I am so lucky to have such great teachers/trainers. They often talk about counter attacks, movement, and also how best to get your strikes in. One of the things we hear often and it is very true. If you want to hit the face hit the belly, and vice versa. Changing levels allows you to control the fight. Often times when you hit low people will instinctively cover that area, then the face is open. If you hit the face or even go for the face they will keep their hands up and leave their torso open.
Tuesday 12/10/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thaiand Kali
Today begins my martial arts training for the week. It was a great day of class.
Lots of elbows in class, and conditioning training for Muay Thai.
lead #1/horizontal elbow, rear #3/downward diagonal elbow, rear #7/inside out elbow
Lead #1/horizontal elbow, rear #2/upward diagonal elbow, rear #7/inside out elbow
Lead #1/horizontal elbow, rear #2/upward diagonal elbow, to lead #9/spinning back elbow
In Kali we worked on several different combos. They were all flowing very well, then of course changing just one thing made my brain melt again like Kali does. We did all 48 combos, and then asymmetrically trained with one person doing two sticks, and one drilling partner doing dos manos hold (two hand hold like a Japanese sword).
I felt so tethered keeping both hands on the blade. It feels like I don’t have as much reach, and you have to move your body in a completely different way to meet your partners blows, and avoid getting hit. You have to execute a lot of abaniko moves when holding a sword to keep from getting hit.
Abaniko – means fan
It was a fun class, but it really did melt my brain. Just when I think I am getting everything. I am learning the moves and flowing well. We change one thing, and my brain melts. That is one of the things I love about Kali.
Thursday 12/12/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thaiand Kali
Thai Elbows, clenches and knees oh my!
We worked on elbows to clench, and knee transitions today.
Lead #1/horizontal elbow, rear #6/side in elbow, rear #7/side out elbow, rear roll to clench, full plumb, and run 3 knees, spin out opponent, and kick
Lead #1/horizontal elbow, lead #7/side out elbow, rear #8/tach malak or lady putting flower in her hair elbow, clench to full plumb, spin out opponent, and double kick
Kali 48 strike drill Dos Manos Brain melting asymmetrical sparring.
Friday 12/13/2019 – 1 hours… Muay Thaiand Kali
Today Tony kicked my booty. But that was a great thing. I want to get stronger and stronger.
Jumping Rope for 3 minutes
conditioning: 3 x 3 minutes of foot shuffle, and hopping hurdles
mountain climber with a punch on bag and skip knee number 2 x 1 minute 3 minutes alternating between
lead teep, shuffle into lead body hook, rear upper cut, lead head hook, immediately double kick wi
thout taking a step.
rear torso kick, to rear hop double kick
Then I did 200 kicks to the bag, and 200 teeps to the bag.
I am exhausted. But the good kind of exhausted… you know? I am about to go pass out in my bed. I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for reading.
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.
This particular picture popped up in my FB feed today. I felt it was appropriate. This is a core belief of mine. Even on the days I don’t feel like getting in there. I do it because it is good for me.
This week we have a shorter training time. Our gym is running a seminar weekend and so we don’t have class on Friday and Saturday.
The extra rest may be a blessing. We will see. I may just train on my own just to keep working on things.
Tuesday 11/19/2019 – 2.5 hours… Muay Thaiand Kali
It was so much fun tonight. I got to work with a brand new student who is 6 feet tall and named Steve. In Muay Thai we worked on distance management. And in Kali we worked on sword and shield, high box, full box, and Saint Chameel. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for the great class.
After class snack/meal. Yup I am weird but it tastes so good. I egg and 3 egg whites, radishes, and a baby cucumber!
Tuesday 11/19/2019 – 1 hour and 45 minutes… Kettle Bell and Muay Thai
I did it again. I made a kettle bell workout for myself, friend, and husband again. You can read about it here.
Conditioning: 45 seconds to do the exercise 15 seconds rest between them
Coach Tony gave us a fantastic conditioning class. Thank you! Lots of explosive movements and functional movements. Whew I am exhausted. Did I say that yet? I will probably say it a few more times.
bear crawls x 45 seconds
half burpees
side to side bear crawl
step ups
crab walk
ninja jumps
sit through
side to side burpees
After my workout, and then three rounds of this.
