Muay Boran Course in Pai: 3 Days of Private Tuition with Ajarn Mam (Sitjemam)

Muay Boran is the ancient fighting art that Muay Thai grew from. On this course at Sitjemam, a traditional family-run camp on the edge of Pai in northern Thailand, you learn it one-to-one from Ajarn Mam (Supannee Changpradit) and her team: 12 hours of private tuition over three days.

The course covers the Mae Mai and Look Mai, the master techniques and their counters, the Wai Kru ritual dance, and the history and culture of Muay Thai. It ends with a final exam, after which you are presented with your Mongkon (headband) and Prajead (armbands).

You stay three nights at the camp in a private air-conditioned room with its own bathroom. The course starts any day you like (the camp rests on Sundays).

What's included

12 hours of private Muay Boran tuition over 3 days; Mae Mai and Look Mai techniques, the Wai Kru, and Muay Thai history and culture; A final exam, with your Mongkon and Prajead presented at the end; 3 nights in a private air-conditioned room at the camp; Free drinking water and WiFi; Booking and support from Book Fitness Retreats

What's not included

Meals (Pai has plenty of cafés and restaurants); Flights, and the minibus from Chiang Mai to Pai (about three hours); Travel insurance and personal expenses