Tag: Kick

Martial Arts 11/5/2019: Muay Thai Seminar, Level 1 test seemed so far away, Relax and you will hit faster

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Kali Escrima, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Fitness, workoutLeave a comment

This week starts with a really cool experience. I got to work with a girl whose first time in Muay Thai class was this day. I hope she comes back. She is shorter than I am which is amazing, because I am 5 foot nothing, and easily the shortest in the class. She had the same look on her face as I am sure I had on mine when I first started. The look of amazement, fear, and determination. I really hope she comes back.

I have mentioned it before, but working with brand new people, or just people that are not as far along as you can really highlight just how much you know compared to the average bear… Sorry that is an American colloquialism. The phrase is, “smarter than the average bear” A cartoon character called Yogi Bear claimed he was, smarter than your average bear. He would say this when he did something smart. I digress because I know I have some international readers, and some of my turns of phrase may not be universally understood. =)

Back to the topic at hand… yes working with new people is not only good for the community/Muay Thai family, but it is great to help you see maybe just how far you have come. Little did I know that Thursday was going to hold a surprise for me.

Tuesday 11/05/2019 – 2.5 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali

H and I worked on sword and shield all by ourselves for 30 minutes. We wanted to work it more cause we just learned it. And practice makes us a little better than we were before. =)

I am tired so I just wrote down what we did. Here it is.

Muay Thai-

Elbows 1 -3

lead horizontal, rear downward diagonal, rear knee, lead teep

lead upward diagonal, rear downward diagonal, rear knee, rear kick

lead horizontal, rear horizontal, spinning left elbow, knee, kick, teep

plus sign foot work, horizontal elbow, horizontal elbow, your opponent keeps up pillar block

Kali –

Sword and shield, high box
Strikes 15, 1, 2

Sword and shield, full box
Strikes 15, 1, 4, 3, 2

Thursday 11/07/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai, and Kali – Surprise Test

Today started out like most other Thursdays. I am extremely exhausted cause I had to get up at the crack of dawn, hell before the crack of dawn to get H to the metro and my butt into the bakery to work. I was up at 4:20 am and have been up ever since.

Needless to say by the time Muay Thai and Kali class rolled around at 7 pm. I am tired. I could take a nap that would turn in to a sleep all night. That is about 14 hours non stop.

I come to find out that we are doing a surprise testing in Muay Thai. What? I would normally know its coming and make sure I know my stuff. I would also be slightly worried I would not be ready, so I would go over terms, and moves, and anything I could. Because that is how a Tanya like me do.

Nope I did not have that time to prepare/worry. It was a testing day today and I had to not think but do.

So we tested:

  1. technique demo – where we all line up in lines and show our instructors what a #1 elbow is (by the way that is a horizontal elbow), what a number two skip knee is (that is a one foot on the ground only skip knee), etc.
  2. Boxing 20
  3. 4 counts, and advanced 4 counts
  4. Muay Thai 15 count

I did it all. I passed my test. I was promoted three ranks, because we had our last test months ago.

I went from blue to purple white! That is being promoted past two whole ranks!!! It’s been a while since we had a test. Squee!!! I can’t believe it yet. When I started Muay Thai the level 1 test was so far away. I just wanted to try to remember how to kick right. Now the level 1 test is right around the corner.

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for the test and class. Respects 🙏

I added our rank progression so you can see where blue is and where purple white is. Red we call Rank 1 but on the chart it is Rank 2. I believe after Rank one you can fight in the ring.

Kali – we did sword and shield again.

With sword and shield it is learning how to use the shield to deflect the blows, using the stick/sword to return blows, and the shield is completely different than a stick or other weapon. I have to move my body in a way that will make it possible for me to move the shield up in time. This movement is different than the other weapons we use.

In all it is super awesome to practice sword and shield. I have only done it 3 times so far and it is one of my favorite Kali forms. Also Kabri Kabrong the precursor to Muay Thai used sword and shield.

Friday 11/08/2019 – 1.5 hours… Muay Thai

Tony is a fantastic teacher, and he knows that some of us are going to go to a Ajarn Chai seminar tomorrow. That is a 5 hours of training. So he wanted to do a lighter training day. Well let me tell you it was not as light as he might think. But it was fantastic. He had us work on hit then respond right away.