We worked on double kick to knees and then elbows.
Tony then had us working on our core muscles. Whew… At this point in the night while I am writing this. I am exhausted. I may not remember all the exercises he had us do but you get the picture. My husband does not remember and is about to pass out. So that is of no help to me. =) I guess I am on my own, and with my own recollection.
crunch up to touch ankles
pike crunches
bicycles
???
knee to elbow in plank position
plank elbow to hand raises
???
30 second planks with a weight on our back. I ended up doing 4 30 second planks, while everyone else did 2. Cause coach told me to, so I did.
But you get the gist of what happened to us. I am exhausted. I am in need of a shower, and I have to get up really early… I commonly say “at the ass crack of dawn”, but I digress. 4 am is coming soon, so that is it for this day.
We intended on going to the gym and training on Thursday, but life got in the way. Husband had a work emergency and had to take the car to deal with it. So this week I only did 4 hours 15 minutes of training. That is a huge deviation from our usual 8 to 10 hour training weeks. But When I first started my fitness journey I would have been so happy with that amount. It is amazing to think about how things have changed.
I can say my body has needed the break. And while I would have liked to train more. It is nice to have a break. As I said any time in the gym is good time. Try to stay positive and do what you can. Life will rear it ugly head sometimes, so just roll with it.
Thanks for reading. Have a great day. Keep working to be the best you that you can be. Like, comment, and share if you feel inspired to.
When your friends ask you to put together a workout. That is what you do.
Since we are training conditioning to get ready for our level 1 test. I was asked to help make some weight lifting classes we could do this week I did a kettle bell session.
At the same time one of my trainers has upped our conditioning. At one point in the week I… lets say it hurt to do my daily activities. I hope to get stronger, get toned, lose more weight, and just get better over all in my martial arts.
I have the discipline to get into the gym and work myself up to 100%, however, I noticed I need the coaches to push me up and over my 100%. To get me to get past my top level to 110%. To pull one more set out, one more rep out. It is great to know your limitations and what you need to success.
Tuesday 11/12/2019 – 1.5 hours… Muay Thai
Guess who has two thumbs and 2 months about to get ready for her next test. Yep that is me.
Tony said, “strong arms gives strong clench, strong claves helps you move more.” What he means is this conditioning we do when we make our muscles stronger we can hold on better, and the better we work our calf muscles the better we will be at being light on our feet. Being light on our feet is necessary to be able to move around and get out and away from a strike.
Below is the training we did today.
2 x 3 minute knees 188, 221
Plank for 30 seconds between each round
2 x 3 minute jump rope
Squat and hold for 30 seconds between each round
2 x 3 minute rounds of 10 kicks on each side continuously
Jumping Jacks between each round 30 seconds
2 x 3 minute rounds of Knees
2 x 3 minute rounds of 4 knees then 4 kicks
Stretching.
Wednesday 11/13/2019 – 1.5 hours… Muay Thai, and Kettlebells
Whew what a workout today. I am going to be feeling it tomorrow. I put up the kettlebell workout I had myself and the guys do today before class.
My friend, husband, and I want to get more weight lifting in, and I am the one they turned to. So I made the above workout for us. Then Tony my instructor kicked out butts with this conditioning workout below. I am a dead girl as I type this. Here is hoping my recovery drink will help me shake off most of the D.O.M.S. tomorrow.
10 exercies for 45 seconds with 10 seconds rest between them
Star burpees
pushup and arm raises
rotating squats
lunge back and kick
single leg hip raises
squat on ball of feet
star push ups
sit up grab knees
Ali – foot shuffle
Bear crawls
Pushing knees across the mat 4 minutes
3 minute kick bag 5 times, switch with partner, then kick other leg 5 times and switch with partner.
Then he had us do abductors/core workout: Whew!
crunches
flutter kicks
crunches
single leg pike
horizontal sissor kick
single leg pike
flutter kicks
Thursday 11/14/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai
Today was one of those days where I am exhausted. I am hurting because of delayed onset muscle soreness, and I am just done with the day. We did technique training today
In Muay Thai we worked on elbows, entries to elbows, countering elbows and combos with elbows.
