Category: Muay Thai

Martial Arts 10/29/2019: “Don’t focus on kicking hard, you will just waste your energy”

What a quote to start the week on. “Don’t focus on kicking hard, you will just waste your energy.” Tony… This is such a Muay Thai mentality. In Muay Thai you are told that power comes later. It comes when you are throwing your strikes correctly. It comes when you are moving correctly. It especially comes when you are tired. Why does this happen? Its because your body is tired, so when you throw your kicks for instance, you will throw it in such a way that you don’t have the power to put it in hard. Hrm… Here let me see if I can explain it better.

What does not focusing on kicking hard do? Why does this matter? This seems so counter intuitive. I want to kick hard, shouldn’t I just kick hard? The reason is, this form of martial art is all about the mechanics of the body and how it moves. Instead of just using the strength in your muscles you use physics, and body mechanics. Anyone can put power in to a kick by trying to kick hard with your quads, glutes, and hamstrings. But how much harder can you kick when you use your leg like a bat on the end of a chain? You whip the leg with your torso like you would whip a flail with your arm. This lets not only the momentum that you can create with your muscles, but the huge amounts of force created since a small acceleration that happens at the center helps create a large velocity at the end of your leg.

The more tired you get, the harder you kick. Why? Because you are not forcing the kick. Your body is moving like you taught it, and your leg is going along for the ride.

Tuesday 10/29/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali

There are some days after class that I sit here in front of the computer and have a hard time of thinking of much to say. Most of the time it is cause I am so exhausted I just don’t have the faculties to put to words what I am feeling. Sometimes I am so tired, I just don’t have much to say other than I just want to shower, and sleep. Tonight is the latter kind of night. So here is an overview of what we did.

In Muay Thai we were working on isolating jabs and kicks. We worked on traveling, distance management, and Thank you Tony for a great class.

In Kali we worked on panastas (cut and cover), funnel tapping and sticky hands, and Paula soot. Then we did a circle drill. It is hard to fend off a gang of five people. Thank you Paul for a great class!

Thursday 10/31/2019 – 1 hour… Muay Thai – Halloween

Well I have been trying to listen to my body. I have been fighting congestion a small cold that my husband brought home so I stayed home last night and rested. Today I went in and only did Muay Thai for training. Returning home early so I can rest.

2 years ago I would never have thought to go and train, or work out at the gym on Halloween. I am so happy I did. I love Muay Thai. I love the people. I love my Thai family. I am so happy I went.

My husband and I went int costume and Khun Kru Krysta went in costume as well. I trained the entire time in costume and it was awesome. I should wear wings when training all the time. =)

Here are some pictures I was able to get. I was a Muay Thaicorn!

Enough of that frivolity. =) On to the training. Today we worked on the Inosanto 18 count.

Khun Kru Krysta broke it down into three digestible parts. Where we worked them working on our form.

  1. Striking drill part 1
  2. burn out, lead knee, lead kick done all the way down the mat and back as fast as you can.
  3. Drill part 2
  4. Burn out, rear knee, rear kick done all the way down the mat and back again as fast as you can.
  5. Drill part 3
  6. Burn out, jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow done all the way down to the end of the mat and back as fast as you can.
  7. Put part 1, part 2, and part 3 together and do the whole 18 count.

I don’t have permission to publish the entire 18 count here. I would never want to disrespect my teachers and the great Innosanto, whom I have had the pleasure to meet. So until I do. I will only mention part of one of the drills we did.

There was a small part where it seems my Khun Kru was watching and she said I had perfect form. She mentioned that it was really just great, and that it was not because of the wings. I was over the moon about it. The part I am talking about is a cross, a rear elbow, a knee, and a kick.

You know what was even better. I took the compliment as it was intended. I did not second guess her, or doubt my abilities. Yay… that is progress for me.

I had a great time today. I am glad we went home after though. I needed to just rest.

Friday 11/1/2019 – 1 hour… Muay Thai – Everyone starts out with the same tools

Today we worked on something called Hanuman climbing up the temple a.k.a. flying knees. We also worked on hop double kicks.

