The Australian Grappler's Complete Guide to Training in Thailand
Thousands of Australian grapplers and fighters do training camps in Thailand every year. Phuket is close, affordable, and has the best fight camp infrastructure in the world. Here's everything you need to know — including the one thing that ends more Australian camps than injuries do.
Why Australia and Thailand Are the Perfect Fight Camp Pairing
Thailand sits in the same time zone corridor as Australia's east coast — just 3-4 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne. The flight from Sydney or Melbourne to Phuket is 8-9 hours direct. The cost of living in Phuket is a fraction of Australian prices. And Phuket's fight camp infrastructure — Bangtao Muay Thai, Tiger Muay Thai, AKA Thailand, Phuket Top Team — is the best in the world.
Australian grapplers typically do camps during Australian winter — June through August — when temperatures in Melbourne and Sydney drop and Thai weather is at its most manageable. Serious fighters often extend to 6-12 week camps. The BJJ and MMA scene in Phuket means training partners of every level are always available.
Best Gyms in Phuket for Australian Grapplers
What a Thailand Camp Costs for Australians
| Item | Approximate Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Return flights Sydney/Melbourne → Phuket | $600 - $1,200 |
| Accommodation (per month) | $600 - $1,500 |
| Training fees (per month, 2x daily) | $400 - $800 |
| Food (per month) | $400 - $700 |
| REST ROUND Combat Spray (3 bottles) | ~$65 AUD shipped |
| Total 4-week camp estimate | ~$2,500 - $4,500 AUD |
What to Pack — The Australian's Thailand Camp List
- 👕5-6 rash guards and shorts minimum — you'll train twice daily and need to wash gear constantly
- 🧴REST ROUND 300 PPM HOCl Combat Spray — buy before you leave Australia or pick up at Bangtao/FightLab/Phuket Fight Club on arrival
- 🧼Antifungal body wash — tea tree or ketoconazole based. Harder to find in Phuket than you'd expect
- 🩴Flip flops — wear them everywhere except the mat. Never barefoot in changing rooms
- 🩹Waterproof dressings — cover every cut before training. Non-negotiable in Thailand
- 💊Probiotics — high training volume in tropical heat depletes your gut. Support your skin microbiome from the inside
- 🎒Light gym bag that can be sprayed and air dried — closed bags seal in bacteria overnight
Staph infections. Not pulled muscles, not overtraining — staph. Phuket's tropical heat, humidity above 80%, shared mats with athletes from 50+ countries, and double daily sessions create ideal conditions for bacterial transmission. Most Australian athletes who get staph in Thailand had never had it at home. The environment is categorically different. Bring REST ROUND. Use it after every session.
"REST ROUND is perfect when you're training multiple sessions a day and don't have time to shower between sessions. Been here over a month and zero staph or ringworm."
Colby Thicknesse — UFC Fighter · Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, PhuketThe Post-Training Protocol for Thailand Camps
When you're doing double sessions in 37-degree heat with 80% humidity, the standard "shower after training" advice isn't enough. There's often a 30-60 minute gap between finishing your session and reaching a shower. In Thailand's conditions, that window is when infection happens.
The protocol used by UFC fighters at Bangtao Muay Thai: spray REST ROUND 300 PPM HOCl on all exposed skin the moment you step off the mat. Spray your gear inside and out. Let it air dry while you cool down. Then shower when you can. This closes the critical infection window regardless of how long it takes to reach a shower.
Ships to Australia · Also available at Bangtao MMA · FightLab · Phuket Fight Club
REST ROUND Combat Spray
300 PPM HOCl
Buy before you leave Australia or pick up in Phuket · Ships in ~7 days
Free shipping on orders over $90 AUD
Order Before Your Camp →