We worked on a kick called the bicycle kick. It was very Capoeira-esc. I kicked the pad two times, but all the other times I looked silly.
Kali –
In Kali we worked on sword and shield. It was cool cause we got to do the shield and responses. This is different than the high box, and full box we have been doing. We did that as well, but it was nice to do a shield a hit and respond.
I am exhausted, I am kinda cranky, and my muscles hurt. Today was a great active rest day for me. I was running out of juice quickly toward the end of Kali, and just did not want to be there any more. But I made it in, and I put the mat time in.
When I am having this kind of day I know it is normal to have once in a while. I just don’t like it. Its important to just rep the skills out even if you are not having the best time.
Friday 11/15/2019 – 1+? hours… Muay Thai
Today was a better day. I thought about not going cause I was hurting a great deal from D.O.M.S. But I kicked my own butt in gear and went in.
1 hour or more of workout! It may be more cause our trainer Tony kicked our buts again. He kicked our butts so hard that we lost rack of time. It was a fantastic class. I went in hurting you know the good kind. Like it hurts to sneeze, it hurts to walk up your three story town home stairs, and it hurts to lower your butt to the toilet cause your muscles are dead. I don’t hurt now cause I stretched and my body is warm but it will hurt tomorrow.
Thank you so much Tony that was awesome class of conditioning, fast feet and core workout!
Conditioning
100 kettle bell swings
100 push ups
50 mountain climbers
100 rear lunges
body weight squats
50 clean and press kettle bell
Burpees – 20 seconds as many as you can. 10 seconds rest, 8 sets of 20 seconds.
Agility/Fast feet
Agility ladder x 5 rounds, at end of ladder either kick, knee, or kick and knee as instructor decided.
run around the gym then back to the agility ladder
CoreStations
Ball pike
stir the pot
medicine ball sit up and press up
Russian twists
ab roll wheel
stir the pot
bosu ball plank kicks
ball pike
Even though I was tired and my muscles hurt. I am glad I went in. I worked hard and over came my pain for now. Now I am exhausted and need sleep.
Saturday 11/16/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai
2 hours of training. Kali and Muay Thai training was awesome. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta it was awesome.
We worked on the running Saints, Saint Chameel and the Saint Villabrille in Kali. Then we worked on countering the jabs in and controlling the opponents arm/body in Muay Thai.
It was a great day. I got to work with my team mates and friends. I got to work on my skill, and technique.
Our training has just metamorphosed this way, or maybe it is a product of our increased level and training needs (getting ready for our level 1 test). However, our Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday classes tend to be technique and our Wednesday, Friday classes are our conditioning days. It is probably both.
My husband and I were talking about how our classes, just our technique classes would kick our butts. However, it is not the case any more. We have to do conditioning-centric classes to get our conditioning in.
It has been a great week of training. I may not have wanted to go every day, but I went in and got my training time in. I was insanely sore after Wednesday, then kept going. Training conditioning on Friday seemed to help with the soreness. I am sore now, tight and just need to rest.
Thanks for reading. I hope you are having a great weekend. Feel free to ask questions.
This week starts with a really cool experience. I got to work with a girl whose first time in Muay Thai class was this day. I hope she comes back. She is shorter than I am which is amazing, because I am 5 foot nothing, and easily the shortest in the class. She had the same look on her face as I am sure I had on mine when I first started. The look of amazement, fear, and determination. I really hope she comes back.
I have mentioned it before, but working with brand new people, or just people that are not as far along as you can really highlight just how much you know compared to the average bear… Sorry that is an American colloquialism. The phrase is, “smarter than the average bear” A cartoon character called Yogi Bear claimed he was, smarter than your average bear. He would say this when he did something smart. I digress because I know I have some international readers, and some of my turns of phrase may not be universally understood. =)
Back to the topic at hand… yes working with new people is not only good for the community/Muay Thai family, but it is great to help you see maybe just how far you have come. Little did I know that Thursday was going to hold a surprise for me.
Tuesday 11/05/2019 – 2.5 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali
H and I worked on sword and shield all by ourselves for 30 minutes. We wanted to work it more cause we just learned it. And practice makes us a little better than we were before. =)
I am tired so I just wrote down what we did. Here it is.
