2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali. This blog entry is going to be short and sweet. I am tired, and need to get to bed. Its been 5 days and my hip flexors are still sore. I thought I was weird and that my body was just being a pain in my tushy… But apparently it is normal. This happens when you work out for almost a week straight every day for almost 8 hours a day. I know each persons body is different, but I should not get down on myself and my body for doing what it needs to do to repair.
Muay Thai
We worked on the same things in Muay Thai that we did last Tuesday. Distance management and entries, from knees and kicks. To getting out of the pocket, evasions and guarding/shielding kicks.
Kali – Disarms
In Kali we worked on the same things we did on Tuesday as well.
Snakes, and Vines, and disarms. It is good to keep in mind that disarms are a sometimes happen thing, they don’t often happen and according to some world class martial art practitioner like Guru Dan Inosanto they tend to happen by accident.
So relying on a disarm you hope to achieve is selling yourself short. Learn lots of tools, work with the ones that fit your style, that you like, and use those. I think that if you try to learn them all you will find what works best for you. When you do and you use them, you will become a much better martial artist.
Today I took a video of some of the snakes and vines we were doing. you will see the equal sign, the plus sign, snake with wing, and snake with knife hand. What you will also see is my foot work today is for trash. For some reason I just did no keep my footwork up. So that means executing the moves and getting off the line is much more difficult. Anyway, it is below if you wanna see.
Like I said this one is short, and I did not have the time or energy to go into great detail.
Have a great day! Thanks for reading, and keep being the best you can be. Remember the two most important things in Muay Thai is respect and discipline. Respect to you all.
2 hours of training. I still feel it from Thai Camp. I got in on a red eye at 7 am yesterday and had to work last night. While I had a nap yesterday after I got home, I had a nap today. I am still tired. But doing well. So today is our regular training day.
It was really nice to get back on the mats. I had so many people welcome me back and ask about Thai camp. They also congratulated me on completing it and making it. It was really nice to be back in my home. The area I am comfortable in.
So today Khun Kru Krysta told me, “to take it easy, and that is an order.” Kru Kristen was surprised I was in for training today. =)
So I guess other people might not have been in. I can say my muscles are still tired, and my hip flexors are sore still. But I did it.
Enough gabbing, here is what we did. Muay Thai Combos from Thai Camp
1 round of jump rope
Feeder Jabs, and then right kicks
You side step, or move leg out of the way
You teep
Feeder feeds a right kick then a cross
You parry the cross, with left hand
You cover with right hand, grab back of neck and then knee feeder
Feeder right kick
You Shield kick
Feeder feeds a lead hand upper cut
You lean step back and lean back with left arm down to the side, and right hand covering right hand side of face.
Right knee, to right Kick
Kali
In Kali we worked on a entry with jabs creating noise or distraction. The finished with an Cross, hook, cross.
We worked on: Disarms both Snake and Vine
Vine disarms – are weapon assisted disarms, in this instance with a stick
Plus leaver disarm with the stick, using an indide deflect
Off of an equis feed, or strike #1 and strike #2
Inside deflect, and control opponents arm
Strike a #4 or back hand shot to opponents ribs
Slide controlling hand to end of opponents stick
Strike hand of opponent holding stick
Making a plus sign with sticks use your stick to leaver opponents stick out of opponents hand
Equal leaver disarm with the stick, using an inside deflect
Off of an equis feed or strike #1, strike #2, strike #1
Outside deflect, and control opponents arm
Slide your stick along their stick and under opponents wrist making an equal sign
Turn over your hand, and slide your other hand along stick to their hand to grab and wrench out of their grip
Inside Snake disarm
Off of a Strike #1 inside deflect
Snake arm down and around counter clockwise
Look at palm of your hand and turn your whole torso around to pull stick out of their grip in your arm
Outside Snake disarm
Off a Strike #2 outside deflect
Snake arm down and around clockwise
Either wing it out of their grip, or blade hand and squat to take stick from opponent.
Below is a paper doll I made for the 17 count. So the numbers I am referring to above are here below.
Then we worked on Kali sparring with a soft stick, and boxing gloves. One person had gloves and one had a soft stick. We had to work on our distance management, getting in for the boxing and keeping the other person at bay for the soft stick.
