Tag: Knee

Martial Arts 02/20/2020: Mr Miyagi was mostly right! He just need spend some time in Thailand.

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

This is my last week to train up before the big test. To say I am worried, even scared I will fail is a bit of an understatement. Everyone will be watching, but I am going to keep training, and try to be as ready as I can.

I have a week of training ahead of me, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. After this week it is active rest till Thursday of the next week. My trainer said she wants us to take a break before the test so that we are fresh.

I have been training for months for this test so here is hoping. I know that the test is designed to be hard, and to test you. It is physically challenging, mentally challenging when you get hit, and modulating yourself when the adrenaline dumps is going to be tough so you don’t gas yourself on the first round. I am going to do my absolute best, and put everything else out of my mind.

Tuesday 02/18/2020: 3 hours of Muay Thai and Kali

3 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali. Woot what a fun night. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for two great classes.

Pad rounds before class

Thai class:
1) Jab, cross, rear kick combo
2) Jab, lead horizontal elbow, rear side in elbow, rear inward knee, teep
3) Catch kick combos, return quad spike, knee to hamstring, cross stomp the knee, side kick the leg.
4) Catch kick combo, with leg pass and 4 count afterwards.

Kali class:
We worked on open box, to open box flowing into what ever disarms we could get through the flow. I like the 7 arm bar series personally. And the kumbiata switch to leaver on shoulder and smash trachea/chin.

Then we worked on sword and shield. Took a video of it we have not worked on this in a few months. But it came back to us and it was super fun.

What a great night.

Thursday 02/20/2020: 3 hours of Muay Thai

2 hours of Muay Thai practice. Thank you 🙏 Tony for the great class.

Pad rounds before class

Thai:

We warmed up with- 3x each exercise
1) high knee opposite punches
2) mountain climbers
3) jumping jacks

(This is assuming both people are orthodox fighters, if one of them is south paw then the logic differs, on which catch to do to protect the liver.)

1) jab, cross, rear teep, lead teep

2) catch a incoming rear kick with lead arm and a small step onto your rear foot instead of a slide, pass it and return a rear kick

3) catch lead kick with your rear arm, lateral back with your lead leg, turning your body away from the kick, (this distributes the force along your lower back and hip, saving you liver), pass the kick and return a rear kick from your temporary south paw stance?

4) rear knee, lead knee, rear flying knee

5) lead teep, rear teep, fake with lead teep to execute rear aerial knee called Hanuman Climbing the Mountain.

The break through with the last rear aerial knee for me was, that I realized it is like the crane kick like Mr. Miyagi taught just instead of kick you did a knee. Still need to work on it, and practice, practice, practice. =) So Mr. Miyagi was mostly right.

Cool down and ab work-
Shadow boxing

Crunches
Flutter Kicks
Crunches
Scissor kicks
Crunches
15 Clockwise and 15 counter clockwise double leg circle

Friday 02/21/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai

1 hour of Muay Thai training. I am about as tired as this picture looks today. Thank you Tony  🙏 for the class.

Warm up:
45 seconds rapid kicks on the bag
15 sec rest
45 seconds teeps on bag
15 sec rest
45 seconds rapid kicks other leg on bag
15 sec rest
45 seconds teeps on bag
15 sec rest

45 seconds left and right leg kicks in the bag
15 sec rest
45 seconds skip knees
15 sec rest
45 seconds left and right leg kicks in the bag
15 sec rest
45 seconds skip knees

Drills:
Step in jab, cross
Jab
Lead teep
Flying switch knee

Jab, cross, hook
Catch incomming rear kick, Return a jab
Shrug off and let go of leg pushing opponent back into ropes
Immediately throw a flying knee into opponent on ropes

Then we did rounds of sparring just boxing first, and then legs and punches

Saturday 02/22/2020: 2 hours of Muay Thai

2 hours of Muay Thai practice. Thank you 🙏 so much Khun Kru Krysta for the test prep and the really fun class.