Muay Thai-
Elbows 1 -3
lead horizontal, rear downward diagonal, rear knee, lead teep
lead upward diagonal, rear downward diagonal, rear knee, rear kick
lead horizontal, rear horizontal, spinning left elbow, knee, kick, teep
plus sign foot work, horizontal elbow, horizontal elbow, your opponent keeps up pillar block
Kali –
Sword and shield, high box Strikes 15, 1, 2
Sword and shield, full box Strikes 15, 1, 4, 3, 2
Thursday 11/07/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali – Surprise Test
Today started out like most other Thursdays. I am extremely exhausted cause I had to get up at the crack of dawn, hell before the crack of dawn to get H to the metro and my butt into the bakery to work. I was up at 4:20 am and have been up ever since.
Needless to say by the time Muay Thai and Kali class rolled around at 7 pm. I am tired. I could take a nap that would turn in to a sleep all night. That is about 14 hours non stop.
I come to find out that we are doing a surprise testing in Muay Thai. What? I would normally know its coming and make sure I know my stuff. I would also be slightly worried I would not be ready, so I would go over terms, and moves, and anything I could. Because that is how a Tanya like me do.
Nope I did not have that time to prepare/worry. It was a testing day today and I had to not think but do.
So we tested:
technique demo – where we all line up in lines and show our instructors what a #1 elbow is (by the way that is a horizontal elbow), what a number two skip knee is (that is a one foot on the ground only skip knee), etc.
Boxing 20
4 counts, and advanced 4 counts
Muay Thai 15 count
I did it all. I passed my test. I was promoted three ranks, because we had our last test months ago.
I went from blue to purple white! That is being promoted past two whole ranks!!! It’s been a while since we had a test. Squee!!! I can’t believe it yet. When I started Muay Thai the level 1 test was so far away. I just wanted to try to remember how to kick right. Now the level 1 test is right around the corner.
Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for the test and class. Respects 🙏
I added our rank progression so you can see where blue is and where purple white is. Red we call Rank 1 but on the chart it is Rank 2. I believe after Rank one you can fight in the ring.
Kali – we did sword and shield again.
With sword and shield it is learning how to use the shield to deflect the blows, using the stick/sword to return blows, and the shield is completely different than a stick or other weapon. I have to move my body in a way that will make it possible for me to move the shield up in time. This movement is different than the other weapons we use.
In all it is super awesome to practice sword and shield. I have only done it 3 times so far and it is one of my favorite Kali forms. Also Kabri Kabrong the precursor to Muay Thai used sword and shield.
Friday 11/08/2019 – 1.5 hours… Muay Thai
Tony is a fantastic teacher, and he knows that some of us are going to go to a Ajarn Chai seminar tomorrow. That is a 5 hours of training. So he wanted to do a lighter training day. Well let me tell you it was not as light as he might think. But it was fantastic. He had us work on hit then respond right away.
3 x 2 minute rounds of Jump rope
1 x 3 minute round knees on bag
1 x 3 minute round of lead kick on bag
1 x 3 minute round of rear kick on bag
3 x 3 minute round shadowboxing with jumping jacks in the middle
4 x 3 minute rounds Hit for hit drill … (you hit one, opponent hits one/you hit 2 opponent hits 2/ you hit 3 opponent hits 3/ up to 5) The object was to respond right away, hit back after being hit. Because in Muay Thai the person that get the last hit in get the point.
2 x 3 minute round Thai slide in side teep, with a hop knee
5 minute round where ever 30 seconds we switched form rapid jab cross, to skip knees
It was fantastic. I am tired though now.
Saturday 11/09/2019 – 5 hours… Muay Thai Seminar
OSMA Muay Thai group with Ajarn Chai
Kevin and I photo credit Kevin
First time in a ring.
photo credit Khun Kru Krysta
Today was an exciting day. I got the wonderful opportunity to go to a Muay Thai seminar with the legend Ajarn Chai himself. I am home now. Husband has fed me and I am exhausted. I am over the moon I got to see him again. He remembered me from Thai Camp and gave me hugs. I am shocked and honored that he remembered me. Not because he could not remember me, but because I don’t think I am all that memorable, or there is anything to remember about me. =)
We worked on the basics. Khun Kru Caro said, “if you don’t have a solid base/stance you don’t have anything, and you will lose your balance.”