Today was a really fun day. I did not push it to hard. I had a good time. I got to see my fellow classmates and Martial Arts family again. As always I try to put up terms when I remember them, into the glossary (What does that even mean?) if you are interested. I use it to remember terms myself. It is a living document, and will keep being added to. If you practice Kali/Escrima/Silat/JKD or Muay Thai and I made a mistake let me know of course. I will fix it.
Thank you for reading, and if you have questions let me know. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.
Oh man where do I start? 4 days, 10 hour days of training Muay Thai. Working with the best of the best in Martial Arts. I am going to have to break these posts into digestible chunks. I just got home off my flight and am starting to decompress. I got home, showered, started a load of laundry, and took a 2 hour nap.
We did 250 rounds the entire weekend. That is not including instruction and practice. Rounds being 3 minutes with 30 second burn outs. We worked in 5 different stations. Each of the 5 stations we did 4 rounds per station, and many many laps around each station. (note: some of the rounds were 2 minutes, but you get the picture.)
The camp was all outside, in nature, no air conditioning and no gym mats. We worked on uneven ground, with pot holes, grass, gravel, dust, and dirt. We were all sweating up a storm, and we were all working our rear ends off.
This camp was put on by the WBTA (World Thai Boxing Association). It was started by the living legends themselves, Arjarn Chai (Surachai Sirisute) and Guru Dan Inosanto themselves.
It is a camp for instructors and some select students by invitation only. We go to hone our Muay Thai skills and bring them to the next level.
I was asked to come just a month before camp and had less than 4 weeks to condition up. I was honored and amazed to be asked. I was scared I would not be ready, and that I would not make it all the way through camp. I have been told there are people that did not make it and people that leave after the second day.
I knew I was going to learn so much, and that I was going to be pushed to my limits. I was going to be asked to perform like a top notch athlete or like a Thai Fighter. What I did not account for was the community, the family, the love and support that everyone gave, and shared. I now have an extended family of support and love. People that I can ask questions of and know they will help me on this journey. They will help me cultivate my skills for Muay Thai.
I cannot thank Ajarn Chai, and Guru Dan Inosanto enough for taking the first steps to bring Muay Thai and Kali to the United States. For their continuing dedication to spreading and teaching future generations about Muay Thai and Kali. For creating such a wonderful family such as the WTBA and for being so gracious to us all. I cannot thank all the Ajarns and all the instructors enough.
I have a lot of decompressing to do and a lot of notes to go through. But I will post more about my adventure, my learning, and my love for Muay Thai. I will write about all my experience at Thai Camp. Also The food is/was fantastic.
I was invited back again next year, and I can’t wait. But I need to rest now. =)
Thank you for reading, keep your hands up to protect your face, and keep being the best you that you can be. Respect to you all.
this is my actual leg, no models were abused in the taking of this picture
4 hours of conditioning training. I did not run today. It was 96 degrees Fahrenheit or 35.56 degrees Celsius outside I was not going to run in that. It would have just sapped my energy and I would have not gotten the training rounds in that I wanted to. I don’t like running and that would have been miserable. I run as a cardio component to my workouts, but not for funsies. I tell people I am a water mammal. I used to be a competitive swimmer, and would only run for cross training.
Muay Thai camp is just around the corner. I leave on Tuesday, and it is 4 x 10 hour days of training with the best. I hope I can keep up. =) I hope my form is not crap, I know it breaks down the more tired I get. So I just have to work on making it awesome. Kru Krysta has said my knees are so much better in just a few weeks.
Per Kru Krysta I am taking tomorrow off, hitting it hard on Saturday, and then taking Sunday, and Monday off. Tuesday I will be flying.
Monday I have an appointment with my Chiropractor. One last adjustment before I go put my body through hell. I am both excited and have trepidation.
Mostly I just want to honor my instructors and make them proud. I also want to learn everything. I want to improve on my technique and I want to experience this.
Anyway enough babbling here was what I did:
1 x 3 minute round of jump rope warm up ( I did not count this in on my rounds)
1 x 3 minute round of shadow boxing ( I did not count this in on my rounds)
16 rounds of hell/heck/poopy, I am fine no really I am.
