Tag: Kick

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.

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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.

Martial Arts 08/19/2019: Muay Thai – You can’t fake mat time,Getting ready for my blue pra jiad test, Kali-Punyo Sumbrada

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

8.5 hours of Martial Arts training for this week. Yay!

08/20/2019 Tuesday 2 hours of training – Muay Thai and Kali

Today was a great day! I had a blast in class and felt really good. We worked on parrying the cross to enter with a knee. Then we added in elbows and kicks. It feels good when things flow together, and when your body just does what you have been training it to do.

  1. parry the cross
  2. post on the shoulder or head
  3. throw rear knee
  4. Burn out 25 skip knees #2
  1. parry the cross
  2. post on the shoulder or head
  3. throw rear knee
  4. Rear Tach malach or #8
  5. Lead horizontal elbow or #1
  6. Lead Knee
  7. Burn out 25 skip knee #2

First 6 of the Thai 15

  1. Parry the cross
  2. High elbow cover for incoming hook
  3. Lead #1 elbow
  4. Rear #3 elbow
  5. Rear knee
  6. Lead kick or lead round house

Blitz drill

  1. for 3 minute round, rear knee, to rear kick, you move your partner across the mat, continuing to do rear knee to rear kick for entire round of 3 minutes.

Kali – Punyo Sumbrada

In Kali we worked on the Punyo Sumbrada drills. The Punyo is the but end of the weapon. So for a sword it is the pommel, for a stick it is the shorter end that you hand is near, for a knife it is the but end. This is a Inosanto flow drill that uses the punyo of the stick, or weapon to strike at your opponent.

  1. feeder feeds a #3 strike
  2. you low wing block, and control the feeders striking hand
  3. you punyo strike up to the face
  4. feeder catches your blow with a C clamp/monkey paw
  5. you strike with a witik toward the face
  6. feeder blocks with the stick
  7. You reach inside the box and rotate the hand of the feeder so you can hit them with your weapon
  8. They wipe off your hand
  9. feeder feeds a #1 strike
  10. you high wing block, and control the feeders striking hand
  11. You yank/pull the feeder to you, and punyo strike up to the face
  12. feeder catches your blow with a C clamp/monkey paw
  13. you strike with a witik toward the face
  14. feeder blocks with the stick
  15. You reach inside the box and rotate the hand of the feeder so you can hit them with your weapon
  16. They wipe off your hand
  17. feeder feeds a #5 strike
  18. you low wing block, and control the feeders striking hand
  19. You yank/pull the feeder to you, and punyo strike up to the face
  20. feeder catches your blow with a C clamp/monkey paw
  21. you strike with a witik toward the face
  22. feeder blocks with the stick
  23. You reach inside the box and rotate the hand of the feeder so you can hit them with your weapon
  24. They wipe off your hand

From there we we worked on 4 disarms. We worked them into the above drills.

  1. snake
  2. vine
  3. plus sign
  4. equal sign

08/21/2019 Wednesday 1 hour of training – Muay Thai

Today we worked on the skills and combos we need to learn and know for our pra jiad arm band test. I originally wanted to get in early and get another hour in. But I had lost my bank card at a Starbucks, I went through the drive through and never got it back. I did not notice I did not get it back and the lady at the window did not give it to me. So I had a scare right before class and had to go get it. That put a dampener on my day. However, I went in and trained hard, and feel better now.

Pra Jiad – is a type of armband worn by Thai Boxing/Muay Thai athletes. Originally it was given to a fighter for good luck and confidence, from the family members. If I remember correctly, legend has it a mother tore her skirt and tied it around the arm of her son going into battle. She said, “bring it back to me, this is just a loan.”

The Pra Jiad is also used to show ranks in Muay Thai in some gyms, and by the WTBA (World Thai Boxing Association). Below is a chart of the ranks we have. These ranks are similar to belt systems in other martial arts. My gym and Kru are WTBA certified instructors and our gym is an WTBA gym.

I am currently a green pra jiad rank. I will be testing for the blue band. My instructor looked me in the eye and said you are training, so I guess that is that. =)

So on to today’s training:

Warm up –

  1. 1 round of jump rope
  2. Banded monster walks forward and back across the mats
  3. Banded side walks down and back across the mats
  4. Bear crawl forward and backward
  5. Sideways bear crawl forward and backward

Training –

  1. Trigg 10
  2. Boxing 4 count
  3. Jab Cross Series
  4. Thai 4 counts
  5. Full 4 counts
  6. Then we did one x 2 minute round of 25 right kicks, 25 left kicks, and 50 knees, then we hit the bag hard for the remaining time left on the 2 minute round. My goal is to do 10 in a row like one of our fighters does.