We went through the elbows 1 -8. We worked on left and right kicks. It was fantastic.
Combo #1:
right cross
left hook
right overhand
Combo #2:
Opponent does a Thai lean, you scoop the lean out
#3 elbow/Downward Diagonal
Opponent throws a overhand punch
You block the bicep and tie up with other hand
You cock the shoulder and deliver a #6 elbow/ side in
Tie up, #3 knee/side in knee
Then skip knee #2
We worked on a counter to an elbow. A way to stop an elbow coming in hard, and basically shut that elbow down.
Combo #3:
Opponent throws a cross you scoop it inside out
You throw elbow #4
Tie up
Run skip knee #2
Thai lean to teep
Today was an awesome day! I am so lucky to have been able to make it to this seminar. I got to see familiar faces, people I love and love to train with. People from the Thai Camp I got to see again.
I got to see Ajarn Chai’s famous paper trick. His whole point for this paper trick, is relax and you will hit better, and don’t think about getting hit or stabbed because that will make you tighten up. If you are relaxed you are faster. Your muscles are not taut and your reflexes are far faster than you think they are. If you employ this thinking in your fighting you will loosen up, and you will hit faster.
I was able to get it on video. Part 1 and Part 2. Ajarn Chai wanted my phone to be in the middle so that you could see what he was doing for part 2. This was a great video, and an honor to see this demonstration. I have heard about it from my instructors, but never gotten a chance to see it.
This is Ajarn Chai doing the paper demonstration, with 6 guys with training knives. His object is to take the paper before they can touch his hand with a knife. These are training knives. Do not try this at home with real knives.
I may have missed a combo in there. If I did and I get it from my friends. I will edit and post it to this blog post.
It was a fantastic day. I am happily coming down off the excitement. I am tired, and going to go pass out soon. I learned so much. I worked on my form, an when form is great, your power an speed will come as Ajarn Chai says. I was complimented on my form and I was honored.
Thank you for reading my blog. I had an amazing week for martial arts training. I completed 10 hours of training. Getting to see the great legend Ajarn Chai, and having the honor to train with him. I had a surprise test and was awarded the purple white Pra Jiad/armband.
I am amazed you all read my blog. Let me know if you have any questions. As always keep working to be the best you that you can be. My respects to you and yours.
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.
So I chose this title cause it amused me. Our teacher/trainer Tony told us, “don’t feel like shit, just don’t”. I liked that. What he was referring to is after a while, in training, and in a fight, your leg is going to get tired. You are not going to always get it up there for that perfect teep in the solar plexus, so teep the leg. Work on other skills that you can fall back on when you start to get tired. This is great advice for anyone doing any sport, or activity. Hell its great for life. If it makes you feel like shit, maybe try something else for a while.
I don’t think he meant to not train through sore tired muscles. That is still great to do and preferred. Pressing on during times when it is tough is good and helps you train your body not to give up when it gets tired. However, there is wisdom to acknowledging that you are tired and going for a different target to get your wind back.
Tuesday 10/15/2019 – 2 hours… Running, Muay Thai
Today we started out with a run. We ran 1.5 miles, warmed up and cooled down for about .5 miles, and did it all in about 20 minutes. This was a great steady state run. This was great for me, cause my rib still hurts a little. I had a dislocated rib and my chiropractor put it back into place. So now I am just sore.
Training
In Muay Thai, we practiced the quick shuffle to the lead kick. We did this in various forms. We added spinning elbows. Those are always fun.
We worked on teeping the leg instead of the solar plexus.
We worked on faking a teep to slide in and elbow.
I have come to understand, that there are…my Khun Kru Krysta calls “secret sauce” moves, and combos that are only privy to your Kru, or are developed by your Kru, and should not be shared. They are your ace up the sleeve as it were. I have not talked about it before, but I thought I could at least say something, just not the “secret sauce”.
