Hello Again! So after my review of Sitmonchai Gym, here is another review of one of the gyms and teachers I was privileged to train with: Ajarn Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee at Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee Muay Thai Gym in Ubon Ratchathani.

Why Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee Gym? How It Started

One day I was talking to Carol, one of my Thai boxing friends, and she recommended that I go to Ubon Ratchathani and train under living legend Ajarn Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee who won 4 Lumpini belts during Muay Thai’s Golden Era. Since I had been to Ubon in my previous trips to Thailand, I was shocked to learn about Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee Gym. I didn’t know about it.

A very tempting thing about the gym was that you had to be recommended or lucky to know about it, because at the time, there was no website or any info about the place. And apart from this, Ajarn Lamnamoon’s fighting skills were some of the best of the era. Also, a very important thing was Ajarn Lamnamoon’s ability to speak and write very good English. That, in my opinion, is very, very helpful. The next impressive thing was when I was talking to Ajarn Lamnamoon over Facebook, as expected, he was really humble and very welcoming. I was then invited to his gym and I knew I would feel great learning from the legend himself.

Before I describe the gym and the training routine, let me give you some info about Ajarn Ajarn Lamnamoon:

Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee¹

4 Time Lumpinee Muay Thai World Champion and Muay Thai legend

Over 300 professional Muay Thai fights at the highest level in the world

Regarded as one of the best in his era with victories over many elite World Champions and fighters such as Lumpinee World Champion Chartchai Paiseetong Sityodtong, World Champion Namkabuan Nongkeepayayuth, Kaensak Sor Ploenchit, Wangjannoi Sor Palangchai, Krekchai Kaewsamrit, Chokdee Por Pramuk, and others.

Ruthless knee attacks and Muay Thai clinch

My Arrival

I booked by plane from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani; the journey is just about 45 minutes to 1 hour long. On arrival, Ajarn Lamnamoon was waiting for me at the airport wearing his gym t shirt and smiling. He greeted me with a good English and a hand shake. I replied in basic Thai and a Wai, showing respect in the Thai way, which I think he appreciated.

During the short trip to his home, we had a really good talk about training in his gym and what he expected from his students. He asked me about my experience, what my goals were and what expectations I had. It was almost a surreal feeling as I was talking to him for a while on Facebook and we both sort of clicked as if we knew each other before.

Because of this, I felt like a part of his gym from the moment I arrived.

I also discovered that I would be staying in his family home, and every morning and evening we would go to his friend’s gym, where at the moment, he was training his students. (Although, by now, the gym he had been building is already opened.)

The Accommodations

The room in his house was a basic room, as in most gyms: big, clean, with a big double bed, wardrobe, a cold shower, and a fridge outside the room.

The Location

Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee gym is located in the North East of Thailand, in the city of Ubon Ratchathani. The North East/Isaan, has been a hotbed for some of the best fighters in Thailand and is an area less visited by foreigners. Ubon is close to the Laos border and the Mekong River; there many interesting things to see and do in the area.

The Training at Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee

Morning Training

Run 8-12 km

Shadow box 3 rounds

Pad work 3-5 rounds

Bag work 3-5 rounds

Clinching 20 minutes

Bag drills

Strength and conditioning

Cool down and stretching

Evening Training

Run 4-5 km

Skip 15 minutes

Shadow box 3 rounds

Pad work 5-8 rounds

Bag work 5 rounds

Clinching 30-40 minutes

Sprints/speed training

Bag drills

Strength and conditioning

Cool down and stretching

The above training seems the same as in most Thai Muay Thai gyms, but in my opinion, it’s not! And I have been to many gyms. Lamnamoon’s training and attention to details (correct technique, rhythm, counter, and his style) is really second to none.

The biggest difference I noticed, was that on most of the days, Ajarn Lamnamoon was holding pads for his students. He is very, very big on fundamentals and his style. Every gym in Thailand and every trainer has their own style, but

in Lamnamoon’s gym, you will be shown his style, and you are expected to follow what he is teaching you.

I would say that Ajarn Lamnamoon is very technical with great punch combos, good kicks and an all round fimeu style; but his biggest influence is amazing knees, elbows and clinch work.

During my first day of training, after the usual run and skipping, he asked me to shadow box. He assessed my my general technique and level, then it was time to do pad work. Straight away I noticed a big, big difference from other trainers, as he was expecting my technique to be perfect, or close to perfect. If he didn’t like something, he corrected it straight away. After pad work came time to spar and clinch with Lamnamoon, and again I realised that I still have so, so much to learn as I couldn’t touch him and in the clinch. He is just a real monster.

So to sum it up, the training is very technical, with very good attention to correct technique. You also will learn good boxing combos with emphasis on good knees, clinch, and elbows.

After pads, normally you do bag work and clinch. Sparring was after each evening session, on some occasions, twice a day.

In many gyms in Thailand you do hard pads and learn by repetition and watching fighters. At Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee gym you actually are shown correct technique from day one, and you repeat the same technique until it’s correct, before being shown a new one. Another great thing about staying in his gym and home is the fact that you become very, very close with Lamnamoon and all of the fighters, as you all have rooms next to each other. Also you eat his family cooked meal as one big family. It was really great every evening eating with Ajarn Lamnamoon, watching fights, and talking about Thai boxing, including how the 90s Thai boxing and today are very different. It was an unforgettable experience.

References

¹http://evolve-mma.blogspot.ca/2010/07/another-world-champion-joins-evolve.html

XXX

Mariusz Slowinski is a Muay Thai, boxing, and strength and conditioning coach from London, England. He is the first non-Thai to have worked as a trainer at Keatkhamtorn Gym in Bangkok. Mariusz travels to Thailand regularly to learn more about the Art of Eight Limbs and has learned from some of Thailand’s greats. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, and his website, Coach Mariusz.