Some action shots I took from today. I am pivoting, and up on the ball of my foot. Woot!

08/22/2019 Thursday 2 hours of training – Muay Thai – 90% of Amateur boxing is straight punches, and Kali – brain melting after a challenging Muay Thai class.

So today is one of the days I have to go into the bakery early in the morning. I get there at 5 am and have to work on all the orders that are due for that day, and start on orders that are due for the weekend. Some require more time to do.

So I am tired by the time training comes around. I am really tired. But hey that is life and so I go. Just have to get my go’er going.

Muay Thai – “90% of Amateur boxing fights are strait punches then getting out of the pocket.” per Kru Kristen. What she is saying is the jab, and cross are your bread and butter. Get in, throw those jab, crosses, and maybe a kick if you can and get out. Don’t let the other person hit you.

Warm up:

  1. 1 round of jumping rope
  2. 1 round of shadowboxing

Training:

  1. 2 x 3 minute round of Trigg 10
  2. 30 seconds skip knee #1
  3. 2 x 3 minute round of boxing 20
  4. 30 seconds skip knee #2
  5. 2 x 3 minute round of Full 4 counts
  6. 30 seconds jab cross blitz
  7. 1 x 2 minute round of 25 kicks left, 24 kicks right, 50 knees
  8. 30 sit ups
  9. And flutter kicks for 1 minute

Kali – Brain melting after a challenging Muay Thai class.

Kali today was challenging. But I felt good, and felt like I got into a flow. I video’d some of the drills we did today. It is good to look back and see the progress I have made, even if it is very slight.

Today we worked on:

  1. Heaven six
  2. Umbrella six
  3. Cob Cob
  4. Inward, backhand, backhand

We worked on all of those in a drill. After your body is tired and you ask your body and more importantly your mind to focus and move your body with sticks and avoid getting hurt by doing the drill right. Whew, does it melt the brain. My brain was giving me this, “ok… you get one or the other. We can work hard to make sure you don’t get hit, but you can’t move to much or you can move a lot and we will give you more energy.” I had to tell my body and brain, nope need both and just slogged through it.

Over all we did well. Had my hand hit a couple times with the stick. That hurts, but over it is ok.

08/23/2019 Friday 1.5 hours of training – Muay Thai – that hit/strike you take and you just know its going to bruise.

Today was an interesting day. I ended up going to the dealership 3 times, because during a routine maintenance appointment for my 1 year old car they could not get right the resetting of the tire pressure sensor after rotating my tires. Why? Because it is a new car, 2018 and the techs just have not learned how to do it yet. Mind you this is a dealership of the same maker of the car. Also of note, the dealership was very apologetic. They were nice, and they got me in right away both times I had to return with my vehicle so they could reset the tire pressure sensor.

I digress. I got a lot done today, but by the time I had to pick up H from the metro I was done for the day. However, I put on my big girl panties and we all went into the gym.

Despite the crazy morning I had, I had a great training day.

Warm up:

  1. 1 x 5 minute round of jumping rope
  2. 2 x 3 minute rounds of Knees across the mat, shadowboxing knees

Training:

Today was clench work and knees

  1. We worked on clenching up and putting long leaning knees in.
  2. We worked on clenching up and putting rear knees in. He taught us to bring them up and pivot on our feet to get more distance to push your opponent away. This is done to break their posture and you can then run your other knees. Like curved knees
  3. We worked on a jab, hook, inward knee combo
  4. We worked on a jab, hook, inward knee, with double left kick combo
  5. We worked on a three elbow combo.
    • You Thai lean and control your opponents hands. Pushing their left hand out of the way, you throw a #1 elbow/ horizontal elbow to face. You throw a #2 or upward diagonal elbowMove the pad/head out of the way Throw a modified side in elbow with rear hand, it is modified by putting your hand on your head as if you are elbow covering, not high covering. Then you rotate and drop the elbow side in and diagonal.
  6. We then did sparring.
  7. We then ended with partner double kicks on the bag. Where your partner kicks twice on the back and then you kick twice on the bag
  8. We finished with suicide runs, across the mat x 2

So during our sparring we wear shin guards. Even so we have a chance of getting hit and getting bruises. These guards only protect the top of the foot and the shins. But if some one knees say my knee then we have a boo boo. I got kneed in the side of my knee well right above my knee in the muscle/fascia . Our knees hit each other. And that is the moment when I realized yup that is going to bruise. It hurts and you can just tell that one is going to be painful. So right now I have a deep tissue bruise, you can barely see the purple under the skin, but I imagine it will blossom.

