My primary martial art I practice is Muay Thai. A major component of Muay Thai is the clench work, or clenching. I have heard some people call it standing grappling.
I will say that is one area I am not great in. However, I feel like I have made huge strides for the better in this area.
I have scoliosis and clenching is hard on your neck shoulders and back. However, I have been working on strengthening my neck, shoulders, and back. Not only that I have been working on getting my footwork correct, and trying to execute the moves as intended. When you study Muay Thai, you will realize that this art form uses body mechanics in everything you do. I mention this because when you perform the movements correctly it can almost become effortless in some cases.
Now don’t get me wrong… there is a lot of effort in clech work. In some cases the tired I get from clech work is the kind that seeps into your bones and you feel like you could sleep for days. But when you execute an off balance just right, or you swim out of a clench and get the clench on some one else it can seem effortless.
Now what do I mean by clench work is feeling your opponent?
If you have done any grappling. You will note/remember/understand that most of the time you are protecting your head, and keeping it close to the body of your opponent. This happens in BJJ, this happens in Muay Thai. When you keep you head close to the body of your opponent in grappling you cannot see what they are doing.
You have to feel. You have to feel what your opponent is doing. You have to feel the moment they lift their leg, so you can off balance them. You have to feel for when they try to spin you off balance, so you can use their momentum against them.
Everything is by feel. The slightest movement and that can me you dump your opponent. Most of the time you cannot see where their head is, you know that it is at the top of their bodies, but you have to feel for it and push their heads away to get out of clench.
It is small nuances the we learn in the way the opponent cants their bodies as if they are trying to elbow you.
With clench work, we often off balance and throw our opponent. Which is to say we end up on the floor often… I was really happy that when we did, I remembered my little bit of BJJ and based. Denying my opponent the ability to roll me over and be in control. This too was done by feel, where he moved I moved so that he could not get an opening.
I really love the nuances of Muay Thai, it is also one of the reasons it is so frustrating at times. Just the small little things to clean up your form, to make it so that it seems/feels effortless. Watch great practitioners of Muay Thai and watch them closely, they look like it is not hard. It is but they have learned to work their bodies, and with their opponents bodies.
Every martial art I have had the pleasure of working and learning, Muay Thai, Kali, JKD, Weng Chun, and especially BJJ all have a component of feeling where your opponent is. You either go with their force or meet their force. You feel their movements often times before you see it. That is when you are supposed to respond. Of course easier said then done, it takes years of practice to notice small movements and then know what to do when you notice them.
Schedule: This week I was on target and got everything done. Yay! I stayed on schedule even if it was hard. Well mostly, I missed one day of Muay Thai training because of work.
Monday 6/21/2021: Mile Run, and Weight Lifting 1 hour
Tuesday 6/22/2021: Muay Thai Training 1 hour
Wednesday 6/23/2021: scheduled rest day
Thursday 6/24/2021: 1 hour of Weight Lifting, Muay Thai Training 1 hour
Friday 6/25/2021 : scheduled rest day
Saturday 6/26/2021: 2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali training, Weight Lifting 1 hour
Sunday 6/27/2021: Weight Lifting 1 hour
My Martial Art Focus:
clench with knee
This week we focused:
We worked gunting (scissor or destruction) of incoming attacks.
We worked clenching, off balance, offence to entry into clench, and defence to entry into clench, defending against clench.
I was able to get closer to my carb and fats goals but was complete trash on my protein goals. I did not meet those by half. Ok gonna need to focus on protein this coming week.
Have I mentioned I am a carbasaur. Love carbs… not so much love for the meat.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Average
Goal
Difference
76
136
79
128
97
108
104
104
190
86
142
156
220
176
135
260
217
186.571429
160
-26.57142857
47
77
46
92
81
106
89
76.8571429
67
-9.857142857
1295
1861
1610
2044
1657
2426
2085
1854
2003
149
06/21/2021- 06/27/2021
Anyway that is the training post for this last week. I stuck to my schedule except when work got in the way on Sunday. But I got all of my weight lifting days in. I am feeling it today.
What martial art do you practice? Did you notice in your martial art that feeling your opponents movements are as important or more so when you are grappling, or in contact bodily with them?
Thank you for reading. If you want to talk to me please feel free to comment. Like this post if you liked it, and please subscribe if you want to see more of my adventures. My day to day stuff is on instagram @sharpcupcake.
Hello all you wonderful people. I decided with the help of my partner to start doing interviews of martial artists around me. I may open it up to fitness personalities etc. as I go along down the road. However, H and I were talking, and it has been amazing how many masters, teachers, and just amazing martial artists I have worked with.
I truly believe just like the great master Bruce Lee, that we can learn so much from each other, and every person we meet. I think there is a lot of hubris in thinking you have learned everything you can from one person and that they cannot teach you more.
I have not invented a “new style,” composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from “this” method or “that” method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see “ourselves”. . . Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don’t, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune Do is simply the direct expression of one’s feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds; pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one’s back. — Bruce Lee
This above, is a philosophy we follow in our school. We try to embrace learning everything we can. This new series is going to be a way for me to showcase and highlight people that I have had the pleasure of working with and continue to learn from.
Col. Jay Man
About LTC. Jay Man: A Colonel in the Army, loving husband to his beautiful wife. He is the sweetest man you will ever meet. He is a tall man, I believe he may be 6 ft 1in, but to me a 5 ft woman he is a giant. When you talk to him, he has a smile that will light up the room, he is warm and inviting. If you have any questions he will stop what he is doing and devote all his attention to you. If you ask about martial arts he will gladly sit and talk with you for as long as you want. His passion for the martial arts he practices just emanates from him. I have trained and gone to seminars in Muay Thai with this man. He teaches and studies BJJ. He studies Kali, and has trained in all these martial arts for decades. (these are all facts and I will brook no argument)
What got you started in Martial arts?
Jay, “It was something for me. I was a Boy Scout and it was kinda something my mom kinda encouraged. But martial arts was kinda my thing.”
Jay, “Things that I enjoyed? Uhh, I always enjoyed Bruce Lee movies growing up.”
Me, “I think a lot of people started martial arts because of Bruce Lee, right?”
Jay, “Yeah, laughs”
Me, “He is a big influence.”
Jay, “I started boxing when I was 19, right before I joined the navy at the time. After I graduated High School I went into the military. So I always just thought that being a warrior and martial arts is something you should just do. So that is why I started (martial arts), and then it turned into something way more than that.
Me, “its your life now!”
Jay, “It turned into a lifestyle.”
What do you love about martial arts?
Jay, “I love the personal growth aspect. That’s the biggest part of it. I don’t really care about, (clears throat), it goes back to that whole warrior lifestyle thing, I don’t really care to much about metals or even winning. It doesn’t really matter that much.”
Me, “Yeah so you are competing against yourself.”
Jay, “Yes, um I read something recently which I really liked, it talked about how your mastering your calm, you know being able to… the most impressive thing I think I have ever heard even in combat, was the guy who was able to remain calm even when he could hear bullets hitting around him, and he was able to maintain his calm and maintain his focus. To be able to execute what was required to be get his people out of and survive that situation. He succeeded at his mission and continued on in service. “
Jay, “That to me is what martial arts is really about. Is being able to remain calm to do what is necessary, to do the right thing, in the most stressful situations you can find…you know the ultimate obviously being combat, but even without combat, if you are able to maintain calm when someone is trying to stress you out in work. If you can do it in combat you can do it with some idiot at work.”
Me, “Yeah exactly, exactly, a bad day is not going to cause you go and kill a bunch of people.” (Note: of context, this was right after the shooting at the massage parlor and the mans excuse was he was having a bad day.)
Jay, “That particular situation frustrated me because, where is the personal responsibility.”
Which martial arts do you prefer to practice?
