Hongthong Muay Thai [Gym Review]

Hongthong Muay Thai is a household name when it comes to Muay Thai in Chiang Mai. One can guarantee that if you were to ask about the Chiang Mai Muay Thai scene, Hongthong will come up in conversation within minutes.

Hongthong is named after its founders, twin fighters Hongthongnoi (Joe) and Hongthonglek (Gen). At the time of writing, only Joe is at the Chiang Mai location. Gen is currently working in Australia. Twin fighters are nothing new to Muay Thai in Thailand. Having an identical twin meant always having a clinching, sparring, and training partner that was your size. Thai promoters, even to this day, love to feature twins on their fight cards (take Khunsueklek and Khunsueknoi, for example). What makes some twins more fascinating than others is when they have drastically different styles. Joe is a muay khao (knee and clinch) fighter, while Gen is muay femur (technical).

After their successful careers in the major Bangkok stadiums and internationally, they opened Hongthong in 2013. The gym has only grown in popularity from there: a second location in Melbourne, Australia (where Gen currently is) and a third location to open up soon in Bangkok.

Author’s note: I only dropped in here for an afternoon session. I was originally not going to write a review because one session does not give a complete picture of how a gym usually is. However, due to extensive conversation with Joe and long-term student/fighter Michelle (whom I am citing as a source), I believe I have enough information to paint a more complete picture. Joe and Michelle are quoted throughout this post. The gym reviews I write are more objective in nature, anyway. As always, I encourage you to use the information to judge for yourself if this gym is suitable for your needs, goals, preferences, and training history.

Contents

• Location & Accomodation
• The Gym
• Training
• Other Things To Do
• Things to Note
• Summary

Location & Accommodation

Hongthong Muay Thai is located about 20 minutes from both downtown Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai International Airport. Chiang Mai itself is a huge attraction for international visitors. Laidback vibes and the ability for guests to be in nature are major selling points, so finding hotels in Chiang Mai is not an issue. It is even less of an issue when it comes to Hongthong; the gym has collaborated with the three closest hotels (all within a 1-2 minute walk) to help guests book their stays while training at the gym. “We have about 60 rooms total,” says Joe as he points in three different directions. “We work with the hotels you see here, so anyone who wants to stay near the gym will get set up at any of those.”

Convenience is an understatement. A small grass area separates the gym from the closest rooms. The gym, the sauna room, ice bath facilities, smoothie/coffee bar, and dozens of rooms are within view. “Because of this little corner with all the hotels, some restaurants, and the next-door business that offers sauna and ice bath, many are calling us a Muay Thai resort,” Joe laughs. Anyone training at the gym is welcome to use the facilities next door for a small price.

Michelle, a Macau-native who has repeatedly returned to Hongthong for several months at a time, describes the rooms as, “Not big, but they’re good. Simple. There’s a big bed, bathroom, and you don’t have to share.”

Because the gym is located off the main road, you won’t hear cars and other sounds associated with busy intersections. There are, however, many dogs in the area. They are not aggressive, but they do bark at night.

Even when most of the rooms are booked during high season, not everyone comes to training every day. The gym can be packed, but it is rare for every single hotel guest to simultaneously attend training. “Sometimes I lose people to party life. Sometimes I lose people to Thai girl,” Joe amuses. “Foreigner, zero. Thailand, one.”

The Gym

The gym hits all the basics of what a Muay Thai camp should have: a ring, heavy bags, and plenty of mat space. Upon entering the gym, a trainer will approach you to ask for your name and if you plan on training for just that session. After that, he will tell you how much training is and take your payment. The other trainers gather, waiting for training to begin. There are some seats and tables immediately outside of the mat space, where people place their bags and other non-training materials.

Framed newspaper clippings, old photos of Joe and Gen, and trophies and belts are scattered along the pillars and walls of the gym. There is also a whiteboard listing names, dates, and opponents of those with upcoming fights. A similar chalkboard exists, but only for the shows that Joe promotes; he has his own shows in Chiang Mai called “Hongthong Fight Night” and is active in matching up fighters and putting the shows together.

The gym is open for current students to use during the day. However, there is a large sign at the gym reminding people of the hours when they should not be using the facilities (presumably due to rest time for everyone in and near the gym). There is some basic equipment for those who come a bit early to do their S&C training, such as boxes (for box jumps) and kettlebells.

The majority of those training at Hongthong are beginners. In Joe’s own words, he makes 80% of his money from beginners. Why? “Well, if they were better, they wouldn’t pay me money to train them!” he laughs from his directness.

Due to the business model of how most gyms in Chiang Mai make most of their profits, having a place that is suitable for beginners makes the most sense. This is in stark comparison to many Bangkok fight gyms, where they make a majority of their money from their stable of professional fighters (and foreign visitors dropping in is just a small percentage of their overall revenue).