One last thing for today. I had a really nice compliment from one of the instructors at the gym. J said I was really looking good in Muay Thai. He said you can see all the time I had put into it. That my form was looking great, and I was moving around great. He said, “you can’t fake mat time.” He said you put the time in on the mat and you will see results. Yay!

08/24/2019 Saturday 2 hours of training – Staff training, Striking class

Today marks the last day of my training for the week. I did my weight lifting and run on Monday, then I had martial arts training for Tuesday – Saturday. For a total of 8.5 hours for this week. As you can imagine I am tired, but its a good tired. This is a tired of, I worked my body and now I need a rest.

Staff – Bo Staff Drill

In staff class today, it was a beautiful morning, and we worked Saint Rafael and then we worked on another drill. I don’t know what it is called or would be called but it contains a equis, witiks, redondo, abecedario 3.

I took a video of it and we are still working on getting down and smooth.

Striking class – feint entries

In striking class we worked on feint entries. We feint with our jab, cross, and or left kick.

  1. Jump rope warm up
  2. Feint Jab
  3. Lead kick
  4. Cross
  5. Hook
  6. Rear kick
  7. Teep
  8. Feint Low jab
  9. Feint High jab
  10. Lead kick
  11. Cross
  12. Hook
  13. Rear kick
  14. Teep
  15. Feint Jab
  16. Cross to mid section
  17. Lead uppercut
  18. Rear kick
  19. Teep
  20. Then we did a few rounds of pop the leather.

I had to leave early today to get to my friends wedding. But I had a great time in training, and I had a great time at the wedding. It has been a great week, and I am done. I need the rest day of tomorrow.

I have a few videos and lots of pictures in this post. Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great day. My respect to you all.

Muay Thai… First Friday Night Class

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

1.5 hours of Muay Thai training. With our instructor Tony. He learned Muay Thai from his father, who learned it from his father, for generations back. Tony is first generation Thai. He is awesome! For reference I am second generation Japanese.

His workout is no joke. He had us doing warm ups with agility ladder drills to improve/quicken our foot work. Followed by 5 kicks. Then more ladder drills followed by 10 kicks.

He had us working on Jab and Cross. However, he wanted us to stay put this time. We often work on footwork, and movement. Movement where we have to cut the corner, get out of the pocket, fade back, or disengage. He wanted us to stay put in the pocket because in traditional Thai Boxing you stay in the pocket. He had us doing that for both the jab and cross, the switch kick, and the knee. Tony is a very traditional Thai practitioner. Because his family is very much more traditional.

Every time I get a chance to work with him. I learn new things. He pushes us, and helps us learn new technique. When we are done, we feel it in our everywhere.

Enough gabbing here is what we did:

  1. Agility ladder drill
  2. 5 rapid kicks left
  3. Agility ladder drill
  4. 5 rapid kicks right
  5. Agility ladder drill
  6. 5 rapid kicks left
  7. Agility Ladder drill
  8. 5 rapid kicks right
  1. Agility ladder drill
  2. 10 rapid kicks left
  3. Agility ladder drill
  4. 10 rapid kicks right
  5. Agility ladder drill
  6. 10 rapid kicks left then right across the mat
  7. Agility ladder drill
  8. 10 rapid kicks left then right across the mat
  1. Feeder feeds any jab or cross, or jab cross, cross jab combo x 2 – 3 minute rounds
  2. Burn out 30 seconds jab cross flurry
  1. Feeder feeds choice of cross, to lead switch kick x 2 – 3 minute rounds
  2. Burn out 30 seconds double kick lead leg
  1. Feeder feeds upward knee using the switch motion to keep yourself in the pocket. x 2 – 3 minute rounds
  2. Burn out 30 seconds double kick lead leg
  1. Partner kicks on the bag for 30 seconds – (This is where you and your partner are on opposite sides of the bag. They kick once you follow immediately with a kick. Lather rinse repeat)
  2. 30 seconds rest
  3. Partner kicks on the bag for 30 seconds (switch places so if you were doing right kicks you are now doing left kicks)
  4. 30 seconds rest
  1. 30 seconds knee #2 (try to get 50 knees in 30 seconds)
  2. 30 seconds rest
  3. 30 seconds knee #2 (try to get 50 knees in 30 seconds)
  4. 30 seconds rest
  5. 30 seconds knee #2 (try to get 50 knees in 30 seconds)
  6. 30 seconds rest
  7. 30 seconds knee #2 (try to get 50 knees in 30 seconds)
  8. 30 seconds rest

