I am sure it comes as no surprise to those that have read my blog before. I love Muay Thai. I love the art, I love the movement, I love how it makes sense. The moves, drills, strikes are such that they flow with the body. I love that it is beautiful and deadly at the same time. It is a functional martial art, and when you put your time and energy into it, you are learning not only how to move your body but how to defend yourself with such alacrity it is effortless if you do it correctly.
I also love the respect that you see traditional Muay Thai practitioners hold for the art, the instructors, their opponents, their fellow team mates, and most importantly those that came before them. Respect in all martial arts is a very important thing, but I really feel that Muay Thai takes it a step further.
Let me back up a bit and say, my instructors, my Muay Thai family, my lineage, and most importantly the father of Muay Thai in America Ajarn Chai whom I am a direct student of emphasizes a respect that is mirrored in the traditional Muay Thai practitioners from Thailand.
We are taught we always show respect before the round and after the round. We do this regardless of if we are working with a partner, on the bag, on a dummy, or are just shadowboxing.
We show respect by Wai. Wai is a Thai greeting in Thailand. It is a way to show respect, say hello, or apologizing.
To Wai you put your hands together and place them on your chest or between your eyes. The higher you put them and the lower you bow the more respect you show. Some people just keep them at chest level and that is ok as well.
- Wai when you enter the mat or enter the gym to show respect for the facility
- Wai when you start your round and after your round to show respect to your partner, the dummy, and or the bag.
- Wai to your instructor and fellow students to show respect to your Kru/instructor, and students and say hi as well.
- Wai to your opponent when you miss the pads, or land a low blow accidentally to apologize to them for your mistake.
I have heard people ask, “what is that funny dance that people in Thailand do before a match.”
That “funny dance” is called the Wai Kru Ram Muay – which translates to Wai – Thank you/greeting/respect, Kru – teacher/instructor, Ram – dance, Muay – boxing. So it means Respect Instructor Dance Boxing. The Ram Muay is unique for every instructors lineage/home/gym home, and is done before every boxing match.
The Wai Kru Ram Muay is a ritual that is unique to Muay Thai. It serves as the link between Muay Thai as a fighting art and the culture and traditions of Thailand and its people.
One thing’s for certain though, it was created with respect and spirituality in mind – an often overlooked aspect that’s also at the core of the “art of 8 limbs”.
https://www.muaythaicitizen.com/wai-kru-ram-muay/
Please read the above blog if you want a more in depth discussion of the Wai Kru Ram Muay. The Wai Kru Ram Muay is another way that we Muay Thai practitioners show respect to the art and our teachers. The Wai itself is intertwined and a link to the Thai culture.
When we Wai we are showing respect to:
- Our instructors or Kru
- The facility
- Our partners
- The art of Muay Thai
- Our lineage, our grand Kru if you will, and all those in line that taught them before
When I was a child I went to several other martial arts gyms, to learn other forms. Never have I seen such respect and honor given and observed in any of the other martial arts I have learned. I am sure there are other forms where the respect is there and shared, but in a world with McDojo’s, and Belt Mills, it can be lacking.
I would love to hear about your gym, your martial art, how you show respect to your art.
Monday 01/25/2021 Training: 1 hour 17 minutes. 1 mile run, #shefit30 day 22, weight lifting workout
Get out there and do what you can. Your only competitor is yourself. Have a great Monday!
1 mile run
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It was almost freezing cold outside, still very cold. 33 F / 0.56 C – but I got out there and ran.
Day 22 of Shefit30 challenge.
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One week left I this challenge. Woot! The words were L.E.T.S.G.E.T.F.L.E.X. today. I tried to add the high jump into the burpees to raise the difficulty. Was able to do half of each set with high jumps. Yay!
L) 15 mule kicks
E) 15 push-ups with glute activation leg raises after every two push-ups
T) 20 hip dips each side
S) 30 seconds fast feet
G) 15 burpees with 8 high jump modifications
E) 15 push-ups with glute activation leg raises after every two push-ups
T) 20 hip dips each side
F) 1 minute wall sits
L) 15 mule kicks
E) 15 push-ups with glute activation leg raises after every two push-ups
X) 20 double leg slaloms
35 minute full body weight lifting workout:
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1) 1 minute kettlebell swing- x3 sets
2) Kettlebell figure 8 – 10 rep each side x3 sets
3) tricep tripod row – 15 reps each side x3 sets
4) goblet squat – 15 rep x3 sets
5) Bulgarian split squats- 10 reps each side x3 sets
6) single leg dead lift – 10 reps each side x3 sets
Tuesday 01/26/2021 Training: A shefit30 challenge, and Muay Thai training today.
Workout: #shefit30 day 23 challenge done
I had to stop in the middle of my workout a couple of times because my little mini me is railing against her math equation conversions. So I had to help her with those. We got through them and she understands the equations better now.
But I got it done that’s the important part. Mom/teacher duties come first.
The words are A.L.W.A.Y.S.G.L.O.R.Y. This is day 23 of the challenge. I did it x2.
Shefit30 challenge and what I added to it:
A) 20 star jumps
L) 15 mule kicks
W) 15 super man
A) 20 star jumps
Y) 100 flutter kicks while holding a weight out
S) 30 seconds fast feet
G) 15 burpees
L) 15 mule kicks
O) 30 sit-ups with a press at top
R) 60 crunches- 30 frog and 30 pike
Y) 100 flutter kicks while holding a weight out
Training: # 2 workout today- 1 hour of Muay Thai training
Today is a day where I saw the fruits of my south paw training. We were working on new drills where we focused on feigning with lead kicks, then changing stance and completing a drill in the opposite stance. Then focus getting out of the pocket in the original stance.