Tony gave us some “secret sauce”, and I unfortunately cannot tell you. But if you want an hint there are some awesome, deadly, and beautiful things in Muay Boran. I love learning these new to me cool things. You will just have to find your own awesome Kru to teach you theirs. =)
30 minutes of bag work after class is what I ended with. Now I am exhausted. I need sleep. Tomorrow we have more Thai practice.
Wednesday 10/16/2019 – 3 hours… BJJ, Muay Thai
Some days it is just getting on the mat and doing the reps. When you are learning new skills, it gets hard to stay motivated. I feel stupid and my body is not moving the way I want it to.
I am tired today too. So pushing myself to keep going is hard. I did it and I pushed through my muscle fatigue however, some days when you/I am not picking up the skills as fast it is demoralizing.
I think this is the pushing through part. The part where you may feel like shit but you have to push through. Or you feel like shit because your brain is being mean.
BJJ – The learning curve is high in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, because it is like learning a new language.
Jui Jitsu was great fun. However, talking to one of my Muay Thai brothers who also is a brown belt in BJJ I find it is just like when we started Muay Thai and Kali. Until we learn the terminology/lingo/language, they can say we are going to do an Airplane to regain posture. I will nod and go along with it because I am seeing what they are doing. However, until I have the lingo I cannot connect it as well.
In BJJ we learned all about breaking opponents posture, not fighting them but using their movements against them. As I learn more and more about this form of martial art, I am realizing it utilizes physics, body mechanics and just being smart. Its completely different than the striking martial arts. Where you are reacting to an incoming strike.
Warm up:
forward shoulder roll
backward shoulder roll
shrimp
backward shrimp
various stretches
Training:
Breaking the guard of a person, by hipping in and putting knees under them. Leaning in on leg, with elbow or arm to move leg out. This lets you get over them and get a cross body.
Breaking the guard of a person, by knees on floor, active toes, to up on one foot, and pulling out while keeping their hips on the floor
Regaining posture when pulled in
Regaining posture when pulled in by doing an airplane
Countering a two handed choke from behind, grabbing their hand stepping out, rolling their wrist and then duping them on the ground
Thai – “Hurl Your Body At Me! You are over thinking this.”
Warm up: Stations
3 minutes for each two rotations – bag work, teeps on one bag, and free form on another bag
3 minutes for each two rotations -Burpees
3 minutes for two rotations – Jump rope, pad work with Tony
Training:
Lead horizontal elbow, rear horizontal elbow, lead vertical elbow, spinning rear elbow
Fake a hook into a, diagonal upward elbow/ #7 from mid line a.k.a. catfish whisker in Thailand, into a combo elbow of a rolling downward vertical elbow.
Lead knee, step to lead knee, rolling vertical downward elbow
Teeps with lead leg to opponents lead leg to establish distance, to a superman elbow. (I am terrible at this)
Thursday 10/17/2019 – 1.5 hours… Run and Muay Thai, “Spank Them With Your Leg”
Today H and I decided we were going to go for a run. Ok so normally I run on the treadmill in a building. We are going to have to get running head bands that cover our ears, and gloves, and more appropriate running clothing for cold weather. Today it was in the 50 degrees F or 10 degrees C, that is not such a problem, but the wind was vicious today. But I got a 1.25 mile in, before I was just to cold.
Muay Thai – “Spank Them With Your Leg”
In Muay Thai practice we worked on jumping in to a leg kick. I am not certain what to call it other than jumping onto your lead leg and kicking with your rear leg, the opponents lead leg. This gets you into the pocket faster, and does not give your opponent time to react.
My partner and I were working on our jump into leg kick, and landing them on the kick pads. Tony our instructor came around and said, “oowhee”, I have come to love that sound. That is the sound of ‘ohh that looks like it hurt. You did a good thing.’ So I love hearing it. He did that when he was watching us do our kicks. That is when he said yeah that is it. Hop into that kick and “Spank Them With Your Leg.” I lost it then. It was so funny. I could not breath for laughing so much. Almost got kicked too… But composed myself and we continued.
Muay Thai Training
Warm Up:
jump rope
Bag work
Training:
jump into leg kick, check distance with a jab
Double jab, to jump into leg kick, to jump into leg kick
Jump into leg kick, hook only small leg movement, cross, hook leg pivot a little more, then jump into a leg kick.
