Malta Thaiboxing FightTalk.mt interview on MTGP2 and police training

The Malta Thaiboxing FightTalk.mt interview with head coach Sean McAllister covered a difficult Sardinia tournament, his offer of free training to Maltese police officers and his plans to fight at Muay Thai Grand Prix 2. Speaking with Ali Storm, McAllister also explained why he has handed beginners’ classes to Mark so he can spend more time preparing to compete.

How did Malta Thaiboxing head coach Sean McAllister fare at the Sardinia tournament?

Sean McAllister won his first fight in Sardinia and lost his second, while Malta Thaiboxing fighter Mark won three fights and took gold. McAllister said the short turnaround made his second bout less nerve-racking than his first, but successive days of competition left the team carrying bruises and little time to celebrate.

Mark’s gold-medal run

After the opening fight, McAllister’s attention had to turn straight to the next day. Mark had an even longer run: he won a second fight, then returned to win a third. McAllister said Mark accumulated considerable damage across those bouts. Before the final, his advice was simple: "you're in the finals, just have fun." He said Mark relaxed and performed well.

Bartek’s first fight

McAllister was especially pleased with Bartek, who faced a former national champion in his first fight. Bartek had previously trained as a casual student, then increased his preparation for two months before deciding to compete. He lost, but McAllister said he stood his ground against a much more experienced opponent.

For McAllister, the tournament reinforced the value of calmness and enjoyment. He also came away with a practical lesson for his own fighting: block more rather than absorb shots that may not hurt but can still cost points.

Why is Sean McAllister changing how he fights and coaches at Malta Thaiboxing?

Sean McAllister said preparing for his own fights while coaching Malta Thaiboxing competitors is exhausting, so he has given Mark responsibility for beginners’ classes. That change is intended to leave McAllister more time to compete, while other fighters take on more of the work involved in running the gym.

McAllister put his priorities plainly:

I believe I'm a fighter first, coach second and then a business owner third.

He said his own fights make him more nervous than watching his fighters. Once their bouts start, his preparation is largely done; between rounds he can offer water, a towel and advice. When he fights, he feels the responsibility for what happens in the ring rests with him.

That division of work began after Sardinia. McAllister called combining the two roles a nightmare and said he now understands why other coaches at the gym no longer fight. Giving Mark the demanding beginners’ classes is one way to make competition a greater priority without leaving those classes uncovered.

How did Sean McAllister get started at Malta Thaiboxing?

Sean McAllister found Muay Thai at about 17 or 18 after looking into a garage gym in Zira while walking his then-girlfriend home. He asked questions, returned the next day and soon trained almost twice daily. After competing for his coach, he began helping with beginners’ classes and gradually took on more responsibility.

From weightlifting to teaching beginners

At first, McAllister combined training with weightlifting. He eventually dropped the weights to concentrate entirely on Muay Thai, a decision he now considers a mistake because he thinks he should have kept strength and conditioning in his routine. After a year or two of training and two fights, he asked his coach if he could help more.

Taking responsibility for the gym

His coach gave him beginners’ classes, much as McAllister has now done with Mark. The two later split the business in half. When his coach moved back to the United Kingdom, McAllister was left running the gym. He confirmed that Malta Thaiboxing was founded in 2010.

What does Sean McAllister want Malta Thaiboxing fighters to learn?

Sean McAllister wants Malta Thaiboxing members to develop self-reliance and the grit to work through difficulty, not just learn striking techniques. He said competition can give newer students a goal even if they never choose to fight. He also pointed to changes he has seen in members who train regularly.

McAllister described self-reliance as a principle he lives by, saying, "no one is coming to save you". He believes watching teammates compete can help beginners see a possible path for themselves, while acknowledging that competition is not for everyone.

Among the students he mentioned, Liam has lost almost 17 kilos, according to McAllister, and changed his diet and training routine. He said Jesus found the gym while in a bad place and picked himself up. McAllister also praised the changes he has seen in Mark and Lice, as well as the commitment of members who keep turning up.

What did Sean McAllister say about free police training in Malta?

Sean McAllister offered free training to Maltese police officers after an incident in Valletta, saying he wanted to help them stay calm under pressure rather than teach them to attack people. About 20 to 25 officers contacted him, he said, but only one attended initially; a second came several weeks later.

Why McAllister made the offer

McAllister said he did not expect his video to spread widely or attract coverage from Loving Malta. He made the offer because the incident troubled him, not as a marketing exercise. The second officer who attended worked in an office role, he said, rather than the kind of frontline position he most hoped to reach. His offer also included people working in correctional facilities.

From basic defence to regular sparring

Training would start at the officer’s level. McAllister described learning to recognise strikes, keep the eyes open, block, move the head and parry before putting those actions into drills. His eventual goal would be regular sparring two or three times a week, treated as playful practice rather than something to fear.

He said he has had no physical altercation since taking up Muay Thai and considers knowing when to avoid a fight an important result of training. He also suggested extending opportunities beyond public services to students at places including MCAST and the University of Malta. Even a free offer has a limit, he added: people still have to choose to attend.

How is Sean McAllister preparing Malta Thaiboxing for Muay Thai Grand Prix 2?

Sean McAllister plans to fight at Muay Thai Grand Prix 2 in Malta alongside Mark, while Liam’s bout is awaiting confirmation from an opponent. He said he feels less nervous than he did before Muay Thai Grand Prix 1 because his latest competition was only weeks earlier, rather than after a break of at least two years.

McAllister won at the first event but was not satisfied with how technical his performance was. For the second, he wants to be more technical while still enjoying the fight. He is also pleased to compete without shin guards and hopes eventually to fight without elbow guards.

Mark and McAllister follow a programme they made themselves, combining their gym sessions with weights, plyometrics and cardio at Prestige. McAllister expects fighters representing the gym to train at least twice a day, though he stressed that not every session is at maximum intensity. Their Muay Thai work includes sparring, pads and drills.

He expects coaching duties on fight night to be shared. Depending on the bout order, McAllister may corner Liam, while he and Mark could corner one another if there is enough time. Stefan and Esther also help in the corner. McAllister said he does not fight for the audience, though he recognises that Mark enjoys putting on a show for the Malta crowd.

What legacy does Sean McAllister want for Malta Thaiboxing?

Sean McAllister wants Malta Thaiboxing to last long enough for today’s regular members to bring their children to train there. He pictured his own future children, Mark’s children and other members’ families continuing at the gym, allowing the community they have built to carry on across generations.

That ambition grows out of a gym where members already share jobs beyond training. Mark has taken beginners’ classes, fighters help one another through fight camps, and coaching and corner duties can change hands on competition nights. For McAllister, a lasting gym would be one that keeps going when the next generation arrives.