Me, “Its not a good or bad thing, but do you love Jiu Jitsu more, or do you like the striking martial arts more?”
Jay, “I love them all so lets just get that out there.”
Me, “I figured it would be a hard question.”
Jay, “Yeah it is a hard question, I think that um, to me its all one thing, in that combat is not limited to one particular position. I mean let me ask you this, I mean, which style would be best to defend yourself against an IED that is placed under your vehicle. That is the first time that style means jack and shit.”
Me, “Right it is about what ever works at the time.”
Jay, “Exactly, so if I am being attacked in my house, by someone who has a knife, Jiu Jitsu is great, but a gun is better. I mean it really just depends on the situation.”
Jay, “Now what do I like to practice for personal growth its going to be Jiu Jitsu, and that is because the again going back to the original point of being able to learn how to defend yourself in a real situation, but also how to remain calm in a stressful environment, because Jiu Jitsu puts you into these weird physical positions that really stress you out. There is a visceral reaction in a human being when their being held against their will and they can’t move and they can’t do anything. You definitely feel it when some one is choking you and you can’t get out of it. Very stressful. I personally think that is why women should learn it, because that particular situation, that art, teaches you how to deal with that kind of panic, so that you learn how to deal with the panic, so you can work effectively to get out of a situation.”
Me, “It all goes back to that whole being calm in a crazy stressful situation, because a lot of times for women at least in my experience, for women, the perpetrator whether its a man or woman or whatever, uses their weight and their size against you, so being able to make space and get the hell out, is really really important in my opinion.”
Jay, “I couldn’t agree more. And striking is one of those things that, the person that is the bigger stronger person, has the advantage, because striking requires a lot of force, and force is generated by mass times acceleration, and guys generally have more mass. That does not mean a woman is inherently fated to lose, a woman just has to fight smarter. Which shouldn’t be to hard cause women are smarter anyway.”
Me, “That is the whole thing about fighting anyway, you wanna win, you have to fight smarter.”
Jay, “There is a quote in War and Peace that I really liked, attributed to Napoleon, I highly recommend the book, anyway it says,”The key to victory is being stronger than your opponent at any given point.” , Its not about being stronger than your opponent always, it is being stronger when your opponent is weak. And that is where I think Jiu Jitsu is effective and helpful, because first of all you can use your body weight and positions to negate strikes, or to make strikes less effective. Now we are not talking about weapons, that is a different story. You do Kali, so you know, a weapon is a tool so if you can get a weapon you should use the weapon. But if you are not talking a rape situation and there is no weapon involved, then Jiu Jitsu is a good tool to utilize against a stronger opponent, because you are learning to use your strengths against their weakness.”
Me, “Yeah, and even physics goes into it, points of areas of if you push the body is going to turn, so you just got to… knowing that is highly highly helpful in those situations.”
Jay, “A simple example that I can put up, in Muay Thai you already learned that, you push the head their whole body they can’t strike as well.”
Me, “Yeah where the head goes…”
Jay, “Where the head goes the body follows, its a simple understanding of simple stuff like that, that I think is so useful for Jiu Jitsu, and it translates very well to Muay Thai, because Muay Thai like Jiu Jitsu is based on reality and body physics.”
Me, “I 100% agree!”
What would you tell an aspiring martial artist?
Me, “Young or old, just anyone wanting to start”
Jay, “Be persistent… persistence is the most important thing. Consistency and persistence, in what ever you are learning. Don’t get all freaked out about rank. That is completely irrelevant. I like to say this all the time. Martial arts and self defense skills are a perishable skill, I don’t care if you have won 17 different national titles. You know, if you don’t train for two years your not going to be able to use it in an actual self defense situation, which should always be your focus. If you are focused on getting rank, so you can look good, or look like a bad ass, you have missed the entire point. Being able to be successful in combat, requires constant and consistent training.”
Me, “It goes back to being your own…you are competing against yourself…you are constantly trying to improve yourself. Not go against this guy, or against this guy or whatever. I often fall into that, feeling I am not good enough.”
Bonus Point Mental block:
Jay, “So there is a converse to that, you may have that mental block were you are thinking you are not good enough. There are other people who think, hey I have it down. That is another mental block.”
Me, “Oh that is so true.”
Jay, “Both of those are equally dangerous, because they interfere with your ability to actually do reality.”
Me, “Yeah that is true, I never thought about the other side, yeah, because I always think ok I can get better, look at these other people over here, I never thought about if you over think it and you think you are better than everyone else and you come out swinging, and you are just not… you are going to get your butt handed to you.”
Jay, “Right, right… and that over confidence is just as…I have seen that become equally as dangerous and especially when you are in charge of soldiers, or you are leaders of men, and you have that over confidence you get a lot of people killed, I have seen that before.”
Me, “oh yeah that makes sense, you are not thinking about your men, you thinking you can do it…”
Jay, “Those guys are thinking, I am immortal, my guys are immortal, my guys have this skill level that they can do anything, so I have a lack of planning, I don’t need this particular communication system, or I don’t need to follow this rule because hey my guys are awesome they were able to do all this stuff, they went through this kind of training, they should be able to handle it, and those guys get killed.”
Me, “That is scary and terrible all at the same time.”
Jay, “I am specifically thinking of Operation Red Wings for any of your listeners that want to look that up. Its a lone survivor mission.”
Back to:What would you tell an aspiring martial artist?
Consistency in training
Don’t worry about rank
Constantly looking to better themselves
Jay, “The mantra of the highest level of soldiers and warriors that this country produces, Tier 1 Units that does not mean a lot to most people, they are constantly evaluating where they are, they never rest on their laurels, always training to get better, always taking a very very critical look at themselves, always always trying to find out what they screwed up so they can improve. Even if they did something to perfection, they are going to find the things that are a problem, and try to fix them.”
Me, “There is always things you can learn, always,”
Jay, “Right, and they are always trying to improve. That is the mentality that I think you need to take into martial arts. If you want to continue and be successful. That does not end… there is no end goal.”
Me, “Right, I say it all the time, its a lifelong learning process.”
Jay, “A lifelong learning process, I don’t care… I mean Guru Dan (Dan Inosanto), is the best example of that, he is one of my biggest inspirations, Guro Dan put on a white belt in Jiu Jitsu in his 60’s because he wanted to improve in martial arts. He did that with Systema, in his late 70’s.”
Me, “Yeah anyone who is willing to start at the beginning, and just go.”
Jay, “He does not care, he just wants to learn, he wants to constantly improve himself through his entire life. That is who he is, he got that from Bruce Lee, that is the quintessential example of what you should be as a martial artists. And that is how you will get to the best possible capability. I am not even talking about elite athletes, elite athletes are a short term process, those guys will be successful for a specific time that they are physically able to do it. But if you want to have a life time success in martial arts, its all about continuously improving yourself regardless of where you are and what stage you are in your life, and constantly pushing to get better. Always trying to learn, does not matter if you get to black belt in your life.
Me, “Yeah 100%, I could be white belt in Jiu Jitsu for the rest of my life, and that is fine, so long as I learn. And I learn what I can do, what my body can do, not what some one else can do.”
Jay, “Guru Dan is a great example, he would be effective in combat today, because he would evaluate the situation and solve the problem.”
Bonus Point Confidence is not ego:
(we digressed and talked a little about ego and Jay wanted to add another point)
Jay, “I will leave you with this perspective…I have been thinking about this a lot, because you are right, ego can get in your way. But there is another part to ego that is important, and that is self confidence. Confidence, how do we define confidence, is not thinking you can do something, but doing it so much that you just know you can do it. Like right now do you have an doubt that you can do a right round house kick to my leg?
Me, “No, not at all”
Jay, “Why?”
Me, “Because I have done it so many times.”
