With the recent announcement of the new reality TV Muay Thai show “In Search of America’s Muay Thai Team” many questions have been asked. To help keep fighters informed president of “In Search of America’s Muay Thai Team” Don McDaniels has provided Muay Thai Authority with the following FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list. The FAQ provides answers to many of the questions that are being asked by fighters, and further explain the show and the tryouts. 

• Is the show for real? Yes, the show is for real. It will be filmed for

television and has been accepted for broadcast, in South America, North America, Asia

and Europe, Russia and the Philippines.

• What will the tryouts consist of? The initial auditions will be basically a

hard workout. We understand that some of the fighters trying out for the show have

already scheduled upcoming fights. There may be some sparring but no you will not have

to fight in the audition, though you may be scheduled to fight as part of the eliminations

at a later date. Please come in shape, this will not be a casual workout.

• Do I have to pay my own way to the audition? Yes, much like other tv

reality shows that accept talent from abroad you will have to initially pay your way. If

you make it through later in the show there will be a per diem that will help pay for

fighters to travel to film for the show.

• Are we going to be staying in a house like some of the other shows? No.

We are very aware that most of the Muay Thai fighters in America have full time jobs

and could not stay out here the entire time we will be filming. You will be able to fly out

on weekends for the show, however, at some point it may pay you more than your job so

you will have to make that decision when you get there.

• When should I fly in for the audition? It is best if you fly in early to get

acclimated to the area. Some fighters are flying in as early as the week before and staying

until the week after. If you are not able to come that early please try to get here by Friday

July 1st.and schedule your departure for Monday or after. If you will be here for the 4th of

July you are welcome to attend the annual BBQ at Double Dose Muay Thai.

• What airport should I fly in to? Ontario Airport (ONT) will be the closest

to the auditions and we can arrange a shuttle to pick you up from there. If you fly into

another airport you are on your own to get here.

• Where should I stay for the audition? The hotel nearest the gym is the

Comfort Inn in Fontana (909) 463-5900 or choicehotels.com/hotel/caa70 Mention that

you are part of the reality tv show and they may give you some perks.

• Will it always be filmed in Fontana? No. Some of the episodes may but it

will be filmed in various locations throughout California. A film crew may even travel

back with finalists to their hometown for some filming of their everyday training and

lives.

• Can my trainer still train me? Yes. Since you will be flying out for the

show on weekends you could still train with your current coach. Some fighters will end

up staying in California for the show and there are plenty of great trainers and gyms here

as well so it is up to you. We will have a full time coaching staff as well as guest

instructors on the show so we advise all who are trying out to accept advice from those

who are coaching on the show (be coachable).

• So what do I get if I make the team? You get a very lucrative contract to

go on an international fighting tour and get all expenses paid to destinations around the

world. Also, you will get a merchandising contract. These contracts will pay you more

than you have ever made fighting Muay Thai before. We are trying to allow those who

fight in Muay Thai to make a living travelling the world and doing what they love to do

best.

• Can I try out for Americas Muay Thai team if I was born elsewhere? Yes.

But you must be an American citizen and have proof of citizenship.

• How old do you have to be to try out for the show? You must be an adult

18 years or older.

• Do I have to be a professional Muay Thai fighter? No. However, if you are

not professional you must be an amateur, who is ready and willing to go pro for the show.

We will be travelling around the world and fighting professional fighters in other

countries.

• What if I am an MMA fighter? That’s fine. However if you do not know

Muay Thai you will not be right for America’s Muay Thai Team. Remember, the show is

about Muay Thai not MMA.

• What traits are you looking for in a fighter for the show? The fighters we

choose should embody the very essence of Muay Thai. Honor, respect, discipline,

strength and a fighting spirit like no other.

• What if I am a good fighter’s but am not an actor? We are looking for

fighters. You do not have to act. A good personality and story will help but we feel that

Muay Thai fighters are interesting anyway and tell a story all the time. It is that story we

are looking for. The story of the sacrifices each individual makes to reach their dreams

and goals.

• Does this have anything to do with the Muay Thai In America promotion

last year? Yes and No. Though this is done by the same people it is a reality tv show.