I have some… a form of a mental block. I often think I can’t jump or do some of these more acrobatic moves. I am working on it. I see it and think wow how in the heckity heck am I going to do that. Mental blocks are the worst some times. However, I still keep trying. Today was a day filled with those things that my brain says ohh heck no we are not able to do that. So it is a great learning time for me. Pushing me beyond what I think my limits are.

Tony mentioned that all people start with the same tools. What he meant by this is that, everyone has a teep, is taught kicks, knees, elbows, and punches. But not everyone processes it the same way. They may morph it to what works for them. The basic is still there, but they may get to it in a different way. He does not want me to get down on myself about not being able to do a move just yet. He says, “you will get there.”

Training:

  1. Warm up
    • Skip knees on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Jab, cross on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Skip knees on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Jab, cross on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Skip knees on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Jab, cross on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Skip knees on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Jab, cross on bag 30 seconds as fast as you can
    • Jump rope for what felt like 10 minutes but was probably more like 5 minutes.
  1. Rear knee, to lead teep, to walking lead knee
  2. 10 kicks right side burn out
  3. Parry the cross, to jumping knee
  4. 10 kicks left side burn out
  5. Lead teep, to rear flying knee (Hanuman climbing the temple), to hop double kick
  6. 10 kicks left side, 10 kicks right side.
  7. sparring

In training when he demonstrated the hop kick he said something that just clicked for me. Now this is not the first time we have been taught the hop kick, however, this is the first time that a light bulb went off and I understood the mechanics of it. He mention that at the beginning of the hop kick, to just pull the leg up like you are shielding, then put it down, and do the kicks. This may seem silly, like well of course… but for some reason my brain and my body did not understand each other. Today when he explained it like that, it felt like a puzzle piece just slipping into place.

At the end of the class not only was I doing the hop kicks, but I was also doing the Hanuman climbing the temple. I was doing it! Yay!

In sparring I had one of my class mates compliment me on my kicks. I am placing them well, and I am actually getting them in. We talked afterward and he mentioned that he did not know if I was just more relaxed in sparring or what but it was showing.

So yay today was a good day. I seem to have something to say today. One more day of training tomorrow and then I get a much needed. break.

Saturday 11/2/2019 – 2.5 hours… Muay Thai, Kali, and Silat -Asymmetrical Sparring, and Lead With the Heel

Woot today was a great day to train. H and I started on working the flying knees I am trying to get down. So we did that, and moved on to parry the cross to a jumping knee. We did this so I could get the leaping, pushing, movement down. Similar to the flying knee. The pictures above are of that training. I wanted to take pictures to see if my feet were leaving the ground and how far.

We worked on Kali, and Silat the rest of the time. Its getting cold upper 30 F, or lower 40 F. So we worked on Kali inside instead of staff class.

Kali –

Today we in Kali we work an asymmetrical heaven and full box with sword and shield. That was awesome. The main thing we had to work on was figuring out how to hold the shield to keep from getting hit. You might think ah whats the difference. However, there is a big difference in the way you angle your shield so that you can stop the incoming blow.

Today that is what we were working on and puzzling out.

Here is a video of us puzzling it out. We are not good at it yet, but we will keep working on it. It was fun trying to puzzle out the correct angles so that we don’t get hurt or hit.

Silat – Lead with your heels

We focused on the Puta Kepala, Biset Dolem, Sieko Kinjet (elbow compress), and then we learned a new very vicious or brutal way to end a fight. Put your heel on their chin, and walk through to break their arm.

Puta Kepala – you are redirecting your opponents head, you are facing them and using their moment put them on the ground.

Biset Dolem – you are facing away from your opponent, you control the body of your opponent taking moving their balance, weight and structure out from under them to put them on the ground.

Sieko Kinjet (elbow compress) – you are facing away from your opponent, and connecting hip to hip, you off balance them, and drive/compress your elbow in to their hip. This pushes them down onto the ground.

Once they are on the ground there are many things you can do to a person. You can knee on belly and arm bar them, or knee on belly and punch them. You can knee on belly and then drop knees into belly or face. When you drop the knee on belly, we started calling it knee on soul. You can return their knife to them or in them if they are attacking you with a knife. But the last one most vicious move we did was a… walk through to break the arm. You have their attacking hand or hand with weapon, you stomp their chin with your heel, keeping their shoulder up, then you hook your rear foot on their arm and walk through. This is not a compliance this is a break. This is a person is attacking you, and does not stop, you successfully got them on the ground and you still fear for your life, so you break their arm in hopes that they will stop trying to stab you. Here is a picture of me learning to do this in a very slow careful way.