  1. 3 x 2 minute rounds of Jump rope
  2. 1 x 3 minute round knees on bag
  3. 1 x 3 minute round of lead kick on bag
  4. 1 x 3 minute round of rear kick on bag
  5. 3 x 3 minute round shadowboxing with jumping jacks in the middle
  6. 4 x 3 minute rounds Hit for hit drill … (you hit one, opponent hits one/you hit 2 opponent hits 2/ you hit 3 opponent hits 3/ up to 5) The object was to respond right away, hit back after being hit. Because in Muay Thai the person that get the last hit in get the point.
  7. 2 x 3 minute round Thai slide in side teep, with a hop knee
  8. 5 minute round where ever 30 seconds we switched form rapid jab cross, to skip knees

It was fantastic. I am tired though now.

Saturday 11/09/2019 – 5 hours… Muay Thai Seminar

  • OSMA Muay Thai group with Ajarn Chai
  • Kevin and I photo credit Kevin
  • First time in a ring.
  • photo credit Khun Kru Krysta

Today was an exciting day. I got the wonderful opportunity to go to a Muay Thai seminar with the legend Ajarn Chai himself. I am home now. Husband has fed me and I am exhausted. I am over the moon I got to see him again. He remembered me from Thai Camp and gave me hugs. I am shocked and honored that he remembered me. Not because he could not remember me, but because I don’t think I am all that memorable, or there is anything to remember about me. =)

We worked on the basics. Khun Kru Caro said, “if you don’t have a solid base/stance you don’t have anything, and you will lose your balance.”

We went through the elbows 1 -8. We worked on left and right kicks. It was fantastic.

Combo #1:

  1. right cross
  2. left hook
  3. right overhand

Combo #2:

  1. Opponent does a Thai lean, you scoop the lean out
  2. #3 elbow/Downward Diagonal
  3. Opponent throws a overhand punch
  4. You block the bicep and tie up with other hand
  5. You cock the shoulder and deliver a #6 elbow/ side in
  6. Tie up, #3 knee/side in knee
  7. Then skip knee #2

We worked on a counter to an elbow. A way to stop an elbow coming in hard, and basically shut that elbow down.

Combo #3:

  1. Opponent throws a cross you scoop it inside out
  2. You throw elbow #4
  3. Tie up
  4. Run skip knee #2
  5. Thai lean to teep

Today was an awesome day! I am so lucky to have been able to make it to this seminar. I got to see familiar faces, people I love and love to train with. People from the Thai Camp I got to see again.

I got to see Ajarn Chai’s famous paper trick. His whole point for this paper trick, is relax and you will hit better, and don’t think about getting hit or stabbed because that will make you tighten up. If you are relaxed you are faster. Your muscles are not taut and your reflexes are far faster than you think they are. If you employ this thinking in your fighting you will loosen up, and you will hit faster.

I was able to get it on video. Part 1 and Part 2. Ajarn Chai wanted my phone to be in the middle so that you could see what he was doing for part 2. This was a great video, and an honor to see this demonstration. I have heard about it from my instructors, but never gotten a chance to see it.

Part 1:

This is the first part of the Paper demonstration with Ajarn Chai.

Part 2:

This is Ajarn Chai doing the paper demonstration, with 6 guys with training knives. His object is to take the paper before they can touch his hand with a knife. These are training knives. Do not try this at home with real knives.

I may have missed a combo in there. If I did and I get it from my friends. I will edit and post it to this blog post.

It was a fantastic day. I am happily coming down off the excitement. I am tired, and going to go pass out soon. I learned so much. I worked on my form, an when form is great, your power an speed will come as Ajarn Chai says. I was complimented on my form and I was honored.

Thank you for reading my blog. I had an amazing week for martial arts training. I completed 10 hours of training. Getting to see the great legend Ajarn Chai, and having the honor to train with him. I had a surprise test and was awarded the purple white Pra Jiad/armband.

I am amazed you all read my blog. Let me know if you have any questions. As always keep working to be the best you that you can be. My respects to you and yours.