Test:
Technique demo
Thai 15 count
Boxing 20 count
2 x 3 min test rounds with 30 seconds rest ( goal is 60 kicks 40 knees minimum for each round) (all the while the feeder is kicking and hitting you back)

My numbers for test rounds:
first round – 76 kicks 46 knees
second round – 77 kicks and 45 knees

Class:
We worked on the entire Inosanto 18 count. I don’t have the permission to publish, and I would want to ask first anyway. But it involves knees, elbows, kicks, and punches in a flow.

Whew I am exhausted now!

9 hours of training this week. Next week is our test. It has been highly recommended by our trainer/coach to rest up the next few days. So we will rest Sunday and Monday, we will train lightly Tuesday, and then we will rest Wednesday, just so we can be fresh for Thursday our test.

I feel better after our last training session and our test rounds. Here is hoping I am ready. =)

Thanks for reading. I hope you all have a great weekend. As always please feel free to ask questions, if you like it like, and subscribe if you want to hear more of my rambling, recipes, and product reviews.

Muay Thai Camp Saturday, 7/27/2019 Day 4… End of year, and pants dropping oh my.

On By Thinks with SpinksIn Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Fitness, workoutLeave a comment
A picture of the whole group. Credit: Elise

Saturday, 7/27/2019 Day 4

Stats:

Steps – 31,935
Calories – 5,337
Active minutes – 394

I finally made it to day 4. I was only able to due this with friends and family supporting me. Every night after a day at camp. We would shower, talk, and I would pass out. Then get up and do it again. I was worried I would not make it this far. I was told there were some people who could not do 4 days. This was an amazing adventure, and I am so much the better for it.

This day my body was tired but kinda resigned to the process. It seemed my body just said ahh well I guess we are doing this again.

Looking back on this day, it was amazing. I got to work some of the most inspiring people in the martial arts.

And while I am finishing this post 5 months later. I wanted to finish this post before the new year. Man did I cut that close.

Total for this whole 4 day period of time we did: 250 rounds, 7500 knees

That is mind boggling. 250 rounds, and 7500 knees!

Having a post take this long is good on some level. I can focus on the highlights of the last day, of the entire camp itself. I don’t have this swirling whirlwind of emotions, thoughts, ideas, and everything just trying to shoulder each other out of the way to get down on the page. I have a bit of clarity. =)

High Lights:

  1. I got to work with masters of the martial art I love Muay Thai. Who are also masters of other martial arts as well.
    • Ajarn Chai ( Surachai Sirisute )
    • Ajarn Parker
    • Ajarn Greg Nelson
    • Trigg
    • Kru Aron (Juice)
    • Khun Kru Carro
    • Khun Kru Elise
    • Khun Kru Krysta (my trainer/coach)
    • Nichole G.
    • Kru John H.
    • Khun Kru Sonya Y.
    • Raja
    • Many more I cannot remember, and all part of my tribe now, my extended family. If I did not get an Title (Ajarn, Kru, Khun Kru) correct please let me know I will make the change.
  2. 1 week of Muay Thai training. It is amazing what you learn just dedicating your time all of your time to one thing. Normally we split it between our obligations, our jobs, our bills, and add training in too. You soak up the training like a sponge.
  3. This kind of good stress, good challenge, good push beyond your abilities, will show you what you are made of. It sounds cliche but it really will. It will ask you to go further than you have before, and you will decide in that instance to give up or continue. To pull from reserves of power, and will that you never though you would before.
  4. You get to see so many people who have the same love you do for the art. You get energized by their love, you get to make connections, and friends with people who dedicate themselves to what they love. That alone is in infectious.
  5. For me it was ground breaking. I got to see masters in their art. I got to get past a plateau I felt I was on. I pushed forward. I have made leaps and bounds in my art.
  6. Last but not least a dropping trousers story of my first Muay Thai camp. One of my now friends, a beautiful lady I met at the camp, whom I love and she is so supportive. Was asked to come up and test for her Khun Kru test, this is the test to go from Kru, to Khun Kru. In it you have to do the Wai Kru. You also have to have Thai shorts on. She did not, and she ran over and asked me to use my shorts. I was wearing workout tights under them. Without hesitation I dropped my shorts and handed them to her. She thanked me up and down. She was so grateful that I was able to help her in the last minute. I would do it again and again. I have grown to love this community, and this is what this community does for each other. We will help out when and where we can. We will do what we can for each other.

