Phuket Top Team 4 Month Review and New Video

I started training at Phuket Top Team in June 2011 a week before the gym officially opened, and I trained there for three months the first time around and came back to train for another month more.

There are pros and cons to each gym, but I really loved the concept of PTT.  Boyd Clarke the owner basically worked his ass off in the mines in Australia and saved up enough money to follow his passion which was to open his own MMA gym.  There was a ton of controversy with Tiger Muay Thai vs. Phuket Top Team when they first opened, but i'm glad it's over now.  I'm willing to bet that both gyms have more customers and are making more money now because there is that extra inventive and choice to train in Phuket.  PTT has to thank TMT for being the first and the original, setting foot for the MMA scene in Phuket and in Thailand in general.  

Who I recommend to train at Phuket Top Team:

If you want smaller classes and more personalized attention and if you don't want to be part of the huge fraternity house of TMT then Phuket Top Team is a great choice.  Personally I started training at PTT because I wanted to train at a brand new gym that has an indoor wrestling area.  Because of Phuket Top Team, Tiger Muay Thai stepped up their game and built one of their own, who wins?  Everyone, especially us, the customers.  Also I believe that PTT has the best Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program in Thailand as of right now so if your heart is in rolling with a Gi, then PTT is your best bet.  

Who may not like the gym:  If you expect everything that be organized like a corporation would, PTT isn't it.  Classes are smaller and more free flowing which you may love, or you may prefer a gym with more structure.  My only complaint while training at PTT was the rounds weren't properly timed ever, especially during sparring.  Instead of five 3-minute rounds, or three 5-minute rounds we would often get one 7-minute round followed by one 2-minute rounds.  So if you're the type that likes extremely structured workouts and office management PTT might not be the place for you.


Here's the latest gym tour video of Phuket Top Team:

What's New at Phuket Top Team:

The second ring in Muay Thai is complete.  It was just being finished when I left PTT but now it's up and running.  The indoor MMA Cage is also complete and brand new, a really great addition to the already awesome Phuket Top Team gym.  The MMA Strength and Conditioning program has also finally been put into full effect.


The Pros and Cons of Training at Phuket Top Team:

Pros: Family owned gym, small business management.  Doesn't try to nickle and dime you on everything.

Cons: Not always well organized with things like office stuff, accommodation, etc

Pros: No Egos, Only Dedication - The anti-fraternity, you'll make good friends and be at a cool gym, without the drama.

Cons: With only 8 rooms on site, not including the bamboo huts that some of the thai trainers stay in, PTT isn't as social as TMT other gyms as people live spread around.

Pros: A lot closer of a walk to the two most popular restaurants, Tony's and Ja Ja House.  A twenty minute walk from TMT is only five from PTT.

Cons: You'll end up eating at one of those two restaurants three meals a day, seven days a week just because it's so convenient.

Pros: Phuket is a beautiful island with access to beaches and other islands such as the Beach at Koh Phi Phi.

Cons: Everything is more expensive in Phuket. Things like accommodation, tours, and taxi rides are double the price as it would be in Chiang Mai.

After a BJJ Class last year at PTT.

Team Quest vs. Phuket Top Team

Some people have been asking if they should train MMA at Team Question in Chiang Mai or at Phuket Top Team. If it's your first visit to Thailand if you are coming for three weeks or less, I would recommend training in Phuket.  However if you're here long term for 3 months to a year and want a much cheaper place to live, I love Chiang Mai for being more peaceful, authentic Thailand, less touristy and literally half the price for day to day living.  

As far as I know, Phuket Top Team has a more established MMA program especially with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Since I haven't had the chance to train at Team Quest yet, I would have to recommend Phuket Top Team for training MMA in Thailand, at least for now.  

In Summary:

I really enjoyed training at Phuket Top Team and recommend it to everyone.  I liked it so much that I went back for two training camps there.  It's hard for me to answer the "Which gym is better, Phuket Top Team or Tiger Muay Thai" question that everyone keeps asking me, because to be 100% honest, I liked both gyms equally.  I think I liked TMT better when I was younger, and as I get older I like PTT more.  So if you're 18-23 and it's your first time in Thailand, you might enjoy training at Tiger Muay Thai more, especially if you can get a room onsite.  However, if you're 24 or older, you'll most likely enjoy training at Phuket Top Team more.  

If you're really into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and plan on bringing your Gi then Phuket Top Team is a no brainer, go with PTT.  They even have a 3 months from white belt to blue belt program.

As for MMA legends, you may not get big name UFC fighters visiting the camp, but Phuket Top Team has very active fight team.  And they're there to actually train for fights and not just show their face and teach one day seminars. 

I really enjoyed my 4 months training at Phuket Top Team and I'm sure you will as well.  Best wishes and leave a comment if you have any questions or anything to add to this review.

Warm Regards,

Johnny FD
Add me on facebook:  www.facebook.com/MyFightCamp

If you haven't already, make sure you read my Travel Guide to Training Muay Thai in Thailand before you come.