It was a great day of training. I learned a lot. I worked on things I know. I was able to puzzle out things. Some days it is great to do that. Some days it is great to just move through the motions/strikes you know, and change it up. See how it feels to do it a different way.

Thank you for reading my blog. I am so amazed that you all read it. I started this blog to catalog my thoughts, and things I learned. This is a place I can look back and see how far I have come. I can see how much I have to work on still. I hope you all have a great weekend, and had a great week. I know I did. My respects to you and your family.

Martial Arts 10/22/2019: Avoid the Pointy Bits

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. =)

Wednesday 10/23/2019 – 2.5 hours… Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Muay Thai

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.

Here is a video of part of my training rounds.

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

  1. Jab, to front shield, to lead kick
  2. Kick burn outs
  3. Jab, cross, to front shield, to lead kick
  4. Kick burn outs
  5. Jab, cross, to front sheild, to lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, teep
  6. Jumping squats burn outs
  7. 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.

We worked on:

  1. Heaven 6 – 6 count drill sticks pointed to heaven
  2. Equis with low back hand and high back hand
  3. Redondo with low back hand and high back hand
  4. Abecedario – basic back hand drills

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.

Silat Training:

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:

  1. Basset Dal – rear facing to opponent inside leg sweep
  2. Basset Luar – rear facing to opponent outside leg sweep
  3. 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.

Martial Arts 10/15/2019: “Spank them with your leg”,”Don’t Feel Like Shit, Just don’t”

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:

  1. forward shoulder roll
  2. backward shoulder roll
  3. shrimp
  4. backward shrimp
  5. various stretches

Training:

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. Regaining posture when pulled in
  4. Regaining posture when pulled in by doing an airplane
  5. 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

  1. 3 minutes for each two rotations – bag work, teeps on one bag, and free form on another bag
  2. 3 minutes for each two rotations -Burpees
  3. 3 minutes for two rotations – Jump rope, pad work with Tony

Training:

  1. Lead horizontal elbow, rear horizontal elbow, lead vertical elbow, spinning rear elbow
  2. 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.
  3. Lead knee, step to lead knee, rolling vertical downward elbow
  4. 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:

  1. jump rope
  2. Bag work

Training:

  1. jump into leg kick, check distance with a jab
  2. Double jab, to jump into leg kick, to jump into leg kick
  3. Jump into leg kick, hook only small leg movement, cross, hook leg pivot a little more, then jump into a leg kick.
  4. Jump into leg kick, any 3 count with hands (jab, hook, cross, etc), jump into leg kick
  5. Jump into leg kick (this was just done so that we could get used to getting kicked in the leg.)

Cool Down:

  1. Crunches x 2 sets at 1 minute
  2. 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.

Friday 10/18/2019 – 1 hours… Muay Thai, “Muay Thai Hang Over”

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:

  1. Shadowboxing knees across the mats for 1 3 minute round. (ohh ouch my hip flexors)
  2. 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:

  1. Rear upper cut, lead upper cut (focusing on form and flow, making our hits smooth.)
  2. Rear upper cut, lead hook, cross, hook, lead kick, cross
  3. Rear upper cut, lead hook, cross, lead hook, body hook
  4. Pop the leather
  5. 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.

Martial Arts 10/08/2019: Wai Kru, Dislocated Rib, Difference between drilling a skill and application of a skill

New week of martial arts training. I started it off with a bang. I added running before my training at least three times a week. We will see how I do with this new change.

We started off the week with talking about and contemplation about drilling for flow/skill, and the application of a skill. What I mean is when we are doing a drill where we block, pass, and trap or hubud, we are working on a skill and learning flow. How to avoid a strike. However, in the real world when you have the persons arm pinned you would just then return a strike to an opportune area, like the neck or gut.

Tuesday 10/08/2019 – 3 hours… Running, Muay Thai, and Kali

With K one of my friends I dragged to Muay Thai and he loves it now.

We started out our training day, my husband and I by going on a 1.5 mile run. Then came back and hit pads for the remainder of the time till our Muay Thai class started.