Moreover, Joe is not interested in having a stable of professional fighters anymore. This could be for a number of reasons: many Thai fighters had to deal with a lot of “behind the scenes” crap during their careers in which they had no voice or power over, managing a professional fight team extends beyond just holding pads for them and can feel like babysitting at times, and simply because Joe is more than content content with what he currently has going on. Joe is a promoter and owns a successful gym. He is able to make a comfortable living doing what he does, so why go through the trouble and stress of having contracted professional fighters?

“But if someone’s level is good enough, I will help them look for fights in Bangkok,” Joe says. “But maybe like four or five people fight the same day, so we can all go together at once.”

Because of this, it is correct to assume that the majority of people training at Hongthong are beginners, as well as those relatively new to fighting. Those who are more experienced do enjoy going to Hongthong to experience a safe environment to stay active and receive tidbits of knowledge from Joe and the other trainers. (There are a couple of trainers who are still actively fighting!)

Because of how the gym caters to the majority of customers, it may not be a suitable training environment for everyone. As mentioned in a couple of previous gym reviews (Sitjaopho and Manasak), some people, when making a trip to Thailand, want to work with Thai fighters when clinching and sparring instead of other foreigners. Those who are at a higher level can feel like they are not being challenged enough, and finish class feeling like they want to do a bit more. (This point also heavily depends on who else is at the gym at the time and what level of partners you can choose to partner with.) However, no matter what your level, you can still learn something from Joe and the other trainers, even if you are not always physically challenged.

Those things being said, Hongthong has a history of many foreign fighters choosing to stay there long-term because they loved the instruction and training, building themselves up from a lower level to fighting on some of the biggest stages. Most notable people include Maggie Wanek (now retired and back in the US), Seth Grande (now retired and with his own family in Bangkok), and Sarah Gohier (now training elsewhere).

Training

If you are new to Hongthong, expect to be told to go up in front of the group class and introduce yourself. The students in the class will clap and welcome you. This gesture can be interpreted as letting everyone know you are new to the gym, and to make you feel welcome and included. It also lets you know that it’s been noticed that you are new, and they (the trainers) have not overlooked or forgotten about you.

Although a few trainers take part in instructing the group class, Joe’s presence and voice take charge of the space. When demonstrating technical drills or new moves, Joe breaks down what he wants you to do, but also mentions the importance and provides tangential information about the move.

For example, when I was there, he was showing us a drill to do with a partner. Partner attempts to throw a lead knee, you push with your lead hand and follow up with a rear middle kick. After Joe demonstrated this technique a few times, he then spoke for several minutes about how it was just one way to deal with this technique.

“For Muay Thai, in my opinion, there is no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. There is ‘foul’ and ‘not foul'”, Joe had said as we surrounded the edge of the mats, looking on with curiosity. “Social media will say some kind of kick is wrong, but guess what? They missed, and I hit them. So I scored.”

Joe followed this by saying how there are still ways to do things better, even if something is not necessarily “wrong” to do. Joe demonstrated how if you kick a certain way, people will know right away you are a beginner. But if you kick with your hips turned over and your arm up and out, people watching will know you have skill.

“They push all of us,” Michelle reflects on her experience with the gym. “We can all fight [literally and figuratively]. They want us to try.” Michelle does say that, although she enjoys training at the gym, not all sessions feel the same, and can vary due to the number of students, who’s in charge of that class, who is around that week, etc. “Sometimes it’s worse, sometimes it’s good, sometimes better,” she says realistically. “But all the trainers here are so kind and helpful.”

Women do not have to roll under the bottom rope to enter or leave the ring – they can enter and exit through the middle ropes.

Morning Training

Morning training starts at 8 AM and ends around 10. The early sessions at Hongthong are light in nature. “Yes, the morning sessions are more beginner-ish,” says Michelle. “On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, we kick pads. But on the other days, the first 15 minutes are stretching, followed by five minutes of technique work. It’s a little bit chill.” The mentioned technique work can include anything from Muay Thai partner drills to technical instruction for you to work on the bag, sparring, or clinching.

Mornings are not crowded in comparison to the afternoons. “I think 15 to 20 people come in the mornings,” ponders Michelle. “In the afternoon, like 20 or 30. It’s many more people. Sometimes there can be like 40 people!”

Regarding the morning run, which is common (and sometimes mandatory) at most gyms in Thailand, Michelle said that it’s not required. “Coaches hope that people run, and if we do, it’s about 5-8 km outside the gym.”

Afternoon Training

Afternoon training starts at 4 PM, and kicks off with running within the gym space, similar to how many gyms outside of Thailand have their students warm up. The run is for about 10-15 minutes with some agility cones mixed in for you to do your own footwork drills, if you want. Those who choose not to run warm up on their own within the gym. After the running warmup, everyone grabs a bag and does skip knees for five minutes. Depending on the day, it’s followed with padwork first, with 20 pushups after each pad round.

“Tuesday and Thursday are always [Muay Thai] sparring, and Wednesday is boxing sparring”, Michelle informs. “Monday and Friday we do clinching, and Saturday we do long [Muay Thai] sparring.”

