I am well aware that people are all different what may be hard for me is a no brainer for them. What may be easy for me is super difficult for others. Then there are those people that seem like they are perfect. Nary a problem had for those people. I am not one of them. I sometimes struggle hitting every obstacle in my way, instead of clearing them with a single jump, sometimes I just climb over them.
I write this blog so that I can record, ruminate, and hopefully pass on what I am learning. I often look back and see some of the progress I have made. Whether the progress is mental, physical, or spiritual I can see it. Sometimes I can only see the progress because of the posts I have made.
What am I waxing on about? Leaving everything off the mat. Letting things go, and ignoring the problems you faced during the day. I am not one to normally let it go. I worry that (thing of contention, problem, or issue) like a dog with their favorite bone. Sometimes its those areas that are friction for me that I use to drive my energy on the mat, however, I have noticed when I just let it all go. I ignore everything else that happened that day, for the 1 or 2 hours I am on the mat, I am more fluid, my body responds to my commands, and I look like I know what I am doing.
Why is that? Why when I leave it all at the door, or the edge of the mat, do I work better? That is a good question, and while I have been thinking about it, the only thing I can come up with is. When I am upset, annoyed, pissed off, worried, etc., I will work the drills. I will follow the lead of my trainer/Kru/coach. I will do what is asked of me, but I am torn between training and issues of the day. It feels like I forcing the drills.
Why is forcing the drills bad?
Well for instance in Muay Thai especially, I can only speak for Muay Thai, because my previous experience with martial arts is with those Mc Dojos as a kid. For Muay Thai, you will notice that the mechanics of the drills, moves, strikes follows and flows with the physics of the body. If I force say a drill of kicking, I tighten up, my leg/hip/glutes, all tighten up and in doing so shorten my muscles up, and while I may try to muscle it or force more power, it will convey less power. In Muay Thai power is conveyed in turning over of the hips, aiming through your opponent, and letting your body follow physics.
The best way it has been described to me from one of my Kru Kristen was imagine your leg is a bat on the end of a chain. You could try to muscle the bat and hit a person with the bat. You will do damage and it will hurt, however, if you swing the bat on the chain, your body torque, your limbs working in unison, you will create far more force.
Funny enough I looked it up in order to understand it better. They have a name for it. Often used for batters in Baseball. However, it can be used for jumping, kicking a soccer ball, kicking in Muay Thai, etc. Far smarter people than I have named it… Kenetic Chain Sequence.
The Kinetic Chain Sequence is the way to explain the biomechanical:
“term for body parts working together and moving in a specific order to create a movement.” “The main contributors to swing power, in order, are the following: Ultimately, the power produced by the hips, torso, lead arm and hand is delivered to the bat, which then smashes a baseball deep into the bleachers (hopefully!)”
https://blog.tannertees.com/drills/the-baseball-softball-kinetic-chain-basics.html
There are whole sites/blog pages/etc dedicated to understanding Kenetic Chain Sequence. If you are interested there is so much more information out there.
https://diamondkinetics.com/from-the-ground-up-the-kinetic-chain-in-nick-senzels-swing/
I digress, when I am trying to muscle or force a drill, I mess up my kinetic chain sequence in my body. Step, pivot on ball of foot, torso and hip turn over, leg kick to side of the opponent. I tighten up and still make the connection but I don’t do so with the most power I could. This also mess up flow. If you are already tight it is hard to switch feet, shift out, flow. You have to unclench your muscles so that you can move and contract them again. It takes seconds off of your flow, it does not seem like a big deal, but it does effect your energy output.
If your flow and biomechanics is slowed, it feels to me like trying to kick through some viscous fluid. I can do it but it tires me out faster. Forcing your moves simply makes you more tired. And people who are new to Muay Thai do it all the time. So we are telling them to relax and let whip your body hip over. Easier said than done when you are new though.
When I am focusing on things that are making me mad/upset/angry/stressed, I notice I am just barreling through my workout/training.