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power. My partner and pad holder would call out 1 kick, that was for power, then he would call out 3 kicks left side, and I had to do those for speed. Taking the power out but putting speed and flow into it.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest (Note: at this point I am gassed, that is a lot of kicks)
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest (this is the point where you want to die, or be ded, but no sitting or laying down, must just walk it off.)
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest (dead, just dead, but keep trying)
1 x 3 minute round of punching and elbows,( jab, cross, elbow), (jab, cross, body shot) indicated by if the focus mitt was in the air, or if he patted the belly pad.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of punching and elbows,( jab, cross, elbow), (jab, cross, body shot) indicated by if the focus mitt was in the air, or if he patted the belly pad.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round on the heavy bag, 30 second burn out of knees and two kicks.
15 second rest
1 x 3 minute round on the heavy bag, 30 second burn out of knees and two kicks.
15 second rest (fin… for now… I stopped there, cause I had class in 20 minutes)
Thai Class – Get in and get out
Thai class we worked on more clenching, defending an elbow attack with a pillar block, then returning a punch combo, like jab to hook, or cross, jab. The deciding factor is where the elbow is coming from, and what opening you have.
Then the upper ranking armband students were split off and we did clench sparring. Whew boy, I was tired. But I got some good pointers on how to deal with taller people. And at 5 foot nothing everyone is taller than I am.
Also Kru Kristen mentioned again, our motto, get in and get out, or often said you go all the way in or all the way out. If you are being aggressive say, then you may want to go all the way in. If you are defending or don’t want to get hit, you are all the way out. Don’t hang around in the middle and get hit.
Kali we worked on espada y daga, and gunting:
In Kali Kru Krysta shows us double stick, espada y daga, and just single knife. Gunting drill 1 – 5. I love kali, but at this point my brain is saying nope, you need to feed me and we need to sleep. So my partner and I just went slowly and worked the drills.
We also did 1 – 12 strikes. With the 1 – 5 gunting response added into it. So for instance your partner swings a one, you defend it, then you gunting, and finish with the 1 – 5 for every strike. This is just to get us to think along the lines of, lets just not get hit, and lets return shots.
Savage Vag
I have bought all of my Grrrl clothing I have. I am not sponsored in any way, but I love the company. For girls from strong girls, to lift us all up sot that we can all be stronger. So I saw these leggings and I loved them. They say Savage with the word VAG in bright red letters. They crack me up. They are great quality, and support this great woman run company.
The quality is great. They pass the squat test. The compression is spot on. They have awesome patterns, and I just love them. Oh also they fit a thicc booty like mine.
This is the website, and if you use this link you get 20% off your first order. I get credit for your first purchase. I have not had anyone buy anything yet, but one day I hope some one will, and that money will go right back into Grrrl and I will get new tights. That is how much I love them. I have bought 5 of their tights to date.
4 hours of training today on day 15. I am exhausted. I hit a wall. Not a plateau, nor do I feel like I hit an over training hurdle. I just hit a wall like Wile E Coyote hits the ground after falling off the cliff. Like a Mac Truck hit me. I know that for your body to adapt you must hit these walls/hurdles and keep going, so that is what I did. I got in 20 rounds of training.
Yup that is what it felt like. But I had to keep pushing through.
I started out with a 1 mile run. It was not great timing wise. It was a 13.33 minute mile… it was also 93 degrees out.
I cam back in and did kicking rounds.
Power kicking rounds. 1 to two kicks per side for the entirety of the round.
Speed kicking rounds. Power is taken out, and technique is focused on. Pyramid kicks from 1 kick, 2 kicks, 3 kicks, 4 kicks, 5 kicks, 6 kicks, 5 kicks, 4 kicks, 3 kicks, 2 kicks, 1 kick. All in succession.
Speed and Power kicking rounds mixed together.
I did 4 bag rounds of 3 minutes each with a 30 second burn out.
I also working on rounds of boxing. Jab, Cross, Upper cut, Upper cut, body hook, body hook.
Muay Thai Class
Then we had Thai class. We warmed up with jump rope, then we did clench work to warm up.
Kru Kristen had us then work on punches transitioning to elbows, to knees. I got to work with Kru Krysta so we could both work on our conditioning for Thai Camp. As we are both going. Yay!
Each round ended with an elbow flurry blitz.
