At 60 years old, Jim Araneta from the Philippines decided it was time to reignite his lifelong passion for martial arts. His story proves that learning Muay Thai in Thailand, and at Kombat Group in particular, is for anyone ready to challenge themselves, boost fitness, and connect with a welcoming community.
Returning to a First Love
Jim’s martial arts journey began at the age of five with judo. Over the years, he explored different disciplines: boxing in his teens, then taekwondo in his 20s, where he earned his black belt in only two years and competed with the Philippine national team. With around 50 competitive fights under his belt, martial arts became a defining part of who he was.
Life eventually took a different direction. Marriage, raising children, and work meant his training became more sporadic, sometimes just one day a week. But the passion never disappeared. Now, with grown children and an eight-year-old grandson, Jim said:
I have a lot of time on my hands right now, so I decided a year and a half ago to seriously start the martial arts again, revive my martial arts passion, revive my fitness; and that’s why I’m here.
A year and a half of training in the Philippines gave him the basics. But for Jim, the choice was obvious:
There’s no other place I like learning Muay Thai than in the motherland, in Thailand.
Why Jim Chose To Learn Muay Thai in Thailand
Pattaya’s Kombat Group quickly became the obvious choice. Known for its beginner-friendly Muay Thai training and supportive community, it offered the perfect blend of skill development, fitness, and camaraderie.
Jim booked a two-week program with a clear goal: refine his technique, prepare for instructor certification, and learn directly from seasoned Thai trainers. From the moment he arrived, the atmosphere put him at ease.
You make friends with the staff all over, with the trainers, with housekeeping, with the kitchen, with the boxing guys, with the Muay Thai guys. Everyone’s very friendly. It’s not intimidating at all.
Training Hard, Learning Deep
Jim’s schedule was intense: morning Muay Thai from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., afternoon Muay Thai from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., plus an hour of private session daily.
Over two weeks, he trained close to 50 hours and lost 10 pounds of real weight.
That’s 10 pounds of real weight and not water weight – he said proudly.
One of his highlights was learning the Wai Kru, Muay Thai’s traditional pre-fight ritual.
I’ve always wanted to learn the Wai Kru because I see it as a beautiful ritual before a fight… but it was intimidating because it’s a three or four-minute program and you have to follow the sequence.
More Than Physical Gains
By the second week, Jim noticed big changes.
My kicks were getting higher this week than last week… I can also see my fitness improving on a day-to-day basis.
Cramps that had plagued him in the first week disappeared, and his recovery time shortened. And beyond the physical improvements, daily training brought mental clarity and stress relief.
Every day you’re feeling better because how can you not? You’re training that much, you’re sweating that much… it’s just good for everything: the toxins in your body, whatever anxiety one may have.
Meals at the on-site restaurant became another highlight: fresh, healthy food shared with guests from around the world.
Guests leave, another batch of guests arrive, and you keep on making friends – Jim explained.
Advice for Future Guests
Jim believes two weeks is the minimum to see real progress, and three would be even better.
One week is hard to benchmark, but two weeks you can benchmark, and then you know what your trajectory is.
His advice for anyone thinking about starting?
If you want to get healthier, come to Thailand. Come to Kombat. It’s a good environment, a good community, very good coaches who are on top of you all the time.
If you’ve been thinking about learning Muay Thai, whether to improve fitness, gain confidence, or simply try something new, Kombat Group offers the structure, community, and authenticity to make it happen.
