I had the incredible ability and honor to be able to go to a 2 hour Muay Thai seminar with Nakapan Phugephorn. 1/26/2020
He is a Martial Arts legend and owner of Beta Academy in Washington, DC. “Nakapan is a passionate life-long martial artist with over 20 years of experience practicing, teaching and competing in the martial arts. He began his journey in 1993, studying Shaolin Kung Fu. Mental discipline and physical conditioning gained from consistent practice later lead him to a fruitful competitive career in the traditional fighting arts and included over 50 championship titles!” (credit: description taken from advert for the Muay Thai seminar flyer on the Pure Performance Martial Arts Center.)
I love going to learn skills and techniques from different Martial Artists. You get different points of view, different ways of attacking and executing a skill, and different skills.
In this seminar I learned some techniques that I have noticed other people doing. However, I have never, been able to dissect it and figure out how to do that skill. I was so excited when we were working on them. I love learning new techniques, and attacks, counters, and shields. I also messed up a lot. I am going to have to work on them more.
Nakapan said, “counter fighting, is the highest form of fighting, it is the hardest, and it is elegant.”
He also said, “counter fighting is not just waiting for some one else to attack. It is the art of drawing your opponent out, to attack you.”
This really resonated with me. I have been training and working to make myself better. My coach Tony said a few weeks ago that he wants to work with me to start working on my reaction time, and my counter fighting. At first my brain was being mean to me, telling me that my reaction and counters are crap. But hearing Nakapan, say that it is the highest form of fighting, that it is the hardest part of fighting. It made me realize… no it made my brain realize that it is the next part of my training. I am actually moving forward in training. I am honing my skills and I am working to be a great fighter.
I was really down on myself, but I realized something. So long as I have hope, the hope of getting better, the hope of improving, and the hope of being the best I can be, I can work and keep working to do anything.
Anyway enough scribbling down my thoughts and feelings, on to the training we did yesterday.
Five count drill
jab, rear leg kick
jab, cross, lead leg kick
jab, cross, hook, rear leg kick
jab, cross, hook, cross, lead leg kick
jab, cross, hook, cross, body hook, rear leg kick
Counter fighting drills
Lean back from opponents jab, return an overhand cross/rear punch, lead leg four count (lead leg kick, cross, hook, rear leg kick).
Perry jab from opponent, return an overhand cross/rear punch, lead leg four count (lead leg kick, cross, hook, rear leg kick).
Pop down opponent jab, and return a cross right away, lead leg 4 count (lead leg kick, cross, hook, rear leg kick).
Flow kick and finish with a lead leg four count (lead leg kick, cross, hook, rear leg kick)
you counter a inner lead leg kick from an opponent by (jumping, spinning, and landing on your lead leg away from opponents kick), and kicking simultaneously kicking the back of your opponents lead leg.
the more contact you allow opponent to get on your lead leg, the harder your kick to their back leg will be
Square back incoming leg kick and finish with a lead leg four count (lead leg kick, cross, hook, rear leg kick)
lateral back lead leg as incoming leg kick comes in to avoid being kicked, don’t shift weight to the now rear leg, but return same leg you lateraled back to round house kick from a south paw stance.
Teep as an opponent tries to do a rear leg kick (this is just timing, but will stop them dead in their tracks)
Nakapan said that a teep is the longest and fastest weapon you have, and when timed right will get to opponent before a leg kick, torso kick, or head kick can come in.
Sparring using the techniques we learned
I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to learn from Nakapan, and getting to meet him. He is very sweet, answers any questions, and wants to spread the love of Muay Thai. It seems from talking with him after the seminar, that he like Ajarn Chai want to spread Muay Thai and empower people to help others learn Muay Thai.
I also met some really cool people and hope to visit their gyms as well. I love that our Martial Arts community on the whole is open and loving. We try to be inclusive and understanding of all people. We are one big tribe.
Thanks for reading. If you have questions please feel free to ask and I will try to answer. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.
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.
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.
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
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.
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:
Jab, cross, lead kick, rear kick, teep
Jab, cross, lead kick, lead teep
Jab, cross, bob and weave, hook, rear kick, teep
5 kicks one side, 10 knees, 5 kicks the other side.
Scoop teep, rear kick to leg, hook, jab, teep
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is just a straight disarm off of a cut and cover drill.
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. =)
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:
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.