Kali – Espada y Daga
Then came Kali class, the 4th hour. My brain had stopped braining. My body was just tired, but I kept working at the drills. We worked on Gunting (scissor) five count. With double stick, Espada y Daga, and with single knife. We worked on pass, cut and disarm.
I know this is not super detailed but I am exhausted, need to shower and get to bed. I hope you all have a great day/night when ever you get to read this. Keep being awesome and working to be the best you can be.
Conditioning Day 5. I was warned by Kru Krysta that we were going to hit it hard today. We did! I ran a mile in the morning at about 8:45 am my time. My mile is normally 12.5 minutes but today, it was humid and hot, and my mile was terrible. It was 13.5.
We did the same workout we did on Thursday. Its awesome knowing you went through the workout before. Because then you don’t have that worry that you won’t make it through. However, you also have that knowledge of how bad it is going to get. I am and was so proud that I got through it. But it is hard. This is hard. I put in a great day of training. Hopefully I will be ready when Muay Thai camp comes around.
So I pushed through, and just did it. Focusing on form and pushing myself.
Training: 1 mile run and 16 3 minute rounds
Bag work–
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Pad Work-
Hold pads for Kru Krysta for 3 minutes doing as many as you can of this drill. Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep.
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Hold pads for Kru Krysta for 3 minutes doing as many as you can of this drill. Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep.
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Kru Krysta holds pads for for 3 minutes doing this drill, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Kru Krysta holds pads for for 3 minutes doing this drill, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Bag Work-
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
1 round of bag work for 3 minutes (Do any combo you want, just keep it the same.)
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Pad Work-
Hold pads for Kru Krysta for 3 minutes doing as many as you can of this drill. Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep.
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Hold pads for Kru Krysta for 3 minutes doing as many as you can of this drill. Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep.
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Kru Krysta holds pads for for 3 minutes doing this drill, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
Kru Krysta holds pads for for 3 minutes doing this drill, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, Right kick, Teep
30 second burn out of makatune, #6 elbow, knees till 30 seconds is up, double kick
45 second rest
As I was getting tired I was told to keep my hands up especially when tired. Because we will revert to our worst habit when we are tired. So in training when exhausted if we focus on our form and keeping our hands up, you will train your body to do the right thing when tired. It takes so much mental concentration to force your body to do that thing it does not want to do. =) But it is so worth it. I noticed and asked Kru Krysta if I was correct. I was keeping my hands up much better as I was getting tired. I also have been correcting, working on my knees. Kru Krysta said I am doing so much better. Like night and day from my knees when I was tired on Thursday.
This was all training before my classes today. So my classes were the following:
Bo Staff class:
We worked on a drill (first with stick then with staves)
Forehand strike
Redondo around head high forehand strike
Redondo around head low forehand strike
Redondo around head high forehand strike
Back hand low
Back hand high
At this point my shoulders were telling me they were tired.
Then we worked on doing the same thing with staves. This is harder cause it forces you to move, when swing the staff. It is not as easy as with stick. There is much more of the weapon to move around.
We worked this High Box drill next – (first with stick then with staves)
#15 strike to the head
Roof Block
pass off opponents hand
Return a #1
Inside deflect on the #1
Return a #2
I was exhausted at this time but kept going.
Striking class:
We did these drills, I would hold for a student, then they would hold for me. 3 minute rounds with knee burn out.
Jab
Cross
Right knee
Right Kick
Teep
Burn out 25 skip knees
Jab
Left Elbow
Left Knee
Left Kick
Teep
Burn out 25 skip knees
Makatune
Cross
Body Hook
Rear Knee
Rear Kick
Burn out 25 skip knees
At this point in the day, I was exhausted. My muscles were not firing the way I wanted to. I had only eaten in the morning. Took a pre workout before the run, and one recovery drink after the first conditioning training (run/16 rounds).
Muscle Fatigue:
Muscle Fatigue is a decline in the ability for the muscle to put out energy.
Muscle energy is described as ATP. “The source of energy that is used to power the movement of contraction in working muscles is adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the body’s biochemical way to store and transport energy. ”
For me muscle fatigue shows up with these symptoms:
Twitching Muscles
Weakness
Soreness
You can combat this with proper nutrition (minerals, vitamins), drinking plenty of water, stretching, rolling your muscles/or massage, sleeping, and making sure you get enough calories in.
