After close to two decades as a competitive Muay Thai fighter, Kyle Towler has retired, utilizing his extensive experience as a coach, trainer, and fitness instructor.
Towler, a Brantford native, discussed transitioning into a more comprehensive role as a trainer and coach while operating KT Athletics.
“While I was competing, I was still coaching, but now that I’m no longer competing, there’s more time for me to focus on athlete development and expand my clientele for private training. I’ve also switched up my style and training focus; it’s a little bit more well-rounded now. Before, I had a very heavy focus on Muay Thai, where I was training four to five days a week, mixing boxing in there as well,” he said. “Now, I train Muay Thai and boxing twice a week. I still run two or three times a week, and whereas I used to do strength training about three times a week, I now train four to five times a week. I’m carrying a bit more muscle mass now because before, I had to be conscious about how much size I put on due to weight category limits and nutritional factors. I’ve changed the whole scope of my training, from nutrition to strength and conditioning, to my entire training plan.”
Towler has been offering private lessons through KT Athletics while working with students at Soi Dogs MMA & Fitness in Hamilton.
“The classes I coach are run through Soi Dogs, I’m one of the head coaches there. But I also do private training through my own business, KT Athletics, which focuses on personal training, fitness instruction, nutrition, and mobility. My private training is done on a one-on-one or two-on-one basis, as well as some small group training,” Towler explained. “It’s solely focused on the individual’s needs and goals. I develop a plan strictly tailored to what they want to achieve, whether that’s putting on muscle mass, losing weight, or learning self-defence, Muay Thai, and boxing skills. It’s much more personalized. In the group classes, we focus on Muay Thai as a martial art and its various techniques. We still do mobility and strength and conditioning, but it’s geared toward a group rather than an individual.”
However, he has dedicated his time to helping the next generation enter competition or become better athletes while integrating knowledge he has learned to suit each individual client.
“I coach a wide range of individuals, from six-year-olds up to people in their fifties and sixties. Mentoring the younger group really pushes me to be a better coach, role model, and person. The goal is for them to far surpass my skill set, abilities, and accomplishments, and to help them pursue their dreams. It’s a blessing to work with them and have them trust me with their development, because it drives me to keep growing for their sake,” Towler noted. “I like to show them the big picture. Many people look for a quick fix to lose or gain ten pounds, but there’s much more to it: nutrition, mobility, strength, and conditioning. I educate them on health and wellness as a whole and the benefits of bringing all these elements together. Living a healthy lifestyle brings so many long-term benefits across all areas of life.”
Nevertheless, Towler teaches two main styles of classes while helping clients keep an open mind.
“In the Muay Thai classes, I teach traditional Muay Thai, the art of eight limbs: punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, starting with basic stance and footwork. As a fitness instructor, I also run strength and conditioning classes, including HIIT-style programs and custom programs designed for specific goals. What I teach depends on the group’s needs,” he noted. “It’s about helping them keep an open mind. From my experience, goals that seem difficult or unrealistic at first are entirely achievable. It comes down to sticking to the plan and executing it consistently.”
While the former competitor works with an array of clientele, he provides an example of his training with a particular client.
“One of my current clients is focused on weight loss and leaning up. The first thing we did was analyze her dietary habits, what she was eating and when, so we could understand her daily consumption versus her total daily energy expenditure. Then we looked at her current physical fitness level. She wasn’t involved in any sports or gym routines, so we started slowly with half-hour sessions, gradually progressing to one-hour sessions. We tracked everything and kept things basic at the start so she could get comfortable with fundamental movements and build strength, balance, and stability. As she progressed, the exercises became more challenging,” he stated. “To support her, we have regular follow-ups and accountability. She logs her daily macronutrient intake and keeps a record of the exercises and reps she does during her personal gym time. Documenting everything allows us to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments if necessary.”
As a respected trainer and coach, Towler has learned some key lessons during his time as a competitive Muay Thai fighter.
“Over the years, working with different coaches and athletes teaches you a lot. You see different perspectives and learn that what works well for one person might not work for another. It taught me to stay open-minded and explore all avenues of fitness and Muay Thai. It’s not just one aspect…it’s the whole picture: strength and conditioning, cardiovascular work, VO2 max, mobility, recovery, nutrition, and sleep habits. It opened up a whole new world of health and wellness. It wasn’t just about fitness and Muay Thai anymore; it became about overall health and wellness. The more I understood and improved these habits, the better athlete I became,” he said.
Muay Thai’s rich history and culture have served as a solid foundation for Towler and have reinforced his passion for teaching the ancient art.
“Muay Thai changed my life. The culture and tradition behind it make it a beautiful martial art, despite how brutal it can be in the ring. It teaches discipline, respect, teamwork, commitment, and focus; qualities that carry over into everyday life. Through competing, I’ve had the opportunity to travel, meet amazing people, and train in both the United States and Thailand. It’s an incredible experience that helps you discover who you are as a person,” he reflected. ”There have been many great moments, but I especially love coaching kids aged 6 to twelve. Watching them start out struggling, develop confidence and skills, and leave with big smiles on their faces is an amazing feeling. Combining what I’m passionate about with helping others is incredibly rewarding. [And also] to see what Muay Thai can bring to kids…the confidence, discipline, and respect it instills carry over into every area of life…personal relationships, family, and future careers. Having that level of dedication and commitment built from a young age gives them the confidence to face and overcome difficult challenges as adults.
Towler has also learned a great deal as an entrepreneur and owner of KT Athletics, as well as maintaining key goals over the years.
“I love what I do. Purpose comes from combining what you love with what you’re good at, which for me is Muay Thai, fitness, and helping people. Over the years, I’ve learned it’s not about chasing money or business; it’s about building meaningful relationships. I’ve met incredible people whose lives I’ve helped change, and they’ve changed mine in return. That’s what I’ll always pursue, [and] my goals are…to continue working at this capacity, help develop every athlete who commits to walking through the door, and support my private clients in achieving their goals so they feel healthy and confident. Ideally, they can then pass that knowledge along and inspire others,” he stated.
