THE ART OF MUAY THAI - Thailand 2008 High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

Improve your fitness, learn self-defense,
and immerse yourself in Thai culture.

Join our Muay Thai Program if you want...

	Practical self-defense training from Muay Thai experts
	One-on-one instruction in Thai boxing techniques, as well as general fitness training suited to your specific needs
	To improve your overall fitness level & general health
	A personalized training program tailor-made for you – normal training includes running, gym work suited to your abilities, and specific Muay Thai skills &?exercises including kicking, punching, and bag work
	To learn the art of Muay Thai as a competitive sport Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned champ, your individualized program will jump you forward in the art of Muay Thai and improve your general fitness as well. You will be training with many people who are at the top of the sport, as well as total beginners. Those who wish to try actual Muay Thai fighting or compete in a public Muay Thai match will be able to do so with parental permission.

No previous Muay Thai experience is necessary to join this program. Come as you are and you will be warmly accepted by trainers and fellow trainees. Muay Thai champions are easy-going and thoughtful, and the art breeds a quiet, calm, and accepting nature. Thais often begin training at the age of seven, and our program is perfectly suitable for students from 15 years of age.

Upon arrival, you will define your personal goals with our staff, and your overall fitness will be assessed. Based on this and your length of stay, your personalized training program will be established. You’ll be encouraged to improve both your physical and mental fitness while you are here. Some training activities are common to all students, while others will be customized for you.

Your living quarters are walking distance from the training camp. Training includes the concepts and physical aspects of Muay Thai, as well as the philosophies and discipline that this lifestyle requires. Training focuses on the complete balance of the participant, and physical training is not seen as separate from the emotional calmness and quietness of spirit that the art form requires. Clean living, physical and emotional confidence, acceptance of others, teamwork within the club, jai yen (cool-heartedness), and a strong sense of personal determination are part of the code here.

Training demands a high level of commitment. Our daily routine starts at 7 am with a warm-up run in Bangkok’s largest and most beautiful park, Lumphini Park. Trainees use the park and it’s cool outdoor gym almost everyday.

Sessions can be as relaxed or intense as you prefer, which students really appreciate. Whether you really want to improve your skills in the ring, or just get in better shape while hanging around this cool gym and easy-going competitive fighters, this program is for you.

Free time starts after lunch. You can use the internet, read, play table tennis or taklore, or explore the sights of Bangkok with your group and staff. As many of the camp’s students are Thai, there is always the chance to learn Thai and tutor English. Everyone tends to hang out together during breaks – relaxing, talking, napping, or playing games. There is a high level of camaraderie and a great deal of personal mentoring here. As a bonus,

there’s a fantastic Night Bazaar full of food, souvenirs and clothing less than five minutes walk from the camp.

	Afternoon training starts at 3 pm and includes aerobic activities followed by one-on-one sessions with trainers. Training includes instruction on all Thai Kick-boxing techniques, as well as general bag work and overall fitness activities like skipping rope. You’ll train side by side with world champions, many of whom are national heroes, as well as natural leaders. Experienced fighters share
skills, tips, and training ideas with newcomers, and there is a lot of mentoring at the camp. Afternoon training is followed by dinner, and everyone tends to have an easy night after that – perhaps catching a movie or a Muay Thai match before heading off to sleep. You will see at least one national Muay Thai Match every week – usually ringside with the professional boxers from your camp.

Sundays are days off, and students go on organized excursions outside the camp, depending on what they would like to do. The camp lifestyle is very Thai, and the program best suits level-headed, focused, self-controlled students. This program is a great way to get in shape while learning an age-old tradition – and it really is suitable for anyone. Come join us at the camp in 2008! Questions? bryan@rusticpathways.com.

Tuesday
Depart from Los Angeles in the evening. A Rustic Pathways Flight Leader escorts all group flights to Thailand.

Day 2, Wednesday
In Transit. Today is "lost" as you cross the international dateline. But don't worry - you'll get it back on your way home!

Day 3, Thursday
Arrive in Bangkok. Welcome to the Land of Smiles! Get that new stamp in your passport and pick up your luggage. Your Rustic Pathways guides will meet you at the airport and take you to our Muay Thai Apartment, where only students and staff of the Muay Thai program stay. It is located in a non-tourist area and only a short walk to Lumphini Park (Bangkok’s biggest park) and Lumphini Stadium, the biggest and most prestigious muay thai stadium in the country. Next, we’ll join other newly arrived Rustic students for a fantastic buffet dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 4, Friday And Day 5, Saturday-
Morning Session, 6:15 -10:00 AM
Rise early, grab a quick bite to eat, and then it’s off to Lumphini Park for the morning run. You’ll be surprised and entertained by the hundreds of Bangkokians who have already arrived at the park and are well into their morning Tai – chi session. Students can also do a morning session at one of the free outdoor gyms at the park. Then, we walk to Muay Thai Plaza, our boxing camp, for the morning session. We made sure to stretch and warm up properly, while at the same time mentally preparing for the training. Join the trainers and professional fighters at this ‘skills and technique intensive’ session. Work one-on-one and in pairs with champions of the present and the past who live for this amazing sport. The trainers work hard to establish your stance and fundamentals first before building your skill set.

10:00AM- Time for breakfast! You’ll surely be hungry by now, and students can choose to explore Thai cuisine or play it safe with a more American style breakfast. We often join our friends from the gym for meals, offering great opportunities to get to know each other outside of training, and exchange some language lessons while you’re at it.

