3 Best Asian Gyms To Visit When Traveling

Traveling can sometimes disrupt our training routines, and it’s often tough to get our groove back, especially if it’s a particularly long break. However, long breaks also offer plenty of free time that can be filled with fun. Making training a part of your itinerary while traveling not only helps you make your vacation more memorable but will also help you stay sharp even when abroad.

Some of the best martial arts gyms today are situated in strategic locations in Asia. Whether you want to keep yourself motivated in training, sweat it out like a World Champion, or enjoy watching how a global star trains, here are some gyms you could try to add to your itinerary next time you leave home.

Tiger Muay Thai

Tourists usually flock to Phuket, Thailand, because of its world-famous beaches and the incredible restaurants it boasts. Exploring the seaside locations around the island is a must for any traveler, and experiencing the local culture through visiting Big Buddha or temples such as Wat Chalong is key, while eating authentic Tom Yum, Pad Thai, Khao Pad, and fresh Thai mangoes is essential. Thailand is also the home of Muay Thai, and any martial arts fan or practitioner can enjoy watching fights at the Patong Boxing Stadium. They could also check out Tiger Muay Thai. The well-known gym offers training for martial artists of all levels, and they can drop by for a visit to keep sharp while on vacation.

And if you want to take things further, you can even book accommodation that includes training in a camp. From on-site rooms to villas, there are plenty of options to choose from depending on your needs and budget. Former UFC champions Valentina Shevchenko and Alexander Volkanovski, as well as stars like Petr Yan and Khamzat Chimaev, are a few notable stars who have trained at Tiger Muay Thai. Two-division ONE World Champion Anatoly Malykhin, reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Chingiz Allazov, and ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Tang Kai also hone their skills in the famed gym.

Busan Team MAD

The K-Pop wave is now a global phenomenon thanks to South Korea’s talented musical and theatrical artists. Some fans treat a trip to the country as a pilgrimage to visit some sites from its favorite shows or movies. While Seoul may be the first choice to visit for tourists, it might be too much of a city for those looking to unwind. The port city of Busan could be a great alternative to experience a healthy mix of bustling city life and peaceful provincial space. Enjoying fresh seafood and sashimi straight from a fishing boat, visiting the fine sands of Gwangalli Beach, and appreciating the majestic Gwangan Bridge are just a few of the activities to enjoy when visiting Busan.

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You can also enjoy world-class training at Busan Team MAD. The gym has multiple locations in the country, with two branches in the port city. Fighters you might encounter in training include former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Ok Rae Yoon, #2-ranked ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA contender Ham Seo Hee, and ONE veteran Woo Sung Hoon. UFC veterans such as Kim Dong Hyun, Kang Kyung Ho, and Choi Doo Ho as well as a couple of participants from the hit Netflix show Physical 100 – Yoo Sang Hoon and Joo Dong Jo – are also affiliated with Busan Team MAD.

Evolve MMA

The island country of Singapore is considered a hub for many multinational companies, and it is a popular layover for anyone visiting Asia. Whether you’re heading to “The Little Red Dot” for business or pleasure, there’s almost never a dull moment. It boasts of being home to one of the most beautiful airports on the planet, Changi International, and it’s always fun to take photos at some iconic structures, such as the Merlion Park, the Esplanade, and Marina Bay Sands. Along with that, visitors can marvel at the beauty of seasonal flowers at modern architectural wonders at Gardens By The Bay and enjoy an unadulterated view of the city skyline while riding the Singapore Flyer. For people on business, several global and local hotel chains are available across the city, depending on your needs. Co-working spaces such as WeWork, JustCo, and The Great Room, among others, are available in key areas if you need a place to do remote work.

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Singapore is also a center for global martial arts talent, and Evolve MMA offers world-class training in multiple martial arts disciplines. The gym is home to countless Muay Thai superstars, including former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama. MMA stars and current ONE World Champions Demetrious Johnson, Angela Lee, and Christian Lee are all part of the gym’s fight team and are usually training in one of its locations whenever they are in Singapore. Meanwhile, ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion Xiong Jing Nan and homegrown star Amir Khan are regular fixtures in the gym. Submission grappling stars Mikey Musumeci, Danielle Kelly, and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida also proudly represent the gym in their matches and scrap on the mats when they aren’t fighting.