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

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Fitness, JKD, Kali Escrima, Martial Arts, Muay ThaiLeave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Training:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kali –

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

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

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

Silat – Lead with your heels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Fitness, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Fitness, workoutLeave a comment

So I chose this title cause it amused me. Our teacher/trainer Tony told us, “don’t feel like shit, just don’t”. I liked that. What he was referring to is after a while, in training, and in a fight, your leg is going to get tired. You are not going to always get it up there for that perfect teep in the solar plexus, so teep the leg. Work on other skills that you can fall back on when you start to get tired. This is great advice for anyone doing any sport, or activity. Hell its great for life. If it makes you feel like shit, maybe try something else for a while.

I don’t think he meant to not train through sore tired muscles. That is still great to do and preferred. Pressing on during times when it is tough is good and helps you train your body not to give up when it gets tired. However, there is wisdom to acknowledging that you are tired and going for a different target to get your wind back.

Tuesday 10/15/2019 – 2 hours… Running, Muay Thai

Today we started out with a run. We ran 1.5 miles, warmed up and cooled down for about .5 miles, and did it all in about 20 minutes. This was a great steady state run. This was great for me, cause my rib still hurts a little. I had a dislocated rib and my chiropractor put it back into place. So now I am just sore.

Training

In Muay Thai, we practiced the quick shuffle to the lead kick. We did this in various forms. We added spinning elbows. Those are always fun.

We worked on teeping the leg instead of the solar plexus.

We worked on faking a teep to slide in and elbow.

I have come to understand, that there are…my Khun Kru Krysta calls “secret sauce” moves, and combos that are only privy to your Kru, or are developed by your Kru, and should not be shared. They are your ace up the sleeve as it were. I have not talked about it before, but I thought I could at least say something, just not the “secret sauce”.

Tony gave us some “secret sauce”, and I unfortunately cannot tell you. But if you want an hint there are some awesome, deadly, and beautiful things in Muay Boran. I love learning these new to me cool things. You will just have to find your own awesome Kru to teach you theirs. =)

30 minutes of bag work after class is what I ended with. Now I am exhausted. I need sleep. Tomorrow we have more Thai practice.

Wednesday 10/16/2019 – 3 hours… BJJ, Muay Thai

Some days it is just getting on the mat and doing the reps. When you are learning new skills, it gets hard to stay motivated. I feel stupid and my body is not moving the way I want it to.

I am tired today too. So pushing myself to keep going is hard. I did it and I pushed through my muscle fatigue however, some days when you/I am not picking up the skills as fast it is demoralizing.

I think this is the pushing through part. The part where you may feel like shit but you have to push through. Or you feel like shit because your brain is being mean.

BJJ – The learning curve is high in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, because it is like learning a new language.

Jui Jitsu was great fun. However, talking to one of my Muay Thai brothers who also is a brown belt in BJJ I find it is just like when we started Muay Thai and Kali. Until we learn the terminology/lingo/language, they can say we are going to do an Airplane to regain posture. I will nod and go along with it because I am seeing what they are doing. However, until I have the lingo I cannot connect it as well.

In BJJ we learned all about breaking opponents posture, not fighting them but using their movements against them. As I learn more and more about this form of martial art, I am realizing it utilizes physics, body mechanics and just being smart. Its completely different than the striking martial arts. Where you are reacting to an incoming strike.

Warm up:

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

Training:

  1. Breaking the guard of a person, by hipping in and putting knees under them. Leaning in on leg, with elbow or arm to move leg out. This lets you get over them and get a cross body.
  2. Breaking the guard of a person, by knees on floor, active toes, to up on one foot, and pulling out while keeping their hips on the floor
  3. Regaining posture when pulled in
  4. Regaining posture when pulled in by doing an airplane
  5. Countering a two handed choke from behind, grabbing their hand stepping out, rolling their wrist and then duping them on the ground

Thai – “Hurl Your Body At Me! You are over thinking this.”

