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Training is what I love doing.....anywhere, anytime.

Travelling is what I enjoy, but it kinda bugs me after a while. I often get bored of the homogenous sights offered by the Lonely Planet or going to a small town in Asia to find that Europeans outnumber locals 2 : 1.

This blog is my solution to the curious malaise that I feel whilst on travel. Something that occupies my time and gives me purpose in combing locations for hidden treasures in fighting, not fighting and existing.

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Boxkator - Phnom Penh (Review By Zeb)

“Three inches power, that’s all you need.” Grand Master San Kim Sean, gold kroma, and father of the modern Boxkator system effortlessly lifts his right leg up three inches from his target, twists his hips, kicks, and sends a young student unlucky enough to be holding the kicking pad, sailing across the mat then turns to me and smiles. “See?” If you haven’t heard of Boxkator before, you will soon.

Anyone that has the slightest interest in martial arts or action films has undoubtedly come across the actor, Tony Jaa. In his films he showcases a particular martial art rarely seen before by the rest of the world called Muay Boran. In the films and advertisements they call it Muay Thai, but it is Muay Boran. “Muay” is Thai for fighting and “boran” means ancient. This martial art has gained an enormous amount of popularity over the past several years and the Thais have welcomed the notoriety just as they welcomed the surge of interest and the influx of foreigners coming to Thailand to train in Muay Thai (the stripped down style of Muay Boran used in competitive sport fighting). This is all well and good for Thailand and for those wishing to train in those particular styles, but just as studying the history of Muay Thai will lead you to Muay Boran, looking into Muay Boran will ultimately lead you back to Khmer culture and to Boxkator.

Boxkator is not a martial art like Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, or any other martial art that I have come across. It is not a martial art that has been modified or watered down over the years so that it could be used as sport or point based fighting. It is a combat art that, if executed correctly, should leave an opponent incapacitated within seconds. I’m sure there are practitioners of the martial arts mentioned above that might come across this review and want to reply with a history of the effectiveness of Karate etc., and I’m not trying to dispute that by any means. Boxkator is simply a different animal all together. Grand Master San Kim Sean says that this is the art that Khmer warriors and farmers alike practiced to kill on the battle field as well as in the jungles, fighting off lions… that’s right, lions. In this brutal art there is also much beauty and thousands of years of history, culture, and refinement. Of the relatively few westerners that have discovered this martial, virtually all have used one word to describe it.

Complete.

Boxkator includes stand-up fighting at high, middle, and low positions using hands, elbows, knees, feet, and shins. There are hundreds of joint locks, pressure point manipulation techniques, breaks, chokes, ground fighting techniques, and even fighting from the sitting position (Indian style for the westerners, lotus position for the easterners). All of these fighting techniques are contained in forms and animal styles (horse, duck, dragon, bird, crab, elephant etc.). Boxkator also has a weapons system that includes short stick, long stick, knife, short sword, long sword, and a very unique weapon about six inches long called the lotus stick.

I came to Phnom Penh and trained six to seven days a week, eight hours a day, for one month. Grand Master and his instructors trained me in the unarmed fighting techniques, the five basic animal forms (duck, crab, bird, horse, and dragon) as well as the basic short course with a single short stick and the lotus stick. I would highly recommend anyone coming to train Boxkator to dedicate at least two weeks to full time training. This isn’t a “Mc Dojo” as they are so affectionately called these days. From day one Grand Master and his instructors focus on proper technique from the ground up. You must master the basics to progress, even if you are training for a few days. When Jason and I started training together he trained both of us in the same manner even though I was staying for an entire month and Jason was only in town for a few days. The Boxkator Academy in Phnom Penh strictly adheres to the “walk before you run” philosophy. The funny thing about this (and what makes training there so great) is that Grand Master will not hesitate to demonstrate advanced techniques to show you what your basic skills are leading toward. He is also more than happy to answer any questions you have about the techniques you are learning.

There is a great atmosphere at the school. There isn’t any of the macho pretentiousness that seems to plague a lot of western martial arts schools (and Thai boxing camps). Everyone there is more than willing to help you with your technique and/or stand in as a practice dummy to perfect your techniques. A month’s worth of training like mine costs $120 a month. That includes a couple of hours a day of direct, one on one instruction under the Grand Master. This kind of education and instruction is very rare, even if you have a lot of money and are able to afford the direct instructions of a Grand Master, but for $120 a month it is an amazing opportunity not to pass up if you find yourself anywhere close to Phnom Penh. After mastering the basic punches, blocks, kicks, knees, elbows, animal stances, and foot movements new students can expect to learn new fighting movements in each animal style as well as forms every day they train. They teach the “art” of Boxkator Monday – Thursday. On Fridays Grand Master teaches straightforward fighting techniques. There are open classes Saturdays and Sundays that serve as catch-all classes where you’re never really sure what you will learn, but you can bet it will be interesting.

I cannot recommend this place enough. I could write another 1,000 words on what I learned and not even scratch the surface. For anyone looking for a truly unique experience in the world of martial arts, this is the place.

K1 Fitness and Fight Factory - Saigon (Highly Recommended)

Owned and run by MMA / Kickboxing / Hardnut Frenchman David 'Serial Striker' Minetti, the K1 Fight Factory combines cardio classes with kickboxing to make a well rounded workout. Whether you are looking mainly to stay fit while travelling or improving your skills in martial arts, the K1 Fight Factory offers everything from Circuit Traininig, Kickboxing, MMA, the deadly Krav Maga and even the Vietnamese martial art Vovinam.

You can do either group or private sessions at various times. I think it is also somewhere that you can quite easily stay for a long term stint.

