How did you get into Muay Thai?
Vinn Xayaveth: I have always had a love for Muay Thai. I have been around the scene since I was a young buck. It runs in my family. I remember my parents would Drop me off at my cousins house (Thongsai) while they went to work. Thongsai would always be setting up fights for me and random neighbor kids in the garage. (hahah) I never really knew what I was doing then but I loved it. I would even watch old VHS tapes and made a championship belt out of “Better Blocks” and would wear it around the house shadow boxing and pretending I was a Nakmuay.
Goodyear Arizona Muay Thai
You Recently Opened your own Muay Thai Gym in Goodyear, Arizona. How is that going for you?
Vinn Xayaveth: I love it. I love Muay Thai. I even named my Son after Legend and World Champion Malaipet Sasiprapa. I never finished high school never went to college. This is all that I know. I’ve had numerous kinds of jobs, and even tried to start other businesses but I always came back to Muay Thai. Muay Thai always got me out of a Jam I was in. Weather I was in trouble, broke, depressed. This sport gave me the tools to overcome every obstacle I have ever faced in life. So being able to get paid to do what I love is a blessing. If anyone is in West Valley Arizona and want to Learn Muay Thai come check us out. 1050 Eliseo C Felix Jr. Wy. 109 Goodyear, Arizona 85323.
X Muay Thai Gym Goodyear, Arizona
What are your goals in Muay Thai?
Vinn Xayaveth: Thats a tough question to answer… Just like anyone my dream is to become a world champion but thats a tough task to follow when you have the dreams of others in your hands as well. As a trainer you have to put your students first and as a fighter you have to be greedy and focus on tuning up yourself. Its a tough balance. But when you love something you will find a way to make it happen. In the end I don’t train to become the best fighter in the world or to be known as some super star. I train and fight because it makes me a better person. All that flashy media and publicity crap is just “sprinkles on a sundae” All I know is that I want to inspire people to live their dreams and be happy weather it be Muay Thai, BJJ, Under water basket weaving doesn’t matter. If its in your heart. Do it. FEAR NOTHING.
Early 2014 You had your Pro Debut at Muay Thai Global 4 in Sacramento against Bell Tran. How did it go?
Vinn Xayaveth: haaaa. That fight was awesome. Actually my favorite fight to date. The toughest part about the fight was the camp. Having to train myself, train pad guys to hold for me, be my own coach. It was a LONG camp. Soon as I took the fight I went straight to work. Was about 10 Week long camp. Had to force myself to train.. Even when I didn’t want to I had to. Couldn’t have a bad day because I didn’t have coach yelling at me to keep going! As for the fight I felt great. My gas was good I felt strong. I may have been a little mentally unprepared. I had my mindset to be aggressive which is not my usual fighting style. I like to consider myself a backwards counter fighter but with Bell I wanted to adjust and try to balance going backwards and moving forward. Fight starts and I land some big shots early. I got excited and a bit too over confident and wanted a early night. Bell caught me with a nice check hook that dropped me. Never been dropped in my life. And during the fight I didn’t even know I went down. I just hopped back up still in fight mode but clearly was still wobbly and Bell gets the TKO.
After your loss do you still want to fight?
Vinn Xayaveth: Of course! Winning, Losing its all part of the sport. Victories and Defeat, to me is all an illusion. It all comes and goes so quick. I appreciate all the lessons I learn. But Im pretty sure I wanna fight at a lower weight class unless I can put on some pounds and actually keep it on.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fighter?
Vinn Xayaveth: Im still growing a lot as a fighter and a trainer. I use to favor being a kicker and fighting long but have really been focusing on my boxing and clinching. I feel like the knowledge is there but I need more drilling and develop better timing. I actually have a lot more experience as a trainer then I do fighting.
How long have you been trainer?
Vinn Xayaveth: I started to hold pads when I was about 17. I needed to make a drastic change in my life and my cousin Thongsai took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of the sport. So almost 10 years of just trainer experience.
You’re not an Original “Arizonian” What made you come to Arizona?
Vinn Xayaveth: I grew up in Oregon- It rains A LOT. Its depressing. My best friend had an opportunity to move to Arizona and I was at the point in my life that I felt I wasn’t going anywhere. My son was just born. People were doing the same thing every weekend. I was having a hard time finding employment so I had to make a choice to better my life and it was the best decision I have ever made. Leaving my “friends” behind really help me dial in who I wanted to be as a person and also showed me who my real friends were.
What’s your plan for the future?
Vinn Xayaveth: I’m just taking it day by day. The Gym is still pretty new. I want to focus on the growth of the gym to carry itself and get my health back in order. I’ve lost a lot of weight since we opened up. But I do plan to jump over the ropes again in 2015.