Switch kicks– are kicks where instead of cut stepping you are changing stance in place, staying in the pocket, and whipping your leg up into the torso quickly.

So Tony’s style is different from my Kru I train with 4 days a week. Different than Ajarn Chai’s style, and that is good. Ajarn Chai reminds us all the time that each gym is different, each family has their own way of doing things. I find value in learning from many different instructors. There is always something you can learn and make better. Also you might find a way to do something that works better for you.

I am now dead tired. This is my 4th day doing Muay Thai this week. I have one more tomorrow, before I get a rest.

I hope you enjoyed reading. Thanks for reading, and keep working to be the best you that you can be. My respects to you all.

Thursday Muay Thai and Kali…Clench Sparring, In a knife fight you drip or you gush

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

2 hours of training today. Gonna make this short and sweet. Today I have been up since 4:30 am. I did not sleep well, and had to work two of my jobs today.

Muay Thai

We worked on entries with knees again. This time we used a scoop of the jab or cross and returning an knee. This gets you in to return your 4 count strikes.

I got to work with one of our fighters that actually goes and fights in sanctioned fights. He is really awesome and helped me work the drills. He is tall and I surprised him that I can kick as high as his torso. We discussed the fact that these entries are only for when a person is committed to the punches. If they are just throwing noise then you can’t scoop the jab or cross and get in there. I am having a hard time in sparring knowing when they are committed. I have been assured by him and Kru Kristen that, that is just time and practice. You have to know/feel when they break the imaginary barrier to bring the distance in and hit you.

After that, the more senior of the students broke out and practiced clench sparring. That is a tiring set of 6 rounds. However, it is a lot of fun. I feel like my clench sparring game/abilities/skills have gone up since I was at Thai camp. We did a lot of it, and I got to work with a lot of people. I was able to get my timing right and get my opponents in class off balance.

To finish we did:

  1. 100 knees on the bag
  2. 30 sit ups
  3. and x planks

Kali

We worked on knifes. Gunting or scissors move where you cut and pass the opponents arm when they attack you with #1 through #5 attacks.

We worked on disarms with:

  1. a c clamp on the wrist
  2. figure 4 arm control where you cut their throat with their own blade
  3. control of opponents arm and sheath the blade into opponents on leg, or arm pit
  4. three direction peel the blade away from opponents hand

We then got to spar with knives. We all wore mouth guards, eye protection, and gloves. One person had a knife, the other had just their hands. We tried to disarm the person with the blade and not get cut. The person with the blade was trying to cut but not get disarmed. This is another fun asymmetrical sparring practice.

We say in Kali/Silat/JKD in a knife fight you either drip or gush. You don’t want to be the one that gushes. What this means is going into a knife fight knowing you will be cut, but not knowing just how bad. Is more realistic. Knives cut fast and deep, and you will most likely get cut in a knife fight. If you get out of it with a few small cuts, and you did not die, you won!

That is all for today. Thank you for reading, I hope you have a fantastic day. My respect to you and your family.

Wed Muay Thai…intensity and focus, seeing some progress in physique

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

1 hour of Muay Thai training today. It was short and sweet. It was full of intensity and focus. I really enjoyed having a shorter workout. I have grown accustom the longer 2, 3 and 5 hour training days.

The gym I go to OSMA (One Spirit Martial Arts) Just added two more Muay Thai classes and I could not be happier about it. I rearranged my work schedule so that I could attend them. Does that make me weird? Maybe obsessed? I like to think it just makes me dedicated, and working to hone my skills.

For this class we started with some band work to keep our feet in line with our hips, and contralateral movement.

Contralateral movement = means moving opposite sides of the body. So moving right arm up and left leg up. Then moving left arm up and right leg up at the same time.

Not only is it great for your muscles but great for your neo cortex. Your brain, works harder when you force it to move opposite sides of your body and opposite limbs at the same time. Its like teaching your brain to pat your head and rub your tummy.