What helps and makes me feel like I am having a fantastic training day? When I leave everything from the world at the edge of the mat. I can pick it up later when I am done training. I had a day where that happened this week. I am still learning how to do that. But everything flowed. I felt good. My partner said my strikes (boxing, elbows, knees, kicks) were 30% more powerful that day. I flowed well. I was faster, my drills looked good. I was not exhausted all the time. I felt great. I am chasing that feeling on the mats. I want to have that be my every training day. I know that it won’t always be, but I want it to be more common than not.
Goals are to be more relaxed in training. Easier said than done for me, but I will work on it.
Mini Cut Week 2
Ok mini cut week 2, I am still trying to dial in my protein intake. This last week I went a little over on carbs. I hit my fat macros dead on. So I just need to dial in my carbs and push the protein. Currently for this week the scale is not really moving.
I am also actively weight lifting during this. So I know it is all body recomposition (building muscle, burning fat).
I am not perfect and dialing in my food intake is taking time. However, I am invested in me and will keep going.
Again the calories for the day vary, on average I burn 3000 to 3500 a day. On the high side I burn 4000 depending on my activity that day. On my off day I burn between 2000 and 2500. I work out 6 days a week, and have a job where I am on my feet.
| MACRO AVERAGES | ||||||||||
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Average | Goal | Difference | |
| Protein | 145 | 123 | 121 | 170 | 159 | 74 | 115 | 129.571429 | 173 | 43.42857143 |
| Carbs | 181 | 192 | 387 | 266 | 94 | 312 | 257 | 241.285714 | 201 | -40.28571429 |
| Fat | 129 | 78 | 84 | 78 | 99 | 83 | 131 | 97.4285714 | 90 | -7.428571429 |
| Calories | 2465 | 1962 | 2788 | 2446 | 1903 | 2291 | 2667 | 2360.28571 | 2306 | -54.28571429 |
Monday 4/05/2021 Workout: 1 hour- 1 mile run, 45 minute weight lifting workout
I am working toward a goal, and trying to ignore the bumps, lumps and yuckiness I see. I know putting in the time will eventually lead to results. Just have to grind and keep going.
For me it helps having clothing I love and feel good in. It’s a reward I give to myself for sticking to my routine even when I don’t want to.
1 mile run
Weight lifting: 3x sets of each
1) back squats- x 10 reps
2) kettlebell swings- 1 minute
3) goblet squats- x 10 reps
4) tripod tricep row- x 10 reps each side
5) clean and press- x 10 reps each side
6) hip thrusters- x20 reps
7) Bulgarian split squats- x 10 each side
That is it for today. I have to take kiddo to eye exam, and run some other errands. Oh and get food in.
Tuesday 4/06/2021 Training: 1 hour Muay Thai
Training a was great even though I am exhausted. I had work, errands, chores, feeding family, and I have been running around getting paperwork together for the gov’ment. For a super secret maybe adventure.
We worked on a goofy foot/shin compression drop again today.
Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for a fun.
I did windshield wiper drills before class.
I Need to keep the working on the windshield wipers drills. I also need to remember to throw the leg down instead of around so that it’s easier to kick the leg.
Training:
1) Jab, catch, jab
2) fed H
3) catch jab, parry cross, inner mouse the tricep or, catch jab, parry the cross, outer mouse the tricep with back hand
4) feed H
5) catch jab, parry cross, return mouse back hand, high block incoming hook, post and push off, brace foot on leg for knee to leg destruction, push opponent, and return lead kick.
6) held pads for H
7) catch jab, parry cross, mouse arm, post high cover hook, destroy the wrist, goofy foot/shin compression and dump.
8 ) held pads for H
Wednesday 4/07/2021 Workout: 1 hour- run, battle ropes, weightlifting
And workout is done. I am still sore from Monday’s leg and upper body day. Today was upper body and core day.
It’s beautiful outside today! The workout was great even if I dis not starting out wanting to do it today.
1 mile run
9 minute battle rope Tebatta: 45 seconds on 10 seconds off, x 3 each set
1) single whip/alternating arm waves
2) double whip/double arm waves
3) figure 8
Weight lifting: x 3 each set
1) standing tricep overhead extension- 12 reps
2) standing tricep kick backs – 20 reps
3) front raise to lateral raise – 20 reps
4) standing side crunches with KB – 20 reps each side
5) reverse crunches – 20 reps
6) sit ups- 20 reps
7) push ups – 20 reps
Thursday 4/08/2021 Training: 1 hour Muay Thai
Good day of training, not getting the shin compression right is a little frustrating but I will keep working on it.