Muay Thai In America was a fight promotion like none that had ever been done here

before. There will be fight promotions as part of the show that will be like the Muay Thai

In America at the Barker Hanger Santa Monica.

• I heard that Muay Thai In America had some financial problems is that

true? Yep. We had a big investor that backed out last minute. Muay Thai In America was

a dream and vision based on the respect and love I hold for Ajarn Surachai Sirisute and

his vision of spreading Muay Thai throughout the world. I really appreciated the unique

relationship between Ajarn Chai and Guro Dan Inosanto, to me it it very similar to the

relationship and mutual respect Guro Inosanto had with Master Bruce Lee.

• One evening I had a conversation with Kru Bryan Dobler and Ajarn Rex.

It was a very heartfelt, emotional conversation on the honor, respect, dedication and

discipline. Many of the these elements have been lost in sports today. It was this

conversation and my respect for the people that have fought and dedicated their lives to

the preservation, culture and integrity of this sport that motivated me to do all that I can

to help elevate this incredible sport to a level it has always deserved. Ajarn Chai holds a

annual Thai Camp in Oregon, where a select group of highly disciplined Muay Thai

practitioners are hand picked to attend. My son Khayman and I were blessed to attend

Oregon Camp for the first time a few years back and immediately I thought, this is

America’s best kept secret!!! Until I experienced Ajarn Chai’s Oregon Thai Camp, I truly

believe I too, had lost a level of belief in human spirit. The respect and discipline I

witnessed during the very special Muay Thai camp was a healing experience.

• Muay Thai In America was by far, the largest independent budget spent to

produce a Muay Thai event in America, at close to $500,000 and without one sponsor, I

still believe it was a risk worth taking. Although It never really felt like a risk to me, once

the decision was made to move forward, people came together in a way I had never

witnessed before to make sure the show would happen. People that had already dedicated

years of their lives, in hope that Muay Thai would one day find a home here in America.

People came together like they had rehearsed that moment a thousand times in their

minds… There were many individuals that sacrificed and committed their time and

efforts to make Muay Thai In America happen, in the end, we were all one family.

• I knew that without sacrifice there can be no reward. Kru Bryan and Ajarn

Rex told me, that to elevate Muay Thai to the level it truly deserves, a promoter must

initially be willing to lose money. They were right, I did lose money but it doesn’t really

matter, because I’ve gained so much more. Because of the April 2010, Muay Thai In

America event, I now have an opportunity and the support to help elevate Muay Thai

globally, to bridge the international gap between American Boxing and UFC.

There will always be inherent risk in pursuing the things we love, if it were easy, we

would all be running around smiling and this interview would not be necessary. Big

dreams never come easy. It is most important to remember that when things get tough to

turn back inside and re-focus on that spark that motivated you in the first place. I don’t

think anyone knows this more than a fighter. Many people, including family and friends

will take pleasure in reminding you that your dream is quickly becoming a nightmare…

all you can do is try and smile and keep fighting for your beliefs.

“You can’t break new ground in anything, without moving a few stones out of the way.”

• “In Search Of America’s Muay Thai Team” is the next step in the

evolution of Muay Thai In America. It is our goal to bring back, honor, respect, discipline

and integrity to combative sports. We don’t care how strong a fighter you think you may

be, if you don’t have discipline or a teachable spirit, you will not make the team. We are

searching for Kick-Ass Gentlemen. We will show the people of the world that America

can produce real Muay Thai heroes. Participants that make the team will be able to

support themselves and their families and truly call themselves professional Muay Thai

Fighters. Those fighters that make the team will no longer have to struggle financially to

support their families, they will become household names and heroes to millions of

viewers world wide.

Muay Thai Authority has confirmed the start time of 7:00 AM for the July 2nd tryouts at Double Dose Muay Thai in Fontana, CA for the upcoming Reality TV Muay Thai show “In Search of America’s Muay Thai Team”. In addition Muay Thai Authority has confirmed that the fighters that make it past the initial audition at Double Dose in Fontana, CA will then be included in a second round of auditions that will take place the weekend of July 15th in Big Bear, CA.

The event will also be covered by international press from Televisa, Latino Sports Network 360, as well as Russian, Vietnamese, and Philippine networks.