Ohhh Stupid Farang!

Scarlet Johansson completes me, there it's off my chest. We went and saw Iron Man 2 last night and it was ridiculously good. My love for Johansson has been increased due to her dropping like 10 dudes in a matter of seconds with some sweet Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shit. Due to the 8:50 session being full we had to see the 10:15 and didn't get home until 2am. Training the morning session was definitely a no no. Probably a good thing due to an old injury flaring up. So I gave it some rest with a sleep in.

The day prior was a good day, not alot went down. Training in the morning chilled out all day and then trained the afternoon. This is where the injury started to give me some grief, good thing I got in a decent set of pads in with my boy Ou. Really working technique with me and honing in on my strengths which is good! He's giving me a real good game plan for the future when I step into the ring.

After training we scoffed dinner down and bailed to the cinema. IRON MAN! After buying tickets for the later session we had to go down to the ground floor. At this point there were lifts operating. 7 story mall I'll add. After doing what we had to do we went back up to the cinema, which is on the 7th. To our surprise the Lift and Escalators were turned off, so it was a 7 story climb up the stationary escalators, for this I decided I deserved some Kit Kats, Kit Kat Bitz and some Pop Corn, OH and an Iron Man figurine cup! Did I mention Iron Man was insane?

So I slept in the Friday morning and it was goooood. Chilled poolside a bit then headed off to central BKK and get some more training Gear for myself and homies back home. Impulse buys took over and I left with more shorts and other accessories... Its cheap, who cares. Went for the arvo run worked on my tan/burn, got my Ipod a little moist now it doesn't like being told to increase volume.

Me and my Raja titles... Kwan Pijets titles.

Training was good, minus goin shing to elbow with Orono at full force. Pads sucked but I followed it with some good boxing tech with Kwean Pijet, AKA Chook. This guy is Ridiculous similar to Iron man. He's a former 2x Raja Stadium champion and is known as Elephant Heart due to his big heart in and out of the ring. Possibly one of the nicest people I've met. He's now a boxer and is fighting at the end of May, spewing I won't be here to see it. This guys always smiling but is a silent killer. Stay tuned for more introductions to the 13 Coins Trainers.

Kwan Pijet, Tony and Myself

Dinner involved a 5 course meal of seafood and salad courtesy of Mr. Coke once again. This guy is the best host any one could ask for, he's making Thailand even cheaper! Suppose that's about it for the last few days. RCA tomorrow night!!! Hello Weekend!!!

Peace

PS. Anyone that watches IronMan2, wait til after the credits. Hints about a Thor movie!

I HEART BKK

Yes, yes I do... Last two days have been a little eventful. Picked up a few pairs of customs shirts from Boon, a heap of training gear (wraps, ankle supports, tape for those annoying injuries) and then to Action Zone again to pick up some shorts Mike ordered. Ou was nice enough to take us too which is cool because he helps with the prices. You see there's Thai price and Farang* price. Also while here I ordered a couple pairs of Twins gloves, good thing to because my 12oz decided to split today!

Ben's Joints

Bobby's Joints

My joints!

After shopping was time to rest before the afternoon training, at this point in time my lap top got all "Blue Screen" on my ass. Quite frustrating really, thought I was going to lose all my documents and files as well as all my images, footage from the trip. Stayed up late working on recovering my laptop. SUCCESS! Did a few things, fixed a few things, sorted a few things. Now runs better than it ever has, WIN! Due to staying up late I missed the run this morning but still trained. Did some pads with Orono, he caught me at a point of weakness. 600 kicks later and 4 punch combos I was finished, did the usual sauna, conditioning, bagwork regime after.

Back to MBK, Tony needed his I-Phone fixed so I made use of this time to do some shopping, bought a heap of DVD's, clothes and went all Stealth with my Blackberry and made it all black, looks badass!

Trained this afternoon, did pads with Ou and all the usual things that go with training. But here's a little about Ou. His daughter's name is Fah and is about 9 or 10 and is the current S-1 champion and in Thailand has to fight boys because she keeps beating all the girls. So look out for this girl in the future! But as for Ou, he is one of the nicest people and best pad holders you'll meet. Won't just flog your guts on pads until you spew and bring in the next person when you're done. He is always giving advice and encouragement and teaches you so many little things that a lot of other people won't either know or just won't tell you.