Jay, “Because you have done it thousand of times. So it is not over confident, that you can round house kick me in the leg. To most people it sounds like boasting. Its not boasting, and it looks like ego and boasting.”
Me, “I have said that on my blog, It sounds like boasting, and I have told people, and I am really not, but I have put hours and years into this, this is what my third year into Muay Thai, and thousands and thousands of hours. I am confident I can pull off a kick or a combo or whatever.”
Jay, “When I say that example, most people don’t spend thousands of hours on a round kick, but they spend a lot of time walking, are you confident right not that you can walk across a floor. Its not boasting. Of course you can and that is the kind of confidence you need to build in martial arts, and it is not ego.”
Me, “I am sorry if I took up a lot of your class time. Thank you for talking with me and answering my questions”
Jay, “No no this is great conversation, I love it, this is great, ask any time.”
This was a fantastic interview, I could talk to Jay about martial arts all day. For those people who do the TLDR (to long didn’t read) the questions and answers are below. However, I really recommend reading he has some really great points and explanations. I never knew about Operation Red Wings, that was an interesting read. I have linked it above click on the words in the interview.
What got you started in martial arts?
He had many outlets given to him when he was a kid, but martial arts ended up being his own personal thing. Bruce Lee was a huge influence when he was little. He started with boxing, went into the navy, and always thought it becoming a warrior was the right thing to do.
What do you love about martial arts?
Personal growth aspect, you are competing against yourself, bettering yourself.
Learning to remain calm in a stressful situation.
Which martial arts do you prefer to practice?
He loves them all
But in terms of personal growth Jiu Jitsu is his favorite.
What would you tell an aspiring martial artist?
Consistency in training
Don’t worry about rank
Constantly looking to better themselves
Bonus points:
Confidence is not ego
Mental blocks can be over thinking you are not good enough, and also over thinking you are the best
His inspirations Bruce Lee, and Guru Dan Inosanto
I have trained with Jay for years and I felt I got to know him so much better after this interview. It is nice to sit down and pick the brain of some one who is so experienced in martial arts. When I asked him he did not hesitate to say yes. I was amazed.
That is it for my first interview and featured martial artist. Thank you for reading. I will be interviewing more people as I go along. I really wish I thought of this sooner. But no time like the present to start. There is so much I can learn from each person who has been in, near, trained with me, or adjacent to my martial arts training.
What would you like to hear about?
What kind of questions should I ask?
What did I miss?
If you liked this kind of post, please hit the like button. If you would like to keep up with my adventures, subscribe, and please feel free to comment. You can find day to day shenanigans on my instagram @sharpcupcake
As always, Don’t Photo Edit, Just Go Get it!
6/9/2019 Right to Left – Khun Kru Krysta, Ajarn Chai, Me, JD, Jay – We were at a seminar with Ajarn Chai
Yup back in the saddle again. We had a holiday here. It is called Thanksgiving over here in the U.S. of A.
What this meant is decreased classes due to gym being closed, and trainers wanting to spend time with family. Sheesh… *I am kidding, I kid*.
Also my daughter brought home some lovely germs. We all seemed to have caught during the holiday week a small version of the flu.
So due to all of that above, I attended a total of 1 count it one day of martial arts training this last week. I did do a weight lifting workout on Sunday, but its not the same.
Well we are back after the holiday shenanigans and starting a new week of martial arts training. To be perfectly honest, I really needed the break. Not only did I feel like death for a few days, due to the cold/flu. My body needed a break.
Tuesday 12/03/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thaiand Kali
Tony kicked our butts again today. He had us doing 5 minutes of ladder drills, and 5 minutes of jumping rope. Then 3 minutes of shadow boxing jab and cross.
Today we worked on jab, foot movement, and keeping our hands up for blocking,
We worked on jab, cross, again focusing on extension and foot movement.
Then we worked on a lead side teep to, lead kick, followed by rear kick.
It was a great day of class. I also got to help two new people in class. I hope they come back.
Kali- Lock Flow Drill 1-12
Ok so I have been taking Kali for 2 years. I have known about this drill for just about that long. It has taken me all this time for it to finally sink in. I understand the drill. I know it is not how you were disarm, and or use all of this in a fight, however, I understand the drill.
When I first started out, trying to remember all 12 moves was daunting. I could only get 1 or 2 down. Over the years it seems to have been building up. I got it today. I got it and I remember all 12. Now do I do it perfectly. NOPE! But can I repeat the drill at home… YESSSS! I am so excited. When I finally realize I can do something, I have been working on. It seems to sneak up on me. I don’t go into class going… yup been here done that… I know it. No I go into class, and when we start moving, and drilling I seem to understand the flow.
Here is a video of me doing just that. I start and stop, and I chopped up this video so that you did not have to see such a repetitive process.
I got a really nice compliment from my teacher today. He said my control was great. I was controlling the assailants knife, and his actions and using his force/momentum to turn it back around onto him.
Today was a great day. I was able to get a run in, I did the weight lifting workout that my trainer sent me and that I did before on Sunday.
BJJ: I got a chance to go to my BJJ class. That is the class that suffers the most to my time crunch, and juggling our life. But today was great we worked on:
Taking the back
What to do if you lose control or your choke, you move to mount
Choking/choke hold from the back, under hooks, and seat belt grip
Arm bar from behind
Taking the back, control with choke, flipping opponent, and forcing their face into the mat/ground, while choking them.
It was a lot of fun. But so hard to do well. BJJ is an art that takes time and patience to do.
Muay Thai:
Today was great… I got to do a bunch of cool things. One of which was the alligator crawls. Whew that was a whole body burner. I am going to do more of those.
This is what an alligator crawl is:
Tony my trainer had us doing:
we did a full body conditioning warm up
jab, cross, leg kicks
jab, cross, body hook, face hook, leg kick, face hook, cross
shield kick then kick round house
shield kick then double round house
we worked on hooks on the bag
we worked on lead shield then double lead kick, then rear kick
Today was a great day in Muay Thai training. I learned and grew some.
It started out frustrating so I took a negative and made it a positive.
I really dislike when some of the new guys, I say guys cause I have never run into a girl doing this. I am sure it can happen but from my experience it’s young new guys. They have something to prove. So they hit way to hard in drills, and sometimes don’t take feedback/pointers from me. This one did not know how to hold Thai pads to boot. I was frustrated and annoyed. But I took a second to steel myself and turned it around, I got to know him a bit and tried to make it a teaching platform. I kept reminding him on how to hold the pads and let him know if he did not hold well he could get hurt and I could get hurt. He says he is having a good time and likes Muay Thai class.
It will take a while for him to get our gyms culture. He has been with us for a few months already. He says he came from a Krav back round.
I am going to continue to try to come at working with this individual this way. Here’s hoping he gets it.
Friday 12/06/2019 – 1 hour… Muay Thai
We did conditioning training again today. We worked the ladder, and hurdles. Tony my trainer wants us to focus on fast feet. I know I need to work on my footwork and getting it faster. The faster my footwork the faster I will get in and out of the pocket. The faster I will be able to dodge incoming strikes. Etc.
It was super fun. I had a great time, and I am pooped.
This week was a great week of training, and I am so glad to be back after a holiday break. I do really miss training when I don’t get a chance to do it. Or when I am restricted from doing it cause work gets in the way.
I got 7 hours in, and other extra curricular training. =)
Have a great night. Thank you for reading, and let me know if you have any questions.
Today starts a new week of martial arts training. Its cold here and its only going to get colder. Its always a good idea to make sure to avoid the pointy bits, or keep your opponents weapons away from you. Whether it is knives or it is fists/feet/elbows.