Needless to say we did those contralateral movements with these:

  1. Bear crawls across the mat
  2. Bear crawls backward
  3. Bear crawls sideways

We then worked on knees. Shadowboxing long leaning knees to 4 count.

For the drills we did a parry the jab or cross, with a post to the shoulder and knee entry. Then we followed with a 4 count.

For instance:

  1. Feeder feeds a Jab
  2. You parry Jab
  3. Check the shoulder with your left hand
  4. You return Left knee
  5. You return a cross
  6. You return a hook
  7. You return a kick feeders choice, left or right round house

We finished with:

  1. 100 knees on the bag
  2. 50 knees across the floor shadowboxing
  3. 30 sit ups
  4. 50 Russian Twists with or without the medicine ball
  5. Then stretching

This was a fantastic class. Thanks to Kru Kristen. I am so happy to have been able to take it.

Also was feeling ok about the body today. It feels like and looks like I have made some progress. Mostly just toning, but maybe just maybe I am starting to change again.

  • 3/1/2018
  • 8/7/2019
  • 3/1/2018
  • 8/7/2019

Anyway enough of my prattle. Have a great night. Thank you for reading. Keep working to be the best you can be. My respect to you and yours.

Tuesday Muay Thai and Kali… Trigg Combo, Asymmetrical Sparring

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

2.5 hours of training. I warmed up by hitting the Thai pads for 30 minutes before class. Muay Thai and Kali were fun classes tonight. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for the great classes.

Muay Thai – Trigg Combo

When we were at Thai camp we got to work with the one the only Ajarn Leonard Trigg. The guy responsible for our Trigg 10 drill. We love him and his drills. He worked with us at Thai camp and he gave us this combo to work on. I had the pleasure of working with my instructor for this combo and when we did I had so much fun. It was hard, but it was great. I asked that we do this combo in class.

So what did we get to do today in Muay Thai? Yup you guessed it. That very same Trigg Combo. I don’t know if it has a name, but suffice to say, Ajarn Trigg is well known for his amazing boxing skills.

The combo is this:

  1. feeder feeds a jab
  2. you swipe right
  3. you return a R shovel hook
  4. you return an R overhand
  5. you return an L hook
  6. you return an R cross

This combo is great. Ajarn Trigg emphasized that he wanted us to work on flow and timing. The goal is for every one hit the opponent tries to make you return 4 shots. There pop, your pop, pop, pop, pop in rapid succession.

I worked with one of my favorite partners, my husband. I got a great workout, and he know just how much to push me, and tries to keep me honest about keeping my hands up. I find sometimes when I work with people that are newer that my class is not as physically demanding cause we are going slower, and we are getting in less reps. So sometimes it is nice to work with some one I know that can hold pads well, and I can go at a faster pace with. I get more rounds in and I can work on my speed, timing, and form at the same time.

Some more combos we worked on today:

  1. Opponent throws Right head kick
  2. You lean back by – taking a step back, cover face on right hand side, left arm goes down to side of body and you shoulders are level.
  3. You throw a right cross
  4. You throw a left body hook
  5. You throw a right roundhouse
  1. Opponent throws inside leg kick
  2. You step back to avoid the kick
  3. You throw a left roundhouse
  4. You throw a cross
  5. You throw a hook
  6. You throw a right roundhouse

Kali – Asymmetrical Sparring

In Kali we worked on disarms again, and mostly entering on the inside deflect. However, we also worked on a weave. We did some puno disarms and the inside deflect snake and vine disarms again.

Weave Leg Take down:

  1. Inside deflect
  2. control opponents right hand with our left hand
  3. return a #4 rib shot
  4. Step on opponents foot
  5. weave our stick between legs
  6. pull opponents hand and push opponent over with our stick

I got a video of me doing this.

Then we got to do asymmetrical sparring. In this version of it, we had one person with boxing gloves on, and one person with a boxing glove and a soft stick. We would attack each other. The goal of the one with just boxing gloves was to crash in and disarm the other. The goal of the one with the stick was to just keep the opponent with just boxing gloves away and don’t get disarmed and or punched.

Asymmetrical sparring is fun, and I have enjoyed it every time. It makes you have to think about how to get in, when you don’t have all your tools available to you.

Thanks for reading. I hope you had a fantastic day. Keep working to be the best you that you can be. Respect to you.