Training:

  1. Kick shield – knee – lean to avoid uppercut – knee – teep OR elbow 8 – 6
  2. Kick shield – knee – elbow 4
  3. Trigg 10
  4. If they go to your left, punch straight left
  5. If they go to your right, punch straight right
  6. If they cut in, left hook
  7. Dip and wipe
  8. Shovel hook cross hook (jab)
  9. Shovel hook hook cross

“In a stressful situation, you don’t rise to the highest level of your training, you fall to the lowest level of your mastery.”

John Holt

So yeah… This is 5 months later. I had such an amazing adventure. This is the end of the year, and I look back on this amazing adventure. That I was asked to go to this camp is an amazing honor. I was able to attend Thai Camp in Oregon. This opportunity to learn from some of the best instructors/trainers/coaches ever.

I took time away from my family. I took time for myself. I learned so much about my art, I learned even more about myself.

I plan on going again this next year. I need to learn as much as I can, and I look forward to seeing friends, and team mates again.

Thank you for reading. I am sorry it took so long to get done. I have just had a lot of life happen between then and now like we all do. I did want to get it done before the new year. So yay I did it! Just one day away. I hope you all have a had a fantastic year. I hope the new year is what you all are looking forward to. Keep working hard, keep trying to be the best you can be. As always please feel free to ask questions.

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.

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.

Tuesday Muay Thai and Kali…Ordered to take it easy, Combos from Thai Camp

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

2 hours of training. I still feel it from Thai Camp. I got in on a red eye at 7 am yesterday and had to work last night. While I had a nap yesterday after I got home, I had a nap today. I am still tired. But doing well. So today is our regular training day.

It was really nice to get back on the mats. I had so many people welcome me back and ask about Thai camp. They also congratulated me on completing it and making it. It was really nice to be back in my home. The area I am comfortable in.

So today Khun Kru Krysta told me, “to take it easy, and that is an order.” Kru Kristen was surprised I was in for training today. =)

So I guess other people might not have been in. I can say my muscles are still tired, and my hip flexors are sore still. But I did it.

Enough gabbing, here is what we did.

Muay Thai Combos from Thai Camp

  1. 1 round of jump rope
  2. Feeder Jabs, and then right kicks
  3. You side step, or move leg out of the way
  4. You teep
  5. Feeder feeds a right kick then a cross
  6. You parry the cross, with left hand
  7. You cover with right hand, grab back of neck and then knee feeder
  8. Feeder right kick
  9. You Shield kick
  10. Feeder feeds a lead hand upper cut
  11. You lean step back and lean back with left arm down to the side, and right hand covering right hand side of face.
  12. Right knee, to right Kick

Kali

In Kali we worked on a entry with jabs creating noise or distraction. The finished with an Cross, hook, cross.

We worked on: Disarms both Snake and Vine

Vine disarms – are weapon assisted disarms, in this instance with a stick

Snake disarms – are disarms without a weapon

  1. Plus leaver disarm with the stick, using an indide deflect
  2. Off of an equis feed, or strike #1 and strike #2
  3. Inside deflect, and control opponents arm
  4. Strike a #4 or back hand shot to opponents ribs
  5. Slide controlling hand to end of opponents stick
  6. Strike hand of opponent holding stick
  7. Making a plus sign with sticks use your stick to leaver opponents stick out of opponents hand
  8. Equal leaver disarm with the stick, using an inside deflect
  9. Off of an equis feed or strike #1, strike #2, strike #1
  10. Outside deflect, and control opponents arm
  11. Slide your stick along their stick and under opponents wrist making an equal sign
  12. Turn over your hand, and slide your other hand along stick to their hand to grab and wrench out of their grip
  13. Inside Snake disarm
  14. Off of a Strike #1 inside deflect
  15. Snake arm down and around counter clockwise
  16. Look at palm of your hand and turn your whole torso around to pull stick out of their grip in your arm
  17. Outside Snake disarm
  18. Off a Strike #2 outside deflect
  19. Snake arm down and around clockwise
  20. Either wing it out of their grip, or blade hand and squat to take stick from opponent.

