Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Caleb, a distinguished Muay Thai coach at Pretty Top Team Gym.
“What I feel Pretty Top Team is doing differently compared to other gyms is building a strong community as well as a fight gym. Every seems to have likeminded goals of building themselves up as fighters and people” Caleb from Pretty Top Team
With a wealth of experience both as a up and coming fighter and a dedicated coach, Caleb has made significant strides in the world of Muay Thai. Recently, he added to his resume by winning a prestigious title in Thailand, birthplace of the sport, further cementing his status as a top-tier athlete of tomorrow. His dual role as a mentor and an athlete offers unique insights into the sport, making him an invaluable asset to his team and an inspiration to many in the Muay Thai community.
Can you tell us about your journey in Muay Thai? How did you get started?
I became interested in combat sports during my time in high school. Seeing big fight personalities like Conner McGregor and Israel Adesanya on YouTube really caught my attention. After weeks of watching highlight reels I thought it was time to put my knowledge and skills to the test with some backyard fights with my school mates. There I found out I definitely couldn’t fight as well as I thought but I could also do something in this sport. After some research into different martial arts, I found that Muay Thai was the strongest form of striking. I didn’t know really what it was at all, so I googled the closest Muay Thai gym and there I met my coach Paul Hosking. After the first day I knew I was going to give this sport a decent shot.
What inspired you to pursue it professionally?
After my second fight I stopped for some time as I found out that the sport required a lot more than just stepping in the ring and fighting. To be good it requires sacrifices as well. After some time thinking about what I want to do in life I decided that I want to be the best at something and I want that something to be fighting. I knew this decision would make my life a little tricky in the present moment but I also knew that this is what I want to achieve in this life and I don’t want to regret not doing it.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early in your career, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges I’ve faced are the sacrifices I’ve made. From spending time with my friends and family to stopping my apprenticeship early I knew these were going to be risky moves. Although these decisions are still risky as I’m not where I want to be yet I feel my growth in the sport is rising fast and I’m grateful for my decision to pursue it professionally.
Can you share your most memorable fight and what made it stand out? It’s hard to say as every fight I’ve had there’s been memorable moments that I’ve taken away from all of them. My first fight will always stick with me because although I lost the fight and had to go through a quite a bit of adversity I found out a lot about myself and fell in love with the sport and the journey from there.
What you feel Pretty Top team is doing differently from fight other gyms?
What I feel Pretty Top Team is doing differently compared to other gyms is building a strong community as well as a fight gym. Every seems to have likeminded goals of building themselves up as fighters and people which is a reason I believe that the gym is growing so rapidly. Fighting wise I feel the gym focuses a lot more on the IQ and the art of the sport rather then the toe to toe fighting and getting into wars. I believe this is the reason I keep consecutively winning with minimal injuries and will have longevity in this sport.
What are some of the most essential techniques in Muay Thai that every fighter should master?
I believe the most essential skill is to master your feet. From what I’ve seen the best fighters in any combat sport from boxing to MMA to Muay Thai have a high knowledge of foot work.
As a trainer, what do you find most rewarding about teaching Muay Thai?
As a trainer I find it rewarding when I see a skill I’ve taught someone become second nature to them. Where they are able to perform a kick or a knee with perfect technique without having to think too much or if they are able to move around the ring with good footwork comfortably.
Can you talk about your most significant titles and achievements in Muay Thai? Which ones are you most proud of and why?
As I am not in the position I want to be, I try not to take too much pride in my achievements but I do like to flex my title I won in Thailand as it was my first belt I have won and was also my first fight I finished with a TKO victory.
Can you share any personal anecdotes or lessons learned that have shaped you as both a fighter and a trainer?
During my journey so far I have grown heaps as a fighter in the ring but also as a person outside the ring. Every fight and training camps I learn different lessons each time. One of the biggest ones for me was to strive to be the best at whatever it is you love to do and commit to it 100%. This has helped me become the fighter I am today just after 3 years in the sport and helping me find success coaching.
Lastly, What advice would you give to someone just starting in Muay Thai?
If I was to give advice to anyone about starting Muay Thai is to give it time, but commit as much time as you can to it. You’re not going to be able to fight after a couple weeks of being in the gym and it may take some time before you learn how to kick. But if you come to training every time you possibly can no matter how tired you are or how much you don’t want it that day you will definitely see progress quickly.