Today I made breakfast for the family. I made Eggwhite Pita sandwiches, which I will put a recipe up for you later.
For lunch at about 2 pm today, I went to a burger place, and was able to get an yellowfin tuna burger. It was delicious. I asked for them to keep the mayo off the sandwich. But I did allow myself to have some tater tots. This was delicious and much needed meal.
Today was a great day. I am exhausted and my muscles do not feel like they could do anything else. I may take a nap now. I did it again. I was able to get through Conditioning Training, and through two other classes today. Woot!
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thank you for reading, and keep being awesome. Let me know if you have any questions.
2.5 hours of Conditioning, Muay Thai Training, and Kali. We are going to be changing the format of my workouts for the next 20 days.
I have been given an opportunity of a lifetime. If you have been reading I have had the awesome chance to go to a 2 day Muay Thai seminar with the father of Muay Thai in America. He brought it over in 1968. Ajarn Chai was the man that has allowed me to find and fall in love with this martial art.
Well at this seminar I was personally asked if I was going to attend the Muay Thai Camp set up and run by the WTBA (World Thai Boxing Association). The thing to remember about this is that this camp is meant for instructors. You have to be invited to the camp, and as a student you have to be advanced to be invited, and you have to be invited by an instructor and or Ajarn Chai himself. I was invited and we have moved mine and my families schedule around for me to be able to go to this event.
I have purchased my plane tickets and my entrance fee for the camp. They will be providing food for us. Kru Krysta maybe testing this camp so I get the honor to see her test for it her next level.
What this means is I have to start conditioning training. Muay Thai camp is not some leisurely camp where we get massages and sip champagne. They expect us to work and work hard.
It is my understanding that the days will go something like this:
Wake up and run 2 miles
Train Muay Thai
Eat breakfast, break
Run 1 mile
Train Muay Thai
Eat lunch, break
Train Muay Thai
Eat Dinner
Sleep
So I must now condition. We leave July 23, 2019. I have about 20 days to get my conditioning up. I have some concern I won’t be ready, but I am going. If I have to struggle my way through I will.
So my training schedule is changing. Instead of running and then weight lifting on Monday, Wed, and Fri. Muay Thai training on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat. I will be doing the following:
Running Monday and Friday 3 miles
Running 2 miles, Training Muay Thai, and Kali Tues, Thurs, and Sat.
Running 2 miles, Training conditioning rounds Wed, Sat
Rest day on Sunday
We will see if I need to shove in a rest day on Mon too. But for now that is the schedule. Anyone else scared that I won’t be ready? I am. But I have decided I will do what I can on such short notice and then just go and get the most out of this opportunity.
I saw some pictures from the seminar, and I just don’t under… my brain keeps saying, “look at you. What do these crazy people see. Don’t they see what I see. Basically a joke. Some one who does not belong.”
I am going to try to ignore those doubts and worries. This part of my journey is the bad part or the upside down part. The self doubt and worry are the bad parts. I am going to do what all well adjusted adults do and ignore it. =) I am going to let my brain say/think those things, then ignore it, and keep training. That is all I can do.
Enough of my thoughts out on paper, lets get to the training that happened today.
My Training:
1.5 mile run in 20 minutes.
1 hour of Muay Thai training. We worked on clenches. We worked with the less advanced students, and helped them work on some simple clenchs and ways to get out of the clench. Like the collapse of their elbow into their chest, and face push to get out of their full plumb.
The advanced students went off then and sparred with J. To get his training in before his upcoming fight. I was told that my round in the ring, was much better than any others I have had. I was more relaxed. I got a chance to use my footwork to cut the corner and get on J’s left side and land a kick. I landed many kicks, and punches. I felt great during the sparring, and compared to the 12 minutes of clench sparring we did, 3 minutes seemed like nothing now. I was tired a little but I did not feel dead.
My scale of what my body can and cannot do has been moved much further along the number line. Instead of 3 minutes feeling like I am going to die. I have felt what it feels like when I am about to lose the lunch I just ate.
Kali
In Kali we worked on Kawain, Ki Lap, Full T, and Half T. We had a number of new students and a special seminar from Dan Inosanto himself coming to this area. I need to sleep so I am going to leave it there.