Muay Thai – Teep to Kick works on our balance and opening up our hips

Timing the teep, to same side kick helps with balance and speed. We open up our hips and work in the full range of motion.

  1. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick
  2. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick
  3. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick, rear teep
  4. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, lead teep
  5. Pop the leather for the last part of class

Kali – Whobud

Working on flow drilling, helps us learn the energy, or feel of the attacker. We then learn how to deflect blows and then trap the arm of the attacker, so that we can return a blow. However, the training for flow is different than application on the street. For instance if I had passed, and trapped the attackers weapon and hand successfully, I would then attack a soft area that I could do damage so I could get away. I would not do a the simple return attack so that they could pass and trap my arm. But that is the difference between learning the flow/movement and using the skill in the street, or in a real life situation.

  1. hubud from 1 strike
  2. hubud from 1 to 4 strike
  3. hubud from 5 strike
  4. hubud flow from 1 to 4 and 5, then disarms

Thursday 10/10/2019 – 2.5 hours…Running, Muay Thai, Kali – Wai Kru

Kru Kristen, she is leaving, well stepping down from being full time instructor. I will miss her. She has been my instructor since I started Muay Thai. I wish her the best on her travels and adventures.

Today was a special day. An emotional day although we all tried to push our emotions deep down in and act tough. Not only did we do our training, I and some of my fellow students were able to present our teachers/Kru with a Wai Kru gift. I wrote up a separate blog post about it if you are interested in what Wai Kru is.

Mauy Thai Training:

  1. Jab, cross, lead kick, rear kick, teep
  2. Jab, cross, lead kick, lead teep
  3. Jab, cross, bob and weave, hook, rear kick, teep
  4. 5 kicks one side, 10 knees, 5 kicks the other side.
  5. Scoop teep, rear kick to leg, hook, jab, teep
  6. You lead teep multiple times, and when the opponent goes to scoop your teep, you fake a teep waiting for them to scoop, and then jab them.
  7. Teep multiple times, and when your opponent goes to sweep your teep, switch to question mark kick.

Kali Training:

Flowing from Hubud with #1 strike, to Hubud with strike #2, to cut and cover 1 through 5. We worked on disarms and wrist locks 1 – 15.

I have to work on the locks and disarms from the figure 4, those are newer to me and don’t flow so well. I need to remember to compromise the persons frame/spine. If you get them bent over sideways or forward, they are off balance and it is easier to disarm them.

However, when you use all of your skeleton, and frame well when you have pinned an opponents limb it is easy to control the limb even if they are fighting, or trying to muscle it out.

This was a great day of training.

Friday 10/11/2019 – 2 hours of Muay Thai – minute tweaks

We worked on shadow boxing, flow and technique. I started the night out working on my boxing twenty. We were told to get ready for our level 1 Thai test. This just boggles my mind. But I will get ready… work on conditioning and try to get the kicks and knees in.

At the level we are training, now we do minute tweaks. Today in Muay Thai practice we we were working on rear jab, cross, body hook, lead elbow. In that body hook, elbow combo, I was re-chambering causing my boxing flow to take extra time. So the tweak that Tony had me doing is you hit the body hook, don’t turn into it, pull your hand up to your face and just step in for the elbow. It made the flow smother, and took seconds off the time between body hook and elbow.

Small tweaks in just our stance, how we throw a punch, for instance using our bodies, instead of just trying to muscle it. Chamber and coiling body so that you can throw a better, more powerful punch.

I was told my form for my kids was great by Tony. Squee! My training partner was amazed at the power of my kicks, and teep. He said that particular teep was working for me and to keep doing it.

It is nice to hear the positive feed back. I am amazed when I hear I have good form. I know that I am still working on a lot of things. But it just goes to show when you put the pad time in, the mat time in, and the bag time in, you will eventually start to get better.

Friday night I had a rib get dislocated. Luckily it was right at the end of the training. However, it hurts. My body has done this before, so it is not new and scary. It hurts to laugh, it hurts to breath deep and it hurts to bend a certain way. I am going in to my chiropractor tomorrow to get it adjusted back into place.

