Hello Chin, what is your Koh Phangan story?
I was born in Nakhon but have been living on Phangan for twelve years.
The first time I came here was because I wanted to visit friends, I was fighting in Bangkok for eighteen years and am two times world champion. When I retired I came to Koh Phangan and now I am one of the only Muay Thai trainers who is a champion
At first I didn’t know how to teach so I was selling fruits, I went back home and then my friend asked me to come back and teach Thai boxing. I didn’t speak English but I learnt from being around people.
Tell us about Chinnarach Gym?
I worked at two gyms before but this one is my own. Each gym on the island is special but this one is more special as I have built myself up slowly.
We do group training and one on one training. I also go to Europe every year, I visit many countries as my students invite me to train them there.
You are doing a Muay Thai Seminar on the 17th of January, why have you decided to do this seminar?
Because on this island no one has done it before. I was teaching and doing seminars in
Europe and being a world champion means that people can trust me with my experience of being a real fighter. I will be talking about thai boxing, muay thai.
What will people learn about?
I will show very important techniques in boxing, how to kick correctly, how to have your hands correct, how to stand etc. People at many different levels can come and listen, it is the same as going to school, you have to learn, try and develop.
I have staff helping me and I will also talk about my story, I have had two hundred and fifty fights and a successful career in Bangkok.
What is special about training on Koh Phangan?
Their is a big difference in training because if people are training with me I can guarantee them success. Many of my students have fought at Lumpini which is one of the biggest stadiums and
also on live tv.
I make fights in Samui, Phuket and Had Yai with students from Phangan and also Bangkok.
I also made a fight for the King’s birthday.
On Koh Phangan there are many tourists who train and after training they can go to the beach or different places on the island but on the mainland there is nothing to do. For me it is better on Koh Phangan.
Why do you think Muay Thai is so popular?
When you learn Muay Thai you can save yourself, it is self defence. You learn it like exercise, you work out the whole body.
Also when you’re training then maybe in the future you can fight, it can be a good career.
What do you do when you’re not training or teaching?
I relax. Every Saturday we have a bbq with the students and I like to go to Koh Ma, Chaloklum and Thong Nai Pan.
Sometimes on a Sunday we all go out, we train all week then the weekends are for enjoying!
What would you say to aspiring Muay Thai boxers?
Whether I am teaching middle or higher levels, everyday I plan what to do, different plans for different levels. Everyone seems to like me and each element of training is important, you need
dedication, love, a natural talent etc.
For example, ten people will start with me but some give up so six out of ten will give up but I am left with four who will not. Basically don’t give up!
Everybody is welcome to the seminar, you can book in advance or buy a ticket before or on the day from the gym. You will learn about the way I teach and then you can put it into practice.
This Seminar is the first of its kind on Koh Phangan. Chinnarach will be talking about his 250 fight career in Lumpini and Ractemadurm and what it takes to get to the top in Muay Thai. Plus he will be demonstrating skills and techniques.
You can see details of the seminar here.
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