So I am going to write about every day that I conditioning training up till Thai Camp. Then I will of course write about that. That is 4 days of savage and grueling Thai training.
I hope you are all having a great day. Tomorrow I am shooting for 2 miles. Stay safe, and be the best you, that you can be.
2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali training. I am pooped. It was a great set of classes. We worked on Clenches, Dumps, and Clench Sparring in Muay Thai. In Kali we worked on the running Saints. I recorded us doing the three that we were taught. Kru Krysta informed me that some of these Kali Saints are passed from teacher to student/teacher. It is proper etiquette to get permission first before revealing all the secrets. I want to respect my teachers and their teachers and keep their confidentiality until they give me the ok. I can video myself working on the saints but don’t want to give the names and exact combos.
Alright on with the training.
Muay Thai – Clench Sparring
We worked on clenching and dumps. Kru Kristen was talking about the clench in Muay Thai, and this is a major piece of the Muay Thai fighting style. This is a major difference between KB (kick boxing) and Muay Thai. The art of the 8 limbs requires you to use all of your limbs, and the knees and elbows part of the the limbs. So Clenching up is a great way to deliver those devastating knees to some ones ribs, mid section, and or quads. When we clench up we have the opportunity to off balance our opponent, then dump them on the ground, giving us points. Or we have the option of off balancing our opponent and then delivering knees to their body. This gives us point as well in the ring.
However it is not just about the clenching, and dumping and knees. You can muscle your way through it but you are going to wear yourself out not your opponent. The finesse comes when you learn/feel the opportunity. For instance when your opponent shifts their weight and goes to knee you, and you in that instance jerk their elbow down to make them base and take a step. You interrupt that knee that was coming for you and now you have a person that just had to base, and you can dump them on their rear ends.
Kru Kristen says, you cannot see it to learn it. You have to feel it. You have to feel the shift, to get the dump in. I learned also that if you bump your opponents hip out, and the push back into you, that is your opportunity to step your leg in and off balance them. Getting a knee in, or just putting them on the floor. I really have to practice this more so I can get a better feel for how to do it. I am able to do it, sometimes I feel like I try to force it. When I do the moves right it feels effortless. Like a lot of things in Martial Arts. If you truly do the move right, it works with your body, using physics and gravity to move maybe immobile object.
Needless to say. It was fun. I got a chance to work with everyone. For some of my team mates, it is effortless, they can do it with no problems. For me I still have to work on it. I can feel when I do the move right. So that is a good starting point. I need to make it feel like that every time.
Kali – Running Saints
As I mentioned above Kru Krysta is kind enough to write everything down for me. However, there are some things that are passed down from Guru to Student who will be a Guru. But I can record, and talk about pieces of the Running Saints we did.
So first of all, I am better at attacking. I seem to get the drills down fine when I am on the attack. However, when I am defending, that is when I mess up. I wonder what that says about me. =)
But all the smaller drills we were working on in double stick, like abecedario, umbrella heaven, cobb cobb, and more are in these Running Saints. As I was taught, in the Philippians they are a very Catholic oriented country because they were occupied by the Spanish, and they named these drills Running Saints, because they are meant for the attacker to run down your opponent. You are meant to cover distance and keep attacking.
For me as long as I keep attacking I am all good. If I have to defend myself… well there is my weakness. But it is something for me to work on. Perhaps it is the running/walking backwards as I try to meet the sticks coming at my head, and have them set up on the correct side so that I can keep the drill going.
Try patting your head while rubbing your tummy clockwise… You got that? Now try doing it backward. Pat your had and rub your tummy counter clockwise… Not as easy to switch right? Now try to do that was you defend yourself from an incoming attack. That is Kali… at least that is how Kali is for me. I love it. If you are interested, there is a Ted Talk about Cognitive Kali.
Take a look at this Ted Talk if you have the time:
As you have found out if you have been reading my blog. Kali is not for the unthinking person. It helps to be a perspicacious person, and if you are not, it certainly will try to make you one. Ohh I got to use the word perspicacious… my AP English teacher would have been so proud.
In the following video, you will see one of the Running Saints, and me celebrating a little when I get the Saint somewhat down.
