Work with Rui
Workwith Rui
Private coaching, seminars, and speaking, bringing the discipline and experience of competing at the highest level to athletes, gyms, and audiences everywhere.
One-to-one training, in person, designed for anyone who wants to learn a combat sport while getting into shape, with guidance from someone who competes at the highest level.
I teach my students the way I'd prepare someone to fight. Not every session is intense, but the goal is real progress, both technical and mental. Training with a champion isn't just about improving your technique; it's about being able to walk into a gym anywhere in the world and train with confidence.
What it involves
- Individual sessions, in person
- Also available in group format (2 to 4 people)
- 1-hour sessions, structured into packs
- Focus on technique, physical conditioning, and combat sport fundamentals
- Ongoing guidance, structured on a monthly basis
Who it is for
Open to anyone, from first-timers stepping into a combat sport to athletes with years of experience.
What people say
I started training Muay Thai with Rui Botelho at the end of 2020 and it has since become a very important part of my routine.
Rui is a reference as an athlete, with a high-level career and international experience, including in ONE Championship. But what I value most in his training is, above all, the rigorous way he approaches technique. Rui does not let things slide. He is attentive to detail, to posture, to the execution of every strike and to the way we move. It is not simply about exercising or getting into shape: it is about learning to do it properly.
That demand makes the sessions intense, but also very stimulating. Over these years, I feel I have been learning not only how to train Muay Thai, but to understand the sport better, and the importance of discipline and consistency.
Muay Thai also ended up having an impact I had not initially expected. The concentration the training demands helps me switch off from everything else and gives me an emotional balance I now consider very important. It is a moment when I am completely focused on what I am doing and, at the end, despite the physical tiredness, I invariably feel better.
There is something very particular about this experience too: we train in an art warehouse, an unconventional setting for Muay Thai, which has ended up becoming part of the identity of these sessions.
Over these years, Rui has become much more than my coach, he has become a friend. It is an enormous pleasure to train with him and to keep learning, always with the same demand and enthusiasm.
I would recommend his training to anyone looking not just to improve their physical condition, but to learn Muay Thai with someone who knows the sport deeply and who takes technique, discipline and the quality of the training very seriously.
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I've trained Muay Thai on and off with different coaches for over two decades, but training with Rui for the past three years has been a game changer for me. It's been a pleasure training with Rui and seeing my progress, both physically and technically.
What makes him a great coach is his personalized approach, attention to detail and patience. If you want a coach who truly understands the game, knows what it takes at the highest levels, and knows how to push you to your limits with care and patience, I couldn't recommend him enough.
I started Muay Thai after a group class I had with Rui Botelho. I started it because I fell in love with the sport, but also because of the way Rui taught the class. He is extremely passionate as a teacher and super talented as a fighter.
Ever since then, I have become obsessed with Muay Thai. Rui is also helping me stay in the moment during our 1:1 private sessions. I am a psychologist, but diagnosed with ADHD, and Muay Thai is the only time I feel I can focus on one thing at a time. This is thanks to Rui's guidance and patience with me.
He is also able to help me make progress as he teaches you the techniques carefully and systematically. I have become so involved with Muay Thai and the practice of it that I am heading off for a month of training in Thailand, then straight back to Rui's professional classes.
Thank you for your help as a coach, an inspirational fighter and a friend, Rui.
Full seminars covering everything from distance striking to clinch work, hosted at your gym or club, along with insight into how I think about and approach Muay Thai. For a more focused session, the Clinch Masterclass dives deep into clinch fighting specifically.
What it involves
- Full seminar: covers the complete range of Muay Thai, distance techniques, striking, and clinch work
- Clinch Masterclass: focused entirely on clinch fighting and what it means to be a clinch fighter
- Single session (2h) or two sessions (1.5h each)
- Insight into competition mindset and approach to the sport, not just technique
- Hosted at your gym or club
Who it is for
Open to all levels, from beginners to advanced fighters.
Keynotes on preparation, pressure, and performance, drawing on lessons from competing at the highest level in combat sports, adapted for schools, companies, and public events.
What it involves
- Talks on mental preparation, discipline, and performing under pressure
- Adaptable format: schools, corporate events, conferences, panels
- Personal storytelling combined with practical takeaways
Who it is for
Schools, companies, and events looking for a speaker who can talk about discipline, mental health, and performing under pressure, through the lens of elite sport.
Notable engagements
- Guest speaker at Escola Secundária José Saramago, talking to two classes
- Spoke at Miniclip on mental health
- Spoke at Altominho Science Fest about his personal journey