Warm up: Stations

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

Training:

  1. Lead horizontal elbow, rear horizontal elbow, lead vertical elbow, spinning rear elbow
  2. Fake a hook into a, diagonal upward elbow/ #7 from mid line a.k.a. catfish whisker in Thailand, into a combo elbow of a rolling downward vertical elbow.
  3. Lead knee, step to lead knee, rolling vertical downward elbow
  4. Teeps with lead leg to opponents lead leg to establish distance, to a superman elbow. (I am terrible at this)

Thursday 10/17/2019 – 1.5 hours… Run and Muay Thai, “Spank Them With Your Leg”

Today H and I decided we were going to go for a run. Ok so normally I run on the treadmill in a building. We are going to have to get running head bands that cover our ears, and gloves, and more appropriate running clothing for cold weather. Today it was in the 50 degrees F or 10 degrees C, that is not such a problem, but the wind was vicious today. But I got a 1.25 mile in, before I was just to cold.

Muay Thai – “Spank Them With Your Leg”

In Muay Thai practice we worked on jumping in to a leg kick. I am not certain what to call it other than jumping onto your lead leg and kicking with your rear leg, the opponents lead leg. This gets you into the pocket faster, and does not give your opponent time to react.

My partner and I were working on our jump into leg kick, and landing them on the kick pads. Tony our instructor came around and said, “oowhee”, I have come to love that sound. That is the sound of ‘ohh that looks like it hurt. You did a good thing.’ So I love hearing it. He did that when he was watching us do our kicks. That is when he said yeah that is it. Hop into that kick and “Spank Them With Your Leg.” I lost it then. It was so funny. I could not breath for laughing so much. Almost got kicked too… But composed myself and we continued.

Muay Thai Training

Warm Up:

  1. jump rope
  2. Bag work

Training:

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

Cool Down:

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

The main thing was to focus on speed, and flow. Not to focus necessarily power. Power comes with form, and practice.

We ended up leaving after Muay Thai class cause we were tired, and skipped Kali for tonight. It was a great class. 4 am wake up times are so hard. I had to work at the bakery in the early morning this morning.

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

Muay Thai Training 1 hour. Thank you so much Tony.

Best quote for tonight is “that Muay Thai hang over” by JD. meaning the next morning after you throw 1000 kicks you are dead tired like you had a crazy night.

Example:

  • Friend- did you drink to much last night?
  • Me – nahh just did 1000 kicks 😆😆

Training

Warm up:

  1. Shadowboxing knees across the mats for 1 3 minute round. (ohh ouch my hip flexors)
  2. Ladders of jab cross, to knees. Do 20 jab crosses, and 20 knees – 19 jab cross, and 19 knees all the way to 2 jab cross, and 2 knees. Then go back up from 2 jab cross, 2 knee – 20 jab cross, and 20 knees.

Training:

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

I am exhausted. When Friday comes around I have at least done 4 days of martial arts, sometimes its 5 days. When you have to adult all day long, dealing with kids, working, and daily chores, Friday night is rough. I am typing this up, and working to keep my eyes open. So I am going to call it a night

I will end this day with… I let my trainer Tony know that I feel terrible, just out of sorts when I spar. I am often told I have good form, but my sparring I just don’t, it feels like I loose everything I learn or know when I start sparring. Tony heard me, and said, ” I hear you, and we will work on it.” So wide eyed I am wondering what I got myself into.

And now to roll out my muscles… ouch!

Today we decided to take as a rest day. In an effort not to feel like shit, we decided to just relax and let our bodies rest.

I completed 7. 5 hours of training this week. Not to shabby… I hope you all had a great week. Keep working to be the best you that you can be, and my respects to you all. Thank you for reading my blog.

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

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Fitness, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, workoutLeave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kali – Whobud

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

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

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

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

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

Mauy Thai Training:

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

Kali Training:

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

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

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

This was a great day of training.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I digress though… this is just food for thought.

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

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

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

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Fitness, Kali Escrima, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Fitness, workoutLeave a comment

That was 12.5 hours this week of martial arts training. This month we are working on kicks. Woo hoo… One of the most awesome things about Muay Thai is the kicks. I am excited. Can you tell?

Enough babbling… on to the training…

Tuesday 10/01/2019 – 2.5 hours… BJJ, Muay Thai, and Kali – Kicking It -Sparring is a Distance Game, Stabbing It – Flow Disarms

BJJ: Practice

I started with BJJ drilling with a friend of mine for 30 minutes. I can’t tell you how many people/friends I have that have been so excited that I have started BJJ.

