I train with Coach Roy when I am in LA for school. I first found his gym for a more active lifestyle though I had never thrown a single punch before.
My first day, his class was a room full of trainees. Sweat-drenched, working hard with music and energy high, an encouraged look in people's eyes and Coach Roy overseeing each individual with care and high standards for basic technique and form, yelling 'don't give up!' I put on some gloves and haven't stopped for over a year now. One thing I felt most from his class was the automatic empowerment for everyone in there no matter who you are, where you come from or what your day has been like.
As a female starting in Martial Arts, I (at first) thought they wouldn't be as tough on me but no, not in Coach Roy's class. If one is here to push themselves, they will be. That's it. Automatic. Some days of training feels like the scene from Wonder Woman in the Amazons, people preparing for battle. It's that empowering.
When not in LA, I train in Paris & New York. My first day at one of those camps, an instructor looked at me and asked if I had ever done this before. He gave me some drills and I performed with what I knew from Coach Roy. The instructor realized this was, indeed, not my first time - allowing me to train with their Fighters ever since (as opposed to the "Female Fridays" class). This was the point I realized what I learned from Coach Roy was truly valuable, empowering and worthwhile anywhere in the world.
Also, while training away, they told me I had to first show them what I was capable of. 3 rounds sparring 3 bigger guys were intense, I didn't know if I could finish but Coach Roy taught me to never, never give up. What got me through all 9 minutes was remembering those feints and footwork, etc. that Coach Roy kept drilling in LA. Because he values basic technique, I was able to tap into that when I was not sure how else to protect myself, execute my attack, not quit and finish that fight. That was the second instance I realized how true Coach Roy's teachings were and now I can train anywhere because of his foundations and not feel like a beginner anymore.
Other than my experience at my other gyms, no where has been like Coach Roy's. I speak from a female perspective with ambitions to one day compete in fighting. I used to keep bothering Coach Roy since the start to match me in a fight. He always smiled, believed in me but didn't move forward yet because he values timing and preparation. There were times I wouldn't understand why he wouldn't just advance me already. I would vent to my other coaches abroad how my home gym in LA wouldn't let me fight yet. As fight champions themselves, they said how much RESPECT they had for my home coach, Coach Roy, for responding that way to my goals and believing in the right time to get a student their debut fight. He looks out for this students this way.
Anyway, training martial arts at Corona Muay Thai Academy is rewarding for anyone whether you just want to get into shape, live a more active lifestyle, find a community that cares about each other's well being or if you want to champion your life in anyway and learn some Muay Thai. read more