Below is a paper doll I made for the 17 count. So the numbers I am referring to above are here below.

Then we worked on Kali sparring with a soft stick, and boxing gloves. One person had gloves and one had a soft stick. We had to work on our distance management, getting in for the boxing and keeping the other person at bay for the soft stick.

Today was a really fun day. I did not push it to hard. I had a good time. I got to see my fellow classmates and Martial Arts family again. As always I try to put up terms when I remember them, into the glossary (What does that even mean?) if you are interested. I use it to remember terms myself. It is a living document, and will keep being added to. If you practice Kali/Escrima/Silat/JKD or Muay Thai and I made a mistake let me know of course. I will fix it.

Thank you for reading, and if you have questions let me know. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.

Conditioning Day 15…4 hours, Espada Y Daga, and hitting a wall

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

4 hours of training today on day 15. I am exhausted. I hit a wall. Not a plateau, nor do I feel like I hit an over training hurdle. I just hit a wall like Wile E Coyote hits the ground after falling off the cliff. Like a Mac Truck hit me. I know that for your body to adapt you must hit these walls/hurdles and keep going, so that is what I did. I got in 20 rounds of training.

Yup that is what it felt like. But I had to keep pushing through.

I started out with a 1 mile run. It was not great timing wise. It was a 13.33 minute mile… it was also 93 degrees out.

I cam back in and did kicking rounds.

  1. Power kicking rounds. 1 to two kicks per side for the entirety of the round.
  2. Speed kicking rounds. Power is taken out, and technique is focused on. Pyramid kicks from 1 kick, 2 kicks, 3 kicks, 4 kicks, 5 kicks, 6 kicks, 5 kicks, 4 kicks, 3 kicks, 2 kicks, 1 kick. All in succession.
  3. Speed and Power kicking rounds mixed together.

I did 4 bag rounds of 3 minutes each with a 30 second burn out.

I also working on rounds of boxing. Jab, Cross, Upper cut, Upper cut, body hook, body hook.

Muay Thai Class

Then we had Thai class. We warmed up with jump rope, then we did clench work to warm up.

Kru Kristen had us then work on punches transitioning to elbows, to knees. I got to work with Kru Krysta so we could both work on our conditioning for Thai Camp. As we are both going. Yay!

Each round ended with an elbow flurry blitz.

Kali – Espada y Daga

Then came Kali class, the 4th hour. My brain had stopped braining. My body was just tired, but I kept working at the drills. We worked on Gunting (scissor) five count. With double stick, Espada y Daga, and with single knife. We worked on pass, cut and disarm.

I know this is not super detailed but I am exhausted, need to shower and get to bed. I hope you all have a great day/night when ever you get to read this. Keep being awesome and working to be the best you can be.

Conditioning Day 12… Pad Work In the Park

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

2.5 hour Conditioning training today. There was a BJJ seminar in our gym today so all of the classes were canceled, and we decided to do our training out in the park. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, breezy and not terribly hot. We stayed in the shade of a big tree. The kiddos got to play in a play ground right next to us. There was a graduation party going on next to us as well. The people setting up wound up watching us. I guess it is not normal to see people drilling boxing, elbows, and knees at the park.

H had me working on 4 minute rounds. No burn outs today, just constant work. We worked on my boxing stance, since I tend to square up when I shift weight on my cross and jab.

We worked on my slip, knees and elbows. We also worked on knees to elbows, punches to elbows, punches to knees.