Tuesday 10/22/2019 – 2 hours… Running, Muay Thai, and Kali
Today we started with a 1.5 mile run. The weather was a little cold and wet, but over all was a nice run. Now if you have been reading my blog you already know I have scoliosis, and because of it I have problems with my back, neck and hips. Today is one of those days where my hip was hurting and in turn it made my knee hurt. So to start off the run, I did not push it hard, I just concentrated on running straight and focusing on making sure my stride stayed straight. Toward the end of the run, the last half mile, my hip was feeling better, and I felt my stride was longer. So I am going to keep focusing on starting slowly in the future even if everything is feeling ok.
Muay Thai – Focus on the move, break it down
In Muay Thai today, Tony had us working on focusing on what we were doing. We so often focus on flow. Work this four count. Flow from shield into kick, or into a punch. Move from left to right. Rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick. I could tell you these in my sleep. That is good we need to learn the flow. But he had us break it down this time.
Shield a kick, then place the foot down and get back into your stance.
Throw a snapping cross. Step into it and and bring your hand back fast.
Switch kick and get back into your stance.
Don’t worry about flow worry about feeling where you body is. Work with your body.
Shield twice, throw a light kick, then feel where your foot comes down, then pushing off with your toes throw a heavy kick.
He wanted us to focus on the moves. Not trying to move everywhere in the ring, or make sure it looks pretty. I am sure he did this cause he knows we do that kind of training and drilling all the time. This was great training… for me at least. Placing the light kick was like dipping your toe in the water to see how cold it was, also to see how far you were from the water. Landing the heavier kick was like stopping in to the water. You know were the pad was and how it felt. Ok, ok so that analogy may need some work but you get the picture. This type of training helped me, because it is easy to keep throwing kicks in there. But to modulate, to slow a kick down focus on it, and then kick hard for the second one… really made me hone in and focus on what I was doing. Also it is hard to throw a slow kick, then a fast one. You should try it. Do something you are learning, make yourself slow down the first one, then quickly do it again.
Tony also really wanted us to focus on learning our own body. Because, Muay Thai really emphisizes doing what works for you. There are a lot of different moves and strikes. Not every one is going to work for you or me. When some one shields your kick, he said, “if you know your leg is heavier, or you are stronger, instead of putting your foot down, hook their leg and pull them toward you. Learn what works for you, and play with it.” This is great cause I so often take my body for granted, and when I don’t I don’t think about how it moves or what I ask of it. I am going to try to focus on my body and how it moves, and what works for me from now on.
Kali Training – My left side is stupid
Oh boy… when you take a basic move like the gunting and you make me do it on my left side. Woo do I feel stupid. My left side is stiffer, does not move as easy as my right side. This is not a muscular skeletal thing. This is not due to my scoliosis. This is due to the fact that I am a right handed person, and I don’t practice a lot on my left side.
Now when taking Kali we do sometimes practice on the left side, or my weaker side. The side that I apologize to people and say… “I am sorry my left side is stupid, and while I am telling it what I want to do, it is not always cooperating.”
Today we worked on gunting, a basic move. I was called up to the front of the class room to help demonstrate the gunting. However, we were using our left hand today. Our teacher said and I agree with him, “we should practice the side that feels the worst to us. Because that is the side that needs the most work.” So I fumbled through it, forgetting my foot work, and turning red in the process due to embarrassment. The instructor then changed to right hand, my hand, my best hand… and it it felt like I was gliding through water. I ebbed and flowed and avoided getting stabbed with the knife. Don’t worry it is a practice non edged knife. But it still stings my ego when I do get cut. Because in my head I know that if that was a real knife, it would have been a real cut. I did not move out of the way.
Class was great, and I have to say just the 1 hour of training, and my left hand side was going much smother in the end. Not perfect… more like rocky road. Smooth ice cream, then every once in a while you hit a nut, or a marshmallow. That is the part where I mess up. =)
Today was a great day. I got a chance to train in Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Muay Thai.
Brazilian Jui Jitsu – little angles
We learned how to do the cross body. We then learned how to do a leg mount, and a knee mount. How to deal with cross body when the arm is in and out. We learned some tools to use when some one frames with their elbow.
Muay Thai – Flying Knees
So we have been taught flying knees before. We have been taught flying elbows as well. However, there is always some fear holding me back from executing it. So I never get much air, or move very far. But today, today seems to be the day. I did it. I was able to do flying knees, followed by an elbow. But it was fantastic. I did it over and over again. I need to work on them, however, I was moving my partner with my energy. We practiced this in between BJJ and Muay Thai.
We worked on face teeps. Yes I said it teeping the face.
We just started with teeping at the teepers chin level. With a burn out of face level teeps.
Then we did face level teeps, to a walking lead kick, then throw a side in and down elbow
We did face level teeps, to rear face level kicks. I did a face level kick. I was able to do it all. It was great.
Finally we all were doing asymetrical sparring.
Today was a great day. I had a lot of fun. I was doing moves that I was not able to previously do before. Or I just did not let myself do it. Flying knees and head kicks… all in one day. I was able to do them. I need to work on them. But I was able to. What will I be able to do the next day? Woot!
Thursday 10/24/2019 – 2.5 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali
Today was a day of covering basics. Not all training sessions will be shiny and new. Not all training sessions will I learn or be able to execute a newly acquired skill. Like I did yesterday. Some days like today are going to be review of skills and techniques. Some days in some classes I am really going to need it. A majority of classes are honing that skill set, working on old techniques. I needed some refresh on my Kali foot work for sure today. I needed some refresh on my Thai shield today.
Thai training – focusing on the basics
Jab, to front shield, to lead kick
Kick burn outs
Jab, cross, to front shield, to lead kick
Kick burn outs
Jab, cross, to front sheild, to lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, teep
Jumping squats burn outs
4 count pop the leather
Kali training – paula soot, hubud, cut and cover or panastas, gunting
We worked on gunting first, and realized I needed to work on my footing.
We worked on paula soot, and realized I had forgotten how to do it. So refresh was great.
We did flow of strikes 1 – 12, gunting, cut and cover, paula soot, hubud. I got pretend cut a lot. I was off my game but I worked on my footwork a lot.
Saturday 10/26/2019 – 2.5 hours… Kali, Silat
Felt absolutely exhausted yesterday, so I decided to listen to my body and just sleep when my husband went to the gym to train Muay Thai. So this morning I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. We went to the gym, and studied Kali, Silat, and did some sparring at the end.
It turns out I have a little post nasal drip now, so my husband may have brought home a cold. Meh…
Kali Training:
But training was fun and fundamental today… ehh ehh ehh… ok I will stop. Instead of our usual staff class outside, it was raining so we did kali double stick today.
It was great working on basics again. I worked a lot on my foot positions. In Kali you want to make sure your feet are moving the right way. Because if you don’t your knee, leg, or other part of you body will be vulnerable. If your foot work is incorrect, then your opponent can hit your leg with a stick or knife and either shatter that leg or give you a huge laceration. These are all things you should be avoiding.
Here is a video of one of the drills we did. Abecedario is what it is called.
Today in Silat training, my instructor said something that really resonated with me. “Most Silat moves, are made to calculate the weapons.” So when you are say doing a puta kapala. You are controlling arm that has the weapon, and when you throw the opponent, you then follow them down to the ground keeping control of that weapon. I had never thought about it that way.
Again we had some great training in this class. We were also able to approach class like a workshop. Since we have worked these moves before. We were able to work on some ways to escape the knee on belly. In the end I like the teeter totter move the best. Where you move their knee toward the ground, upa a little, and push them off of you.
We worked on:
Basset Dal – rear facing to opponent inside leg sweep
Basset Luar – rear facing to opponent outside leg sweep
Puta Kapala – is a throw sometimes called “turning the skull”
Here is a video of me working on how to escape a knee on belly after I have been puta kapala’d. I teeter tottered, forcing his knee toward the ground, upa’d and pushed him off.
Address the arm first. If they have you in an arm lock get that into a safe position then work on getting them off you.
