Local coach reflects on World Muay Thai Festival in Thailand

“Tyrique fought a guy that’s undefeated in Muay Thai. He’s a champ and it was a really close fight. Christian put on a good show early in the fight and he did really well.”

While none of the fighters were able to reach the mountaintop, Fontaine said they know they are right there, and he was happy with how his athletes performed.

“They told me I was right all along and that we don’t need to be anywhere else. We’re good where we’re at. We just got to continue grinding and get to seeing the world.”

“It was a good experience. I’m just proud of my students. They went out there and with no fear. They brought that Saskatchewan toughness with them.”

Fontaine, a former professional fighter, also had a part in making a name for his gym in Thailand through training alongside his fighters.

“When we were stopping in at gyms like myself, I went and did some pad work at some of the gyms where a lot of the champions. The coaches there were wanting me to stay and focus on my fighting career. They’re like, we’ll make you a champion.”

“If they see this here, I’m doing something right back home. I’m doing something right with my students because Christian’s still out there and he’s getting a lot of attention from a lot of the coaches over there too. When we’re training with the whole group, a lot of coaches are watching a guy’s footwork, the way we move, they’re all impressed.”

For the gym, it is motivating to see its training being noticed, even though Warrior Spirit has not been open for very long.

“It ignited that fire within them to want to do this more serious. They got to see where they’re at and they were impressed with their home skills. The short amount of time we’ve been open. We’ve only been open, what, two years? And how far we’ve already come as a small group.”

While they were overseas, the gym got to see how seriously the fight game is taken in Thailand.

“A lot of our guys only train once a day or sometimes twice a day, but it’s not a consistent basis. This is a great eye opener that, you want to be a fighter, you got to do what fighters do.”

“Live, eat, breathe and dream fighting. It’s not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. So, it’s a good wake up call for them and they, they’re all motivated after their fights and just being in Thailand.”

As they look ahead to next year’s Muay Thai festival, Fontaine said the fighters’ clinch work may be a priority, but he is happy with where the gym is as it continues to grow its international brand.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

Local coach reflects on World Muay Thai Festival in Thailand

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