While we were working in new drills and combos and I took a minute to figure out the body mechanics. But I was able to pick it up and move right along. Now it just take polishing, and I need to just drill it out.
Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for a fantastic class.
Training: jab hook flurries, and double kicks for active recovery between rounds
1) Locce Drill – foot work movement around a center point. Circle foot work, and then getting out of the pocket
2) then add, jab, Teep, and shield
3) switch lead kick, feign switch kick to lead Teep, cross, hook, rear kick
4) held pads for H
5) lead kick, fake lead kicks to switch stance, rear overhand, cross, hook, cross, and reverse stance back to original
6) held pads for H
7) lead kick, fake lead kick to change stance, lead cross, hook, lead kick
8 ) held pads for H
9) lead pendulum kick, fake lead pendulum kick, change stance, hook, cross, lead kick, pendulum out of the pocket
10) held pads for H
Wednesday 01/27/2021 Training: 1 hour and 5 min – 1.5 mile run, #shefit30 challenge, weight lifting
She is beauty, she is grace, she has sweat on her face…or something like that. The sweaty not beautiful pic happened when I went to pick up my phone.
I felt great today during my training. I don’t know if it’s my diet, my preworkout, my sleep, or just a good day. Probably all of the above.
The workout was hard and the last exercise, Goblet squat with 3 pulses at the bottom and a press at the top, damn near killed me. The training was so hard but great.
So sitting here typing this up I feel great! Tired but great! Yay!
Training:
1.5 mile run
Shefit30 challenge day 24: the word was C.H.A.R.G.E.D.U.P. x2 And here are my add ons
C) 40 high knees
H) 15 tricep dips
A) 30 star jumps
R) 60 fast crunches – 30 frog, 30 pike
G) 15 burpees- half with high jumps
E) 15 push-ups- after every two glute activation with leg raises
D) 1 minute plank
U) 6 bicycle crunches
P) 20 reverse lunges with a bicep curl
Weight lifting:
1) kneeling snow angels 10 reps x 3 sets
2) front raise to lateral raise 10 reps x3 sets
3) overhead tricep extensions 15 reps x3 sets
4) goblet squat – with three pulses at the bottom, and a press at the top
Thursday 01/28/2021 Training: 1 hour of Muay Thai training
We had a great day of training. I was tired and told my partner I am just working on form and flow. I was putting time in on the mat.
I even got a compliment today from Khun Kru Krysta about me doing the # 9 drill below as “smooth like butter”.
My form flowed and had great power. It (the drill) felt good. And I was on my off stance, south paw! Yay!
Training: jab hook flurries, and double kicks for active recovery between rounds
1) Locce Drill – foot work movement around a center point. Circle foot work, and then getting out of the pocket
2) then add, jab, Teep, and shield
3) switch lead kick, feign switch kick to lead Teep, cross, hook, rear kick
4) held pads for H
5) lead kick, fake lead kicks to switch stance, stutter step to leg kick, cross, hook, rear kick
6) held pads for H
7) lead kick, fake lead kick to change stance, lead cross, hook, lead kick
8 ) held pads for H
9) lead pendulum kick, fake lead pendulum kick, change stance, hook, cross, lead kick, pendulum out of the pocket
10) held pads for H
11) foot work drill, advance jab, advance Teep, advance shield, side step jab, side step teep, side step shield, step back jab, step back Teep, step back shield, side step jab, side step teep, side step shield
Friday 01/29/2021 Training: #shefit30 challenge day 26
Holy ab/core day man of bats!
The word/s of the day are Y.O.U.R.C.O.N.Q.U.E.R.
I did this whole set x 2
here is how I added to it:
Y) 100 flutter kicks feet flexed holding KB up in air with shoulders off floor and core tightened
O) 30 sit ups with press at top with KB
U) 60 bicycle crunches
R) 60 fast crunches – 30 frog, 30 pike
C) 40 box toe touches (used a chair instead of box)
O) 30 sit ups with press at top with KB
N) 15 jumping lunges
Q) 20 goblet squats with a press at the top
U) 60 bicycle crunches
E) 15 push ups – after every one I did a glute activation with leg raises
R) 60 fast crunches – 30 frog, 30 pike
This is normally a rest day for me. But so glad I did it.
Saturday 01/30/2021 Training: 1 hour of Muay Thai training
Always remember respect always, respect your partner, respect the art, respect even when working alone for those that came before you and who have given their time and energy to teach you.
Also set two alarms because when you have a new bed that you fall back asleep real easily you may miss your first class. Yeah sorry Khun Kru Krysta and Kevin.
Training: kicks for active recovery
1) Locce Drill – foot work movement around a center point. Circle foot work, and then getting out of the pocket
2) then add, jab, Teep, and shield
3) switch lead kick, feign switch kick to lead Teep, cross, hook, rear kick
4) held pads for H
5) lead kick, fake lead kicks to switch stance, stutter step to leg kick, cross, hook, rear kick
6) held pads for H
7) lead kick, fake lead kick to change stance, lead cross, hook, lead kick
8 ) held pads for H
9) lead pendulum kick, fake lead pendulum kick, change stance, Superman cross, hook, lead kick, pendulum out of the pocket
10) held pads for H
11) foot work drill, advance jab, advance Teep, advance shield, side step jab, side step teep, side step shield, step back jab, step back Teep, step back shield, side step jab, side step teep, side step shield
How do you show respect in your gym? What do you do? What does it mean for your art?
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Thinks with Spinks 