Anyway thanks for reading. I hope you are all having a great week so far. Please comment if you have an questions. Keep being the awesome you are, and always try to be the best you, that you can be.
2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali Training. Today was a fun fun day. Killed my brain in Kali and we got to work on 15 count and sparring in Thai. It was challenging and fun. Not every day is like that, but when it is fun it is fantastic.
I am also excited to almost bursting. I am going to get to go to a special training seminar with Arjan Chai this weekend. Two days 8 hours a day of basically a Thai camp. But I digress. On to the actual training today.
Muay Thai – Thai 15 count, Sparring
In Muay Thai today we worked on 4 counts with elbows and knees. This training teaches us distance management. Because our furthest attack will be our kicks. Then we have punching range, which is mid range. Lastly we have close range attacks with all elbows. Then we can use the knee to eject our opponent and then get ourselves back into kicking range.
This is exactly what the Thai 15 count drill does as well. As you will see in the video below, we have to address the incoming strikes to our head, slide in return elbows, knee them and create distance, then kick them. The whole drill is a study in distance management.
Kru Krysta started us off with some 4 count Thai drills after which we have to do the 5-10-5 for an active rest. What is that you ask. Well its a training mechanism to wear us out, and have us practice our kicks and clenches/knees.
5-10-5:
5 rapid/ballistic right kicks, Clench up then do 10 #2 knees, 5 rapid/ballistic left kicks
This wear you out. I love them and can’t wait to do more.
The Thai 15 count is as follows:
Parry the cross
High cover the hook
Left #1 elbow/horizontal elbow
Right #3 downward diagonal elbow
Right long leaning knee
Left kick
Right cross, then Left hook
Right knee
Right kick
Teep when a cross is thrown at you
Bob the second cross thrown at you
Throw Hook
Throw Cross
Right kick
Sparring:
After the Thai 15 count, she had the orange arm bands/ more advanced students split off and go spar J. He is prepping for a fight and he needs practice. So I got to spar again today. I got some good kicks in, but he is a foot taller than me, so I have a hard time getting. I spoke with Kru Krysta afterward on how to get in, and I have to really get off the line. Or just take a hit to cover the distance. Because he can keep me at distance with his kicks and punches. He has a longer reach.
I am no longer afraid of sparring… I noticed this today. When we first started it was daunting and I was afraid. Of getting hit, of making a mistake, of just looking stupid. I am sure I still look stupid. But now I am more focused on trying to work on the things we have been taught using them in a practical way. When you get into the ring, or you start sparring, its really hard to remember everything you were taught. This is one of the reasons they drill it into us. Because, as Kru Kristen says, you don’t rise to the occasion when the adrenaline hits. You worst habit you will fall back on. Like if you drop your hands when you kick. (I will give you one guess on who does that. If you guessed me… Yup! I am working on it.) But if you do that you will do that when you are scared, or have an adrenaline dump. So when we are exhausted that is when we need to focus on our form and doing the drills right. So hopefully we rep in the good habits and forget the bad.
Kali – Brain Bending 4 to 5 to 6 to 8 to 7 count Kali drills
In Kali I worked with a student that has only been to 4 classes. He is a nice guy and really was starting to get some of the drills. However, it is amazing to work with people who are… less skilled. That sounds weird to say and to even type out. However, I have been doing Kali for 1.5 years, and while that is not a long time it is longer than 4 days. So what I found amazing was I could see in him what I felt and did when I first started. Getting my sticks tangled, getting confused, being surprised that you had both a left and right side that we do the drills on. (note: this is like asking some one to learn to use chop sticks with the right hand, then as they are just getting it saying, ok lets use the left hand right now. ) Yes Kali is like that. It forces you to use both sides of your brain, and bends that brain of yours.
Slowing down the drills is harder than it looks. To teach a person, you have to slow down the drills and when you do the rhythm changes or at least slows. Throw in foot work, and then just when you are getting that particular drill, Kru Krysta will throw in a few more strikes. I realized I know a little more than I thought I did. Cause I was able to help another person work on their form. =)
We worked on the following drills. (I have written them down as I remember them. If I am wrong let me know. =) I will fix them.)
Heaven 6:
starts in a chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of the head
Backhand strike to other side of head
ends in chambered position
Umbrella 6: Striking 3 times on one side of the head, and 3 times on the other side of the head.