Jump into leg kick, any 3 count with hands (jab, hook, cross, etc), jump into leg kick
Jump into leg kick (this was just done so that we could get used to getting kicked in the leg.)
Cool Down:
Crunches x 2 sets at 1 minute
Flutter kicks x 2 sets at 1 minute
The main thing was to focus on speed, and flow. Not to focus necessarily power. Power comes with form, and practice.
We ended up leaving after Muay Thai class cause we were tired, and skipped Kali for tonight. It was a great class. 4 am wake up times are so hard. I had to work at the bakery in the early morning this morning.
Muay Thai Training 1 hour. Thank you so much Tony.
Best quote for tonight is “that Muay Thai hang over” by JD. meaning the next morning after you throw 1000 kicks you are dead tired like you had a crazy night.
Example:
Friend- did you drink to much last night?
Me – nahh just did 1000 kicks 😆😆
Training
Warm up:
Shadowboxing knees across the mats for 1 3 minute round. (ohh ouch my hip flexors)
Ladders of jab cross, to knees. Do 20 jab crosses, and 20 knees – 19 jab cross, and 19 knees all the way to 2 jab cross, and 2 knees. Then go back up from 2 jab cross, 2 knee – 20 jab cross, and 20 knees.
Training:
Rear upper cut, lead upper cut (focusing on form and flow, making our hits smooth.)
Rear upper cut, lead hook, cross, hook, lead kick, cross
Rear upper cut, lead hook, cross, lead hook, body hook
Pop the leather
Light playful sparring
I am exhausted. When Friday comes around I have at least done 4 days of martial arts, sometimes its 5 days. When you have to adult all day long, dealing with kids, working, and daily chores, Friday night is rough. I am typing this up, and working to keep my eyes open. So I am going to call it a night
I will end this day with… I let my trainer Tony know that I feel terrible, just out of sorts when I spar. I am often told I have good form, but my sparring I just don’t, it feels like I loose everything I learn or know when I start sparring. Tony heard me, and said, ” I hear you, and we will work on it.” So wide eyed I am wondering what I got myself into.
And now to roll out my muscles… ouch!
Today we decided to take as a rest day. In an effort not to feel like shit, we decided to just relax and let our bodies rest.
I completed 7. 5 hours of training this week. Not to shabby… I hope you all had a great week. Keep working to be the best you that you can be, and my respects to you all. Thank you for reading my blog.
The Wai Kru we honored our teachers with. I arranged the whole tray. =)
Today 10/10/2019 was a special day. It was an emotional day. It was a fantastic day. I felt it deserves its own blog post. From my understanding the Wai Kru is celebrated throughout Thailand.
This is ceremony performed by students to their teachers. Teachers of school children and teachers of Muay Thai. It is an honor for the student to honor their teacher and often times both student and teacher get emotional because it shows how much each of the individuals care and respect each other.
I am a Japanese American. I am second generation or nisei. Meaning my mother came from Japan. I was brought up to honor and respect your, service people, elders, your teachers, and those that are in positions of power. You respect and honor everyone. Where the western culture tends to have a different view of honor and respect. Western culture respect is earned and honor is reserved for those who are worthy. I tend to straddle Asian culture and Western culture having learned both. So naturally when I learned of this honor and how I could, and I personally think should give to your teachers/instructors/Kru, I was all over it.
Lets get back to the Wai Kru in Thailand. Kids often get dressed in their best clothing, or smartest uniforms. They present their Kru or teacher with a fruit, some rice, incense, and flowers. This is the traditional gifts. Some children can’t give all of that so they give what they can.
For us westerners it is similar to giving an apple to a teacher. This tradition of apple given to teacher has had several theories as to why it happened/s and two of the prominent ones are: a residual act from Europe people used to give a basket of apples to the teacher for payment. During the time when people were striking out going west late 1800’s to early 1920, people paid the teacher with what they had. For pioneers it was food, wheat, etc. However, while that is payment, for me it does not seem to have the same weight. It is similar, but the Wai Kru is on another level. Let me see if I can explain it better.
