Join us today

Before starting to train in Martial Arts, Head Coach Pierre was working as a Ski Coach at Harrogate Ski Centre. He also worked for the Yorkshire and Humberside Ski Team as well as a number of resorts abroad. He worked with many alpine athletes as well as recreational skiers. He eventually becomes Head Coach at Ravens Ski Club at Silksworth producing a number of top class coaches and athletes including 2004 British Championship winner Adam Lee (who pipped present day World Cup star David Ryding!). As a ski racer he represented England and was in the YHSF dual slalom team with Martin Bell, Graeme Bell, and Keith Blackburn winning the English Championship four times. The feature video shows Pierre racing first at the All England at Silksworth.

After starting Thai-Kickboxing at the age of 24 he gained his black belt in 1997, and also begins delivering Kao Loi sessions in Harrogate, Wakefield, and York.

He then finishes his Diploma in Exercise and Fitness and additionally works at the Barbican as a fitness instructor and personal trainer.

In 2001 Kao Loi's Thai Boxing team has 3 athletes representing their country at the World Amateur Championships in Thailand. This was repeated in 2003 and 2013 with our athletes earning 4 silver medals, and Pierre achieving his highest World Ranking of 3rd. The feature video shows Pierre competing at the World Championships in Bangkok in 2001 vs Scotland and then Russia.
As well as this amateur success our team have earned a number of English, British, and European Professional Championship titles.

After completing a Diploma in Exercise and Fitness, Diploma in Nutrition, and Diploma in Sports Psychology Pierre was well placed to prepare programmes for all the athletes to prepare them technically, tactically, physically, and psychologically for their respective challenges.

Kao Loi trainees Peter Arnett and Gary Nickel-lean become the first to achieve black belt level in Thai-Kickboxing under Pierre. Around this time Kao Loi registers with the English Muay Thai Federation and adopt the Grading syllabus recognised by the Kru Muay Thai Association, World Muay Boran Association, and Cultural Committee of Thailand.
Pierre is now 14th Khan Honorary Master (http://krumuaythai.or.th/pierre-mahon/), and Kao Loi now boasts over 20 trainees achieving instructor level. Pierre also passed his UKCC Tutor's qualification and now works with several instructors who deliver sessions at Kao Loi, helping them to develop their knowledge and skill.

After a number of years based at Hornbeam Park, where the Thai Boxing team had unprecedented success, Pierre forms a partnership with Rob Smith of H Hour Boxing and they open their first facility together at The Warehouse on Harcourt Road. The venue proves to be a fantastic success with demand for personal training, fitness classes, and combat sports coaching growing month on month.
At this point Pierre, as well as working with his personal training clients and the Thai Boxing team, he has been working and training with MMA athletes and coaches increasing his knowledge exponentially.
The team of groundwork coaches expands at this point to include Mike Cummings, Stephen Sanders, and Craig Skelton.

Kao Loi members nominate Pierre for the Stray FM Sporting Hero awards. The attached video was made and a party of four attended the award ceremony not yet knowing the outcome. Pierre was ecstatic to win the award and it was truly his proudest moment!

Kao Loi and H Hour move to bigger premises on Skipton Road to cope with the extra demand. The venue is an immediate success and they are currently planning their official opening ceremony with stars from boxing, muay thai, and MMA in attendance as well as Harrogate's mayor and officials from North Yorkshire Sport.
Please look out for the video of the opening ceremony which will be our next addition to our ongoing history!

Kao Loi and H Hour celebrate their official opening with the Deputy Mayor of Harrogate Christine Ryder and her husband Chris, along with 60 guests.

The Deputy Mayor said ``We loved the demos. I think the most special thing was the great effort, support and commitment from you guys who give everything for the young people to progress.``

Head coaches Pierre and Rob were delighted that the Deputy Mayor could conduct the opening ceremony and that she was so impressed with the sessions they run.

Please have a look at the short video of the evening made by one of our members and talented film maker Bram Fieldsend.

After a difficult time through Covid, the gym has now grown so much that plans to expand are well under way. As well as welcoming more members we have grown our online presence with regular videos on Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok. To follow us look up Kao Loi Gym.

We have 3 full time coaches now offering private training to individuals and groups. Sarah Gibbs specialises in ladies and juniors, while Ciaran and Nathaniel work with all levels from beginner to competitor. To book in with our trainers please email [email protected]

Our athletes have also been working hard throughout Covid and we now have 5 fighters who regularly compete, 2 of whom are ranked by Thai Fighter UK in the top ten Muay Thai rankings.

At the end of 2024 Kao Loi took over the tenancy at 154a Skipton Road after H Hour Boxing club moved to Beech Avenue. We took the opportunity to update our logo, many thanks to Adam at De-Signs, and put it on our gym signs and our uniforms, and now with a packed timetable and much more space we teamed up with Elevate Media to help us welcome more members.

In 2025 we will shortly be launching our 4th 12 week Beginners Course which has proved to be a fantastic way to help newcomers develop their knowledge of muay thai. Since its inception we have welcomed well over 130 trainees to the gym!

If you are wanting to start your journey in muay thai then please get in touch for details of our next course.