Woo this month in Muay Thai we are focusing on boxing. For the more advanced students Kry Kristen is focusing on the more technical side of boxing. She mentioned when she started Muay Thai she would throw noise punches out there that did not do anything just to get to kicks, however, when she figured out how to pivot and move her feet properly to get power into her punch it changed her game entirely. Anyway this week I completed 6.75 hours of training.
Tuesday 9/03/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali
So I know people learn in one of 4 ways. When I was a child they tested me and found I learn all 4 ways equally. This is… wait, I just read an article stating that the learning styles are not exactly accurate… however, when I was a little girl… Hrm… that makes me sound really old. But non the less… when I was little, they tested me and I learned all 4 ways equally. What are the 4 ways you ask? (Memorization, Visual, Auditory, and Doing/manual manipulation) Apparently your preferred method of learning changes based on what you are doing. You don’t learn math just verbally, and you can’t learn language very well just by seeing pictures. So what I was going to say goes out the window.
However, that all being said, and my verbose description aside, for me and martial arts visual seeing it done, verbal, and writing it down is really helping me. So I am going to make another chart for boxing ranges and High/Mid/Low lines shots. Here is the chart below.
For today’s class, Kru Kristen was explaining the different areas for strikes in boxing. How if your opponent goes for the high line, you drop your level and hit say a hook to mid section of your opponent and get the mid line etc. If the go low, you guy high, or mid line. She did not want to be to esoteric but thinking of the opponents body in terms of shapes and areas in those shapes to strike are helpful she said. For me this description is very helpful. I love the thought of this. I am an artist and I think and see shapes all the time. I see the way things are made up, so thinking of my opponent in shapes and how they are made up, to see where to hit in response to something just made a light go on. (see doll above, for shapes and strike areas)
Training:
1 x 3 minute round jump rope warm up
1 x 3 minute round plus sign range management drill
1 x 3 minute round plus sign range management drill with 1/4 turns
The goal of this drill is to focus on pivot, and foot placement on the punches, the head movement and the deep step, then the shoulder check to close range. You are going to be in the inner mid line with the hook before you bob and shoulder check.
Jab
Cross
Hook
Cross
Bob
Deep step in to right side of opponent and shoulder check
Either get out, or continue to press the strikes
Cross to Hook burn out drill
The goal of this drill is the same, pivot, foot placement, and range management, also adding change in level of strikes.
Jab
Cross
Hook to body
Hook to head
Bob
Deep step in to the right side, and shoulder check
Either get out, or continue to press the strikes
Body hook, Head Hook, Cross burn out drill
Windshield wiper shoulder bump drill
Windshield wiper = Lead hand covers belly, rear hand covers side of face usually on lead side face. Reverse when bobbing other side, rear hand covers belly, lead hand covers face.
Foot work, is female triangle, or rear step out to side of opponent.
Bob with lead shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
Bump shoulders
Bring feet back together, and hands up covering face
Step with lead foot to lead foot to side of opponent
Bob with rear shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
Bump shoulders
Windshield wiper shoulder bump drillwith hook, or uppercut
Foot work, is female triangle, or rear step out to side of opponent.
Bob with lead shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
Bump shoulders Bring, throw a hook/upper cut to opponents head (for drill shoulder so you don’t hurt your opponent)
Step with lead foot to lead foot to side of opponent
Bob with rear shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
Bump shoulders throw a hook/upper cut to opponents head (for drill shoulder so you don’t hurt your opponent)
Kali – 6 count drills
In Kali today we covered the basic 6 count drills. It was nice to work on something we have done before and we have the muscle memory for it already. Some days its nice not having to tax you brain. Muay Thai did that for us today already, so tonight was nice. I turned off my brain and just went through the movement. I tried to make my movements more smooth. Tried being the operative word there.
Wednesday 9/04/2019 – 1 hours of training Muay Thai
We worked on the same things we did yesterday, however, today we added one more drill. Also I worked with a girl who is brand new and because of that I went slower, tried to help teach her how to hold pads, and just made sure she was comfortable. While I go slower, I work on my form. Today I worked on my pivot and the escapes.
Escapes we worked on:
Lateral step in and bump with shoulder to mid section, then bump with other shoulder to create space.
