow box or work on the bags. There is no instruction, no-one holding pads, just basically working on your own while the owner/coach sits on the floor talking or on the computer.

I hope you can find a place that is worth the time and money. Based on what I have seen at this place and a few others I have visited, many seem to be just guys who have watched alot of pride and K-1, learn some moves and teach what they have seen...not what they have spent years learning.

Good luck!

[Leafs42084]

[Leafs42084]

[coralreefer_1]

It's Machado style, and from what I understand this is the more "sport" version. In this gym some wear the gi and others do not. The thing is that they are just teaching moves...they are not really teaching how to work into those moves. The only reason I continue to go is because it is close, it fits my schedule,and they have a squat rack and some other equipment that makes it nice to go there and save the money of a gym membership. I know the guy who runs the place used to be a fighter, but I don't think he, or anyone else there has any official training in BJJ with someone qualified.

That being said...Frankly I don't mind whether the BJJ is good or not, I enjoy just wrestling on the floor and am bulking up just from doing that. It's certainly a different kind of stamina workout that what I have been used to. As far as the kickboxing does..I don't even bother to attend the class...If i am going to have to work on my own I might as well go at a time when it will be empty and avoid all the others.

The guy let me try a few of each classes before I laid money down. This is Daegu and the place was only 80,000 won. It was much better when I first joined, as the place in near a university and there were many people,and even another guy from Russia training there. But during the vacations..most of the people in the area (college kids) go home to mom and dad, so finding people to roll with other than instructors is not easy.

On a side note...They do this one thing that seems totally ass backwards to me. They do something like a round robin where a few guys get on the floor and all the others form a line and take turns trying to pass that persons guard within a minute. It sounds great in theory, but what happens is that the most senior and most skilled folks (always the same 2-3) stay on the floor while us newbies spend most of the time waiting in line to try again. This gives all of the time and experience to the guys who already have experience,while the ones who need the practice the most only practice standing in line..haha

[Leafs42084]

[coralreefer_1]

Well...what they are doing is their concept of Muay Thai..though I don't think it is as hardcore as what you may be used to. I never see the guys who spar use elbows,(not even phantom elbows) though I guess if they went to some tournament they would use those. They do use and teach leg kicks.

When I spar with the instructor, even though we are only going half power I ask him to kick me a little harder in the legs, as I want to toughen those up a bit. Because of my taekwondo background my ability to recognize hip movement and evade his kicks has helped me lots, though I still have much trouble kicking with my shin and not my foot..I haven't gotten used to the new distance even after a year.

I'm sure there are some great places out there, especially in Seoul. As far as a pure Thai boxing gym, that may be harder to find, but there are plenty of MMA places to chose from.

Good luck!

[Freddypops]

I started at a Muay Thai gym here in Busan last August. I pay 90,000 a month, and it's open 1pm - 11pm Mon - Fri and 12pm - 4pm on Saturdays (this seems like a fairly typcial schedule). I've had one pro match and plenty of amateur sparring matches - got another one tomorrow as it happens. I get one-on-one training with the 관장님, but I wouldn't say it's an hour's worth every day - more like three rounds of him holding the pads and calling out combinations. I also work on the bags and inside the ring as much as I feel like. I only spar once a week or so; I'd prefer more sparring but I'm not really in a position to start making demands of the owner.

If he's busy with other people, you just wait - use the bags, skip, shadow box, whatever. Your trainer will get round to you eventually; they're used to managing a gym where people continually come in at different times.

In terms of stance and style, almost all gyms in Korea will teach Muay Thai. For matches or sparring you'll simply subtract elbows and knees as appropriate, but they'll teach you all the techniques for full Muay Thai.

[Leafs42084]

[Freddypops]

It just varies depending on individual matches - today my match was unlimited knees in the clinch (although in reality the referee was breaking the clinch after three knees or so once it hit the ropes). All the other amateur matches I've had have been just kicking and punching. My pro match was K1 rules - one knee in the clinch, then break. I was a bit nervous about unlimited knees today, but it was fine... I won, so obviously the adjustment wasn't too bad. I've never had any matches with elbows - apparently it's like getting twatted with a brick when one lands on your cheek.

In Busan you have to get an amateur card before you can do an amateur match - you do a bit of sparring, some skipping, and some pad work in front of a gwanjangnim from a different gym. I think it's just to make sure no-one dies of a heart attack or anything during a match. Not sure if you have to do the same thing in Seoul.

Before I came here I'd done a bit of judo and some kung fu in large classes, but that can't compare to the one-on-one training you can get here. Best thing I've ever done in terms of health and fitness.

And it's true - gyms love having foreigners and kyobos, you'll definitely get lots of positive attention.

[Leafs42084]

[endo]

Does anyone know of any gyms in Kangnam? Specifically near Kangnam station?

thanks