In Episode 235 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Joel “The Wolf” Licata, a Muay Thai fighter turned coach who spent five years living and training in Thailand.

Joel shares his journey of starting Muay Thai later in life, moving across the world during COVID to train full-time in Chiang Mai, and developing his skills under legendary trainer Thailand Pinsinchai.

In this episode, they discuss:

•  What it’s really like training in Thailand with no other foreigners 
•  The difference between Muay Thai in the U.S. vs Thailand 
•  Fighting in Thailand as an older athlete and smaller weight class fighter 
•  Competing internationally, including fights in Thailand and Mexico 
•  The risks of fighting, including injuries and Joel’s decision to retire 
•  How Muay Thai evolves across different rule sets and promotions 
•  The importance of clinch work and technical development 
•  Joel’s transition into coaching at Rising Tide Academy in Maryland 

Joel also breaks down how training in Thailand shaped his understanding of Muay Thai and why bridging the knowledge gap between Thailand and the United States is critical for the sport’s growth.

This episode is a must-listen for fighters, coaches, and anyone considering training or fighting in Thailand, as well as those interested in the long-term journey of Muay Thai beyond just competition.

Follow Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelxthewolf

Train with Joel at Rising Tide Academy: https://risingtidemartialarts.us/

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