Elephant Gym - Muay Thai - Thai Boxing

The Elephant Gym is instructed by David Verdi who has over 25 years experience of Muay Thai, having lived and fought in Thailand and all over the world.

David started his training at a very early age of 11, at that time there were not many Muay Thai instructors around, so he had to go to a local Kick Boxing club run by Alan Mortlock. He trained here with Alan sparring with all of the adults and training in the ring for the next 5 years. It was with Alan that he also had his first 3 fights. The club then closed and he had to look elsewhere for training, so he started to go to various clubs, be it Karate, Kung Fu, Judo or whatever he could find around London, as far as White City, Brixton, Romford etc.

It was around this time that David found out about a Thai fighter who was teaching in New Cross: Fire Cobra Juraunmong. He went to meet him at his house, spoke to him and had a training session in his back garden. He then had dinner with him and spoke about some of the fights they had.  They then trained together for the next 5 years, often travelling to his house or to the hall he taught at.  Towards the end of his training Fire Cobra used to travel up to Leytonstone to teach David and some his friends/students had started to gather.  This was to be the start of his teaching of Muay Thai.

Unfortunatley Fire Cobra had to return to Thailand, so David was left by himself.  Having been taught by a Thai Fighter he couldn't go to any one less experienced, so he looked all over the country for the top authority on Muay Thai. This led him to Manchester and Grand Master Woody.  He travelled up there one weekend, had an interview with him and trained for the weekend. Luckily he was successfull and was allowed to live above the gym and train full time for the next 10 years. During this time he had the most fortunate luck to train with GM Woody nearly every day, along with his brother Master Krin, Master Toddy's younger brother Master A, World Champion 5 times Ronnie Green, Womens World Champion Anne Quinane and many other champions and great followers of Muay Thai.

David also travelled to Thailand, Europe and around the country for various seminars, and also during that time had a further 22 fights.  These fights included fighting in World Championships in Thailand and European Championships in Barcelona. He then returned to London and in 2005 to setup the Elephant Gym.

"We are only a small gym but we train with integrity, honour, tradition, and love for Muay Thai. All are welcome from beginners to keep fit to self defence to fighters. Come along and give it a try...I look forward to meeting you."

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