Kaz Crossley is the founder of Combat Collective which launched last year on International Women’s Day. (8 March 2022) Combat Collective strives to connect and inspire women to learn, train and feel empowered through combat sports. Given that Muay Thai is Kaz’s regular and top hobby, she has extolled the virtues of the sport for both her physical and mental health. She hopes other women could feel the same strength through it and push their limits.

Kaz previously ran Combat Collective’s first Thailand retreat at BangTao in May 2023 which was a great success with top feedback from majority of participants calling it ‘life-changing’. She also helped host a women’s only retreat in Costa Rica in 2022, and trained in multiple intensive Muay Thai camps around Thailand and Mexico herself. In the UK, Kaz is a sports presenter involved in Muay Thai Grand Prix, and also reality TV star.

Muay Thai is deeply linked to Kaz’s heritage and roots, highlighting her extended passion in her charitable work carried out in her homeland Thailand. For years, Kaz has worked closely with Wor. Watthana Muay Thai Gym in rural Thai village Isaan — where they help at-risk children and youth change the course of their paths. Using her social media platform, Kaz has been raising awareness and funds of more than £100k to help these children in poverty build a gym & home.

Combat Collective and Kaz will continue to work closely with Wor. Wathanna to help achieve meaningful change for these children in the coming years. 

We are honoured to have partnered with one of the best Muay Thai, MMA and Fitness facility in the world — BangTao Muay Thai. They offer the highest quality and friendly training over a wide range of disciplines including Muay Thai, MMA, BJJ, strength and conditioning and fitness. 

Opened only last year, the facility is relatively new and located in BangTao area with one of the longest beaches in the west coast of Phuket. 

The BangTao founders team is in fact directly responsible for getting the first ever Thai national female into the UFC Loma Lookboonmee, which is exceptionally inspiring for our Collective. 

For training and classes, you will have the opportunity to train twice a day in Muay Thai (including a sunset beach session!) for the majority of the retreat, mixed up with fitness class led by female coach and self defence class led by Alex. Kaz will lead the daily runs from the resort, Mia will run daily yoga classes, and Angie will run meditation and sound bath sessions. 

As one of the founders of BangTao, Alex has been living, fighting, and coaching in Phuket for the last 10 years. He has worked with some of the highest-level fighters such as Valentina Schevchenko (UFC Women’s Flyweight champion). As a current One Championship fighter, Alex is also a jiu jitsu black belt and has fought MMA all over Asia. He will be teaching our fundamental self defence/ BJJ session and supervising classes of our retreat throughout.

Arinara is a 4 star resort located by one of Phuket’s longest beach front with tranquility of an idyllic shoreline on the west coast. 

You will be staying at one of their stunning premium garden view studios with either a king bed or twin beds (sharing option) with a vibrant Asian contemporary decor, rain shower and private balcony. Their facilities range from two swimming pools, private beach front (where one of our Muay Thai or Yoga sunset sessions will take place), fitness centre, 24 hours guest and room services, games room, Wi-Fi and ATM. Most importantly, this resort is opposite BangTao Muay Thai to facilitate daily training and gym access.

Mia Elizabeth has been ritually training in Thailand for the past 5 years, Complimentary to her training has always been mobility and yoga practice. The two have become a staple of accessory work for both hobbyists and professionals alike. Those aiming to speed up their recovery, enhance their mobility and performance have benefitted from both her physical and virtual forms of practice. 

As Combat Collective’s first star ambassador, Mia will be running daily yoga sessions that will help your body gain and improve flexibility and Muay Thai movements to feel more fluid.

Angie is a talented energy healer and holistic healer. Throughout the past 10 years, she has traveled within and far from her native Thailand to be guided by many great teachers around the world in ancient arts, philosophies, traditional yoga, meditation, breath-work, pranayama, sound and ceremony, energy and Reiki. Angie’s intention is to guide one to a deeper connection towards a feeling of fullness. All through empowering and expanding themselves with their own body, breath, and brain and in order to encourage a spiritual spark in their soul. 

Taking the concept of a floating tropical island, Yona Beach Club is located at Phuket’s Patong Beach with a 360-degree sea view with 2 infinity pools (one that is 22 meters long!). We will be granted free access to enjoy such an oasis of party, live DJ and relaxation at the sea; a wide range of amenities and activities could be purchased such as food, drinks, sun beds and water activities. (e-foil, kayak)  Transfers to Yona Beach club are included in this retreat package.