Jim "Hurricane Herries" - NZ Muay Thai Champion
Kate French - Goal - Self-Defence and Fitness
Dr Rob Gregory - Goal-Fitness and Self-Defence
Mark Hampton - Head trainer, MTI (VUW) Kickboxing
Callan Dean - South Pacific Kickboxing Champion
Michelle Goh - New Zealand Champion
Melody Downs - New Zealand Champion

I started learning martial arts in 1981 and was a Tae Kwon Do blackbelt by the age of 13. I trained under Master Tan from 1990 to 1993, and went on to become a New Zealand Champion. I have trained in Thailand, America, Australia, China and Europe, and fought in Thailand and Australia. I also am a certified personal trainer. I worked at Les Mills Wellington from 2000 to 2003, where I was the head boxing trainer. In addition, I taught Muay Thai in Dunedin and Wellington.

I highly recommend Master Tan. His knowledge and teaching ability are exceptional. Master Tan's classes are excellent for cardiovascular and muscular fitness. They will benefit your flexibility, coordination and self-confidence. Muay Thai is one of the best forms of exercise for weight loss and muscle toning. Master Tan is a friendly and enthusiastic trainer, but runs an authentic, traditional class.

If you are interested in fighting, you would do well to have Master Tan in your corner. He was a professional trainer in Phuket, Thailand, and has a wealth of experience. I always felt confident when I had Master Tan in my corner. Muay Thai is a tough sport. It is essential to have someone that you trust behind you. Master Tan always has the best interests of his fighters at heart.

I was initially attracted to the idea of kick-boxing because it was advertised as self-defence lessons. I did not envisage myself as a ‘fighter’ and kick-boxing had connotations of serious levels of fitness being required.

Tan is a marvellous instructor – he is enthusiastic, explains things well, concentrates on technique and is terrifyingly fit. He is very encouraging, but at the same time gives no ground to slackers.

We very quickly got the hang of kicks, jabs and punches, and all found that our own levels of fitness increased accordingly.

I would recommend Tan as a trainer to anybody considering taking up kick-boxing, whether for fitness, as a sport, or as self-defence training.

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I started out in kickboxing, by attending an introductory course being run by Master Tan. My initial interest was in getting fit and learning some self-defence moves, but after just one lesson, I found myself wanting to learn more about the sport and to see how far I could push myself.

I feel that I’ve come a long way already, even though I’ve only been training for a short while. This is largely due to Tan’s excellent training style. His depth of knowledge is amazing and he communicates this with enthusiasm and passion. His reputation is legendary, all of which makes me feel proud and privileged to be trained by him.

Sessions are tough, but rewarding, and you quickly see improvements in your technique, as well as in your overall level of fitness and self confidence, all of which spurs you on to try harder. It can become quite infectious.

For me, Muay Thai has been a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and I would heartily recommend Tan’s training to anyone looking for a challenge, regardless of their previous level of experience.

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Master Tan started the VUW club in 1988. When I joined in 1991 he was still teaching there and had already produced many great fighters such as Warren Sutton, Jim Herries, Mark Norton, Richard Rust and Steve Elliot.

I now run the MTI club (Changed from VUW to MTI July 2008) and I know that Tan has been the greatest influence on me and indeed my greatest teacher. From a technical perspective he has the ability to break even the most complex technique down into small and simple steps that quickly add up to improving the entire technique and increasing power. Master Tan has a long and detailed past when it comes to Muay Thai – he has taught and produced champions in many countries around the world.

With Tan now back in the country, MTI has been hosting him for seminars and the skill level of the club has recently gone up again and I have also significantly improved my teaching ability.

To anyone thinking about training with Master Tan it is not a chance to be missed. You will learn more and faster then you thought possible. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fighter, more will be possible with Tan.

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I have trained at the VUW Kickboxing Club since 2002. In this time I have gained both New Zealand and South Pacific titles and was named New Zealand Amateur Kickboxer of the year in 2005.

Since we first met in 2005, Master Tan has been a great influence on my kickboxing career. Much of my progress I credit to attending seminars hosted by Master Tan. He has increased both the speed and power of my techniques by breaking them down into easy to understand steps. This helped in my win against Mot Eck, a world professional Muay Thai champion, under full Muay Thai rule which included the use of elbow.

The thing I like most about Master Tan’s teaching is that he is a perfectionist. He will always have insights on how to improve your technique. No matter what your level - beginner or seasoned professional – Master Tan will always praise you on things you are doing well and provide areas to improve on. He is an absolute library of Muay Thai knowledge not only in technique, but in the history and progression of Muay Thai into its current form.

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I started doing Muay Thai Kickboxing in 2007, training at VUW Kickboxing (now known as Muay Thai Institute) under Mark Hampton. Up until then I had trained 5 years in Kungfu and Taekwondo but wanted to find a more practical martial art in terms of fighting and self defence. I quickly discovered how effective Muay Thai was through the training and after seeing some kickboxing fights. I was greatly inspired by the amazing fighters and trainers around me, particularly Master Tan. His passion for the art of Muay Thai is contagious, and after attending one of his seminars as a beginner I was hooked.

Master Tan’s expert knowledge in Muay Thai biomechanics is not to be underestimated. Any aspiring fighter would benefit greatly by learning from Tan as he has had a wealth of experience in the ring himself and trained many great fighters and champions. His willingness to openly share his wisdom and experience reflects his desire to teach people from all types of backgrounds, regardless of whether they want to learn kickboxing for fun, fitness, or fighting. Overall, I highly recommend learning kickboxing from Master Tan. It is an opportunity not to be missed!

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When I first stepped into WTK my intention was to fight. After my first training at WTK I knew I chose the right place to train and I haven’t looked back since. The thing I like most about WTK is that it brings in a lot of tradition. I knew that when I stepped foot in that place I will be getting quality training and knowledge – the kind that is genuine and is as close to traditional Muay Thai as possible.

The training and skill that Master Tan gives is very unique in the sense that he builds you up gradually by teaching you every detail step by step. If you want to know how to do something, Master Tan will not only show you how to do it but he will give you every minor detail until you understand it completely. He will then drill you until you make it perfect.

As a fighter I couldn’t wish for a better trainer. Not only do I get the skill and knowledge that I require, but he builds you up as a fighter making sure your basics are perfect before building up your technique base.

Not only do you learn a lot but your life changes for the better. I am healthier and fitter than I ever thought I could be. I’ve learnt respect, discipline and I’ve gained a lot of confidence. Most importantly, I have goals that I can set my mind to and I get a great sense of accomplishment every time I fight. I believe in Master Tan’s training 100% and I recommend anyone to come along and experience it for themselves.

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