  1. I worked on my Sit Up Sweep.
  2. I was taught the Kimura for when some one bases forward.
  3. I was taught the Americana when I get my Sit Up Sweep. Must remember to get my right leg hook in.

Muay Thai: Kicking it -Sparring is a Distance Game

In Muay Thai we started kicking this month. We started with teeps and distance drills. Because Kru Kristen noticed when we spar, all of us are either all the way in or way the heck out. So she wanted us to work on our leg game, our teeps and kicks. Being in range to do so, but trying not to get hit. That is all easier said than done. At this point while we are still learning tweaks to our form, we are doing the smaller tweaks, the more intricate work of trying to learn our distances better. She said your distances will change when you partner up with different people. I am not quite certain what that means but I will keep thinking on it.

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

Kali: Cut and Cover, Stabbing It

In Kali we started with knives. Single knife, but going through 1 – 5 strikes with both heaven and earth grips. Below are examples of heaven and earth grips.

Left picture is earth grip (pointing to earth), middle picture is earth grip, the right picture is heaven grip (pointing to heaven). (note: This is a real SOG knife with a live edge. We do not practice with this. We practice with dull practice knives.)

We worked on the cut and cover, and wrist locks and disarms. We flow through the 1 – 5 drill and find the openings to either disarm or wrist lock and disarm our partner.

Wrist lock to Neck and Disarm

Wrist lock to disarm

Wrist lock to stab in leg

When first wrist lock is not working c clamp to wrist lock

Disarm when they are attacking with heaven grip a la Psycho the classic Horror bathroom murder.

Here is a video of Panastas or Cut and Cover drill strikes 1-5. With a wrist lock.

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

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

Today was a great day. I ended up doing a full 3 hours of training. We stared with BJJ fundamentals class. Can I tell you when Professor Pedro Sauer walks on the mat it still amazes me. I get to go to classes where he will teach and tell us what we should be doing. If you are new to BJJ and don’t know who Professor Pedro Sauer is you can google him, and many pages will pop up. He is one of the most sought after instructors for MA not to mention for BJJ.

Anyway he came in today and was watching our class. Squee!!! I am so lucky. I have gotten the chance to work with some of the greatest martial artists alive. Ajarn Chai (or Ajarn Surachai Sirisute ), Guro Dan Innosanto, Ajarn Trigg, Ajarn Nelson, and so many more. I can’t even name them all. Squeee!!! I am so lucky.

Ahem…sorry I digressed.

BJJ: Choking It

We worked on a sweep from when a person is trying to do a cross body choke on us.

If you are on your side facing their cross body, you grab their hand/gi with your hand, and hip up pushing their elbow on the floor. Frame your elbow into their hips. Move your body out to almost parallel with theirs, do an upa of sorts and roll them over.

Next we worked on a bat choke when some one is turtling.

Muay Thai: Solo practice, we worked on teeps and distance management, and pop the leather.

Muay Thai: Jump Kick It

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

Thursday 10/03/2019 – 2 hours… Muay Thai, Kali – Teeps and Kicks, Panastas (Cut and Cover)

Ok today was great! However, I am exhausted. I had to be at the bakery at the a** crack of dawn, and well I am tired. But I was happy to go to class.

We went back to basics in Muay Thai. It was nice. I like doing that, after a month of intensive focus on fixing the minutia, or making the tiny fixes to our form/response time/distance management etc. Its nice to just do the things we know we know how to do. I worked a team mate that has had to be in and out of the gym for the past 6 months. She mentioned my kicks and and punches were really great. She could feel the difference in my power. I am so happy to hear that. Most often I don’t see it, feel it. But she and I worked together before she had to leave, and she could see/feel the difference. Woot!

Training:

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

Kali – Panastas (Cut and Cover)

Whew Kali we are working on single knife again. We worked on the panastas or cut and cover drill. Where you cut the assailant, then immediately block/cover the arm you cut with yours hand, then return a shot to opponent.