Ou and I

Also good to take you around Bangkok when you're looking to buy gear, helps get the best price and the best quality and doesn't just take you to Lumpinee and Raja stadiums where they rip you off as apposed to the small stores around the place. And that's my two cents about Ou. I'll try give a bit of an insight into other trainers and fighters here at 13 Coins over the next couple weeks too.

*Farang (færæŋ Thai: ฝรั่ง) is the generic Thai word for a foreigner of European ancestry. (Get used to hearing this word if you come to Thailand.)

Grappli... Falling down for Seanchai

A Short video made by Galvitron, Staring Tony Palumbo and Myself.

Tony & Brock Vs Seanchai Sor Kingstar from Michael Galvin on Vimeo.

In other news, I cleaned our room today due to not being able to let the cleaners in our room because of the couch we stole from the common room. It feels nice again, now I just need some clean jocks.

I made the afternoon session today and boy was it a good one! Did a personal with Ou, he is badass! Goes through every single technique and perfects it for you, also teaches a few cool little tricks. After the 2 hour session with him I found myself clinching some of the Thai fighters due to fight this week and next at Raja/Lumpinee, which reminds me next week I'll be in the corner again but this time at Lumpinee stadium for our man Jun! This guys leg kicks are brootal.

The press turned up to training tonight also to promote a bit for Seanchai's fight next week (Which Tony Palumbo is cornering). So photos were taken and turns out we'll be in one of the Thai Muay Thai magazines this week! SIKED! I'll sign copies for everyone when I get back home! For now I'm off to dinner!

PEACE!

Where did Sunday go?

Shit son, what a weekend!
Saturday started like any other Saturday, with training in the morning and arvo. Not much else in between. Did some eating and lurked the pool the rest of the day. Trained pretty well both sessions, finally got to train with Ou. He's definitely one of the best pad holders ever. Slowed things right down and concentrated on technique. After pads we did a solid hour clinching with the Thai fighters. They've all come back to training now which is saweet. On a good day there is about 15 fighters here training. They're super helpful and will come watch you on the bag and correct things and also teach ya a few things.

After training Saturday evening the mayhem began, Pizza was eaten, beer was drunk, wine was spilt and banana splits were decimated. Karaoke was on the cards after dinner with Mr Coke leading the way. Antoun wasn't too far behind with his posse of Canadian friends that arrived Friday night.

Tony gettin down to some karaoke

After a solid hour or two of karaoke it was time to hit the streets of Bangkok. First we went to a bar called Fardang, we were rolling bout 15 people deep that night, made up of some trainers, fighters and the rest of us farang students. Couple hours of Thai country music and 2 bottles of Johnny Walker black label later it was time to head to RCA. Similar to Perth's Northbridge, minus the shit head Perthians looking for a fight for no reason. This is where it all kinda becomes a blur.

TOASTIE!

Chairs were walked over.
Bling was worn
The Rest of the crew
This is where it all began to blur (Scope me in the bg)

We stayed here until it was closing time so we headed to another club. The last club was a freakshow. It had the weirdest feeling about it and reminded us of the bar in From Dusk Til Dawn where everyone turns into vampires and fucks everyone up. A cab ride outta this place and a stop to the 7 eleven and it was time for bed.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER...

Woke up with the worst headache, possibly still drunk. Ate breakfast shared stories of the night and went to the pool to try and cleanse our souls of the filthy liquor stain that had been left. Not much else went down after this.

Cannonbawwwwl!

A call to room service and half a meal later I felt like death. It was a bout 3pm now and I dozed off for a good four hours... BIG MISTAKE. This messed with my body clock real good. After dinner I tried to force myself to sleep but it didn't happen til about 3am. Once asleep it didn't last long was awake, asleep, awake, asleep all night and then slept through the morning training today. Shit.

Raja Highlights

Short video put together by Michael Galvin with the highlights of the Night we cornered at Raja Stadium. Filmed by himself and me on the night and edited by Michael.

Raja highlight from Michael Galvin on Vimeo.

Check out Mikes website, www.muaythaitrainingcamps.com

Peace!

