TMTG 011: Lessons for Young Nak Muay (Turning Pro)

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 11

When is the right time to turn pro?

This is a question almost every young Nak Muay ponders at some point throughout their amateur career.

Is it after a certain amount of tough amateur fights?
Is it when you've run out of amateur opponents in your weight class?
Is it when your coach and training partners say you're ready?
How do you even know when you're ready to make the leap to the pro rankings?

The answer is going to be different for every Muay Thai fighter, but it basically all comes down to how serious you are about your fight career.

In the most recent episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul discuss their thoughts on turning pro and the top factors that should be considered by every athlete deciding whether or not they should make the leap. The cover the benefits and down points of fighting professionally and the mindset/work ethic you need to develop in order to be successful as both an amateur AND a professional.

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to TMTG 011: A Lesson For Young Nak Muay (Turning Pro)

To give you a brief background, Sean is a recently new pro who had 24 amateur fighters and 2 amateur titles before making his pro debut, which he lost after being stopped in the first round (you can read his thoughts on his tough defeat here). He will be fighting on the next Lion Fight 26 card against a tough opponent in Pedro Gonzalez. Paul is a seasoned amateur with 15 fights and on the fence about when he should start fighting professionally. He'll be representing the US in Spain and then shortly after he'll be headlining the fight card at Madison Square Garden.

Also don’t forget to “The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time” where Sean and Paul will go into detail and cover topics like:

• Figuring out your motivation and why you want to fight.
• Showing your worth and putting in the time at the gym.
• Training like the fighter you want to become.
• Planning out your entire training camp
• Meal planning and nutritional advice.
• Recovery methods and injury prevention.
• Strength and conditioning.
• Muay Thai specific training.
• Making sacrifices and focusing on your goals.
• Building a relationship with your coach and training partners.
• Preparing mentally in the locker room before a fight.
• And much more!

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 010: Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 2)

At some point almost everyone who trains Muay Thai considers stepping in the ring to test their skills and heart.

In last week’s podcast, fighters Sean (19-6) and Paul (12-2-1) broke down the first part of the complete guide to fighting for the first time… and in this episode they go in even further detail talking about things like…

• Food Prep and Dieting – Many fighters (especially early on in their career) neglect to educate themselves on the proper way to fuel their bodies and minds for a fight. Knowing what to eat and when to eat will play a huge role in your energy levels, weight maintenance, training output and much more.
• Rest and Recovery – Another neglected area of training is the rest and recovery portion. Without taking the time to mentally and physically recharge you won’t be able to train as hard as you’d like during the training camp for your fight. Make sure to listen to episode #6 where the guys talk about specific ways that will aid in your recovery between sessions.
• Strength and Conditioning – Balancing your Muay Thai specific training with your strength and conditioning can be a challenge. Sean and Paul go over some key concept and tips that will help you maximize your training sessions so you’re in the best shaper possible when you step into the ring.
• Muay Thai Specific Training – How often should you be training? What type of Muay Thai training should you be focusing on? Figure out how much sparring, pad work and other forms of training you should be doing leading up to fight night.
• Cutting Off Negativity – Whether it’s friends, family or other people in your life, it’s important to cut yourself off from the people who bring you down and make you doubt yourself. Chances are people are going to think you’re crazy for wanting to fight (and that’s perfectly normal) but it’s the people who distract you from your goals and get you into bad habits that aren’t going to be beneficial to your Muay Thai career.
• Student/Coach Relationship – Having a close relationship with your trainer and training partners will be crucial to your success in and out of the ring. Without a good support system behind you and without a team of people helping you improve day in and day out, it’s going to be A LOT more difficult to win fights.
• Preparation in the Locker Room – The locker room can make or break a fighter. Do you know what your warm up is going to consist of? Do you know how to deal with the emotions and nerves that are bound to spring up right before you fight? The Muay Thai Guys share their tips that get them zoned in before the fight.
• And much more!

Click here (or the podcast player at the top of the page) to listen to TMTG 010: The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 2)

Also don’t forget to check out part 1 of “The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time” where Sean and Paul will go into detail and cover topics like:

• Figuring out your motivation and why you want to fight.
• Showing your worth and putting in the time at the gym.
• Training like the fighter you want to become.
• Planning out your entire training camp
• And much more!

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 009: Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 1)

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 9

Some people get into Muay Thai for the specific reason to test themselves in the ring, while others start training because they want to get in better shape and learn an effective method for self defense. Regardless of why you began training, chances are that you have at least contemplated the idea of stepping into the ring and fighting.... haven't you?

In the most recent podcast, fighters Sean (19-6) and Paul (12-2-1) breakdown a complete guide so you can be 100% prepared for your first (or next) fight.

With a combined 40+ fights, The Muay Thai Guys share their best tips, strategies and training tools that have helped them be prepared mentally, physically and spiritually before entering the ring. Here's a brief rundown of what the cover:
Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time

1. Figure Out Your "WHY" - Knowing why you want to fight is the first step to being ready physically and psychologically. Do you want to fight to test yourself? To brag to your family and friends? To see if you're as tough as you think you are? Whatever the reason is, it's absolutely crucial to be aware of your motivations in order to truly be prepared to step in the ring. Not only that, if you're confident about your "why" you'll be much more persistent in overcoming any challenges or obstacles thrown in your way during training camp.
2. Show Your Worth - Be consistent and hard working and your trainer (and training partners) will take notice. If you want to truly be successful and win your fight, you have to show your coaches that you're committed and 100% serious about fighting. Anybody can say they want to fight, but not everybody will put in the time and effort to PROVE that they want to fight.
3. Train Like The Fighter You Want To Become - How do champions train? How do they eat? What are their training routines like? Do they do roadwork daily, or do they prefer sprints? One of the best ways to become successful in anything is to mimic someone who is already successful. Do your studying by listening to pro fighter interviews, watching their training sessions and reading about their lives. What can you learn from fighters like Buakaw, Saenchai, Joseph Valtellini, Joe Schilling, Kevin Ross, Caley Reece and other champion fighters? A lot.
4. Plan Out Your Camp - "Fail to plan, plan to fail." Sure you can go into a fight camp without any real training structure, but will you really benefit from that? Taking the time to figure out how to balance your training with work, school and other areas of your life is super important if you want to be prepared (and confident) when you enter the ring. Set time aside to write out your daily, weekly and monthly training schedule (and goals) and do your best to accomplish everything you set out to do.

Click here (or the podcast player at the top of the page) to listen to the entire podcast and go more in depth with each of the first 4-steps so you can be prepared for your next fight.

In part 2 of "The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time", Sean and Paul will go in even further detail and cover more specific topics like:

• Meal planning and nutritional advice.
• Recovery methods and injury prevention.
• Strength and conditioning.
• Muay Thai specific training.
• Making sacrifices and focusing on your goals.
• Building a relationship with your coach and training partners.
• Preparing mentally in the locker room before a fight.
• And much more!

Click here or the podcast player at the top of the page to listen to TMTG 009: The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 1)

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 008: Crucial Attributes Champions Possess

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 8

Photo by Scott Hirano of scotthirano.com

What characteristics separate an average fighter from a great one?

This is an age old question that can be answered in a number of ways. In this episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul discuss the top 6 traits they believe are the most important for becoming an elite fighter.

PLUS a preview of the upcoming GLORY 24 fights in Denver and Lion Fight 25!

Click here or the podcast player at the top of the page to listen to TMTG 007: Why We Train Muay Thai

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

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