Boogie out ( a way to get out of the corner, or cut a corner)
Quarter turned out and side shuffle out
Warm Up:
Monster walks with resistance band forward and backward across the mat
Side lounges across the mat with resistance band down and back across the mat
Contra Lateral Movement, bear crawls, side ways across the mat and forward and backward across the mat
Agility Ladder drill – Ali Shuffle x 3 minute round
Found the Agility Ladder drill on youtube so you can see it:
New combo we worked on today:
Jab
Cross
Lead upper cut
Cross
Quarter turn and side shuffle out
Today was a good day. Kru Kristen complimented me on my form and movement. She said the more I get into boxing stance. The more I move properly. I am using my body for my strikes and moving my head. That is great news, because when I spar I tend to feel very stationary. I need to learn to move and keep my movement dynamic.
Thursday 9/05/2019 – Took today off, scoliosis was hurting me and causing headaches all day.
Friday 9/06/2019 – 1.75 hours of training Muay Thai – Balance is king, and making your Thai pretty
I love working with Tony, he has a different perspective and he has points of view I had not thought of. When you train with a instructor in Muay Thai, and you go out there in the world, you are representing your trainer/instructor. Muay Thai practitioners really believe, that you represent all of your instructors. (I to believe this, and try to show respect in all things, and only do what would make my instructors proud.) I have mentioned it before, but when you learn from a instructor, when they take you under their wing and decide to teach you, they are taking you into their family. They are taking you into their lineage.
I am lucky and honored to have Tony, Kru Kristen, and Khun Kru Krysta instructing me.
Today while we were training he talked with us about making our Thai pretty. We are representing him out there in the world and he loves it when people recognize his families art as pretty. He emphasized taking the power out of the kicks and the knees. He wants us to put them out there, make them pretty, work on our balance and then the power comes later. He really likes us to feel our bodies and how they work. You can see this in the warm ups we do. I really love the differences between my instructors. I get the best of so many worlds.
I started my workout 30 minutes before class started.
Training:
5 minutes of stretching
5 minutes walking knees across the mat
10 minutes bag work for, working on kicks, teeps to kicks, and closing the distance for knees
10 minutes of windshield wiper bump drill first on bag, then with partner
Training in class:
10 minutes of jumping rope
1 round of easy walking kicks to shields, using both orthodox and south paw stance.
(He wanted us to losen up our hips, get our body moving, and feel how our hips move. Because all to often we are tight we are holding our hands up to cover our faces which is good, but then we tighten everything else.)
1 round of rear driving knees
20 push ups
1 round of pad holding for your partners rear driving knees.
(Tony emphasized that the pad holders responsibility is to hold well for your partner. If they are shorter you should lower your stance and hold it lower for them. His contention is that yes a shorter person can kick higher, but that is a different motion and different kick, than say a torso kick at the shorter person level.)
20 push ups
1 round of lead teep, to switch step to lead knee.
(The key here is balance. You want to be able to teep a person to stop them from coming forward, but not eject them. You then want to have your shield up for the second before you switch step into a driving knee.)
20 push ups
1 round of holding pads for your partner
(The key here is that he wants the pad holder to not move back on the teep, and to get enough resistance and push back that the knee-er knee is pushed back down and then can get back into stance again. We need to be good pad holders so that our partner can work the drill correctly too. )
20 push ups
2 rounds of sets of 50 machine gun kicks.
( We worked both sides. after about the 200th kick I was gassing. He wanted the power taken out of it and for us to feel the movement and get the speed in. We ended up doing about 250 kicks per round)
Today was a great day of class. I loved it. I am glad I took the day yesterday. I could have pushed through but the way I was feeling was not conducive to a great training day. Some days I just have to take it off. I am slowly coming to grips with that.
Also today I was working on putting more weight on my back leg, and less on my front leg. I have a habit of leaning forward in my stance and that is not good. I makes me slower and less able to react quickly and reduces my power. Tony wants us to feel our bodies and how they move. I noticed my driving knees were so much more powerful when I just leaned back more on my rear leg. This was a light bulb moment for me. We are told to do just that lean back more, but it is hard to feel/see what they are talking about till you drill it out and figure it out on your own body.
Saturday 9/07/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Staff – waking up on the wrong side of the bed
Today was one of those days where when you wake up and all the little things that irritate you or upset you through the day add up, you wish you just had not gotten out of bed. Yeah… today was that day. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed as I heard my elders say when I was a wee little girl.
I won’t list all the things that made it bad, or annoying, or sad, just that it was, and so it colored my day. It also made me doubt myself and have to cut out of staff class just to go check that I had unplugged a waffle iron. I wanted to make sure I did not burn the house down. So I missed a good half of staff class.