I took yesterday/Friday off. It was good for me. I was exhausted, and falling asleep when I stopped for even a few minutes. I realized I needed the break. I am glad I did. I had a great set of classes today, and was able to give it my all.
I am off to a Halloween party now. Thanks for reading. Keep working to be the best you that you can be. My respects.
That was 12.5 hours this week of martial arts training. This month we are working on kicks. Woo hoo… One of the most awesome things about Muay Thai is the kicks. I am excited. Can you tell?
Enough babbling… on to the training…
Tuesday 10/01/2019 – 2.5 hours… BJJ, Muay Thai, and Kali – Kicking It -Sparring is a Distance Game, Stabbing It – Flow Disarms
BJJ: Practice
I started with BJJ drilling with a friend of mine for 30 minutes. I can’t tell you how many people/friends I have that have been so excited that I have started BJJ.
I worked on my Sit Up Sweep.
I was taught the Kimura for when some one bases forward.
I was taught the Americana when I get my Sit Up Sweep. Must remember to get my right leg hook in.
Muay Thai: Kicking it -Sparring is a Distance Game
In Muay Thai we started kicking this month. We started with teeps and distance drills. Because Kru Kristen noticed when we spar, all of us are either all the way in or way the heck out. So she wanted us to work on our leg game, our teeps and kicks. Being in range to do so, but trying not to get hit. That is all easier said than done. At this point while we are still learning tweaks to our form, we are doing the smaller tweaks, the more intricate work of trying to learn our distances better. She said your distances will change when you partner up with different people. I am not quite certain what that means but I will keep thinking on it.
Distance drill with teeps
Teep Lead Leg, Rear Leg Kick, Hook, Cross, Left Leg Kick
Teep Lead Leg, Lead Round House Kick, Cross, Hook, Right Kick
Minisota Shuffle
Sparring x 3 – 3 minute rounds (focus on keeping distance)
Clench Sparring x 3 – 3 minute rounds
Kali: Cut and Cover, Stabbing It
In Kali we started with knives. Single knife, but going through 1 – 5 strikes with both heaven and earth grips. Below are examples of heaven and earth grips.
Left picture is earth grip (pointing to earth), middle picture is earth grip, the right picture is heaven grip (pointing to heaven). (note: This is a real SOG knife with a live edge. We do not practice with this. We practice with dull practice knives.)
We worked on the cut and cover, and wrist locks and disarms. We flow through the 1 – 5 drill and find the openings to either disarm or wrist lock and disarm our partner.
Wrist lock to Neck and Disarm
Wrist lock to disarm
Wrist lock to stab in leg
When first wrist lock is not working c clamp to wrist lock
Disarm when they are attacking with heaven grip a la Psycho the classic Horror bathroom murder.
Here is a video of Panastas or Cut and Cover drill strikes 1-5. With a wrist lock.
Today was a great day. I ended up doing a full 3 hours of training. We stared with BJJ fundamentals class. Can I tell you when Professor Pedro Sauer walks on the mat it still amazes me. I get to go to classes where he will teach and tell us what we should be doing. If you are new to BJJ and don’t know who Professor Pedro Sauer is you can google him, and many pages will pop up. He is one of the most sought after instructors for MA not to mention for BJJ.
Anyway he came in today and was watching our class. Squee!!! I am so lucky. I have gotten the chance to work with some of the greatest martial artists alive. Ajarn Chai (or Ajarn Surachai Sirisute ), Guro Dan Innosanto, Ajarn Trigg, Ajarn Nelson, and so many more. I can’t even name them all. Squeee!!! I am so lucky.
Ahem…sorry I digressed.
BJJ: Choking It
We worked on a sweep from when a person is trying to do a cross body choke on us.
If you are on your side facing their cross body, you grab their hand/gi with your hand, and hip up pushing their elbow on the floor. Frame your elbow into their hips. Move your body out to almost parallel with theirs, do an upa of sorts and roll them over.
Next we worked on a bat choke when some one is turtling.
Muay Thai: Solo practice, we worked on teeps and distance management, and pop the leather.
Thursday 10/03/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai, Kali – Teeps and Kicks, Panastas (Cut and Cover)
Ok today was great! However, I am exhausted. I had to be at the bakery at the a** crack of dawn, and well I am tired. But I was happy to go to class.
We went back to basics in Muay Thai. It was nice. I like doing that, after a month of intensive focus on fixing the minutia, or making the tiny fixes to our form/response time/distance management etc. Its nice to just do the things we know we know how to do. I worked a team mate that has had to be in and out of the gym for the past 6 months. She mentioned my kicks and and punches were really great. She could feel the difference in my power. I am so happy to hear that. Most often I don’t see it, feel it. But she and I worked together before she had to leave, and she could see/feel the difference. Woot!
Training:
Distance management drill with teep
Lead Teep to left to right 4 count or (rear round house kick , hook, cross, left round house kick)
pyramid kicks burn out
Rear Teep to right to left 4 count or (Lead round house kick, cross, hook, right round house kick)
pyramid kicks burn out
Kali – Panastas (Cut and Cover)
Whew Kali we are working on single knife again. We worked on the panastas or cut and cover drill. Where you cut the assailant, then immediately block/cover the arm you cut with yours hand, then return a shot to opponent.
We used heaven and earth grip again. We also worked on disarms and wrist locks again. The key with wrist locks is not muscling the assailant around. It is the angle you have, and compromising their center. When you bend them, left , right, over, it will compromise their grip. So an effective wrist lock is a combinations of :
Position of your body, hands, in relation to their body (break down their posture)
I love Tony’s classes. He works us hard, but he also gives us one on one tips for improving our own skills.
Today was no different. We worked on reaction timing. Where he had us timing a swinging bag and kicking it with proper form. Or he had us teeping a swinging bag where we had to make sure we teeped only when it was close enough to us.
We worked on speed. Keeping our form and working on making things smooth and fast.
We worked on staying springy on our feet. We started with drills across the mat that had us walking with our heals off of the ground, we and he then added shields while walking with heels off of the ground.
Training: these were all 3 minute rounds
Walking across the mat in Thai stance, keeping hands up for guard, and heels off the ground
Walking across the mat in Thai stance, keeping hands up for guard, heels off ground, and adding a shield on both sides.
He swings the tear drop bag at us and we have to time our round house kick to hit it and push it back.
He swings the bag at us and has us kneeing it. Rotation rounds
Lead kick, to Lead Jump Kick
Hop knees
Then working with Tony feeding us, jab, cross, hook, cross
Jab, then hop rear kick
Tear drop bag was, teeps and timing of teeps.
Then working with Tony feeding us, uppercut, hook, cross
We finally worked on how to get our foot our when some one catches it. We worked on how to push them away.
Below is a video of me working on my uppercut, hook, cross. =)
It was a great class, and my thanks go to my instructor Tony.
Saturday 10/05/2019 – 3 hours… Kali, and Muay Thai
Ok so today is Saturday, and Saturday is the end of my training week. I have been going for 6 days this week if you include my weight lifting day. I take Sunday off and sometimes Monday depending on how my body feels. That means that Saturday I am pooped. I have had a long week of training.
This also means that sometimes it is a force of will to get up and get my butt into the gym. Sometimes it is not and I am ready and raring to go. Today though, I am exhausted, and I wanted to just be lazy around the house.
I however, did not do that. I got up early in the morning cause I could not sleep. Made mini key lime cheese cakes, and then got my butt into the gym.
I had a blast once we got started. It is starting to get a little more chilly here finally.
Kali – Bo Staff was a Kali class today
We went out into the beautiful sunny chilly morning and worked on the these running saints.
Running Saints:
St. Sabbathial
St. Miguel
St. Gabriel
A running saint is a flow drill that requires you to move quickly and aggress on your opponent. This drills are meant to help you learn how to for lack of better terms run down your opponent. So it requires you to move fast and for the defender to move fast backwards.
