Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to have experience?
2. How does a training week look like?
3. How are the training sessions organised?
4. Why should you choose for Xtreme Gap Year?
5. Which time of year it is the best to go?
6. What about the instruction style of Head Coach Ray?
7. Where are the beaches?
8. I am a vegetarian. Can I come?
9. Do I need a visa?

Do I need to have experience?

No, you do not need experience in MMA or other related sports. Actually most of the gappers who went there were beginners and had an amazing time. We will make you a personal programme, based on your skills and experience. So, no worries at all.

How does a training week look like?

At our training camp you can train from 07:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Friday. On Saturday there are group training sessions in the morning. In the afternoon there is 'open mat'. Sunday is to chill and take a well deserved rest. Hit the beaches, hit the night life - you have earned it.

How are the training sessions organised?

Under the supervision of head MMA instructor Magical Ray Elbe - 4 x Ultimate fighter world champion you will discover your fighting abilities reach new levels. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under 3nd Degree BJJ Black Belt Juliano Prado, Ray Elbe has proven his techniques with over 30 Professional MMA fights, and several championship belts. Ray maintains high intensity workouts designed to achieve optimal results from every participant. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques from a mixture of Martial Arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions.

What about the instruction style of Head Coach Ray?

“I approach MMA from an educators point of view. Students have to understand things from the inside out, you have to be able to break your toy…and put it back together. I encourage my students to keep daily journals of their progressive improvement. I want them to examine their games daily, creating mental flow charts of options available during the fight. Explanation of techniques given in class are always done in a linking, continuous-flow type of environment that allows students to quickly grasp the idea of thinking several moves ahead of their opponent. MMA isn’t about being the best Muay Thai fighter, or the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter. MMA is about being able to integrate the most valuable techniques from every practical fighting style available and blending them together to produce a high breed combative form."

Which time of year is the best to go?

Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. It is warm all year round. The best time to go is from November to March. Then it isn't so humid, and the cool breezes keep things comfortable. The average temperature is around 75F to 89F (24C to 32C). During the year there are two periods the hottest: April to May and September to October. The September to October period is also the wettest.

Why should you choose for Xtreme Gap Year?

Xtreme Gap is the specialist provider of Martial Arts training abroad. We work hard to ensure strict safety criteria and quality standards are met. We have vast experience with travelling in Thailand and a fantastic support structure both in country and from the office which is contactable 24 hours a day. Having worked with many gap year customers interested in martial arts training we are well placed to advise you what you will need pre departure and ensure that your booking and holiday runs smoothly.

Where are the beaches?

The beaches are about 6km from the camp. The best way to get there is by bike, scooter or taxi. There are always more people going in the weekends, so you can join each other. In the neighbourhood there are pools, and if you stay at our luxury resort you can chill by one of the two pools it offers!

I am a vegetarian. Can I come?

Vegetarian and Vegan’s also have options at the restaurant. Not all the fun has been taken out of the menu – you can still get French fries made with unpeeled potatoes! Also included at the Restaurant for extra costs is our protein and fruit shake bar offering a wide variety of Fruit and protein shakes and a selection of drinks to keep our guests maintaining a high amount of protein in their diet to help build muscle and lose fat.

Do I need a visa?

If you are planning on travelling to Thailand for 28 days or less and you have British, Dutch or USA passport you can get a Visa exemption on arrival. This is valid for 28 days and cannot be extended in Thailand. If you are planning on being in Thailand longer than 28 days you will need to pre-arrange a Visa. You can prearrange a visa for 60 days which you can extend to 90 days in Thailand.

There are two ways of arranging your visa. When you are from the UK. You can either go in person to the Thai embassy in London, or you can post your passport along with the necessary documentation and fee to one of the Thai Consulates. In general this works the same for the other countries like The Netherlands and United States too, but please contact the nearest Thai Consulate for visa enquiries.

Please note that you are responsible for arranging your own visa. Xtreme Gap cannot be held responsible if you fail to travel with the correct visa. So please check with your local embassy personally. The previous information is meant as a guide, but visa rules change often and frequently. So do not take this as the current law.