Down Time, 11:15AM – 2:45PM
With the Bangkok sun at its height, it’s a great time to return to the apartment, shower up, and turn on the air conditioning. Students are always happy to use this time as they please, watching a movie, reading a book, studying Thai, or taking a well-deserved nap. Some days we do venture out into town for a couple hours, depending on how the group is feeling.

Afternoon Session, 3:00PM – 6:00PM
Its time to head back to Lumpini Park for another warm up run! Don’t worry – you can take it easy if you want – but most students prefer to keep up with the Thai boxers (not a blistering pace) sharing a laugh on the way. See the hordes of Thais and foreigners who fill the park for an afternoon breath of fresh air, and step into some techno-bumping aerobics if you’d like. Then, once warmed up we return to camp for some calisthenics and a stretch before our afternoon session, where you’ll have a chance to apply some of the skills you’ve learned in the morning. The afternoon sessions are very high energy, and you’ll train beside professional fighters from around the world who are always happy to help you develop your techniques. Much of the afternoon session involves training with pads, so you can practice your new skills at full strength without hurting anyone or yourself. While resting, watch in awe as the ‘real deal’ fighters showcase their impressive skills and offer inspiration for your own personal development.

6:30PM – Head home for a shower, and then it’s back on the town for some dinner and a wander around the Suan Lum Night Bazaar just down the street. The market has thousands of small shops and a huge food court with live music every night – a great place to enjoy dinner after a long day of training.

10:00PM – Time for some free time. Relax with a movie or a book, or study some Thai to practice tomorrow. One thing is for sure – you’ll sleep well tonight!

Day 6, Sunday
Sundays are our day for rest, and students are generally given some extra time for sleep, and then given some choices of what they’d like to do for the day. Options include a visit to the Siam Water Park, go-carts, waterskiing or wakeboarding, checking out the Grand Palace, or shopping at Bangkok’s legendary malls. There is a great deal to see here, so it’s up to you and you fellow trainees what you’ll do with your time!

Day 7, Monday Through Day 9, Wednesday
Normal training days. See the above description for Days 4 & 5.
The Main Event – Tuesday or Wedneday Night
Every student in the Muay Thai program will have ringside seats to a fight either at the Lumphini National Stadium or Rachadamnern Stadium, the other main stadium in Bangkok. We always try to see fights featuring fighters from our gym, or those of the highest interest on a particular week. Tuesday and Wednesday are both huge fight nights in Bangkok, and we have great connections to get the best tickets to any fight we choose. This is a great opportunity to see the top fighters in the country at their best, and you will surely have a new appreciation for this sport after training all week.

Day 10 Thursday
Departing students will transfer to the airport and catch their flight home or connect to their next Rustic program. Students who have another week of muay thai training can opt to catch up on some sleep, or train in the morning as usual.

Stay for 2 – 6 Weeks and Watch Your Skills and Fitness Flourish!

Many Rustic Pathways’ students choose to stay at the Camp for many weeks, seeking to fully immerse themselves in this humble and rewarding lifestyle in order to take as much as they can from the experience. Likewise, students who have initially signed up for just a one-week session often decide to stay for and extra week or two, as they begin to make progress and want to continue to improve their skills. Those who stay longer always speak of the great camaraderie that develops between the fighters, and how they have made good friends with these great people along the way. Also, those who put forth the effort find that they are able to pick up a good deal of the language after hanging around for a few weeks. In addition to your new friends and real muay thai skills, you will probably be in optimal physical condition. If you are preparing to play a sport at school in the fall, you’ll be well ahead of the game when pre-season comes around – just another bonus to take home!

For more information on any aspect of this program, please email Bryan Haggerty at bryan@rusticpathways.com.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

The Art of Muay Thai FAQ's

Do I need to have a background in Martial Arts to join this program?
NO! This program is perfect for anyone with interest in Muay Thai. In fact, many students actually have an easier time learning about Thai kick-boxing than students who have studied other disciplines before.

Do I need to be in good shape to do the program?
Well, one thing is for sure – you will be in much better shape after the program! Whether you’re just trying to take the first step towards being more healthy and active, or you’re looking to be in the best shape of your life, The Art of Muay Thai Program can make it happen. At the camp, you’ll have the chance to train at the level of world-class fighters preparing for their big fights, or with new recruits just learning the basics. Basically, you can go as easy or as hard as you’d like!

Is there a lot of sparring in this program?
No. The vast majority of the training involves refining techniques, then applying what you’ve learned to practice, using bags and pads. More advanced students will find themselves being constantly pushed farther and engaging in ever more challenging drills. This is a place where many champions have been made, and the knowledgeable teachers will take you as far as you want to go!

I’m worried that this program will be too intense for me – should I be worried about this?
No – You can always go at your own pace, and do as much as you want. One of the most amazing parts of the camp is the amazingly laid back atmosphere – there is no pressure of any sort, and you will be accepted no matter how hard you work at the camp.

Will I really learn something even if I only do the program for a week?
Yes! You’ll be amazed at how quickly your fundamentals start coming together, and how fast your confidence in your new techniques will grow. Because we train full time (2 sessions a day), you learn much quicker than a casual student.

Where will I sleep during the Program?
Rustic Pathways rents out a couple of programs very close to the Muay Thai camp. For the entire week, you’ll be walking nearly everywhere you go, and you’ll really get a feel for this little corner of Bangkok. You’ll sleep with your fellow campers on comfy sleeping pads in one of our apartments.