I have the hardest time going backwards. =) That is the part I have to work on most. Going forward and being aggressive is not the problem.
Muay Thai – Striking class
We started with distance drills. Supper important to learn, and something I am still working on. I am short and I have to get into the pocket to get blows in, but most people are taller than I am and can hit me from a distance. So these distance drills really help me understand where I need to be.
Training:
Jump rope for 1 three minute round Working on speed from teep to kick
Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick
Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick
Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick, rear teep
Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, lead teep
Sparring for the last 20 minutes
Well that is it for today, for the week. I got a compliment on my form and flow movement today from Kru Krysta. Yay… I am so lucky to have the training and teachers I have. I am so lucky to have the supportive husband and family I have. I love Muay Thai, I love Kali, and I am falling in love with BJJ.
I kicked it, stabbed it, and choked it this week. I had a blast doing it. But I am exhausted now. So have a great weekend everyone.
Thanks for reading and as always please feel free to ask questions or make a comment. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.
Feeling good. My cold seems to be in the rear view mirror. So today I started my weeks training. With BJJ in the morning, followed by my run weight lifting workout. Yay for reaching daily goals.
Often times I cling on with all my strength mentally and physically to my training. Some times it takes just coming in and working through the training for that day. Some days you just don’t feel like you are making all that much progress. Sometimes you have to cling like an angry sloth. Sometimes you don’t feel like going in, and that is when you drag your tuchus into the gym. Because even if you are not feeling it having the tenacity to keep going and keep training will pay off in the end. Hours on the mat will start to add up.
Monday 9/23/2019 – 1 hour Brazilian Jui Jitsu
This is the second day of BJJ, and I am loving it. When you start a new martial art, or any kind of skill. It is hard to remember everything you did. I think it is partially cause a person does not have all the vocabulary. At least that is the case for me. I am trying to make sure I write it down right after class or I will forget. I call it a when if I can remember some of it. After a while I feel that just like my Muay Thai and Kali, I will retain more and more. I just need to build up my foundation.
Warmup:
Rock to balance
Teeter Totter to balance
Cross sit
Cross sit to lunge and stand, then reverse
Training:
Standing Guilatine
Making sure to lean on the person, remove space around their neck by pulling your hand in, thumb up, grab with your other hand.
This is to remove oxygen to partners brain
Standing Cross Collar choke
Palm up/Palm up 50/50
Make sure to have thumbs behind ears, wrist on neck
Move head up with inserted arm to get under and grab collar
Turn wrists toward neck, as you squeeze
Push forward with hips, and push chest out through arms
Palm up/Palm down 80/20
One arm is framed on neck
Lean over and put other arm over hand holding collar
Bottom arm is pulling
From Guard Cross Collar choke
Same as above just you are on the ground
Break down partners posture
Grab collar, and perform cross collar choke
Keep hips up for closed guard
Sit Up Sweep
When opponent posture up grab collar and ride up
But elbow or hand back on mat
Trap opponents arm
Sit in opponents lap
Point your toes so you don’t break your ankle or knee
Roll onto knee and shin
Put your leg in opponents armpit to push them over, and get high mount
Kru Kristen, described part of the sit up sweep move, “hanging on like an angry sloth.” That made me laugh and it seems not only does it work for this particular sweep, but it also to training.
Tuesday 9/24/2019 – 2 hours Muay Thai and Kali – Seeing openings and being fast enough to take them.
Back at into training and so happy to see my team mates. I love seeing their smiling faces and they all said they were glad to have me back. Today was a big day for training. When we were sparring I saw an opening and got a cross in. Furthermore my instructor was watching us while I did it and she said, “yesssss… Tanya! That is how you do it.” I was shocked and amazed, and I looked at her amazed I got a hit in. She imediately said, “Don’t look at me while I am coaching you.” I was just so surprised.
Not only am I seeing the entries, but today I was quick enough to get them in. Well at least this time. I am sure I will make more mistakes along the way. However for today I did good.
It seems to be the case so far in training. You get to the point where you can see an opening but aren’t fast enough to take that opening and get a strike in. Then you see an opening for a strike and you become fast enough to see it and execute. Here is hoping I am crossing in to that territory.
Kru Kristen said everyone is looking good and have learned so much. We are applying what we are learning so this makes her happy.
Thai Training:
Warm up –
Jump rope 3 minutes
Shadow Boxing 3 minutes
Boxing –
Parry the incoming Jab
Windshield wiper and shoulder check opponent
Upper cut rear hand
Lead hook
Cross
cut the corner, or get out
upper cut burn out for 1 minute
Parry or catch the jab
Parry the cross
Shuffle or lateral in and shoulder check
Lead upper cut
Cross
Bob and weave out
Upper cut burn out for one minute
We then did 3 rounds of 3 minute sparring.
This is where I got my hits in.
3 rounds on the heavy bag. I opted out of clench sparring to baby my shoulder a little bit.
1 round of flutter kicks
10 burpees
Kali Training-
We worked on stick grappling again. We covered the inside and outside disarm, using snake and vine technique.
My partner was trying to figure out a way to get up when the person they are fighting has their arm, they got up in such a way as to have their head down and then were on their knees. So I saw the guillotine and I took it. Kru Krysta said, “that is great! A sneak guillotine!”
Eqquise, kumbiata switch, crash into the person with your shoulder, start walking stick down, pain compliance on pressure points on side of body, then to double leg and behind knee. Push with shoulder and dump person. Get out and hit knees and angles to shatter them then run away.
Eqquise, kumbiata switche, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
Eqquise, inside deflect, paper cutter on the arm and breaking opponents posture.
Eqquise, inside deflect, pull oppnents hand with weapon to third point in the triangle, insert stick between the legs of opponent, step on foot and then push and pull to take opponent down.
Alternately you can use the punio pull out their knee while standing on their foot and pulling them over to 3 rd point in triangle.
Today was a great day in training. I was seeing openings and at least attempting to get them. I got punched in the face many times today, so I am by no means an expert. But I am really happy with my performance today.
Wednesday 9/25/2019 – 2 hours BJJ and Muay Thai – spring on your toes
It’s official I am now officially a jitsu-Er. I took the plunge I did three classes, this was my third and I loved it.
BJJ training- We worked on breaking posture of opponent. Compromising opponents elbow to break posture Using a hand lock and blade of wrists to remove opponent posting with one arm to break posture. Sit up sweep
Thai training- We worked on elbows, putting power into them- like honing a sword isolating movement. Kicks, to shields to elbow entries I need to work on being springy on my feet
Sparring. I felt like wow. Just like I did not know what I was doing. Today I seemed to forget all that I learned, when punches and hits were coming at me. I got into my head, and I keep thinking that if I am getting hit I am doing something wrong or I did not block correctly. Sometimes I do miss a block, but sometimes it is just my opponent saw an opportunity and took it. Not that I was bad, but that they were even better. I need to keep this in mind so I can get out of my head space.
It is so much fun. If you are in the Reston/Herndon area you should visit the One Spirit Martial Arts Gym. http://virginiabjj.com/Thank you to my trainers Mike H, Kevin, JD for BJJ, and Tony in Thai.
P.S. I fit in a smaller sized gi than I thought I would. Woot!
Thursday 9/26/2019 – 2 hours Muay Thai, Kali – Blade Seeks Flesh, and Stick Seeks Bone
In Kali “Blade seeks flesh, and Stick seeks bone”
Paul S. our resident ninja
What the heck does that mean? You may be wondering that. As my friend Paul S. put it. Use the stick to hit, or put pressure, make painful on your opponent/assailant. Stick on bone hurts a lot, and also can shatter bone. Blade seeks flesh is just that. A blade is meant to cut the flesh, to remove some or sever tendons to keep your assailant from running after you.
