Puu Muay Thai Podcast

In Episode 240 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu breaks down what he would do differently if he started Muay Thai all over again — and more importantly, what he would double down on.

After nearly two decades as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official, Jonathan shares the biggest lessons that shaped his journey — including the mistakes that slowed his progress and the habits that helped him stay in Muay Thai long-term.

If you’re just starting Muay Thai, this episode will help you avoid the most common beginner pitfalls and focus on what actually moves the needle.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why consistency beats intensity in Muay Thai training 
•  The importance of focusing on basics over flashy techniques
•  Why comparing yourself to others will slow your progress 
•  The truth about rushing into fighting too early 
•  How poor recovery (sleep, nutrition, stress) limits your development 
•  Why most athletes are under-recovering, not overtraining
•  The role of community and training partners in long-term success 
•  The mindset shift that keeps people training for years — not months 

Jonathan also shares personal stories from his early training — including dealing with poor sleep, under-fueling, and overworking — and how those factors impacted his performance, injuries, and overall progress.

This episode is a must-listen for beginners, intermediate students, and even experienced practitioners who want to train smarter, stay consistent, and get the most out of their Muay Thai journey.

Because Muay Thai isn’t something you figure out quickly —
 it’s something that rewards the people who stay.

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 239 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down in person at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with amateur Muay Thai fighter Calie Patrick for one of the most important conversations ever featured on the podcast.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, and predatory behavior inside martial arts spaces.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Calie shares her personal story of getting involved in martial arts as a teenager, transitioning from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into Muay Thai, and eventually becoming the victim of grooming and sexual abuse by a coach while she was still a minor.

This episode explores not only what happened, but also the deeper issues surrounding:

•  Grooming and abuse in martial arts gyms 
•  Warning signs parents, coaches, and students should recognize 
•  The psychological impact of trauma and PTSD 
•  Boundaries, mentorship, and power dynamics in combat sports 
•  Why safe gym culture matters 
•  Recovery, therapy, and healing through martial arts 
•  How Muay Thai helped Calie rebuild confidence and identity 
•  The importance of empowering women in combat sports 

Jonathan and Calie also discuss how martial arts gyms can create safer environments through better communication, awareness, supervision, and accountability.

While difficult at times, this conversation is ultimately about resilience, healing, and helping protect future generations of martial artists.

If you are involved in martial arts as a student, parent, coach, or gym owner, this is an important episode to hear.

Follow Calie Patrick:

•  Instagram: @riseoftherebels_ 
•  Personal Instagram: @thegoldengirl_az

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 238 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu breaks down one of the most debated topics in modern Muay Thai:

Should Muay Thai have belts or a ranking system?

It’s one of the first questions beginners ask when they walk into a gym. Where do I rank? How do I level up? When do I get promoted?

But Muay Thai has traditionally operated very differently from other martial arts like karate, taekwondo, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — where belts and rankings define progression.

In this episode, Jonathan explains both sides of the argument and what’s actually at stake when you introduce ranking systems into Muay Thai.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why Muay Thai has historically never used belt rankings 
•  How skill, experience, and performance define your level in Muay Thai 
•  Why beginners are drawn to structured ranking systems 
•  The pros and cons of belts for retention, motivation, and growth 
•  How ranking systems can shift focus away from real skill development 
•  The risks of “black belt factory” systems in martial arts 
•  Whether there’s a middle ground between structure and authenticity 
•  How Pu’u Muay Thai uses a shirt-level system — and why 

Jonathan shares his perspective from nearly two decades in Muay Thai as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official — explaining why structure can be helpful, but should never replace the true measure of progress:

Can you actually perform under pressure?

This episode is a must-listen for beginners trying to understand progression, coaches designing programs, and anyone interested in preserving Muay Thai while helping it grow in the West.

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 237 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu answers one of the most common questions beginners ask:

How often should you train Muay Thai?