We used heaven and earth grip again. We also worked on disarms and wrist locks again. The key with wrist locks is not muscling the assailant around. It is the angle you have, and compromising their center. When you bend them, left , right, over, it will compromise their grip. So an effective wrist lock is a combinations of :

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

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

I love Tony’s classes. He works us hard, but he also gives us one on one tips for improving our own skills.

Today was no different. We worked on reaction timing. Where he had us timing a swinging bag and kicking it with proper form. Or he had us teeping a swinging bag where we had to make sure we teeped only when it was close enough to us.

We worked on speed. Keeping our form and working on making things smooth and fast.

We worked on staying springy on our feet. We started with drills across the mat that had us walking with our heals off of the ground, we and he then added shields while walking with heels off of the ground.

Training: these were all 3 minute rounds

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

Below is a video of me working on my uppercut, hook, cross. =)

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

It was a great class, and my thanks go to my instructor Tony.

Saturday 10/05/2019 – 3 hours… Kali, and Muay Thai

Ok so today is Saturday, and Saturday is the end of my training week. I have been going for 6 days this week if you include my weight lifting day. I take Sunday off and sometimes Monday depending on how my body feels. That means that Saturday I am pooped. I have had a long week of training.

This also means that sometimes it is a force of will to get up and get my butt into the gym. Sometimes it is not and I am ready and raring to go. Today though, I am exhausted, and I wanted to just be lazy around the house.

I however, did not do that. I got up early in the morning cause I could not sleep. Made mini key lime cheese cakes, and then got my butt into the gym.

I had a blast once we got started. It is starting to get a little more chilly here finally.

Kali – Bo Staff was a Kali class today

We went out into the beautiful sunny chilly morning and worked on the these running saints.

Running Saints:

  1. St. Sabbathial
  2. St. Miguel
  3. St. Gabriel

A running saint is a flow drill that requires you to move quickly and aggress on your opponent. This drills are meant to help you learn how to for lack of better terms run down your opponent. So it requires you to move fast and for the defender to move fast backwards.

I have the hardest time going backwards. =) That is the part I have to work on most. Going forward and being aggressive is not the problem.

Muay Thai – Striking class

We started with distance drills. Supper important to learn, and something I am still working on. I am short and I have to get into the pocket to get blows in, but most people are taller than I am and can hit me from a distance. So these distance drills really help me understand where I need to be.

Training:

  1. Jump rope for 1 three minute round
    Working on speed from teep to kick
  2. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick
  3. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick
  4. Rear teep, rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick, rear teep
  5. Lead teep, lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick, lead teep
  6. Sparring for the last 20 minutes

Well that is it for today, for the week. I got a compliment on my form and flow movement today from Kru Krysta. Yay… I am so lucky to have the training and teachers I have. I am so lucky to have the supportive husband and family I have. I love Muay Thai, I love Kali, and I am falling in love with BJJ.

I kicked it, stabbed it, and choked it this week. I had a blast doing it. But I am exhausted now. So have a great weekend everyone.

Thanks for reading and as always please feel free to ask questions or make a comment. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.

Martial Arts 08/27/2019: Muay Thai – Its all in the hips, Kali – Saint Uriel

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Fitness, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Fitness, workoutLeave a comment

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:

  1. Left to Right –
    • left kick
    • right cross
    • left hook
    • right kick
  2. Right to Left –
    • right kick
    • left hook
    • right cross
    • left kick
  3. Left to Left-
    • Left kick
    • Right cross
    • Left hook
    • Left kick
  4. Right to Right
    • Right kick
    • Left hook
    • Right cross
    • Right kick

The added combinations are:

  1. Jab, cross, left to right
    • Jab
    • Cross
    • Left kick (walking kick)
    • Right kick (walking kick)
  2. Jab, cross, right to left
    • Jab
    • Cross
    • Right kick (walking kick)
    • Left kick (walking kick)
  3. Jab, cross, left to left
    • Jab
    • Cross
    • Double left kick (speed kick)
  4. 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:

  1. umbrella 6
  2. Umbrella 8
  3. Umbrella 7 (which always takes a minute to get used to)
  4. Umbrella 18 (two sets of umbrella 7, with a transition)
  5. 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. 1 x 3 minute round of jump rope
  2. 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)

