Lucky's Muay Thai offers more than physical training

It’s 6:30 a.m. on a fall evening in a sweaty North Miami garage, 51-year-old Lloyd “Lucky” Walton steps on a padded vinyl mat. He is tall, about six feet tall, slim and tough. Opposite him is Anthony Doe, muscular, tattooed, and half Walton’s age.

After five minutes of arguing, Doe delivers a kick to Lucky that catches him in the side of his body. Lloyd quickly countermaneuvers, and Doe falls on his back, stunned by the force used by someone half his age. Lucky’s and Anthony’s sweat drips and falls to the ground.

Lucky’s Muay Thai in North Miami It is much more than a home of violence. It feels like a dozen cousins reunited for the holidays. The fiery appearance of the warriors and the clashes show the reality beyond the bags and pillows.

It’s a place where defense meets community, where gloves and pads hitting arms and legs are the main voice, but where people also come together to redefine their mental health. In a recent interview, Lucky shared his knowledge of the combat sport.

“Simple yet complex,” he says. “It’s as popular in Thailand as baseball in the US.”

Muay Thai is a full-contact martial art that includes kicks, punches and clinch. It originated in Thailand and became popular in the early 20th century, but its roots date back to 675 AD.

The sport was brought to the United States in 1968 when Ajarn Chai founded the World Thai Boxing Association to spread his fighting technique to the states. Muay Thai is popular in San Francisco, where retired Thai fighter Jongsanan Fairtex trains people.

Lucky teaches his two students how to exercise

The philosophy of Muay Thai stands out in the atmosphere of the gym, where the student can learn and absorb the mastery of the sport during each training session. Tradition among the community plays a very important role at Lucky’s. Respect for Muay Thai tradition does not require wearing shoes while fighting, as the creators of the fighting style used.

The gym’s journey in North Miami dates back to Lucky’s childhood. He was born in Chicago and survived scarlet fever when he was only seven years old. After this, he adopted his father’s nickname “Lucky”. Both demonstrated commitment and passion.

While growing up around friends, Walton lingered in the streets and backyards. He started Taekwondo at the age of 11. From there he evolved into a warrior and found his passion.

“I’m just trying to give people what I don’t have here,” he thinks, and emphasizes that he has known since his childhood that one day he would do the same thing he did.

He worked out at South Florida Boxing in Miami before starting his own gym. He was an amateur fighter in his 30s and moved up to the professional leagues in his 40s.

He started practicing Muay Thai after watching fight footage of Dutch Muay Thai champion Rayen Simson.

Muay Thai may not be popular in South Florida. But Lloyd exudes the influence of the craft.

Later in his fighting career, he decided to become a father of two children. He hopes to one day turn the gym over to them.

A committed member of the gym for a year and a half, Anthony Doe decided on Muay Thai while researching combat sports as a therapeutic outlet. At Lucky’s, he found more than just a place to train, but also a place to call home.

“There’s a traditional family aspect to it,” Doe said, describing the gym’s supportive community.

Education at Lucky’s provides students with a balance between humility and confidence.

“A lot of people think they can get more than they can,” Doe admits. “And knowing what my limit is… is very humbling.”

Do states that he has become more confident physically and mentally, a gain that can only be found in this particular gym.

“They won’t judge you if you’re missing out on when they were better, if you’re holding them back.” Do emphasized this when talking about advanced fighters.

Muay Thai may be simple as a fighting style, but it is very complex to master. It is a difficult but rewarding process that improves self-defense. Lucky educates his students not only by explaining in depth, but also by patiently demonstrating techniques to his young students.

The lucky one who had a one-on-one meeting with a younger student

“Traditionally in this sport, how you carry yourself is more important than victory,” he says.

This place has seen it all. It’s a sweat-filled garage where students come in and out, taking water breaks as they struggle with defeat. They are rejuvenated by their sense of community. Lucky tells the story of a young boy who falls into depression after losing his father. He reached out to Lucky, who helped him turn his life around.

“The more steps you take, the more things open up,” he says. “The more you hear about what you’re trying to do, the more it becomes reality.”

This mantra is for all the students he teaches. It pushes them to continue striving with dedication and passion.

Lucky’s Muay Thai gym is a truly unique blend of combat sports, tradition and a sense of community. This is a place where students are taught not only how to defend themselves, but also to carry themselves with integrity and humility, making it a place where everyone can rebuild, rethink, and transform.

The story was first published by Caplin News, a publication of the FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media, as part of an editorial content partnership with the WLRN newsroom.

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