Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Myles, an accomplished Muay Thai fighter and dedicated Muay Thai and juniors coach at Pretty Top Team in Cairns, Queensland.
There are a lot of special things about Pretty Top Team, the most special to me is the strong family like culture that we have!
Myles journey in the world of Muay Thai is truly inspiring. As both a competitor and a mentor, he has demonstrated exceptional skill, discipline, and passion for the sport. Balancing his time between intense training, studying the intricate techniques of Muay Thai, and coaching the next generation of fighters, Myles embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication. Join us as we delve into his experiences, challenges, and the profound impact Muay Thai has had on his life and those he trains.
Can you tell us about your journey in Muay Thai? How did you get started?
My journey with Muay Thai started when after I finished working in super yachts. I had always to train but I was never in the same place for more than a month. So the week I left my old career, my new one started.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in Muay Thai, both as a fighter and as a coach?
As far as fighting goes nobody really inspired me; I was always just competing with myself and challenging myself to do better. As far as coaching goes though seeing coach Paul develop all levels of participants and his passion for coaching is what made me want to get into it.
Can you share some of your most memorable fights and what you learned from them?
My win for the WKBF Queensland title is definitely one to remember as I started well then got an 8 count put on me in the second round. Coach Paul then gave me specific instructions and I fought my hardest to then bounce back and get the win. I proved to a lot to myself that night with how bad I wanted it and that hard work pays off.
You teach a lot of juniors classes, why do you think Muay Thai is a great discipline for kids to learn ?
Muay Thai is great for kids because it teaches them about discipline, respect and hard work. When you work hard and you put the effort in you get results. When kids are around this environment hopefully these morals will stick with them for there entire life.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career as a fighter and coach?
Everyday is challenging as a fighter in the gym because we are constantly being tested and growing as a fighters!
Biggest challenge as a coach would probably be taking the Build A Fighter challenges. Students go from a position of no experience all the way to having the first fight. The pressure of my job is that they need to enter and exit the ring safe and when it’s all over they aren’t hurt and they had as much fun as I do when I fight.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievements in both fighting and coaching?
My greatest achievement as a fighter so far would be getting the opportunity to fight for the WMC title. Even though I didn’t get the win nobody really knows how much that meant to me except me. As a coach my biggest achievement was on Build a Fighter 4 when my team won most of there fights and we were the winning team.
What do you think is special about training Muay Thai at Pretty Top Team?
There are a lot of special things about Pretty Top Team, the most special to me is the strong family like culture that we have. Everybody feels safe and always having fun.
Are there any specific fighters or coaches you look up to or draw inspiration from?
I definitely look up to a number of fighters. Right now I look up to the RWS stars Nadaka and Khunsueklek who are both close to my weight class and I’m trying to emulate there styles. I was lucky enough to do some training and also have the former one championship fighter Josh Tonna in my corner for my last fight which was awesome and I definitely look up to him. And of coarse my coach Paul - I have always looked up to him and he’s been such a role model in my life. He’s taught me more about fighting coaching and just life in general then anybody can.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start training in Muay Thai?
My advice would be if you’re thinking it then just do it! Jump in and do a class because if your anything like me it might just be the best decision you’ve ever made.
Your own Muay Thai journey has gone from strength to strength, what can we expect from you in the next few years?
Basically I have strong resume against the toughest fighters. You can expect this to keep growing. My career is young and I want to be the best. This means I’ll have to fight the best!