All in all this is not a big deal for me, but I ended up hanging out with friends on Saturday night and when talking with some of them, I realized just how differently we see pain, and challenges. How this training changes you. It is not a huge deal to me because I have had them before, I know what to expect. It sucks for it to hurt, but it is not earth shattering. This pain is more of a constant annoyance.

When I told some of my friends about it. Their eyes went wide, and made exclamations about how tough I am, that is amazing, and that is crazy. When we train martial arts, bumps, lumps and bruises come with the territory. We know that there is a possibility of getting hurt. We try to train in a way as to mitigate that. By simply watching and correcting our form, not trying to kill our training partner, an wearing the correct gear.

If I had to get up and go do 3 rounds right now I could. Would it be super fun… nahh… but it would be doable. I would compartmentalize the pain and deal with the aggravation later. Maybe it just takes a certain kind of person. Maybe we who practice martial arts are a different breed. Maybe it is trained into us. However, I don’t ever hear my instructors saying work through that pain. They say the opposite, if you are hurt step out and tend to your needs.

I digress though… this is just food for thought.

All that above being said, I skipped Saturday training to let my body rest. I am working on listening to what my body is saying, instead of thinking I know best all the time.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great weekend. Keep working on being the best you, not some body else. My respects.

Wai Kru – The honor we can give to our instructors.

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.

Wai Kru – (Thai: พิธีไหว้ครู, pronounced [wâːj kʰrūː])

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:

  1. The traditions are lost in translation.
  2. 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.
  3. Wanting to cater to the western group of people some teachers just forego the history and try to meet their clients needs.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Martial Arts 10/01/2019: Kicking It, Stabbing It, Choking It- BJJ, Kali, Muay Thai

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.

  1. I worked on my Sit Up Sweep.
  2. I was taught the Kimura for when some one bases forward.
  3. 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.

  1. Distance drill with teeps
  2. Teep Lead Leg, Rear Leg Kick, Hook, Cross, Left Leg Kick
  3. Teep Lead Leg, Lead Round House Kick, Cross, Hook, Right Kick
  4. Minisota Shuffle
  5. Sparring x 3 – 3 minute rounds (focus on keeping distance)
  6. 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.

This is just a straight disarm off of a cut and cover drill.

Wednesday 10/02/2019 – 3 hours… BJJ, Muay Thai – Choking It, and Jump kicks

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.

Muay Thai: Jump Kick It

  1. bag work
  2. Shadowboxing – Cross, hook, rear knee – hook, cross, lead knee
  3. Jump kicking from the lead leg
  4. Jump kicking form the rear leg
  5. Jump kicking on the bag

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:

  1. Distance management drill with teep
  2. Lead Teep to left to right 4 count or (rear round house kick , hook, cross, left round house kick )
  3. pyramid kicks burn out
  4. Rear Teep to right to left 4 count or (Lead round house kick, cross, hook, right round house kick)
  5. 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 :

  1. Position of your body, hands, in relation to their body (break down their posture)
  2. Correct grip, and pressure
  3. Flow
  4. Execution

Friday 10/04/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai – reaction timing, speed, and staying springy

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

  1. Walking across the mat in Thai stance, keeping hands up for guard, and heels off the ground
  2. Walking across the mat in Thai stance, keeping hands up for guard, heels off ground, and adding a shield on both sides.
  3. He swings the tear drop bag at us and we have to time our round house kick to hit it and push it back.
  4. He swings the bag at us and has us kneeing it.
    Rotation rounds
  5. Lead kick, to Lead Jump Kick
  6. Hop knees
  7. Then working with Tony feeding us, jab, cross, hook, cross
  8. Jab, then hop rear kick
  9. Tear drop bag was, teeps and timing of teeps.
  10. Then working with Tony feeding us, uppercut, hook, cross
  11. 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. =)

One of my instructors friends and a fighter wanted him to give him birthday kicks. I recorded part of it. Here it is.

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:

  1. St. Sabbathial
  2. St. Miguel
  3. 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:

  1. Jump rope for 1 three minute round
    Working on speed from teep to kick
  2. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick
  3. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick
  4. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick, rear teep
  5. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, lead teep
  6. 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.