Press Conference?!

Whooooah! Planned on a relaxing day of training and chillin poolside/in the pool. Turned into a day of press conferences for Seanchai's upcoming fight! After the morning training session whilst eating breakfast MrCoke rushed us off into two taxi's in shorts and singlet to his other 13 Coins restaurant for the conference.

Press day, Seanchai and his opponent in the center

Seanchai and his opponent

Chanel 3 news were there and a few other stations as well as Rob Cox, the number one foreign muay thai journalist in Thailand. Micheal had been meaning to meet up with Rob later in the trip for a bit of an interview for his website www.muaythaitrainingcamps.com . So it came as a pleasant surprise to meet him a little earlier. We sat down and had lunch with him after the conference and he told us a whole bunch of interesting things about himself, Thailand, other gyms and fighters. Also at the table was Seanchai having a bit of lunch before we headed back to 13 coins for training. After our chat with Rob, Seanchai asks Mike and I what our weights are then asks if I want to fight next week at Raja in a full thai rules against another farang with two fights under his belt, both in Thailand. At this point my heart kinda paused for a good 6 seconds then went into ventricular fibrillation for a further minute. After composing myself and changing my underwear I had to decline due to me having zero fights under my belt nor the stamina to last 5 rounds with elbows at Raja Stadium mind you.

Rob Cox with Annuwat Keawsamrit

After the conference we finally got to the pool and veged out for a couple hours, soaking in the sunshine and splashin in the pool. Gao the little Thai boy was there running a muck climbing all over us when in the pool, kickin us under water and doing flips n what not. He kinda looks like a younger Buakaw. Prior to this I had a quick photo op with Orono, Magnum PI style.

Orono and I, Magnum PI

Afternoon training was a good session, went for 5km jog and did pads with Jah, Seanchai's pad holder. Third round was a struggle, I think today was the hottest day I've experienced in Thailand. After chillin out for a bit and drinking my weight in water was time to hit the bag a few rounds then jumped in the ring with Seanchai again. Did some what I loosely call clinching with Seanchai, more so being thrown to the ground every few seconds. Few sauna sessions and some abwork and I was over! Then went to zee hospital where they serve some pretttty good and cheap food, loaded up the fridge with some juice and snacks and then drank some wine with the Coke!

I got some footage of Seanchai smackin me up but I'll have to post it later due to it needing to be converted for the interweb!

Slow Start, Big Finish

Started today with a well deserved sleep in. Was still buzzing from Raja last night reliving the experience in my head. A late breakfast was on the cards so we met up with Tony and a friend of his that arrived last night, Vicki all the way from Canadian land ayy. A snap decision to head to MBK and the 3rd level which consists of nothing but phone shops across the whole floor, finally got my blackberry fixed with a new trackball, Yay I can now scroll upwards again! After this we walked up to Action Zone, it was finally open and was well worth the walk, a brief stop off at the little tea stall for Tony's favourite drink in the world. Its a Chinese tea with condensed milk served cold. Was bit of a critic at first but I'm now addicted.

Tony and his tea.

So we walk into Action Zone... AKA Heaven, Twins, King and Top King gear stacked wall to wall and so cheap! Picked up two of the newest Twins training bags for 1100baht each, a couple pairs of the M-150 shorts for 200b each and placed a few orders for some gloves to arrive next week. Pretty glad the snap decision was made to head to MBK.

Location of Action Zone for anyone ever wanting to find it in Bangkok.

Back to 13 Coins for the arvo training session, started with a 4km jog. Wrapped the hands and jumped on the bag for a few rounds. The Supertik called me up to hit pads, at this point in time I wasn't to impressed due to last time him slaughtering my foot with his pads but, this time round he seemed a little more gentle but still put me well and truly through my paces. Did four 5min rounds on the pads then into some clinching with the second biggest Thai nugget I've met, taught me some cool little tricks to do in the clinch and also how to avoid said tricks. These shall remain my secret until I see fit. Few Hundred sit ups then into the sauna, quick towel off then into the ring with Seanchai I went for bit of sparring. He of course played me the fool but hey, I sparred Seanchai, have you. More sit ups then back into the Sauna and BAM up to the room for a shower!

