Puu Muay Thai Podcast

In Episode 246 of the Pu'u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu shares why his reasons for traveling to Thailand have completely changed after nearly two decades in Muay Thai. When he first visited Thailand at 18 years old (Now 37), the goal was simple: become a better fighter. Learn better kicks, elbows, clinch work, and experience Muay Thai from its birthplace. Today, the mission is different....

The Global Muay Thai Roundtable returns for Episode 245 of the Pu'u Muay Thai Podcast. Jonathan Puu (USA) is joined once again by RWS commentator Joe Comerford (Australia/Thailand) and coach, commentator, and Shout Out Podcast host Jay Bryant (Canada) for another in-depth discussion on the biggest stories shaping Muay Thai around the world. This month's conversation covers the landmark R...

In Episode 244 of the Pu'u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down in-person at teep studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with longtime coach, former fighter, and Warrior Family Gym founder Alex Anoushian . Alex shares his journey from training at Sityodtong in California to living and fighting in Thailand at the legendary Lookprabat Gym , where he trained alongside some of the sport's most...

When most people think about team sports, they think about football, basketball, baseball, or soccer. Muay Thai doesn't usually make that list. After all, when you step into the ring, you're alone. Nobody can throw punches for you, make weight for you, or do the hard work on your behalf. But after nearly two decades in Muay Thai, I've learned something important: Almost nobody succe...

In Episode 242, we launch the very first Global Muay Thai Roundtable , bringing together three voices from different corners of the Muay Thai world. Joining the discussion are: Jonathan Puu (USA) – Founder of Pu'u Muay Thai, coach, gym owner, ring official, and host of the Pu'u Muay Thai Podcast. Jason Bryant (Canada) – Coach, commentator, gym owner, and host of the Shout Out Podcast. Jo...

In Episode 241 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu is joined by Josh Soliva, reporting live from Cebu, Philippines after being on the ground in Bangkok, Thailand for ONE Friday Fights 154 and “The Inner Circle” this last weekend. This episode dives deep into the behind-the-scenes reality of ONE Championship , including firsthand insight into the now-talked-about Anatoly Malykhin vs Reug R...

In Episode 240 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down what he would do differently if he started Muay Thai all over again — and more importantly, what he would double down on . After nearly two decades as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official, Jonathan shares the biggest lessons that shaped his journey — including the mistakes that slowed his progress and the ha...

In Episode 239 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu sits down in person at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with amateur Muay Thai fighter Calie Patrick for one of the most important conversations ever featured on the podcast. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse, grooming, trauma, and predatory behavior inside martial arts spaces. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 Nat...

In Episode 238 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down one of the most debated topics in modern Muay Thai: Should Muay Thai have belts or a ranking system? It’s one of the first questions beginners ask when they walk into a gym. Where do I rank? How do I level up? When do I get promoted? But Muay Thai has traditionally operated very differently from other martial arts like karate,...

In Episode 237 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu answers one of the most common questions beginners ask: How often should you train Muay Thai? Most people assume the answer is “every day.” Train harder. Train more. Go all in. But that mindset is one of the fastest ways to burn out and quit before you ever see real progress. In this episode, Jonathan breaks down the truth about training...

In Episode 236 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with his cousin Deutsch Pu’u — a former professional fighter with a background in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Deutsch shares his journey growing up in American Samoa , where structured martial arts training was limite...

In Episode 235 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Joel “The Wolf” Licata , a Muay Thai fighter turned coach who spent five years living and training in Thailand. Joel shares his journey of starting Muay Thai later in life, moving across the world during COVID to train full-time in Chiang Mai, and developing...

In Episode 234 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu sits down in person in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Mike Martinez , founder of Monster Promotions and longtime coach, matchmaker, and event promoter. Mike returns to the podcast (previously featured on Episode 164) to break down what it actually takes to build Muay Thai events in the United States — from matc...

In Episode 233 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu explores a question that’s becoming more common in conversations around the sport: Is Muay Thai losing its identity? With the rise of international promotions, new rule sets, and growing influence from MMA, the way Muay Thai is practiced and presented around the world is changing rapidly. From small-glove fights to altered scoring systems...

In Episode 232 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down how to evaluate whether a Muay Thai gym is legitimate before you commit your time and training to it. With nearly two decades of experience as a student, fighter, coach, gym owner, and ring official, Jonathan has seen the full spectrum of gyms — from excellent programs with deep cultural roots to places that simply market Muay...

In Episode 231 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu joins Fox Sports Radio KVTA 1590 in Ventura, California for an in-studio conversation with host Spence and guest host Spencer Noren . The discussion centers around the Eat Sleep Teep Semi-Contact Muay Thai event , a local amateur competition designed to introduce kids, teens, and adults to Muay Thai in a safe and structured environment. D...

In Episode 230 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu sits down in person at Teep Studios with Michael Corley , former President of USA Muay Thai, professional fighter, coach, and longtime advocate for the growth of Muay Thai in America. This conversation goes beyond surface-level talking points and dives into leadership, governance, athlete development, and the realities of building Muay Th...

In Episode 229 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down a pattern almost no one talks about — the two-year Muay Thai drop-off , when many students quietly disappear right as they’re getting good. This isn’t the beginner phase. It’s not fear, soreness, or lack of toughness. In fact, most people who quit around the two-year mark are more skilled and confident than ever . What they’re...

In Episode 228 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down why Muay Thai in America is still widely misunderstood —even by people who think they know what it is. From being confused with kickboxing or cardio workouts to being seen as “too violent” or “only for fighters,” Muay Thai has often been introduced in the U.S. without its cultural, technical, and developmental context. As a re...

In Episode 227 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu reflects on what Muay Thai gave him over nearly two decades — not in techniques or fights, but in the lessons he didn’t know he needed at the time. Like many people, Jonathan didn’t start Muay Thai searching for discipline, clarity, or purpose. He just wanted to train, learn how to fight, defend himself, and push his limits. But over time...

In Episode 226 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu breaks down exactly what beginners should focus on in their first year of Muay Thai — and just as importantly, what they should stop worrying about. Most students quit not because Muay Thai is too hard, but because they’re focusing on the wrong priorities. In this episode, Jonathan lays out a clear framework to help new students stay cons...

In Episode 225 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu explains why Muay Thai isn’t supposed to feel fun, exciting, or motivating every single day — and why that discomfort is exactly what makes it such a powerful practice. Most people quit Muay Thai when training stops feeling “fun.” They assume something is wrong, that they’re failing, or that they’re not cut out for it. In reality, that mo...

In Episode 224 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast , Jonathan Puu makes a statement that will stop most listeners in their tracks: “I’m quitting the podcast.” After six years, hundreds of episodes, and tens of thousands of listeners, Jonathan pulls back the curtain on a question most creators, gym owners, and long-term builders eventually face — when the math stops making sense, why keep going? This epi...

Episode 223 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast kicks off the new year with a reality check for anyone setting Muay Thai goals in January. Every year, new students come in motivated, fired up, and ready to “go all in” — and every year, most of those goals quietly fall apart by February or March. In this episode, Jonathan Puu breaks down why New Year’s Muay Thai goals fail and how to approach training in...

Episode 222 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast is the official 2025 year-end recap , breaking down what actually mattered across the podcast, the academy, and the broader Pu’u Muay Thai ecosystem. In this episode, Jonathan Puu reflects on why long-form conversations beat viral clips , and how depth, consistency, and real-world experience shaped the podcast’s global growth in 2025. With over 41,000 down...