Wow class was amazing. I had a great time. I was complimented on my form. I was dropping my hand a little when I threw my cross. Gotta work on that.
Muay Thai Training –
Warmup – jumping rope and stretching
jab, cross, rear knee
jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow, rear knee
jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, rear knee, rear kick
jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, lead knee, lead kick (I did a stutter step on this one)
Kali training –
Inside deflect disarm/snake
Inside deflect plus sign disarm/vine
Outside deflect disarm/snake
Outside deflect equal sign disarm/vine
Eqquise, kumbiata switch, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
Eqquise, inside deflect, pull opponents hand with weapon to third point in the triangle, insert stick between the legs of opponent, step on foot and then push and pull to take opponent down. Alternately you can use the punio pull out their knee while standing on their foot and pulling them over to 3 rd point in triangle.
Eqquise, inside deflect, pull opponents hand with weapon down toward their own body, insert stick between opponents body, and bicep, and using opponents back or hip, leaver them down while standing on their foot.
Below is a video of me doing the rear naked choke.
I really enjoyed the chokes, maybe a little to much. But they are fun. I am amazed that I could remember all of these drills. We worked on all of these. I had to work in the bakery early this morning. I got in at about 4:50 am, and did not get out till later almost 11 pm. To say I am tired is an understatement. But I did it, I clung in there, I came and I trained. Did I think about not going in, yup. But I am glad I came in.
Stick-to-itiveness… its a strange word, one I have heard since I was a child. It’s a informal word in U.S English. According to Merriam-Webster a (famous in the states) dictionary publisher it is:
US, informal: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant
So yes this week has been about, stick-to-itiveness, perseverance, tenacity, or just hanging on like an angry sloth. I went into the gym to train even though I was tired, I went in even though I had a bad day, and I went in because I wanted to. However, when my body (read scoliosis) was telling me to take it easy I did just that. Friday night I listened to my body, and stayed home from my workout.
Today/Saturday I missed class due to my re-certification class for CPR, AED, and First Aid. I need this cert for work, and I am happy to be re-certified. Tenacity is a good quality to have, but don’t let it give you tunnel vision like I get. Like all things, take everything in moderation. To much of anything is not good for you. Listen to your body, do the things you need to do, and enjoy a day off if you need it.
Thanks for reading. I hope you are having a great weekend. My respect to you and your family. Keep working to be the best you can be.
This week marks the start of my third martial arts I am going to train in. Brazilian Jui Jitsu is whats on the plate. I have some trepidation. I have scoliosis and moving my neck wrong, or wrenching my back can have unpleasant repercussions for weeks at a time. Repercussions like pain from misalignment and having to modify my movements. So its a big step. I just have to go slowly and listen to my body. With that said I am excited and looking forward to this.
Cross Training– cross training is a training technique that uses different kinds of muscles, and different parts of the body.
Cross training for instance is a swimmer training in swimming and then training in weight lifting 2 days a week. The athlete uses some of the same muscles and some separate different muscles in both training. If you just train one type of sport/muscle you run the risk of injury or lop sided muscle development.
So I will be adding another type of cross training. I will be adding grappling to my repertoire. Here is hoping it goes well.
Monday 9/16/2019 – Brazilian Jui Jitsu
First day of class for BJJ. I got to the gym, got my gi, and sat on the mat.
Let me say it was awesome. I am worried about my neck and back but I had a blast working with my friend in who I train with in Muay Thai.
I called myself a non belt, as this is my first day. So as a non belt I just listen and try to remember and execute every move as Kristen taught us.
We warmed up with active body movement that had us lifting our hips, rotating and stretching. Things I did not realize at the time we were going to do for the moves we were learning that day.
I learned the basics of triangles and thumbs up one hand lapel grab bent arm to hammer lock. I was even able to execute them.
The main thing I learned in BJJ is hips off the mat, and positioning is key to executing the moves correctly.
This martial art is different from any of the striking martial arts I do. While less energetic in the sense that nothing is coming at my head or my body, it is dynamic in the sense you feel your partners moves more than see them and react to them. You feel your partner shift weight and then you react.
In this class they focus on 1 training skill standing up and 1 training skill laying down each class. Afterwards they roll with each other to practice the things they learned.
Since I am brand new. I just worked on the drills we worked on.
It was a fantastic class and I intend on going every week at least once a week, maybe twice.
Tuesday 9/17/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali
Muay Thai: Boxing and Elbows
Training: We worked on boxing with elbow entries and elbow entries after defense.
We warmed up with 100 jumping jacks, stretching, and then range management plus sign drilling.
Elbow entry after attack, or after you throw a jab and cross.
Jab, cross, left horizontal elbow, to downward diagonal, boogie out, or bob and weave out
Elbow entry after attack, or after you throw a jab.
Jab, slide in left Tach Malach elbow or spearing elbow, to right downward diagonal elbow, grab the neck and run the knees
Elbow entry after defense, or after you catch a jab, and scoop a cross.
Parry incoming jab, scoop an incoming cross, pull opponent to you while scooping, left horizontal elbow, spinning back elbow, to reverse back elbow, to superman elbow. Then boogie out or bob and weave out.
Main points to remember when doing these:
Range management – when punching you are using full extension, when elbowing slide step in, use your hip for torque to get power in. For the spinning back elbow, step to your oppoenents left hand or right hand side when throwing horizontal elbow but do not over rotate on horizontal elbow.
Site your target before throwing the spinning back elbow. Like a dancer spins their head around and focuses on one area of the room.
Stay all the way in, by bob and weave and cutting the corner, or stay all the way out, but booging out and getting out of the pocket.
Kali – Stick grappling
Kali we worked on stick grappling. Kumbiata switch into the crash. Then used the stick for pain compliance, to a double leg take down. We learned break knees and break ankles when you get out. Or knee separation, calf explosion, to ankle lock that breaks the ankle. Also how to leverage my shortness to break ankle. Yay!
Have you ever had a light bulb moment in your training? I have. Today was one of those days where I had that moment. We were covering one of the leg/ankle locks after you take you assailant down to the ground. This particular ankle lock/break I have a hard time when taller people, cause I am short. So no matter how much I stand up it does not work. I might get a pain compliance tap out of the person, but actually getting a break in the ankle I would not get. I just don’t have the leverage. Well I learned a ankle lock/ankle break that used leverage an a well placed foot on the assailants other leg while I stood up. This gives me great leverage.
Also I learned in a stick grappling situation, my height gives me an advantage in another area. When my opponent is trying to separate my knee, or explode my calf, or ankle lock me they are closer to me and I can hit them with my stick. Where when I do it to them, when I blade my body they can only get a small piece of my shoulder. So being short in this instance is the best.
Training:
eqquise (being sure to hit with intent, or putting the stank on it ), low back hand, high back hand.
Figure 8 (being sure to hit with intent), to low back hand, high back hand.
eqquise, kumbiata switch, crash into the person with shoulder, grab them and control/compress arms with your body and stick. Make sure head is behind them.
eqquise, kumbiata switch, crash into the person with your shoulder, start walking stick down, pain compliance on presure points on side of body, then to double leg and behind knee. Push with shoulder and dump person. Get out and hit knees and angles to shatter them then run away.
Counter to the above take down, get double under hooks, square up and you can either:
Snake bite the spine (pain compliance)
break their poster with the stick in the middle of back. Lean forward with your head and shoulders on their chest, and just walk forward.
We then played (taking time to explore what we learned and try to find the entry). We used soft sticks to kumbiata switch and tried to get your opponent on the floor. From there we we mounted and it end up in grappling.
Sometimes people get so caught up on the weapon, that it is not the answer. When grappling maybe the stick is not helping, don’t be afraid to get rid of it and refocus on opponent. Using their body to make them compliant.