Sauna time! Sike, they're the saunas at Raja though.

Which leaves me here, writing this. In other news Seanchai has a movie premiering on the 29th April, he's invited Micheal and myself down to see it with him so this should be entertaining. Also staring in the movie is Buakaw Por Pramuk, Yodseanklai Fairtex and Annuwat Keawsamrit. Hopefully the three of them shall be there!

Oh Shit!

Raja was insane! That place has the best atmosphere, the crowd hangs off every knee, every teep, every punch. "OOOEEE!!" After every blow, inbetween rounds the roar of the gamblers betting is louder than an AFL match at Subiaco. Shit was hectic.
Orono and Tony prefight.

We all took a couple cars there from 13 Coins. There was five of us farang and all the rest were trainers and family members of the fighters, Mickey and Mu. We arrived a block away from Raja's entrance and walked through the small food and drink stalls before entering the stadium. A quick look in the Raja and Twins store was in order before going in. Bought a pair of shorts and made note of a few things I will be heading back there for.

Into the stadium we went, watched 3 or 4 fights then helped Mickey and Mu get ready for there bouts. Both sitting pretty calm, smirking. The other kids from the gym running around causing a ruckus and jumping into every photo they could.
Mu and Gao chillin'
Mickey with his game face.
Mu was up first and Micheal was going to be in his corner. We all walked him out to his ring and it was time, Mu jumps the ropes and its game time. 5 well fought rounds later Mu comes out victorious with a unanimous win. He controlled the fight the whole five rounds and was a lot more technical then the other guy.
Mike in his cornerman attire.

My turn to corner Mickey now. Was feeling pretty nervous but excited as well. Round one ends and its my time to shine, through the ropes I go and the massaging begins. Ou did all the talking due to me not knowing much Thai, whilst I did all the rubbin'. Seanchai would add his two cents from the side also mid rounds. Four rounds later Mickey's hand was raised by the referee and a big smile followed. Another unanimous win to 13 coins.


A quick photo op and it was time to head back to camp. So Mike and I split a taxi with Seanchai (Pound for pound best Muay Thai fighter in the world). Quick facebook and blog update and off to bed!


Raja Stadium!

Rubbin those legs!

Mickey the champ!
13 Coins Crew!
Congrats Mickey and Mu!

Free WiFi Thai Style

So we moved rooms closer to the WiFi zone at our resort, turns out the only place it worked was in our toilet and next to the window down the far end of the room at the toilet door. So we documented the transformation of our "ThaiFi Zone"

Before
The couch that sits in the common room between us and another Suite. Also a good place to dry training gear and jocks.
After

Thanking you common room for your places to hang jocks and your couches!

Como Estan!

Tonight! Tonight! Rajadamnern Stadium

Rajadamnern Stadium

Tonights the night, Miguel and I corner at Rajadamnern Stadium! Not often do you see a farang in the corner at Raja stadium, so of course we are both pretty siked to have this honour.
Chok Dee Mickey & Mu!

Mahjong Mahjang

Today I made the conclusion that Orono is officially crazy... He makes up words that mean nothing and bites your calf when your looking the other way. The phrase Mahjong Mahjang is well known by any one that has graced the 13 Coins gym with there presence due to Orono yelling it out at any moment for no reason what so ever.

In other news, we missed training this morning due to hangovers and sleep ins. Made up for it though with a trip to the Boon store. Its a fun store to get to, either catch the train or a taxi to the main road then pay a Scooter Taxi 10baht (30 cents) for a lift down the alley and then there you are! BOON! Ordered a few pairs of custom shorts for myself and friends. Available next week! Will be posting a few pics of them when I have them. Also on our journeys we swung into FBT, a four story sports good store with reaaaally good prices. Bought a real decent pair of Adidas runners for $35Au. SCORE!!

Shoe Modeling, look at those pins.

After a nice little shop was time for lunch, had my first ever club sandwich. Besides the 45 minute wait for it, it was well decent! Will be having one again!
Quip nap followed by training was in order, so to bed I went! Woke up fresh, quick drink of purple Gatorade and a 45 minute jog. Was a good enough warm up before training. Into some bag work and pad rounds it was. After going with Seanchai's pad holder yesterday, today felt wierd with the new pad holder. Wasn't too keen on it, didn't hold well at all. Kept slamming your foot with the pad, quite painful come the fourth round of five minutes.