He can tell the difference in my downward diagonal elbow now that I have been to a Arjan Chai seminar. It is more powerful, and I throw it much better. He has started using that technique as well.

I worked up a sweat, we got about 20 x 4 minute rounds in. It was a great Saturday workout, and a great conditioning day 12 workout. I have 10 days left to train up for camp.

I recorded some video of two of the drills we did.

Here is the Cross, Jab, Slip, Jab, Cross, Slip drill we did.

And this is the Jab, Cross, Upper Cut, Upper Cut, Body Hook drill we did.

I hope you have a great day! Thanks for reading.

Conditioning Day 10… Rained out, 8 rounds, Sparring is a mental thing as much as physical

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

3.5 hours of training today. If I include the rounds in class too, I think I did about 25 rounds. I tried to do my mile run but got rained out. I got 8 x 3 rounds straight in today before classes started. This picture is of me looking like some soaked marsupial. I got half a mile in, and the thunder and lightening were over head. The rain came down harder and I threw in the towel as it were and cut my losses. Came back to the gym soaked with soggy, sloshy shoes.

We went in, and I asked H to hold pads for me. He asked me what I wanted to work on. He knows I am conditioning. I told him I wanted to do cardio, and flow. I wanted to work on getting my flow from hands to feet, and feet to hands better.

He is a really great pad holder, and a really great pad holder will make you look awesome. I got some compliments from the gym manager, who was teaching a BJJ class while we were working the rounds.

Training:

  1. Rained out run, only 1/2 mile, but that half was done in 6 minutes woot! So if I did my full mile and kept that pace I would have had a 12 minute mile.
  1. 1 x 3 minute round – 4 counts left to right, and right to left combos for the first round
  2. 30 seconds – burn out kick pyramid. (1 kick, 2 kicks, 3 kicks, 4 kicks, 5 kicks, 4 kicks, 3 kicks, 2 kicks, 2 kick all on one side.)
  3. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, right/rear knee, right kick – Jab, cross, left/front knee, left kick – jab, cross, right/rear knee, left kick – jab, cross, left/front knee, right kick
  4. 30 seconds – burn out kick pyramid. (1 kick, 2 kicks, 3 kicks, 4 kicks, 5 kicks, 4 kicks, 3 kicks, 2 kicks, 2 kick all on one side.)
  5. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, right kick, right kick – Jab, cross, left kick, left kick
  6. 30 seconds – burn out 3 kicks with right/rear leg, 3 kicks with left/front leg, lather rinse and repeat for 30 seconds
  7. 1 x 3 minute round – double kicks, to slide in to knee
  8. 30 seconds – burn out 3 kicks with right/rear leg, 3 kicks with left/front leg, lather rinse and repeat for 30 seconds
  1. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, body hook, striking knee
  2. 30 seconds – burn out elbow blitz
  3. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, body hook, striking knee, striking knee, striking knee… doing both left and right knees
  4. 30 seconds – burn out elbow blitz
  5. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, upper cut, upper cut, body hook x 3 each side.
  6. 30 second – burn out body hooks
  7. 1 x 3 minute round – Jab, cross, body hook, striking knees x 3
  8. 30 second – 4 elbows, to 3 knees

I tried to not make to much noise when hitting the pads. I don’t like disturbing the other classes when I am using the gym. However, apparently I made an impression about how hard I was working. =)

Muay Thai Class:

We worked on clenching again, and flowing in clenching. Going from 1/2 clench, to 50/50 clench with bicep control, to off balance, to then breaking your opponents posture, to knee, to elbow.