There is a separation between fighters and non-fighters when it comes to most partnered work. Fighters will go into the ring, and non-fighters will stay on the mats. While in the ring, several trainers watch from outside the ropes to instruct and give targeted tactical advice. Joe is usually in the ring watching the fighters.

One of the amusing things about Joe is how direct and honest he is, but he presents everything in a slightly comical way so that the information is communicated and no offense is taken. Before we started clinching, Joe took one of the trainers and very exaggeratedly locked his body. Joe started throwing the trainer up, down, and around. “If you clinch like this, nobody will want to clinch with you tomorrow!” Joe exclaimed. All the students laughed at this, but the point was loud and clear: do not use excessive force when clinching if you want to continue to have training partners.

This outright “rule” and “manner” setting is not common in Muay Thai gyms, even in Thailand, with many of these etiquettes seen as “unspoken rules” to be learned through trial and error (or after a trainer yells at you to stop sparring or clinching a certain way). But it perhaps ought to be more common; because of the proactive approach, everyone was controlled and prioritized learning, not “winning”.

Joe’s thoughts about his philosophy and knowledge about the structural parts of Muay Thai fighting may be lost upon those who are just beginning (after all, no context or experience might make the information given feel insignificant). But for those who have been training consistently for a while, and those who fight or strive to fight, the thoughts Joe shares give so much insight into his approach to training and learning, and might inspire the students to not see everything in black and white.

Because Joe himself is a muay khao and is incredibly hands-on in the group sessions, he provides a lot of nuggets of knowledge, especially to the fighters training. He regularly works in his own tips and tricks. The other trainers looking on are watching more to make sure nothing gets out of hand (in addition to giving basic clinching reminders), while Joe inserts himself more between clinching partners.

On the topic of fighting, if you are at least an intermediate level (Joe’s discretion), the gym can arrange a fight for you sooner rather than later. “But if you are a beginner and you really want to fight,” Michelle adds, “they’ll advise you to train more to improve your skills.”

Training is ended with some ab/core work, which can include kicking/punching your training partner (controlled!) or doing 100 sit-ups.

Other Things To Do

Chiang Mai is perfect for those who want to be in a laid-back town near nature, small businesses, and the arts. There are plenty of specialty coffee and tea shops (both coffee and tea are grown in Chiang Mai), and lots of local businesses to support that make their own clothing and other items for purchase.

Tha Pae Gate is a tourist attraction, and there are multiple night markets close by. Hiking and ziplining are also popular things to do on the weekends or when you want a break from Muay Thai.

And of course, there are the Muay Thai fights. There are three main stadiums in Chiang Mai: Tha Pae, Kalare, and Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium. If you are at Hongthong for at least a week, chances are, you will get the chance to see one of your new friends (or maybe even one of the trainers!) compete at one of the stadiums.

Check out the gym review of The Bear Fight Club for other recommendations of things to do in Chiang Mai.

Things to Note

Chiang Mai is situated in the mountains with lots of jungle area, so the air is clean and comfortable to breathe, with a cool freshness about it. However, lots of trees also mean lots of insects, so prepare to see lots of bugs, especially mosquitoes, all times of the day!

The only time Chiang Mai doesn’t have good air quality is during their “crop burning season“, which generally runs from January to April. This infamously smoky season makes the air in Chiang Mai hazardous to breathe.

The gym can help you find a fight locally in Chiang Mai. You can make it known to the trainers that you wish to fight before you leave. Fights in Chiang Mai don’t require you to weigh in, and the pay is around 1,500-2,000 baht.

Summary

Location: Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai

Proximity/Convenience to Other Things: The corner of the street where the gym is has playfully dubbed Hongthong a “Muay Thai resort”. There are three options for accommodation within a 1-2 minute walk from the gym, with a coffee/smoothie bar and restaurant on either side of the gym. The gym also has access to a sauna, ice bath, steam room, and swimming pool for an additional fee. Downtown/city-center as well as Chiang Mai International Airport are both about 20 minutes away.

Price: Contact the gym to book your training and/or accommodation, as this can change.
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Training: Morning training starts at 8 and ends around 10. Afternoon training starts at and ends around 6. Depending on the day (see above), training consists of bagwork, padwork, clinching, Muay Thai sparring, and/or boxing sparring. The gym is closed on Sundays.

Gym Culture: Welcoming, inviting to all levels, especially beginners. Women do not have to go under the bottom rope when entering or exiting the rings (between the middle ropes is fine). It is easy to make friends at the gym, as most of the people there are temporary visitors from all over the world!

Language: Most of the trainers have decent English-speaking skills as they are used to training foreigners.

Getting there: Fly into Chiang Mai International Airport. To the gym, depending on your proximity to where you are staying, you can walk or use a ride-sharing app.

All expenses incurred on this trip were covered thanks to my Patrons via Patreon. If you enjoyed this article, the other content on this website, as well as my social media content, Podcast episodes, and newsletters, please consider supporting via Patreon.

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