Wai Kru for Muay Thai
For Muay Thai, the art of Muay Thai, there is very spiritual and physical bonds that go with it. Most people see the violence, and the efficacy of the fighting style, however. there is so much more to it. Most of the time in the western world the nuance is lost on us.
Reasons I believe we don’t see the Wai Kru, minutia and history more:
The traditions are lost in translation.
A lot of people don’t want to fuss with that spiritual stuff, the honor, and or the history. They want the flashy, go out and take on every opponent.
Wanting to cater to the western group of people some teachers just forego the history and try to meet their clients needs.
Some of the teachers that are teaching today, were never taught, so they can’t and don’t know to pass it down to their students.
Some teachers know about it, but don’t want to seem like they are forcing their students to give a gift to them. (I see this argument, I see why they may feel this way, I can relate. However, this is why we as students should do our own research and learn as much as we can, so we can honor them.)
I could be wrong about the reasons above. There also could be more I am not thinking of. However, for what ever reason, this is not taught. We need to as a Muay Thai family educate each other. The onus is not only on the teacher. It is up to us as students to research, and learn as much as we can.
Wai Kru ceremony for Muay Thai has other levels to it. When a student wants to learn from a specific instructor, because his or her, knees are the best, they will go and present the instructor with this honor and gift and ask for the honor to be taught. This has been going on for centuries. This is still the practice as far as I understand from my instructor Tony. The instructor then takes the offering and then takes the student under their wing. When that student has learned all that instructor could teach that instructor and student will give the same honor in offering, to the next instructor in essence asking for the next instructor to take over and teach. The instructor may not accept the Wai Kru offering but that is personal decision. So the giving of the gift/honor is not a guarantee of acceptance.
The accepted offering acknowledges the student teacher bond. The student becomes part of that family that legacy that has gone back thousands of years and been passed down from teacher to student. You learn your new families way of fighting, you learn the families Wai Kru Ram Muay that is individual to each family/gym.
Wai Kru Honor Today
Today I and 3 of my fellow class mates honored our instructors/Kru with the Wai Kru offering. It was a momentous day. We had an instructor that was stepping back and handing over the lead of our program to the other two instructors. So we were all a little sad about that change to begin with. But I learned that October is the month when the students honor their instructors. So I figured this day was the day to give to our teachers.
I told my husband this is what we are doing, he agreed with it and encouraged me to do so. I told a good friend and Thai brother about it and he wanted to help out. We also asked one of our other brothers if he wanted to get in on this action as well. You see we are the only blue bands in the class right now and we decided to honor all of our teachers.
I went and bought the pieces. JD got the candles and I assembled the platters.
At the end of class, I asked for a moment before we bowed out and everyone left. I gathered the H, JD, A, and we presented the trays to them. I explained to our fellow students that this month is Wai Kru month and we are honoring our teachers, thanking them for teaching us, and want them to know how much we love them.
The offering was really touching for all of us. We handed it over and bowed three times. You could tell how much it meant to all of them. I spoke with each of my instructors and I know for certain, because she told me, in the 9 years that she has been teaching, none of her students have ever presented her with a Wai Kru gift.
We all were fighting some tears. I am sure there was some one cutting up an onion in the gym some where. Yeah that must be the reason we looked a little watery. Its hard to be tough when yo are so touched. It was my honor to give back to my instructors. We are a family and we are there for each other.
Then we bowed out for the night, and took a Family photo or two. =)
Family Photo
So today was a great day. It was an emotional day. There are transitions and changes happening, but we were able to tell our instructors how much they are loved and honored. We created a stronger bond with them, through the Wai Kru ceremony. I am so honored to have them teach me. I am so honored to be able to learn, grow, and delve deeper into the customs and history of the art I love… Muay Thai.
Thank you for reading. If you are reading this and did not know about the Wai Kru now you know more. I am not an expert this is just what I have learned from my instructors and through research. Spread this honor, share the love and appreciation for your teacher. The gift does not have to be super fancy. Just some rice, a flower or two, incense, and a candle. Do what you can if you are moved to do so. Have a great day, and continue to be the best you that you can be.
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.
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.
Thinks with Spinks 