During my time there I trained mainly with Fx (pictured), who is David's younger brother and only other trainer. A charismatic, handsome guy - he might be a hit with the ladies but taking a hit from him is not such a pleasant experience. He is a black belt in Vovinam.

What to expect -

The headquarters is in District 4, in front of the river that is nicely located just outside the main part of the city. The equipment is new and well maintained and they have some weight equipment upstairs. It has a feel like you are going over to a asian friend's place to train, due in part to the older Vietnamese ladies who live there and do cooking in the kitchen next to the weights room.

Training times -

Group Sessions

9am - 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday

6.45pm - 8.15pm Monday to Friday (Kick Boxing)

Speak to David or Fx to set up private sessions Monday - Friday between 7am and 6.30pm

Cost -

$20 USD for a casual group class

$40 USD for a casual private class

Again, speak to David to work out how many times you are coming during your stay in Saigon and a price for training.

Look here to convert into your own currency http://www.xe.com/

Address -

346 Ben Van Don, P1,

District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

There is also a gym in District 2 offering Kickboxing classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Website -

http://www.teamminetti.com/

Bantus Capoeira Singapore

Singapore is your typical city, country, state, island and contained metropolis. Actually, it is not typical at all, it is one of the most amazingly constructed places not only in Asia but on the planet.

It is by far the most well-planned (some say overtly contrived) city that I have been to in Asia. For an island which is just 682 sq kilometres, with a population of 4.5 million, it somehow manages to give a feel of spaciousness whilst fitting in more culture, activities and sights than much larger countries.

Most of these activites are assessible on the internet, with a simple Google search coming up with a huge range of martial arts available in Singapore.
With things so easy to find, you should have to problems finding training centres for any discipline.

I trained with Bantus Capoeira. The school is headed up by Graduado Claudinho with his loyal band of Singaporean Capoeristas closely in tow. One thing that thoroughly impressed me about Claudinho's teaching is his attention to detail. As a new student, I find that teachers often will reserve meticulous observations of style and movement to either the students more entrenched in the school or after you have been there for a few lessons.
However, I could really feel that Claudinho had a keen eye for what I was doing and gave me a few Capoeira tips which helped with my overall understanding of the art.

What to expect -

Like the rest of Singapore, the YMCA where Bantus trains is an pristine, multifuctional facility. It has air conditioning which helps you train harder and longer, although the roof seems rather low, so you may have to reserve the pratice of backflips to after class.

Training times -

8.30pm - 10pm Monday, Thursday and Friday

Cost -

$20 SGD for a casual class

Look here to convert into your own currency http://www.xe.com/

Address -

Located at YMCA Orchard which is a 5 minute walk from the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Once you walk out of the station, just ask one of the friendly Singaporean's that happen who pass you by and you will be fine.

Website -

http://sg.bantus.org/

Paddy's Gym - Phnom Penh

Conveniently located just past the riverside tourist district of Phnom Penh is Paddy's Gym. It has an extensive range of weight training equipment and a boxing ring along with punching bags. It is a hub for professional body builders and Khmer Boxing fighters.

What to expect -

A huge gym size wise which has a rawness that I have only found in a few gyms in South East Asia. There is something about lifting weights in a non-airconditioned enviroment with cars screeching past that somehow gets your blood flowing.
With classes offered for aerobics, Khmer Boxing (also known as Pradal Serey) as well as personal training, you have a collection of fitness activities at your fingertips.

Training times -

Aerobics is 6pm - 7pm Monday to Friday
For Beginners hoping to learn Khmer Boxing the times are Monday and Wednesday 7pm-8pm.

Cost -

$3 USD for a day pass that includes aerobics
$5 USD for a Khmer Boxing class

Look here to convert into your own currency http://www.xe.com/

Address -

356 National Road 5,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Website -
http://www.paddysgym.com/

Boxkator - Phnom Penh

Boxkator is one of the many martial arts native to Cambodia. Currently, the only person teaching this ancient martial art is Grand Master San Kim Sean who is based in Central Phnom Penh.

More recently, Boxkator has been popularized by segments within History Channel's TV series 'The Human Weapon' and also for being a training ground for adventure / martial art's writer Antonio Graceffo.

I feel that that these reasons play a large part in the small but steady stream of foreign students coming to the school. Zeb (pictured middle) is another foreign student training at the Boxkator academy while I was there. Look out for Zeb's review after his month long stay at the camp in May 2009.

What to expect -

A school of mainly younger students who train twice a day, with afternoon sessions under the guise of the revered Grand Master. The Grand Master and his son, who also trains at the gym, speak very good English which is a huge positive when explaining movements and the intricasies of Boxkator.

As someone coming in as a foreign student, you will have more personalized training from the Grand Master honing the vast array of techniques of Boxkator (Over 10,000 moves). The Grand Master has structured training which aims to enable someone to be able to teach Boxkator after 5 months of intensive training.

Training times -

5.30am to 6.30am group training
6pm to 7.30pm with Grand Master Kim

Cost -

$5 USD / hour or $120 USD for a month
Discounts are available if you sign up for the full 5 months

Being based in the heart of Phnom Penh has many benefits apart from having most of everyday life's comfort and conveniences available an arms throw away.
There are cheap backpacker hostels within breathing distance from the school from as low as $4USD a night.

Look here to convert into your own currency http://www.xe.com/

Address -

No 169, St 161, Sangkat Orussey II, Khan 7 Makara
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Located close to O'Russei Markets, the best way to get there is to make a left off Charles De Gaulle Boulevard on Road 161. There is a sign on your right reading 'Cambodian Boxkator'. It is located on top of a car park.
Call Grand Master Kim on 012651845 when you are in Phnom Penh if you have any trouble getting there.

Website -

There is no official website for Boxkator. However, if you rummage around Google, you will find plenty of information.