Seanchai, his padholder and I from Michael Galvin on Vimeo.

Few hundred knees on the bag and into some clinch work with one of the toughest Thai clinchers I'd ever come accross. Think you're doing well, keeping your ground. Come close to dropping him to the canvas and BAM! You're now on your back looking up at him having a laugh after dropping the farang for the 5th time in a row.

Seanchai was no where to be seen today due to heading into the mountains to film for a movie alongside Yodseanklai, Annuwat Keawsamrit and Buakaw. Star studded line up or what. Should be back Thursday. The one following the Wednesday where I'll be in the corner at Rajadam Stadium for Mickey one of the 13 Coins young fighters. 14 years of age and had 106 fights...
Chakris 13Coin Gym AKA Mickey

And after all this its left me here, sitting on the hotel room floor near the window no where near a seat or TV milking the free wireless next door. Probably won't be and update tomorrow due to being at Raja all night so expect a two for one come Thursday evening!

Peas!

Did I Mention Seanchai Is In The Building?

Well he is and he is playing snooker behind me as I write this.

Okaaaay! So Sunday was yesterday, I got lazy and didn't update. So today is a two for one!!! Sunday was a nice and chilled one, bit of a break from the training. Quick breakfast than off to MBK. It was my first time to MBK due to my last trip to BKK ending early with me severing tendons in my toe! May have been my first time there but it didn't last I was on a mission to get to a store called "Action Zone" for some muay thai gear. My directions were "Go down Rama1 road bout 800m and its on the left next to other soccer/sport stores." So I come across a few sport stores... maybe 80 of them! No Action Zone to be found, but during my search we found a Twins store that stocked alot of Twins gear real cheap and bought some bag gloves.

After that it was off to the weekend markets, reasonably happy with myself and my purchase we jumped a tuk-tuk to Chatuchak Markets, seconds after boarding this unsafe vessel we spot Action Zone... Shit! Ah well only 3 weeks to go back there. After being dropped at a jewelry store so our driver could get a fuel voucher it was off to Chatuchak Markets! We got there, did the tourist thing, shopped, took pictures and frustrated shop keepers with ridiculous offers and really bad Thai.
Some fruity Vans at the market.
Back to the base! Lunch and light Sunday arvo training with Orono, I think he'd have been a bit more keen to hold the pads and do some technique with us if we had the boobs... Seems to have lost his spark. Now off to the massage parlour. Mr Coke asked "now do you want proper massage or fake massage, up to you?..."
"PROPER!" quickly followed and he chuckled to himself. After that it was bedtime early to prepare for the 6am run we have yet to do...

"BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP"
6am is upon us as is the two redbulls i bought from the 7Eleven the night prior. 6km later I wasn't feeling too bad suprisingly. Even after running beside a main road for 3km of it. Usual routine followed, bagwork, pads and few hundred knees on the bag, followed by shower and well earned breakfast of suasage, egg and fruit platter!
Boon Shop!
Now off to Boon and Fairtex with our Canadian friend Tony and American pal Max. Plenty of Boon apparel purchased and more to be purchased/ordered tomorrow... Few custom short joints to be made, Siked! After a few confusing phone calls made by the taxi driver and a very handy phone call from my friend Tussana we were on our way to Fairtex... I love people that can speak Thai and English and know their way around BKK!
Tony lurkin the boon store.
FAIRTEX
Fairtex facillity is ridiculous... Very clean, alot of rings and gear and some good trainers. A little above the cost of other good gyms but you're payin for the name. We wandered through the main eating/hanging place inside the complex, seemed to me that everyone there had a chip on their shoulder. Aside from them jerks it was a decent place. Had a little gander in the shop. All very well presented and good price. I'm not usually a fan of Fairtex's equipment but had to buy something so I purchased a nice set of Fairtex shorts, similar to the ones I have signed by Yod at home.