  1. Rear knee to Lead kick
  2. Lead knee to Rear kick
  3. Lead knee to Lead kick (focus on stutter step, to decrease time between strikes)
  4. Rear knee to Rear kick (focus on stutter step, to decrease time between strikes)
  5. 30 sit ups
  6. 50 Russian twists
  7. 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:

  1. Boxing stance
  2. Kicking stance
  3. Elbows #1, #2, #3, #4, #9
  4. Knees
  5. Some kicks

Then she had us break into pairs and drill the following: (not in this order)

  1. Trigg 10
  2. Boxing 20
  3. Full 4 counts
  4. Four boxing hits and out
  5. 2 x 3 minute conditioning rounds (three kicks hard one side, three kicks hard other side, then clench and 5 knees)
  6. 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:

  1. Jab
  2. Cross
  3. Hook
  4. Cross
  5. Bob and weave
  6. Cross
  7. Hook
  8. Bob and weave
  9. Hook
  10. Cross
  11. Cover incoming right body hook
  12. Left Upper Cut
  13. Cross
  14. Cover incoming left body hook
  15. Right Upper Cut
  16. Hook
  17. Cross
  18. Slip the incoming Supper Man Overhand punch
  19. Either should into opponents mid section, or deliver a right body hook
  20. Left hook
  21. Overhand Cross

Here is the video.

Training:

  1. 1/4 mile run
  2. 1 x 3 minute round of jumping low hurdles with both feet sprinting to the end and jogging back
  3. Jab, cross, body hook
  4. Jab, cross, body hook, head hook, cross
  5. Left horizontal elbow, clear pad or hand, to throw right horizontal elbow.
  6. 1 x 3 minute round of conditioning kicking. 5 rapid/machine gun kicks, on the left and right hand side.
  7. 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.

Muay Thai Camp Day 3…35,136 steps, 5500 calories, and still going, Hardest Day, Trigg 10

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Fitness, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, workoutLeave a comment
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.”

credit: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/shared-pain-brings-people-together.html

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.)

  1. Jab
  2. Rear kick to body
  3. Partner presses forward 
  4. Side step and Quarter turn then curved left knee
  1. Partner feeds cross
  2. Scoop cross
  3. Return right elbow #8
  4. Partner throws hook
  5. Inside cover hook
  6. Spinning right backward downward elbow
  7. Spinning left back upward elbow
  8. Return elbow #6
  9. Grab and full plumb
  1. Partner feeds cross
  2. Step 45 to outside
  3. Lead hand on forehand
  4. Rear hand just above elbow Left #8 or Tach Mala elbow
  5. Partner feeds lead hook
  6. You High cover and grab neck
  7. Right #4 elbow
  1. Partner fees rear kick
  2. Check / shin up block
  3. Rear hand goes on top of head
  4. Lead hand checks partner’s right arm
  5. Pull into rear curved knee
  6. Partner feeds lead upper cut
  7. Fade back (same as if for kick) or step back and lean to avoid upper cut.
  8. Rear curved knee with high guard (may not be able to reach head this time)
  9. Long foot jab/teep to move partner away
  10. 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.)

  1. Partner jabs
  2. You jab
  1. You Jab
  2. Partner Jab, Cross
  3. Partner Jab
  4. You Jab Cross
  1. Hook
  2. Return Cross, Jab, Cross
  1. Back up jab 3x
  2. Forward jab 3x
  3. Circle L jab 3x
  4. Circle R jab 3x
  5. Quarter turn right cross
  1. Wipe right
  2. Shovel hook
  3. Overhand hook
  4. Cross
  1. Wipe left
  2. Shovel hook
  3. Overhand cross
  1. Wipe outsid
  2. Jab rib
  1. Wipe inside
  2. Cross
  3. Body hook
  1. Wipe outside
  2. Overhand right

10 count straight punch drill1 or as we call it Trig 10

  1. Jab
  2. Double jab
  3. Triple jab
  4. Straight right
  5. Double straight right
  6. Triple straight right
  7. Jab Cross or JR
  8. Cross Jab or RJ
  9. Double jab, straight right
  10. 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.