He worked multiple jobs just to pay rent in the US — so he packed up and moved to Thailand to chase a new life as a fighter

Maxwell Wolfe had never traveled outside the US — until he flew to Thailand in 2019 for a Muay Thai fight on the island of Koh Samui.

He lasted two minutes in the ring, took an elbow above his right eye, which left a scar, and then lost. But instead of flying home feeling defeated, Wolfe was hooked.

Wolfe grew up in northern Virginia and had started practicing martial arts in his early 20s, when he was at a crossroads in his life. As someone with ADHD, he always found it hard to conform to conventional societal expectations.

"I never really fit the mold, and martial arts is one of the very few things in my life besides music and art that made sense to me," Wolfe, now 34, told Business Insider.

(Practising Muay Thai gave Wolfe a sense of structure and purpose. Phetchbuncha Samui Stadium).

That match in Samui lit a fire in him, and he hoped to return to Thailand sooner to continue pursuing the sport. But the pandemic threw a wrench in his plans, and he continued training in the US instead.

But life wasn't easy. With the rising cost of living, he had to juggle IT jobs, work in nightclubs, and deliver Uber Eats to pay his rent.

In late 2023, things came to a head when he lost both of his IT jobs.

Feeling stuck both personally and professionally, Wolfe decided to return to Samui in search of a reset.

Starting afresh in Samui

Once he arrived in Samui, he signed up for training at Lamai Muay Thai, a local gym.

The training routine he followed gave his days structure and a sense of purpose that he quickly grew to appreciate. But as a foreigner, he realized his time in Thailand was limited.

"One day, I went up to Ralph and said, 'How do I live a life like this?'" Wolfe said, referring to the owner of Lamai Muay Thai, Ralph Beale.

That's when Beale told him about the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV. Introduced last year, it can be used by digital nomads, remote workers, and those interested in participating in cultural or wellness activities — including Muay Thai.

(Locals and foreigners alike participate in Muay Thai sessions at Lamai Muay Thai. Amanda Goh for Business Insider.)

Beale told BI that the training center welcomes foreigners of all experience levels to its classes and currently has around 12 fighters training under the DTV.

Wolfe's original plan was to stay for just one year. Enough time, he thought, to rebuild himself through Muay Thai. But with the visa valid for five years, the possibility of staying longer began to take shape.

Eat, sleep, train, repeat

Wolfe represents Lamai Muay Thai in local matches."They get a small fight purse when they compete, which can start as low as a few thousand baht," Beale said.

Most foreign fighters aren't in it for the money, but rather for the chance to compete in Thailand. Those who prove themselves in smaller arenas often earn opportunities on bigger stages, like those in Bangkok, he added.

Wolfe's lifestyle on Samui is far from the relaxed and idyllic island dream one might expect.

His daily routine in Samui involves waking up at 5 a.m. and training twice a day, six days a week. Provided by Maxwell Wolfe.

His day starts at 5 a.m. After washing up, he takes his supplements and has a light breakfast — typically a piece of fruit, like a banana. Then, it's time for training.

He lives in a house just five minutes away from his gym with several other fighters.

(It wasn't easy to cultivate the discipline needed to stick to his new grueling training schedule and strict diet. Provided by Maxwell Wolfe.)

(Apart from representing the gym at local matches, Wolfe spends his free time working on his online IT business and building an AI app for martial arts athletes. Phetchbuncha Samui Stadium.)

The lower cost of living in Samui has relieved a lot of financial pressure, allowing him to focus on upskilling himself and running his remote cybersecurity and IT consulting business. On the side, he's also building an AI app to help martial arts athletes track progress and improve performance.

Ref: He worked multiple jobs just to pay rent in the US — so he packed up and moved to Thailand to chase a new life as a fighter Photo Credit- Phetchbuncha Samui Stadium, Maxwell Wolfe, Amanda Goh for Business Insider (AOL)