Most people assume the answer is “every day.” Train harder. Train more. Go all in. But that mindset is one of the fastest ways to burn out and quit before you ever see real progress.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down the truth about training frequency — and how to build a schedule that actually helps you stay consistent, improve, and avoid injury.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why training too much too soon leads to burnout 
•  The ideal training frequency for Muay Thai beginners 
•  Why consistency beats intensity every time 
•  How recovery impacts your progress more than you think 
•  What happens when your body doesn’t have time to adapt 
•  How to build a sustainable training schedule that fits real life 
•  When and how to safely increase your training volume 

Jonathan explains why most beginners don’t fail because Muay Thai is too hard — they fail because they try to do too much too fast. Real progress comes from showing up consistently over months and years, not going all in for a few weeks.

Whether you’re just starting Muay Thai or trying to improve your training routine, this episode will help you understand how to train smarter so you actually stick with it long enough to get results.

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 236 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with his cousin Deutsch Pu’u — a former professional fighter with a background in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

Deutsch shares his journey growing up in American Samoa, where structured martial arts training was limited, and how he developed through boxing before competing professionally across multiple combat sports — including K-1 kickboxing and Muay Thai.

This episode goes beyond fighting and dives into something bigger: building a future pipeline for combat sports in Samoa.

In this episode, they discuss:

•  Growing up in American Samoa and learning to fight without formal structure 
•  Transitioning from boxing into kickboxing, MMA, and Muay Thai 
•  Fighting in K-1 and adapting without a traditional Muay Thai background 
•  Training at Fight Capital in Las Vegas with Jason Andrada 
•  How Muay Thai changed his approach to striking (elbows, knees, clinch) 
•  The importance of structure, coaching, and proper education in martial arts 
•  Building a pipeline to develop fighters from Samoa and bring them into Muay Thai 
•  Creating opportunities for the next generation through coaching and systems 

Deutsch also shares his vision for introducing structured Muay Thai and combat sports programs in American Samoa — with the goal of developing world-class fighters from the island and creating long-term opportunities through proper coaching and mentorship.

This episode is about more than fighting — it’s about family, legacy, and building something that lasts for the next generation.

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 235 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Joel “The Wolf” Licata, a Muay Thai fighter turned coach who spent five years living and training in Thailand.

Joel shares his journey of starting Muay Thai later in life, moving across the world during COVID to train full-time in Chiang Mai, and developing his skills under legendary trainer Thailand Pinsinchai.

In this episode, they discuss:

•  What it’s really like training in Thailand with no other foreigners 
•  The difference between Muay Thai in the U.S. vs Thailand 
•  Fighting in Thailand as an older athlete and smaller weight class fighter 
•  Competing internationally, including fights in Thailand and Mexico 
•  The risks of fighting, including injuries and Joel’s decision to retire 
•  How Muay Thai evolves across different rule sets and promotions 
•  The importance of clinch work and technical development 
•  Joel’s transition into coaching at Rising Tide Academy in Maryland 

Joel also breaks down how training in Thailand shaped his understanding of Muay Thai and why bridging the knowledge gap between Thailand and the United States is critical for the sport’s growth.

This episode is a must-listen for fighters, coaches, and anyone considering training or fighting in Thailand, as well as those interested in the long-term journey of Muay Thai beyond just competition.

Follow Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelxthewolf

Train with Joel at Rising Tide Academy: https://risingtidemartialarts.us/

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Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 234 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down in person in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Mike Martinez, founder of Monster Promotions and longtime coach, matchmaker, and event promoter.

Mike returns to the podcast (previously featured on Episode 164) to break down what it actually takes to build Muay Thai events in the United States — from matchmaking and fighter development to the real economics behind running a show.

In this episode, they discuss:

•  How Monster Promotions started and why it was built 
•  The reality of running Muay Thai events in the U.S. (costs, logistics, and risk) 
•  What makes good matchmaking — and why “easy fights” don’t grow fighters 
•  Building fight cards, tournaments, and title bouts 
•  The challenges of promoting in smaller markets like Flagstaff, Arizona 
•  Elevation, travel, and preparation for fighters competing at altitude 
•  How fighters and gyms can better support promotions and grow the sport 
•  The importance of relationships, collaboration, and long-term vision in Muay Thai 

Mike also shares insight into upcoming events like Cinco de Monster, expansion plans into Las Vegas and Phoenix, and how promotions are evolving with media, livestreaming, and modern marketing.