I had the pleasure of working with my trainer/instructor Khun Kru Krysta and I got to see all of my Thai family and my Kali family. That was nice. I shown up, and I tried to put the work in. As my friend said to me today, “even if you only put in 25% while you are here, you are here and you tried. You did not give up when you had a bad day!” So yeah I did that.
Training today was all things we have done and have been studying. This is good. This is great, because I did not have to over think what I was doing. I could just let for the most part muscle memory take over. Even though I felt like the kicks I was putting in were terrible. I was putting them in, and correcting as I was going.
Staff – We worked on various redondos and backhands.
Striking/Muay Thai Class – we worked on catch, parry, and returning 4 counts to opponent, teeping them and then getting out.
This is a video of me working on some of the drills we did in class. As you can see I am working on my technique. I am just not 100% today.
Well I hate ending on a down note. Wait a second it is not a down note. I went to class I worked things out. I did not let the little things stop me. I might have had a moment here and there that got me down, but I worked through it.
Thank you all for reading. If you have any questions feel free to ask. My respect to you and I hope you follow your dreams to become the best you that you can be.
6.5 hours of training this week. Its been another great week of training. I had some hiccups in my week. Work, and life got in the way, so I missed my weight lifting workout, and got some needed chiropractic adjustments. This is a holiday week for us in the U.S. so there is no class on Saturday.
Tuesday 8/27/2019 – 2.5 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali
Muay Thai – Pra Jiad test prep
In Muay Thai today we practiced the fundamentals. We worked only on the Full 4 counts. The Thai 4 counts that he added to and developed by Guro Dan Innosanto. He took original Thai 4 counts and added 4 more. Starting with the Jab, and Cross.
Thai 4 counts are:
Left to Right –
left kick
right cross
left hook
right kick
Right to Left –
right kick
left hook
right cross
left kick
Left to Left-
Left kick
Right cross
Left hook
Left kick
Right to Right
Right kick
Left hook
Right cross
Right kick
The added combinations are:
Jab, cross, left to right
Jab
Cross
Left kick (walking kick)
Right kick (walking kick)
Jab, cross, right to left
Jab
Cross
Right kick (walking kick)
Left kick (walking kick)
Jab, cross, left to left
Jab
Cross
Double left kick (speed kick)
Jab, cross, right to right
Jab
Cross
Double right kick (speed kick)
We then worked on pop the leather where our partner got to do a 4 count then we got to do a 4 count.
A lot of power in Muay Thai comes from the hips. So when you throw a punch you are throwing your body and hip as well. Sometimes pivoting sometimes not but surely using your hips. Its all in the hips.
Kali – Saint Uriel
Woo in Kali we worked on a new running saint, Saint Uriel. But I am getting ahead of myself.
We worked on:
umbrella 6
Umbrella 8
Umbrella 7 (which always takes a minute to get used to)
Umbrella 18 (two sets of umbrella 7, with a transition)
Saint Uriel
I had a blast. My brain kinda bent, but was not melted today. After a Thai class I love having Kali. Its a great way to wind down the physical and get your mind going then I pass out when I get home and showered.
Wednesday 8/28/2019 – 1 hour of training Muay Thai
Today we trained for 1 hour. We worked on basics. Knees to kicks, working on range management (whether to do a leg kick, torso kick, hop kick, or stutter kick). When we go back to basics we get to work on our form and foot work. Which is supper important.
Warm up:
1 x 3 minute round of jump rope
1 x 3 minute round of shadow boxing
Training: (manage your range, and choose leg kick if you are two close, torso kick if you moved them a little with your knee, and if you moved them a lot do a hop kick)
Rear knee to Lead kick
Lead knee to Rear kick
Lead knee to Lead kick (focus on stutter step, to decrease time between strikes)
Rear knee to Rear kick (focus on stutter step, to decrease time between strikes)
30 sit ups
50 Russian twists
Stretching
That is all for today. I got a good sweat in, but it was not super taxing. I had fun, and I worked on form.
Thursday 8/29/2019 – 1.5 hours of training Muay Thai – Pra Jiad Test!
I was awarded my blue pra jiad! Woot!
Today was the pra jiad test. I was so excited. We get to see just how much we have learned, and how many skills we have picked up. Also today my left elbow is giving me hell. It hurts and I was annoyed it hurt. But this is part of Thai Boxing. Injuries will happen, its how you treat them, deal with them and train around them that matters. So I just did not throw the punches in with my left hand full force, and I made sure that my form was perfect as can be on my holding pads. One last thing I did was make sure my partner knew my elbow was being a bum and that I was going to not hit hard with that arm.