Martial Arts 09/23/2019: Hang On Like An Angry Sloth – BJJ, Muay Thai, Kali

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:

  1. Rock to balance
  2. Teeter Totter to balance
  3. Cross sit
  4. Cross sit to lunge and stand, then reverse

Training:

  1. 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
  2. Standing Cross Collar choke
    • Palm up/Palm up 50/50
      1. Make sure to have thumbs behind ears, wrist on neck
      2. Move head up with inserted arm to get under and grab collar
      3. Turn wrists toward neck, as you squeeze
      4. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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 –

  1. Jump rope 3 minutes
  2. Shadow Boxing 3 minutes

Boxing –

  1. Parry the incoming Jab
  2. Windshield wiper and shoulder check opponent
  3. Upper cut rear hand
  4. Lead hook
  5. Cross
  6. cut the corner, or get out
  7. upper cut burn out for 1 minute
  1. Parry or catch the jab
  2. Parry the cross
  3. Shuffle or lateral in and shoulder check
  4. Lead upper cut
  5. Cross
  6. Bob and weave out
  7. Upper cut burn out for one minute
  1. We then did 3 rounds of 3 minute sparring.
  2. This is where I got my hits in.
  1. 3 rounds on the heavy bag. I opted out of clench sparring to baby my shoulder a little bit.
  2. 1 round of flutter kicks
  3. 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!”

  1. 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.
  2. Eqquise, kumbiata switche, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
  3. Eqquise, inside deflect, paper cutter on the arm and breaking opponents posture.
  4. 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 –

  1. Warmup – jumping rope and stretching
  2. jab, cross, rear knee
  3. jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow, rear knee
  4. jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, rear knee, rear kick
  5. jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, lead knee, lead kick (I did a stutter step on this one)

Kali training –

  1. Inside deflect disarm/snake
  2. Inside deflect plus sign disarm/vine
  3. Outside deflect disarm/snake
  4. Outside deflect equal sign disarm/vine
  5. Eqquise, kumbiata switch, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
  6. 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.
  7. 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:

stick-to-itiveness

nounstick-to-it·​ive·​ness | \ stik-ˈtü-ə-tiv-nəs  \

Definition of stick-to-itiveness

: dogged perseverance : TENACITY

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.

Martial Arts 09/16/2019: Cross training – BJJ, Muay Thai, Kali Oh My

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Site your target before throwing the spinning back elbow. Like a dancer spins their head around and focuses on one area of the room.
  3. 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:

  1. eqquise (being sure to hit with intent, or putting the stank on it ), low back hand, high back hand.
  2. Figure 8 (being sure to hit with intent), to low back hand, high back hand.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Counter to the above take down, get double under hooks, square up and you can either:
    1. Snake bite the spine (pain compliance)
    2. 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.
  6. 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.

The Supplement Stacks I Use and Why I Use Them…Do they work?

Warning: This is a hotly debated topic among the fitness world. Some people really swear and live by them, and some people say they are not needed or only certain supplements are needed.

When I first started my fitness journey, supplements seemed to be popping out of the wood work. I could look at a fitness article without there being at least three adds for what would help me with energy, recovery, and muscle building. Or do I want the best performance for the time I put into working out? If so then use this product!

My head was spinning and I was so leery of being scammed that I tried to do as much research as possible. Because who does not want to get the best out of their workout, and not waste their time doing their workout? I decided to just change one thing at a time. I just wanted to get my body moving, and find a workout that I did not hate. That was my goal. I focused on working out then on my diet, trying to get all the nutrients in that I need. Because I thought and still do, that you can get most of the nutrients you need out of the food you eat. So even though I did research I still sat on all my information and just ruminated on it.

Now I do take supplements but use them just as what they are supplements. I take them to supplement my nutrition. I do not rely on them however have found them to be helpful.

If you are just starting out, and or just working out 2 times a week, at a very moderate to light level. Then I really don’t think you need to take these supplements. If you tighten up your nutrition and can get your protein, carbs, and fats in through food. Stick to that.

However, if you are training hard, doing HIIT workouts, training more than twice a day, and more than 30 minutes at a time… then I have found for my body, the supplements actually have helped me. Again, all I can speak to is what has and is working for me at the time. Experimentation is the key. Find what works for you and your body. Also of note, I am not a great meat eater. As a matter of fact I prefer plants to meats. Just as something my body processes better. So for that reason these supplements actually help me.

