We try Kai Muay Thai’s 3 Classes for $48 Promotion
Kai Muay Thai in Jalan Besar
Another gym has found its home on the dimly lit streets in the Jalan Besar locale, lighting up an area already associated with many great Muay Thai spots.
Kai Muay Thai, previously based along King George’s Avenue, recently moved to a ground floor shophouse unit on Sam Leong Road, which is a stone’s throw away from City Square Mall and Farrer Park MRT.
We took the opportunity to check out this fresh space with their current (at the time of this article) newcomer’s promotion of three group classes for $48. Here’s a breakdown of our experience.
The gym space
Upon entering, the first thing that hits you (other than a coach) is how brightly lit this gym is. Neon lights flood every corner of the space, making the gym feel much bigger than it really is.
That said, the gym still sports its own sizable ring, smartly tucked into the corner, and a long line of heavy bags. The rest of the floor is fully matted up for the class.
Session 1
Our first class was led by none other than Kru Otto Maxpower, a well-loved Thai trainer that we’ve heard many good things about. Kru Otto led the class with great energy and is one heck of a padholder – the man is an immovable object.
The programme was pretty standard in our experience – skipping, light jogging, guided shadowboxing, bag work, and then two rounds of three-minute padwork. The class finished with some core conditioning.
Be prepared to hit those two rounds of pads BACK TO BACK though. Kai Muay Thai will not sub you out for another student in between rounds.
Session 2
Our next class was led by Kai Muay Thai founder and coach, Sikai.
The overall programme was similar to our first session with an intense two rounds of padwork.
Here are three things you can expect from Coach Sikai:
- He expects power
- He hits back
- He may clinch you to the ground
You’ve been warned!
Session 3
For our final session, the class was led by Coach Farhan who took us all to Cardio Town.
While the warmup did not change, bag and padwork came together HIIT-style with students working on different combinations and exercises every interval, including one round of padwork.
We hear that Coach Farhan’s classes are famously cardio-heavy so remember to pace yourself!
What we liked:
- Kai Muay Thai is located on the GROUND FLOOR, making it super accessible. Let’s face it – many martial art practitioners in Singapore are fully aware of the relationship gyms have with shophouses and too-many-flights-of-staircases. With Kai Muay Thai, you can say goodbye to death by staircase.
- Classes are 90 minutes long. This is becoming somewhat of a rarity these days with many gyms opting for the corporate-friendly one-hour programme. This means you’re getting great value (and a great gas-out).
- Clean and airy with no shortage of heavy bags.
- Diversified training programme with highly-qualified coaches bringing different styles to the gym.
- “Open ring culture”. Looking to clock in a few extra rounds of technical sparring after class? We found Kai Muay Thai to be incredibly welcoming to new sparring partners. Just make sure you observe good sparring etiquette, as you should anywhere else.
What we didn’t like so much:
- The newcomer’s promotion has to be fully utilised in two weeks. This may be a bit of a hassle if you already have your own work and training commitments. However, it is still a great deal for beginners looking to sink their feet into their very first gym.
- Technical sparring and partner drills do not seem to play a big part in the class programme. However, the gym’s open ring culture does mean that you can get plenty of that after class, provided you have the time.
Our verdict
Kai Muay Thai offers a robust programme that will appeal to Muay Thai enthusiasts and aspiring athletes. Classes here get straight to the point and getting to work with coaches Sikai and Otto definitely make up a large part of this gym’s strong reputation.
More proficient members will see quick adjustments made to the programme to up the intensity. We also appreciate the gym’s openness to welcome new members who want to put in extra work in the ring.
Bonus: Kru Otto is available for private training and if our first class was any indicator, you’re in for a solid, technical workout.
Check out Kai Muay Thai's website for more details!
Address: 28/30 Sam Leong Rd, Singapore 207920