Kru Kristen had us separate in three rows of people. She had us start with a technique demo. To give you an partial example we did the following:
Boxing stance
Kicking stance
Elbows #1, #2, #3, #4, #9
Knees
Some kicks
Then she had us break into pairs and drill the following: (not in this order)
Trigg 10
Boxing 20
Full 4 counts
Four boxing hits and out
2 x 3 minute conditioning rounds (three kicks hard one side, three kicks hard other side, then clench and 5 knees)
Pop the leather
It was fantastic. It was hard, and the last two conditioning rounds had me gassed at the end. I love working that hard. I loved testing to see where I was. I made mistakes and I could see them, but I kept going.
So yeah I got my blue pra jiad. I could not be happier and or more proud. Woot!
Friday 8/30/2019 – 1.5 hours of Muay Thai Training, with Tony – Body Hooks
Today we got to work with Tony. He is an amazing instructor and has ring experience. He wanted us to focus on body shots today, and getting in for the jab cross and laying in the power with the body shots.
I look forward to Tony’s classes cause I know he is going to work us hard. His classes tend to be more conditioning, with an equal amount of skills training.
Before we started class I was working on the boxing 20, trying to make my flow better and keep my strikes coming in time, and keep moving. I also noticed after looking at the video among other things I need to bring my elbow up for my hooks. Sigh… but I am learning and hopefully getting better.
The combo is:
Jab
Cross
Hook
Cross
Bob and weave
Cross
Hook
Bob and weave
Hook
Cross
Cover incoming right body hook
Left Upper Cut
Cross
Cover incoming left body hook
Right Upper Cut
Hook
Cross
Slip the incoming Supper Man Overhand punch
Either should into opponents mid section, or deliver a right body hook
Left hook
Overhand Cross
Here is the video.
Training:
1/4 mile run
1 x 3 minute round of jumping low hurdles with both feet sprinting to the end and jogging back
Jab, cross, body hook
Jab, cross, body hook, head hook, cross
Left horizontal elbow, clear pad or hand, to throw right horizontal elbow.
1 x 3 minute round of conditioning kicking. 5 rapid/machine gun kicks, on the left and right hand side.
1 x 3 minute round of jumping rope
It was a fantastic class. I had a great time, and I definitely got my conditioning in. I get to work with a great group of people.
Thanks for reading. I hope you all had a great week. I sure did. I passed my pra jiad test or “powered up” as my daughter described it. I had a blast and got to work with my team mates my extended family. My respects to you all. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.
This picture was sent to me courtesy of Niki. She is an awesome lady and she was a great friend made at Thai Camp.
Friday Day 3 at camp 7/26/2019
These are the stats that my Fitbit recorded during this day: 35,136 steps 5500 calories 300 active minutes
I don’t know that I have to say much more than that above. Just the shear amount of steps, calories burned, and active minutes should give you a good indication of how that day went, and what it was like.
However, I want to catalog this adventure and save it so I can look back at it. As I mentioned in the last Thai Camp post, day 2, I was told day 2 was the worst. I think however, day 3 was the worst day. My body was exhausted, my feet hurt, my muscles were so tired I felt I had to jump start them with a Dopio (double shot of espresso).
I was excited, and tired, and worried I would not make it through the day. I was happy to see the people I had met and made friends with.
I am sure almost everyone has heard this saying. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Or something similar. There may be something accurate about that saying.
What doesn’t kill us may make us stronger as a group, according to findings from new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research suggests that, despite its unpleasantness, pain may actually have positive social consequences, acting as a sort of “social glue” that fosters cohesion and solidarity within groups: “Our findings show that pain is a particularly powerful ingredient in producing bonding and cooperation between those who share painful experiences,” says psychological scientist and lead researcher Brock Bastian of the University of New South Wales in Australia. “The findings shed light on why camaraderie may develop between soldiers or others who share difficult and painful experiences.”
I am not saying my camp mates and I went through the hell of war. But we all did push our bodies to the limit. We worked hard, and we tried hard. We all were hurting by this point, and we pushed through. We helped each other. We propped each other up and tried to keep each other going.