Back to camp, but first the 7Eleven for a few bottles of gatorade...10 or so lost count! Afternoon training was on like Donkey Kong. Straight on the bag then into the ring with one of Seanchais Pad holders and Seanchai right there watching my every move. Was a little intimidating but more so badass! Learnt a few cool little moves and got some nice compliments! Three rounds later and a few hundred sit ups was time to hit the shower, write this blog then off to meet up with our friend Tussana!

WHAT A COUPLE OF DAYS! If any of my new American friends read this you guys should have stayed a couple extra days... Jus sayin... Oh and here is me with Seanchai!

Seanchai Sor Kingstar is in the Building!

Yes, the legend arrived this afternoon! Very nice guy and his english isn't to bad at all!

The day started with a sleep in and a hangover due to Mr Cokes generosity and loading us up with free wine! He went even further yesterday morning with a 4 course lunch which was compiled of Satay beef skeweres, chili rice and chicken, bbq chicken and mango sticky rice! Pretty slow day otherwise. Alot of facebook updating, blog writing and photo/video uploading followed by training. Did the usual skip/shadow/stretch warm up, about 30 mins on bag and 3 five minute rounds on the pads. Didn't feel the best on the pads due to bit of pain in my injured finger. Turns out the nail is ready to fall off, so I've made good mates with Gauze and Fixomol!

It seems that the Australian skin isn't impervious to the Thai mosquitos as both Micheal and I are getting more and more red dots up our arms and legs as the days continue so after training we took a jog to the local shed mini mart in a back alley. After 5 minutes of Charades we were able to buy some mosquito coils and some thick, thick energy drinks.

Quick shower and change we come down for dinner, we ate and were once again treated desert by Mr Coke! More mango sticky rice chyeeeah! All whilst watching Seanchai spank everyone at Snooker.

Going, Going, Gone!

Sawasdee Krap!
What a day, made the morning training session. Once again got owned on the pads by Ton, getting accustomed to his style of pad holding now which is good... Just lacking in staminar due to not hitting pads in a while with the finger incident. After training we had a good solid breakfast of Steak and Eggs, very Thai. Then off for hour long oil massage all for $10! (No happy ending) After an hour of bliss it was time to visit another Mall, this one only 5 stories high, whatever.

Lunch, a quick rest and into an afternoon of training.
Quick skip, few rounds on the heavy bag and then into the ring with Ton again. Felt alot better in the afternoon. Technique was better as was staminar, I think knowing what I was in for now helped! After the pad rounds we did some technique with the Americans, Orono and the Thai teens. (One of them is 14 and had over 100 fights) The youngest one known as "fat boy" who has had 26 fights and is about 10 years old and about 4'10" showed two of our American friends how good 10 year old thai dudes clinch. He was a Machine!

Me hitting some pads with Ton. from Michael Galvin on Vimeo.

Then it was my turn, to have a little spar with Mu, the 16 year old thai boy with 10 fights. Who I will also be cornerman for at Raja Stadium on the 21st. He smacked me up pretty good, but I did land a few flush headkicks.

Shower and dinner followed. Curtosey of MrCoke, the 13 Coins superstar!
Probably the best host I have ever met. Michael did some filming for him so he shouted us a table full of food to say Thanks and also to say goodbye to our American friends! Oh and far too much wine!

Farewell our American compadres!
Ralph, Jessica, Nicole and Rosie!
Left to Right: Mickey, Ralph, Jessica, Me, Nicole, Rosie, Michael, Mu, Boy and Mr Coke

Como Estan Bitchez!

Sooo Americans think Australians are drinking machines... We wern't even trying either! We went to the Mall today it had its own waterpark, naturally we hit it upppp!
I was there...
Mike was also there.
Tony was whale side.
The americans weren't to far behind us.
Action shot chyeaaah.
Alround good day, Slept through first training session... possibly due to hangover, unsure. Hit up the mall and water park then a noodle bar for some cheap food, then into the afternoon session of training. Few rounds on the bag, then Ton put me through my paces on pads proving to me that my fitness needs some improvement! Followed it up with about 30 minutes of clinch work with Orono, Michael and our mate Max from America n some light sparring, by this point in time i was exhausted and sparred like sheeeet! Had a well deserved pad thai for $1.50 and some wine curtosey of Mr Coke!