This episode is a must-listen for fighters, coaches, gym owners, and anyone interested in the business and growth of Muay Thai in the United States.

Learn more about Monster Promotions: https://www.monsterpromotions.org/

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 233 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu explores a question that’s becoming more common in conversations around the sport:

Is Muay Thai losing its identity?

With the rise of international promotions, new rule sets, and growing influence from MMA, the way Muay Thai is practiced and presented around the world is changing rapidly. From small-glove fights to altered scoring systems and shortened fight structures, many fans and practitioners are asking whether these changes represent healthy evolution — or a shift away from the art’s traditional roots.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down several of the biggest factors shaping modern Muay Thai:

• The growing influence of MMA striking styles
• The debate around small-glove Muay Thai vs traditional boxing gloves
• How different scoring systems change the way fights are fought
• The impact of international promotions and global audiences
• Changes happening inside historic Thai stadiums like Rajadamnern and Lumpinee
• Why understanding Muay Thai culture matters for preserving the art

Drawing from nearly two decades of experience as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official, Jonathan explains how Muay Thai has always evolved — while also highlighting the elements that make the art unique and worth protecting.

Muay Thai today is more global than ever before. But with that growth comes an important question: how do we allow the sport to evolve without losing the traditions, culture, and technical depth that define it?

Whether you’re a fighter, coach, fan, or someone new to the sport, this episode explores the ongoing conversation about the future of Muay Thai.

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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 232 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu breaks down how to evaluate whether a Muay Thai gym is legitimate before you commit your time and training to it.

With nearly two decades of experience as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official, Jonathan has seen the full spectrum of gyms — from excellent programs with deep cultural roots to places that simply market Muay Thai without truly teaching the art.

In this episode, Jonathan explains the key things to look for when evaluating a Muay Thai academy, including:

• Why coaching lineage matters and how to ask about it
• What a structured Muay Thai class should actually look like
• The difference between authentic Muay Thai training and cardio kickboxing
• Why gym culture and community reveal a lot about legitimacy
• Technical details every Muay Thai gym should be teaching
• The role of sparring and safety in a healthy training environment
• Common red flags to watch for when choosing a martial arts gym

Muay Thai is more than just hitting pads or getting a workout — it’s a cultural martial art built on discipline, respect, and technical depth. Choosing the right gym can shape your entire experience in the art.

Whether you’re new to Muay Thai or thinking about switching gyms, this episode will help you understand how to recognize authentic Muay Thai training and avoid common pitfalls.

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Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 231 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu joins Fox Sports Radio KVTA 1590 in Ventura, California for an in-studio conversation with host Spence and guest host Spencer Noren.

The discussion centers around the Eat Sleep Teep Semi-Contact Muay Thai event, a local amateur competition designed to introduce kids, teens, and adults to Muay Thai in a safe and structured environment.

During the interview, Jonathan explains how Muay Thai differs from other martial arts, why the sport is growing across the Central Coast, and how events like Eat Sleep Teep help develop future athletes while staying family-friendly and accessible to beginners.

Topics covered in this radio segment include:

• What Muay Thai actually is and how it developed historically
• Why Muay Thai is one of the most effective martial arts for self-defense and discipline
• How Eat Sleep Teep events help build the next generation of fighters
• The benefits of Muay Thai training for kids, adults, and beginners
• Why most students train for personal growth rather than competition
• Jonathan’s experience officiating professional Muay Thai events across the United States
• The role of local gyms and community events in growing combat sports

The conversation also touches on Jonathan’s roots in Ventura County, the local martial arts community, and how Muay Thai programs are helping young people develop discipline, confidence, and physical fitness.

If you're curious about Muay Thai, amateur competition, or the growing combat sports scene on California’s Central Coast, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the sport is developing at the local level.

Support the show

Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
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💬 What Do You Think? Join the Discussion!
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👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!