To say I feel a kinship with these people is so true. They are my extended and chosen family. They truly have mine and our friends health and well-being at the forefront of their thoughts. I have never felt so loved and accepted from the first step into an event. No one was “to good” to answer questions, and even my introverted tenancies at times, I loved just talking and getting to know these people. I cannot say enough how awesome all of the people in Thai Camp were. When my instructor/teacher says we are all family. I know partly where she is getting it from. Ajarn Chai himself says we are his kids, his family, we all belong to his family. It was amazing and beautiful. This is also true cause Thai Boxing/Muay Thai, is and has been passed down through family, and each style is indicative of what family you learned it from.
Training for the day: (notes: credit Khun Kru Krysta S, and Kru Caro, I have also added to it from my notes.)
Jab
Rear kick to body
Partner presses forward
Side step and Quarter turn then curved left knee
Partner feeds cross
Scoop cross
Return right elbow #8
Partner throws hook
Inside cover hook
Spinning right backward downward elbow
Spinning left back upward elbow
Return elbow #6
Grab and full plumb
Partner feeds cross
Step 45 to outside
Lead hand on forehand
Rear hand just above elbow Left #8 or Tach Mala elbow
Partner feeds lead hook
You High cover and grab neck
Right #4 elbow
Partner fees rear kick
Check / shin up block
Rear hand goes on top of head
Lead hand checks partner’s right arm
Pull into rear curved knee
Partner feeds lead upper cut
Fade back (same as if for kick) or step back and lean to avoid upper cut.
Rear curved knee with high guard (may not be able to reach head this time)
Long foot jab/teep to move partner away
Or if too close for foot jab/teep, follow with left #8 elbow then right #6 elbow, and then grab for clinch
From Left to Right: Ajarn Chai, Ajarn Trigg, Khun Kru Krysta, Ajarn/Coach Greg Nelson, then me in the front.
I am going to break out of the drills we did for a second, to talk about a person I never thought I would meet. His name is Ajarn Trigg. He is an amazing boxer, and in our school we do several of his drills. Namely the Trigg 10 as we called it.
This man is amazing. He is the one that is the tallest individual in the picture here. So I don’t normally respond in a fan girl sort of way. I have met other celebrities, and that is great. But the inner little girl in me was squeeing the entire time. When I met all these people that my instructors/Kru love and talked about all the time. These people who are the best of the best in this martial art were there to teach us. I could sometimes only barely hold it together.
Ajarn Trigg held pads for me, and worked with me on my stance. It was all I could do to keep myself together, focus and work hard to make him, and my kru happy. When we were done with the drill though I shook his hand, and wai’d at him and thanked him. Then I ran off hopping and skipping and saying I got to meet Ajarn Trigg and I got to work with him. Squee!!! I am still amazed and it has been weeks.
We started with what my gym and Kru called the Trigg 10. We all lined up, we counted off, and were separated into lines. Ajarn Trigg would call out a number say #3 and we would triple jab. Each number or corresponds with a strike. I was next to a girl I met that was from Luisiana. I love her she is amazing and so sweet. She was looking a little lost, and when he would call out a number like #7 I would say, “jab, cross.” I would call out the strikes you had to do. She looked over at me and said, “bless you, and thank you.” She was so grateful that I was calling out the shots so she could do it with us. We talked later and she asked me if my instructors had us doing it. She said she had never heard this drill before. I was happy to help her.
I digress though. Let me get back to the training we did with Ajarn Trigg.
Training with Trigg for the day: (notes: credit Khun Kru Krysta S, and Kru Caro, I have also added to it from my notes.)
Partner jabs
You jab
You Jab
Partner Jab, Cross
Partner Jab
You Jab Cross
Hook
Return Cross, Jab, Cross
Back up jab 3x
Forward jab 3x
Circle L jab 3x
Circle R jab 3x
Quarter turn right cross
Wipe right
Shovel hook
Overhand hook
Cross
Wipe left
Shovel hook
Overhand cross
Wipe outsid
Jab rib
Wipe inside
Cross
Body hook
Wipe outside
Overhand right
10 count straight punch drill1 or as we call it Trig 10
Jab
Double jab
Triple jab
Straight right
Double straight right
Triple straight right
Jab Cross or JR
Cross Jab or RJ
Double jab, straight right
Double straight right, jab
I have to say this day was amazing. I was so excited and proud of myself for finishing and completing day 3. There were times where I was so tired, I did not think I could make it. I pulled through and did it though. I got to meet some of the greatest martial artists and I got to work with them. I got to make deeper connections with people and grow my chosen family. I love the people we shared a house with, and I can’t wait to see them all again.
Thank you for reading. I have one more post for Thai Camp complete with dropping my trousers story, and Thai Kru tests. My respect for you all.