Ok So my “stack” of supplements I take are as follows:

(note: I am not sponsored by any of these companies and I am not paid by anyone to say this)

Pre-workout – BCAA’s + Caffeine – I take ON BCAA’s

Post workout – Recovery after strenuous workout, contains BCAA’s, B vitamins, electrolytes, replenishes glycogen, and carbohydrates –I take Vega Sport Recovery

Nuun – is an electrolyte replacement for hydration, low calorie, and low sugar. (15 calories, 1 g sugar, 300 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium, 25 mg magnesium, 13 mg calcium

Every day – Multivitamin, vitamin D, Glucosamine and Chondroitin ( This was prescribed to me by my doctor after my herniated disk. But is a great addition to your supplements as you get older for joint and cartilage repair.)

What is a BCAA? There are 20 amino acids your body uses to synthesize proteins. Nine of the 20 are considered essential, and your body cannot make these you must ingest them. Three of the 9 essential amino acids are the branch chain amino acids or (BCAA). They are Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine. As a primarily plant eater I have a hard time getting in quickly soluble proteins. When you take the right supplement, you get all the BCAA’s that your body needs to repair your muscles from a strenuous workout.

These are the 4 benefits of BCAA’s:

  1. Decrease muscle soreness- BCAA’s decrease muscle breakdown that can lead to soreness, so you have DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) for a shorter period of time.
  2. Builds muscle – BCAA’s leucine activates protein synthesis, to help build muscle
  3. Prevents muscle wasting – When your body is low on BCAA’s it will break down your current muscle and re-synthesize its proteins for what it thinks you need. This breaking down and re-synthesizing is normal body process, and the BCAA’s help prevent that even if its just a little bit.
  4. Reduce exercise fatigue – BCAA’s are used up when you exercise, and as the levels of BCAA’s decrease in your blood, your body releases tryptophan to your brain, which makes you brain think you are tired and fatigued. The theory is taking them before workout keeps the levels high in your blood and therefore you can work harder for longer.

You don’t need the BCAA’s before every workout, and you don’t need to drink the Vega Recovery after every workout. You want really want to take them only if you did or are going to do a hugely strenuous workout. Also you want to take time off taking the preworkouts that have added caffeine in them.

Here are some BCAA’ rich foods:

  1. Greek Yogurt
  2. Eggs
  3. Chicken
  4. Turkey
  5. Tuna
  6. Beef
  7. Milk
  8. Soy Powder/Milk
  9. Whey powder

Why Are These Supplements Great For Me?

Here is why they are great for me. Over the holidays, I ran out of BCAA’s. I went for a month without them, and I was doing fine. However, I noticed that my muscle fatigue and soreness was sticking around a bit longer. I took it again last night and had a much better sleep this last night. I woke up not feeling like my muscles had been run over.

Also during Thai Camp, I became desalinated. I took my BCAA’s in the morning and made sure I was drinking plenty of water. This is great for a normal workout but after about 4 hours of working out that day, water and pre BCAA’s was not enough. I got a major cramp in my calf, and needed magnesium, potassium, and salt replaced. It also took a massage therapist to help me calm the muscle down. I was facing another 3 to 4 hours of training that day, and I made sure I replaced what I lost in sweat, and what my body was burning through.

Again do your research, find something that will work for you. If you are vegan or vegetarian a great product I like and its called Vega. As with everything, look at the ingredients and make sure they source their ingredients from reputable places, and with good nutrition.

As always thanks for reading. My respects to you, and have a great day!

Martial Arts 09/10/2019: Muscle Memory

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

  1. Parry jab down and returning a jab right away. (This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
  2. Parry the jab slip and return a gut jab (This is better for the shorter people.
  3. Scoop the jab, pulling in your opponent, and then returning a over hand. (This is good for almost all people)
  4. 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.

  1. We worked on disarms, inside deflect which is plus sign disarm, and vine disarm.
  2. We worked on disarms, outside deflect which is equal sign disarm, and snake disarm.
  3. We worked on kumbiata switch to triangle chokes
  4. 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.

  1. Parry jab, and parry cross down, returning a cross to head(This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
    1. return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  2. Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a chest cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
    1. return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  3. Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a gut cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
    1. return body hook, head hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  4. 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.