Main takeaway from this class was taught to Khun Kru Krysta by Greg Nelson. It is the contact points on opponents body so you can better control their body, the head press into opponents body, turning of their body to make them/their spine/center of gravity compromised, shin contact with foot hooked behind and applying contact and pressure together to drop opponents.
Need to work more on it. But I was able to get some good dumps on my partner. Yay!
Thank you Khun Kru Krysta!
Training:
Jump rope
1) Jab, catch, jab
2) fed H
3) catch jab, parry cross, inner mouse the tricep or, catch jab, parry the cross, outer mouse the tricep with back hand
4) feed H
5) catch jab, parry cross, return mouse back hand, high block incoming hook, post and push off, catch the incoming kick, elbow spike destruction to the leg of opponent, leg kick, and return lead kick.
6) held pads for H
7) catch jab, parry cross, return mouse back hand, high block incoming hook, post, lead knee, lead kick
8 ) held pads for H
9) catch jab, parry cross, mouse arm, post high cover hook, destroy the wrist, goofy foot/shin compression and dump.
10) held pads for H
Saturday 4/10/2021 Training: 2 hours training of Muay Thai and Kali
Today was a great day of training. One of the best I have had in ages.
I did not overthink what I was doing. I trusted in my training and my body knowing what to do. I did not force it. It was fantastic. I am going to work on that. It’s harder than you might believe for me.
The reason it was fantastic? I have had a few emotional days. I have had some rough days this week.
I put it aside, I did not even think about it. I just came to train. I just worked, allowed my body to do what I have taught it. And the result? I flowed, my strikes were 30% harder without trying, I did not force it I just worked. H told me my strikes were harder, and I was flowing fantastically.
Hardest thing for me to do is to put away the things I deal with. To leave them off the mat. Today I did. I just worked. I turned off my brain!
Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for great classes.
Training:
Muay Thai:
1) jump rope
2) jab, catch, jab, parry cross, throw cross, parry cross, bob and weave from incoming hook, return cross, bob and weave incoming cross
3) fed H the drill
4) jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow, rear knee
5) fed H pads
6) jab, hook, lead elbow, lead knee
7) feed H pads
8 ) jab, cross, rear elbow, rear knee, rear kick
9) feed H pads
10) jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow, lead elbow, rear knee, double kick
11) held pads for H
Kali:
1) heaven six
2) standard six
3) heaven umbrella six
4) standard umbrella six
5) all together- heaven six, standard six, heaven umbrella six, standard umbrella six
Sunday 4/11/2021 Workout: 1 hour – 1 mile run and weight lifting
Leg day- I am trying out an app that puts together workouts for me. Because while I can do some things I also can focus on exercises I like better. So this helps break up my routine. That’s what coaches are good for. 😊
My glutes are going to be sore tomorrow.
1 mile run
Weight lifting:
1) barbell walking lunges – reps 20, 20, 16, 16, 12, 12
2) barbell sumo squats – reps 8, 8, 8, 6, 6
3) barbell hip thrusts – reps 8, 8, 8, 6, 6
4) dumbbell goblet squats- reps 15, 15, 15
5) hyper reverse frog pumps – reps 20, 20, 20
Super set- do each exercise one after another without rest, rest only after each set of 3 exercises
3x this superset
1) dumbbell Russian twists- reps 20
2) reverse crunches – reps 15
3) dumbbell upper crunches – reps 20
Leaving everything off the mat. That is going to be a hard ask for me. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. But I am going to try to just let it go at least while I am on the mat.
What part of training do you have a hard time with?
What are your goals, tangible or intangible?
Do you notice a difference in your training when you don’t carry your worries with you?
Thank you all for reading. I hope you all have a great week. This was a record of my last week of training and nutrition. To my new subscribers welcome, and I am humbled that you want to read my ramblings. Please feel free to drop me a line if you have questions or want to comment. If you liked my post let me know by hitting the like button. If you want to see more of my adventures subscribe.
As always, Don’t Photo Edit, Just Go Get It!
Thinks with Spinks 