What is the saying about best laid plans?
“the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”
Scottish Proverb
So this week, I missed Wednesday – Saturday Class. My husband came home from a work trip and wanted to take Wednesday off. So we did. Little did I know I would come down with the plague that my kids brought home.
So I have been convalescing nursing a cold and a slight fever. I have missed 3 days of training and am a little miffed about it. But today/Saturday I feel… I may be feeling like I am on the upswing.
Yeah best laid plans and all that. I did not want to get the rest of my team mates sick. I really was feeling dizzy and icky for three days. So its far better for me to stay home. Even if my inner 5 year old is throwing a fit cause she cannot have what she wants (which is to train martial arts) when she wants it.
Thank you for reading this sadly short blog about my two days of training. I hope you have a great day.
Muscle memory… in general I don’t think I know much. I mean when it comes to martial arts. I have been training for nearly two years in Muay Thai and Kali, with a smattering of JKD, Silate, and very little BJJ. I am often looking toward the next little thing to tweak. The next skill to learn. So when my instructor says, we are doing X, and I know exactly what to do I am amazed. Further more when my instructor says we are doing Y, and I am hazy about the terminology but I have done it so many times, in so many different configurations, that I have muscle memory, and my body just does what I need it to do.
I googled Muscle Memory and this is the first response that came up: “The ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.”typing relies heavily on muscle memory” “
Tuesday 9/10/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali
Muay Thai – compliments on my movement, heck I am moving more.
The ability to reproduce a movement without thinking about it. Yup! This week I am noticing more muscle memory. Movement… I am moving more. By this I mean pivoting my feet correctly, getting in and out of the pocket, cutting corners, and in general just getting out and away from strikes.
I got a compliment on my movement. My instructor Kru Kristen is so happy to see me moving more. What I mean is my pivot is much better on my punches. My head movement is getting better. I am getting my head off the line. I am slipping the punches more. I am covering with windshield wiper more. I am in general upping my fight game. Yay!
Today we worked on: Countering jabs and returning strikes
Parry jab down and returning a jab right away. (This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
Parry the jab slip and return a gut jab (This is better for the shorter people.
Scoop the jab, pulling in your opponent, and then returning a over hand. (This is good for almost all people)
We returned hook, or upper cut, cross, and then bob and weave a hook to head, then boogie out or step in and shoulder bump.
Kali – disarms and chokes
In Kali, today’s training muscle memory kicked in. Because when my instructor asked us if we remember the high box. My brain did not remember the term, but when we were working on the drills, my body kicked in. 15 strike, block strike incoming, strike 2 returned, block incoming strike.
We worked on disarms, inside deflect which is plus sign disarm, and vine disarm.
We worked on disarms, outside deflect which is equal sign disarm, and snake disarm.
We worked on kumbiata switch to triangle chokes
We worked on getting out of those chokes and returning a paper cutter choke.
Today was a great day of training.
Thrusday 9/12/2019 – 1.5 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali
Class was fantastic today. I love love love Muay Thai and Kali. I can’t put into words how much I love the martial arts styles. I will try here… I really believe it is because of my two great trainers/instructors, and because of the culture of the gym. Because of these two ladies their teaching style and encouragement, this is such a part of my life that I rearrange my other obligations and jobs so that I can continue and improve my skills with these ladies.
I am crazy enough that I am going to try to add in BJJ into the mix. I am going to try to see if I can at least attend one BJJ class a week, maybe two starting next week.
Muay Thai – Countering crosses and returning strikes
In Muay Thai now, I know how to do many things. I don’t know all the things mind you. I rely on my muscle memory to carry me through, and then I try to focus on the little tweaks I need to make. Like lifting my elbow to more horizontal to throw the hook correctly. Working on my foot work (meaning pivots, and getting in and out of the pocket). In general working on my form. I know the basic drills, now its time to tweak and improve my fight game.
Parry jab, and parry cross down, returning a cross to head(This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a chest cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a gut cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
return body hook, head hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
Then we worked on pop the leather. Where each two group person does a 4 count combination.
Kali – disarms
We worked on disarms and chokes as well again. Today I had to leave early to go and get H from the airport. He was coming back in from a business trip.
I was acting as a single parent for 4 days of the week. Let me say those single parents out there my hats off to you. I was happy to see my husband, but I was also so happy to have my partner and fellow parent here to help with the kiddos.
This week I only made it to two of my martial arts 5 training days. Wednesday baby girl was sniffling and had a runny nose, and I was on my own so I decided to let her rest. On Friday I had my husband home and we got a much needed date night away from the kiddos. Today we decided to just rest and let everyone recoup. Life happens and I feel like I have grown realizing that not all the time will the schedule work.
I have a new martial arts class to look forward to this next week. Brazilian Jui Jitsu, I am hoping it will be ok for my back. All I can do is try it out and see.
Keep working to make yourself the best you can be, and thank you for reading. As always please let me know if you have any questions. My respects for you all.
4 hours of Training today. Yesterday I had the honor of being able to train in Bo staff class, in striking, and in a seminar for woman’s defense.
Bo Staff
We worked on the High Box with staves. We also changed the #1 strike to the #7 piercing strike.
High Box:
opponent feeds you a #15
you roof block
you return a #1 strike or #7 piercing strike
opponent inside deflects
opponent returns #4
you drop stick defend
you return a #3
opponent turn the tip down, drop tip, or low wing?
opponent returns a #2
you roof shield
then you feed the #15 and the whole flow drill starts again
Bo staff was fun today. I enjoyed scrambling my brain to get it around the new strike.
Striking Class:
We worked on combos with counter attacks. We worked our teeps, and knees.
We emphasized evading a kick or a upper cut. Then added 4 counts return attacks.
Woman’s Self Defense:
I had the opportunity to go to a woman’s self defense class. This is my first official Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. I have been a little worried about taking BJJ because I have scoliosis and don’t want to have my back wrenched. However, I believe it is good to up my game to grappling, and ground level. Kru Kristen was teaching this class, and she always says.
“100% of fights start standing, 90% end up on the ground.”
Kru Kristen
We learned how to break fall, how to get back up quickly and safely. We learned how to stop an assailant in open guard, how to keep them away. We learned how to deal with an assailant when they are in mount. We learned how to knee shield from guard, and shrimp away, then kick their head to get away. We learned how to deal with someone trying to pick us up in bear hug, and how to knee bar them.
The main focus was teaching us how to get away from the situation. Kru Kristen also reiterated you want to be all the way in or all the way out. Always try to get away from the assailant. But if you have to deal with them, get in and don’t let them hit you. Stop them from hitting you until you can get out.
This was a fun class and we were able to work on dealing with a choke as well.
Changing the format for posting:
So I have been thinking. I am now doing 5 days of martial arts. More importantly 5 days of Muay Thai. That coupled with my weight lifting workouts, means that weekly I would have been doing 6 posts a week. That is a lot, and its a lot of content to keep up on. Also it seems like a lot to bombard you all with. So I am going to be changing my posting status.
I used to post every time I went to train, so that I could keep track of what I was learning and how I was feeling/getting it. This is also so I could look back and see my progress in the future. I did this as well to catalog what I was doing, so I could go back and drill the same drills. This is a lot of posting, a lot of content, and it is hard for me to keep up with.
So I am going to try to do 1 martial arts post a week. This will be notes I took about each training session. I will break it out by day, and I will still have the drills/training we did every day represented in one post. Any videos I take for that will be in that post as well. This means there will be a weight lifting post, a martial arts post, and a food post when I have one to upload. That is 3 instead of 6 to 7 a week. I am going to shoot to have that weeks martial arts posted on Saturday after my training sessions that day.
Anyway thank you for reading. Keep working to be the best you that you can be. My respect to you and your family.
Thinks with Spinks 