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head
chamber sticks
Lather rinse and repeat the above
Umbrella 8: Striking 4 times on one side of head, and 4 times on the other side of head.
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head out of the redondo
Redondo the backhand you struck with and hit back hand
Witik forehand
Backhand
To redondo around head and hit with forehand again.
And if you are good enough you can keep going around and around and around
She had us doing the Heaven 6 to Standard 6 to Earth 6. Then she had us doing the Umbrella 6 to Umbrella 8 to Umbrella 7.
Umbrella 7:
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head out of the redondo
Redondo the backhand you struck with and hit back hand
Witik forehand
Backhand to one side of head
Backhand to other side of head
Below in the following video I am doing the Umbrella 8, and the Umbrella 7 counts respectively.
I am exhausted, my brain is not braining any more. I am going to start typing gibberish if I keep going so I am going to end it here. I had a great time. I am excited about the upcoming training. I am also nervous about it.
I hope you liked the blog, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them. Keep being your awesome self, and keep trying to make the best you that you can be.
2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali training. Not every day can be the best day. I know this. It still sucks when I have a day when I feel like I am doing less. I have my bruises and lumps. I have been working hard, I have been putting in my time, and I need to just keep doing it. I know this.
I would love to be all sunshine and daisies all the time. But I think that would be misrepresentation of my training and my journey. So I write about when I am not have such a great day in training. Be it from outside influences like a flood in the house, or internal conflict, or just training itself.
Muay Thai – Elbows and Knees the difference between Kick Boxing and Muay Thai
Today we worked on Thai 4 counts again. The staples of Muay Thai, the art of 8 limbs. We placed the kick on the leg of the, and continue with the punches to the kick. However, Kru Kristen wanted us to focus on the entry. Using the 4 count to get you to a knee. Enter on the knee and clench. From there you can off balance your opponent, then knee them more, or kick them in the face. Kru Kristen says, “when you ask Thai fighters, what they are afraid of, they don’t say kicks or punches. They say knees or elbows. Those are the most devastating and will end a fight. The difference between Kick Boxing and Muay Thai is the elbows and knees. So we are practicing the entry into them.
Furthest away = kicks and teeps
Mid range = punches, hooks, jabs, crosses
close range = knees
closest range = elbows
Being able to flow between all the ranges is ideal, and will allow you to get in and get out hopefully with less lumps then you gave your opponent.
Training:
right leg kick, hook, cross, left torso kick
pyramid kicks
left leg kick, cross, hook, right torso kick
pyramid kicks
right leg kick, hook, cross, knee to full plumb clench, knee them, off balance them and then dump your opponent.
Jumping jacks
left leg kick, hook, cross, knee to full plumb clench, knee them, off balance them and dump your opponent.
Jumping jacks
Clench in half clench, pull opponent onto you to break their base, then off balance them
I love Muay Thai, it is a huge part of my life. I think about it all the time. I love the philosophy. I love the discipline. I love the dedication it takes to learn it. I rearrange my life around it so I can train as much as I do. So when I have a day that feels like I am just all over the place and not doing great. It gets me down. I wanna keep doing well. I wanna keep excelling. I know this is not how this works. Some days you just need to put the hours in and the training in.
Kali – Brain Melting Again
We worked on the 6 count family again. We did the same drills as Tuesday. However, for some reason I was messing up the individual drills. Today every 5 cycles of the same drill and I would mess up.
Kru Krysta said its because I am not retracting as much as I should be. For some reason Tuesday I was doing it just fine. But today not so much.
Then when we did the full 5 drills in one drill, I got it just fine. The brain is a funny thing. I know what to do, but when I think about it to much I fumble. I get flustered and then mess it up.
Kru mixed it up again, and instead of doing all 5, 6 count family, we would do just three of each 6 count drill. Talk melting the brain. That was amazing and hard all at the same time.
So yeah today was not the best training day in the respect of me feeling like I am accomplishing anything. But again I know I just need to put the time in. So I did. I feel good for getting the exercise in. I was dripping in sweat and got to work with some new people in class.
Thank you for reading. Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you have a great day. Keep being awesome, and keep trying to be the best you, that you can be.
Thinks with Spinks 