Saekson Academy

We celebrated my son's 10th birthday at Universal Studios Japan today.
This trip has been on his heart for a long time. For years he's watched YouTube videos about Japan dreaming about one day walking these streets himself. Watching that dream become reality has been one of my favorite parts of this journey.
What's been even more special is realizing how much he already knows. Everywhere we go, he's teaching us about the culture, explaining why things are done a certain way, and sharing little facts that make us stop and appreciate where we are. His curiosity never takes a day off. He's the kind of kid who wants to understand everything. Always asking questions. Always starting conversations. Sometimes even challenging what I say not out of disrespect, but because he genuinely wants to learn. Truthfully, he reminds me so much of myself at his age. More than anything, I'm proud of the person he's becoming. He has a kind heart, loves people, and isn't afraid to be himself. In a world that often rewards fitting in, I hope you never lose the courage to stand out.
Happy 10th Birthday, son. I love you more than you'll ever know.

🚨 Matchmaking has officially started for this event.

If you're looking to compete on September 5th, now is the time to reach out.

Whether this is your first fight or you're a seasoned competitor, send me a message with your experience, weight, age, and gym.

Our goal is simple: fair, competitive matchups that give both athletes the opportunity to perform at their best.

Coaches, fighters, parents—don't wait until the last minute. The earlier you reach out, the better the matchups we can make.

📩 DM me to get matched.

July 18 is a big night for Saekson Academy.
🥊 Tabatha Ricci steps back into the UFC, looking to make a statement in Oklahoma.
🥊 Isaac Delgado and Jhovanny Pedraza take the stage at the Thai Fighting Championship in Los Angeles, ready to showcase everything they've worked for.
Months of preparation. Countless rounds. Early mornings. Late nights.
Now it's time to perform.
If you're in California, come out and support Isaac and Jhovanny live. If you're watching the UFC, be sure to tune in and cheer on Tabatha.
No matter where you're watching from... we're planning on putting on a show.
Don't miss it. 👊🔥

FightNight

Excited to welcome Liam "The Hitman" Harrison to Saekson Academy.
If you're a fighter or even thinking about stepping into the ring this is one of those opportunities you don't pass up.
You can learn technique anywhere. But there's a difference between learning technique and learning from someone who's tested it against the best in the world.
Liam has shared the ring with the who's who of Muay Thai. The lessons he'll teach weren't learned in a classroom they were earned through decades of competing at the highest level.
Whether you're preparing for your next fight or you're simply looking to sharpen your skills, you'll walk away better than you came in.
Friday July 24 | 6:00 PM
Spots are limited. See you on the mats.

Unpopular opinion:

Not everyone who joins a gym should get a fight.

Some people walk into a gym and within a few months they're already asking, "When can I fight?" Coaches spend weeks investing in them. Extra pad rounds. Sparring. Conditioning. Phone calls. Cornering. Entire weekends at events. Time away from our own families.
Then the fight happens...
And a month later, they cancel their membership.
This isn't about losing a paying member. It's about respect for the investment that was made.
A fight isn't a product you buy with your membership. It's an opportunity that a coach chooses to invest in. Every fighter represents the gym, and every coach is putting their reputation, time, and energy behind that athlete.

Maybe we've made fighting too accessible.

Maybe we've confused "wanting to fight" with "earning the right to fight."

I think there should be a higher standard.

Want to fight? Great.

First show me you'll still be here after the fight.

Show me you're committed to the process, not just the experience.

Because coaches aren't just building fighters. We're sacrificing our time, our weekends, and moments with our families. That investment should be matched by the athlete standing across the ring.

California probably has more amateur Muay Thai promotions than any other state.
So why aren't we producing more professional fighters?
It seems like many of the American pros are coming from the East Coast.
Is it our amateur system? Is it the coaching? Is it the culture? Is it that fighters stop too early? Or am I seeing it wrong?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.

People always ask me why I love coming to Thailand.

The answer isn't the food. It isn't the beaches. It isn't even Muay Thai.

It's the people.

People often say, "They smile even though they don't have much." I don't think that's it.

I think they smile because they're grateful for what they do have.

There's a peace here that's hard to explain. It doesn't feel like everyone is chasing the next trend, more money, more followers, or a higher status. People wake up, go to work, spend time with family, and appreciate the life in front of them.

You don't have to speak the language to understand that.

Every time I come here, I try to bring a little of that mindset back home with me. It's a reminder that happiness isn't always found in having more. Sometimes it's found in appreciating what's already in front of you.

Thank you, Thailand, for the continuous lessons in life. 🇹🇭

We don't have a talent problem in the United States.
We have a preparation problem.
Thailand reminded me that international tournaments demand a completely different type of fighter. These nine slides explain one of the biggest changes I'll be making as a coach.
Swipe through. Then tell me if you agree or disagree.

This is MY OPINION on how Amateur muay thai should be classified in the States. We see it in in tournaments but not so much in fight nights.
Any thoughts?

This is the pinnacle of the sport.

Every year I sit here and watch these fights, it reminds me why we do this. The first few times, I was just in awe. But last night made me realize something different…

I want this.

I want American fighters here consistently. I want our fighters on this stage, under these lights, in front of this crowd consistently. We deserve to be here consistently.

That’s how we grow Muay Thai in the U.S. Not just by talking about it, but by showing up here and winning consistently...

The audience is international. When they see Americans winning at the highest level, they go home and start searching for Muay Thai.

That’s the goal. That’s the mission. That’s the next step.