These boxing enthusiasts are having a good time practicing Muay Thai or Thai boxing at Legacy Gym, located in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani.
Legacy Gym was founded three years ago by Ole Laursen, a renowned Filipino-Danish boxer with many major Thai boxing world championships under his belt including IKF European and IMTC World titles.
“I’ve been training Thai boxing since I was 15. My brother introduced me to Muay Thai. He was the fighter before me. So it’s natural. I love Muay Thai.”, said Laursen.
Legacy Gym might be little known among Thai people, but it’s very well-known in Europe, especially Scandinavian countries. Many of Laursen’s students get information about the 31-year-old boxer by logging on to his website “legacygym.com”, which happens to be embroidered on to his boxing shorts.
Laursen said students were charged only 15,000 baht a month. The fee included training costs, accommodation and meals. The training schedule starts with an 8 kilometre jog. After the warm-up session, the students practice basic Thai boxing basic skills and end up with a sparring session.
Hanna, a young Swedish woman who has been training at Legacy Gym for one month, said her childhood passion of Thai boxing drove her to study the art in the Thai-Lao border province of Ubon Ratchathani.
“Yes, I enjoy watching it. I enjoy watching techniques because I think that very learn the best techniques and I like Thai boxing.”, said Hanna.
Hanna knew of Thai boxing at a very young age, because her family ran a boxing camp in Sweden. After finishing her studies here in Thailand, Hanna plans to go back and help her parents run the family business.
While his students view a long path in boxing ahead, Laursen himself is seeing his boxing days becoming shorter. However, he’s happy to announce Thai boxing will always be a part of his life.
Laursen is going to offer a Thai boxing course for Thai youths free of charge, in the hope of passing on the national martial art to new generations, as a way of saying thank you for what Thai boxing has given him.