The Thai Clenches

  1. Both hands on the neck/crown of head = Full Plumb
  2. Neck and Arm control, or Neck and Bicep control (great to give you inside control)
  3. Under hooks ( really good for when you have a taller opponent )
  4. Full Fence (great for off the line/off to the side)
  5. Half- Single Wing (good for control of upper body, done well shuts down their upper body)
  6. Waist and Arm control ( really good for when you have a taller opponent)
  7. 50/50 (is where most people end up, because full plumb is untenable)
  8. Quarter

I was working with a new guy, he is a big dude. I am a short girl and have this clench and tie up, that I like, and a leg bump that we do. I do it all the time, and did it to him. He was surprised at how much I threw him and his mass around with out trouble. He easily has 100 lbs on me. I explained what I was doing and did it again, showing him. He looked surprised again, and Kru Kristen laughed and said, “that’s her favorite clench and dump. And it goes to show you that size does not have anything to do with it. You can do it to anyone if you have the right technique.”

After that we did rounds of sparring. Sparring is a mental thing as much as physical. If you are stressed, scared, or worried it shows. I need to relax. I do far better when I am relaxed. I can respond faster as well. I am standing flat footed, and to heavy on my lead leg. Thai fighters usually do 40 lead leg, 60 back leg. But when I am sparring I am trying so hard to remember everything, keep my shoulders up and hunched at the same time, covering my face, movement, getting hands to feet and feet to hands combos in, and blocking. I forget to be on the balls of my feet. Sigh! I have so much to learn, and get better at.

I however, was able to get 4 good kick blocks in. My friend A. helped me afterward for about 20 minutes working on not being heavy on my lead leg. I just need to keep practicing. I need to work on my hip flexors. I am a little tight there so I can lean back a little.

Anyway I am tired, and have to get up early in the morning. Thanks for reading. I have 12 more days of conditioning to get in before camp. Rest tomorrow, and then Saturday hit it hard.

Keep working on being the best you that you can be. I will try to do the same.

Tuesday Muay Thai and Kali…Same side flow like water, Thai shirts, 7 count knife drill

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

2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali training. Today was so much fun. I was excited to unveil the shirts I had made. Also thought today was going to be a test day. But alas it was not. Kru Kristen had to do some book keeping and see where everyone is first. And then we worked on espada y daga or sword and knife drills. Kru Krysta took over an taught both classes.

Muay Thai – Same side flow like water, Thai Shirts

So today was a great day for training. We worked on same side flow from, teeps, to kicks, to knees and back again. But all on the same side. So this make it difficult cause if your balance is not correct you will fall. You will not have power if you balance is off, and if you do not step out. If you do not teep your partner hard enough they may not step back far enough for you to get your kick in, so then you have to step off the line.

So I took video of me doing some of the drills. Meh…

  1. Lead round house kick to lead tee
  2. Rear round house kick to rear teep
  3. Lead round house kick, to lead shield of kick, to lead round house kick to lead teep.
  4. Rear round house kick, to rear shield of kick, to rear round house kick to rear teep.
  5. Lead round house kick, to rear teep, rear feint, to lead knee.

Ok let me pick this crap apart. For some reason today I was dropping my hands, all the time. That is going to get me punched in the face. I was a bit off balance today that is not great for teeps, or kicks. My shields of kicks were down right sad. I need to remember to keep my foot flexed tight to shield, but I kept failing at that. My timing was not great and I felt slow, sometimes waiting for a few seconds to long to move to the next move. The strikes should be smooth and flow like water. So many things wrong with my drilling today… my body was just not doing what I wanted it to today. I know what I need to do, but just not executing it today.

And don’t get me started on how I looked. A hot mess is what comes to mind. But I digress, I know focusing on that does not help me flow like water.


I made Thai shirts for my team. I made the design, and had them printed up. I was able to hand them out today. I was so excited to do this. But the back of my head that little mean part of my brain was saying what if they hate it, what if they don’t like it? Trying to make me doubt myself.

So I ignored that mean chatter, and took them in anyway. My team loved it. They thought it was so cool and thanked me for it. I was very happy to do it and relieved that it was received well. It was a surprise and they did not know it was coming.

It says:

Crew AmpliThai

Nak Muay (means Thai Fighter) 
Respect
Hard Work
Perseverance
Dedication

Then Kru Kristen’s quote:
“Less Talking, More Hitting”

I like the way the shirts came out. =)

Kali – 7 count Knife Drill, T drill, all with Espada y Daga

Today in Kali we worked on the 7 count knife and stick drill or espada y daga (sword and dagger). We worked on the T drill separately, then hubud drill, then the 7 count separately. Finally we worked on the T drill and 7 count together in one full flow drill.

