Location:
Legacy Gym is located in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. Ubon is not the biggest city in Issarn, but it surely is in the top 3. I’ve written about KRS Gym in Ubon as well. But if you didn’t read it, Ubon has all major transportation: train, bus, and an International airport. Flights to and from Bangkok are about an hour, and very inexpensive. Legacy Gym is about 4 minutes away from the airport, and Legacy is situated on a man made lake. Cool breeze, summer swims, and night fishing if you are game. Legacy Gym has an onsite high speed ADSL internet connection, and other internet cafes dot the area.

Food and Rooms:
Besides Thai food, western food, Pizza Company, Swensen’s Ice Cream, major department stores like Big C, Tesco Lotus, and the new SK shopping center. There is also an Islamic Restaurant in the neighborhood. The gym however, has a deal arranged with a very popular Thai restaurant next door. Legacy will provide food for fighters from here.

There are several places to rent rooms. The western fighters at the gym are currently renting apartment rooms, with aircon and big bed right on the lake. A very nice set up. All other places to rent rooms are situated around the gym, also a stones throw from the lake.

Training:
Currently 3 trainers, and Ole as a coach as well. The busiest trainer, Pheting, has 4 Thais, 2 of which are hopeful contenders for the Lumpini Stadium title. Pheting is an elbow specialist, and likes to work elbow techniques on the pads.

Ek Ubon is a semi-active fighter. His career reached Issarn Champion status. Ek fought for Songchai when he was promoting at Lumpini and also for him at Rajadamnern. Ask the guys at the gym: at 70kgs this guy has serious skills. Excellent pad man for heavier weights and sparring. Legacy just brought in Moo Ubon, Ek's brother, onboard, and he is a real asset fighting abroad at 67kgs.

Mr. Poot handles heavier fighters as well. Poot has several years experience as a pad man, and his English is decent.

My personal report: You may find this interesting if you have time to kill.

May.05.05

What is a legacy? Have you ever looked it up in the dictionary? It basically means an inheritance, heritage, or a birthright. So, what comes to mind when I say ‘Legacy Gym’? I envision a beginning, a beginning of a future. Is it a future for me? Perhaps. Although I am independent, I am bound to this gym by blood. But, this is just circumstance. Ole Baguio Laursen is my cousin. This legacy is not mine. The real future is for Ole and his family, and the people accepted into this circle of Legacy Gym.

This is more than a gym. There is more than business involved here. People accepted into this family circle have the responsibility, to represent to the fullest. To represent Legacy Gym means commitment, sacrifice, determination, persistence, focus, did I mention sacrifice? Everyone knows, to be a fighter, to get to the top, you must be willing to sacrifice.

Legacy Gym accepts fighters at every level. But even at the most beginner level, you will be expected to give 100% at this gym. Whether you just like to get loose in the ring, and keep fit, and even take the afternoon off in training, Ole knows what it's like to need to take a break. But when training, even when Ole is training, he is working and keeping an eye on your progress. If you prove you have what it takes, who knows… Maybe you will be asked to represent Legacy Gym.

I took training real easy. I trained MMA with Ole for a bit of practicing techniques, and few minutes of light sparring. Ole has trained MMA with BJ Penn and Dean Lister. I also did some light sparring in International boxing.

What surprised me the most this trip, was how much nightlife there is in Ubon. Ubon has everything from quiet kickback spots, to Feng Shui friendly jazz clubs, to full on raging disco techs. It should also be known, that it is obvious that there are more women than men in Ubon. I would guess for every one man, there are six women. Thanks for the good times to everyone at the gym. I don't know how much I can say thanks, but, thanks. I had a great time and I look forward to getting back up there.