I filmed the T and 7 count full flow drill. Here is the video in all its um… glory? Well its something.

It is 12 pm here, and I must go to bed. I have a 5 am wake up. Weeee! Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Thursday Muay Thai and Kali…A Little Uncomfortable, Time to Play

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

2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali. I woke up had a lot on my plate, went into work early to get a cake done that my boss needed me to do. Her boss asked for me personally to do the cake. =)

Everything on this cake is made by me, and is edible.

I don’t usually show my work here. But this is just an example of what I have/had to work on today.

I digress though… back to the martial arts. =)

Muay Thai – A Little Uncomfortable

There are days we cover so much, and then there are days were we need to just drill out what we have been working on. Lately we have been working on the T.B.A. (Thai Boxing Association) Thai 17 count. But today Kru Kristen broke down some of the combinations.

The first combo we worked on left knee, left kick, cross, hook, right kick. With this combo we were working on knee to left kick, we needed to load the kick and not just land heavy on the left foot. We needed to set it back almost parallel with our back foot so that we could take the quick step and land the kick. With this combo we were working on flow, and transition, trying to make them smooth, and in my case kicking harder.

The second combo we worked on is right knee, right kick, hook, cross, left kick. Again we were working on the knee to right kick, with a quick step to load and step out. Producing power, and a better striking kick when you do. Flow and transition are again things we needed to strive to attain.

Its important to learn new skills but it is also important to take apart the new skills, drills, moves, and work the parts through. I feel that doing this, gives me time to develop the skills I need so that next time we go through the entire Thai 17 count I will be just a tiny bit improved. Its all about them baby steps.

We worked on clench work after that. We worked with the less experienced students, and were helping them learn half clench, to off balances.

Kru Kristen said an interesting thing. Training is important, and taking people to a high fear level, like throwing them into sparring to soon, is a detriment. The high fear just hinders their learning, however, on the other hand letting them stay in this cushy close, comfortable area does them no good. You can have a great technician, that does not know how to practically use the skills they have. You have some one that is good at fighting but does not have the technical skills. Its taking a student out of their comfort zone, and making them a little uncomfortable is where the real learning comes from. So practicing the skill in a safe environment is important, but then letting the student play around with it is also important. I personally have noticed this is true. You can see how a skill can get used, then strung together with another move, and you can begin to see the openings. When I first started learning Muay Thai, and Kali, the instructors would talk about seeing openings in a persons attack. This was daunting for me then. How was I supposed to remember the attack or move and see an opening at the same time? I can tell you it gets better with experience. You will see the openings when you know what they look like, and you will see what they look like when you learn the moves and how to make your body do the strike.

Kali – Time to Play

In Kali we worked on playing with each other. Kru Kristen says that playful drills where we are able do some flow drills, while then being able to find an opening and using a previously learned move is the beginnings of sparring. Now I have been sparring for a while now, and she has mentioned this before. I agree with her. Being able to take the fear out of it, but making it it fun, and just a partner and yourself just trying to find an in/entry. Or you and a partner trying to find a way to alternate drills that you are doing forces your brain to look for those openings.

We worked on hubud drills again, body pummeling, wrist pummeling, and Thai Boxing pummeling. She encouraged us to talk while doing it. She did not want us to focus on our hands but what our partners energy was doing. Where were they moving their body to, and could you counter without looking directly at their hands.

So to bring the same theme into the Kali class, she wanted us to have time to play. Because if we can play and flow through the hubud, flow drills, then into the body grappling, and then out again into striking, you can see where you would have a opening. Again play is the precursor to sparring, and allows us to be in a safe environment but again, makes you slightly uncomfortable.

This has become a long blog, and if you read this far, wow and thank you. I need to wrap this up and head to bed.