Tag: Muay Thai

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

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

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

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 09/23/2019: Hang On Like An Angry Sloth – BJJ, Muay Thai, Kali

Feeling good. My cold seems to be in the rear view mirror. So today I started my weeks training. With BJJ in the morning, followed by my run weight lifting workout. Yay for reaching daily goals.

Often times I cling on with all my strength mentally and physically to my training. Some times it takes just coming in and working through the training for that day. Some days you just don’t feel like you are making all that much progress. Sometimes you have to cling like an angry sloth. Sometimes you don’t feel like going in, and that is when you drag your tuchus into the gym. Because even if you are not feeling it having the tenacity to keep going and keep training will pay off in the end. Hours on the mat will start to add up.

Monday 9/23/2019 – 1 hour Brazilian Jui Jitsu

This is the second day of BJJ, and I am loving it. When you start a new martial art, or any kind of skill. It is hard to remember everything you did. I think it is partially cause a person does not have all the vocabulary. At least that is the case for me. I am trying to make sure I write it down right after class or I will forget. I call it a when if I can remember some of it. After a while I feel that just like my Muay Thai and Kali, I will retain more and more. I just need to build up my foundation.

Warmup:

  1. Rock to balance
  2. Teeter Totter to balance
  3. Cross sit
  4. Cross sit to lunge and stand, then reverse

Training:

  1. Standing Guilatine
    • Making sure to lean on the person, remove space around their neck by pulling your hand in, thumb up, grab with your other hand.
    • This is to remove oxygen to partners brain
  2. Standing Cross Collar choke
    • Palm up/Palm up 50/50
      1. Make sure to have thumbs behind ears, wrist on neck
      2. Move head up with inserted arm to get under and grab collar
      3. Turn wrists toward neck, as you squeeze
      4. Push forward with hips, and push chest out through arms
    • Palm up/Palm down 80/20
      • One arm is framed on neck
      • Lean over and put other arm over hand holding collar
      • Bottom arm is pulling
  3. From Guard Cross Collar choke
    • Same as above just you are on the ground
    • Break down partners posture
    • Grab collar, and perform cross collar choke
    • Keep hips up for closed guard
  4. Sit Up Sweep
    • When opponent posture up grab collar and ride up
    • But elbow or hand back on mat
    • Trap opponents arm
    • Sit in opponents lap
    • Point your toes so you don’t break your ankle or knee
    • Roll onto knee and shin
    • Put your leg in opponents armpit to push them over, and get high mount

Kru Kristen, described part of the sit up sweep move, “hanging on like an angry sloth.” That made me laugh and it seems not only does it work for this particular sweep, but it also to training.

Tuesday 9/24/2019 – 2 hours Muay Thai and Kali – Seeing openings and being fast enough to take them.

Back at into training and so happy to see my team mates. I love seeing their smiling faces and they all said they were glad to have me back. Today was a big day for training. When we were sparring I saw an opening and got a cross in. Furthermore my instructor was watching us while I did it and she said, “yesssss… Tanya! That is how you do it.” I was shocked and amazed, and I looked at her amazed I got a hit in. She imediately said, “Don’t look at me while I am coaching you.” I was just so surprised.

Not only am I seeing the entries, but today I was quick enough to get them in. Well at least this time. I am sure I will make more mistakes along the way. However for today I did good.

It seems to be the case so far in training. You get to the point where you can see an opening but aren’t fast enough to take that opening and get a strike in. Then you see an opening for a strike and you become fast enough to see it and execute. Here is hoping I am crossing in to that territory.

Kru Kristen said everyone is looking good and have learned so much. We are applying what we are learning so this makes her happy.

Thai Training:

Warm up –

  1. Jump rope 3 minutes
  2. Shadow Boxing 3 minutes

Boxing –

  1. Parry the incoming Jab
  2. Windshield wiper and shoulder check opponent
  3. Upper cut rear hand
  4. Lead hook
  5. Cross
  6. cut the corner, or get out
  7. upper cut burn out for 1 minute
  1. Parry or catch the jab
  2. Parry the cross
  3. Shuffle or lateral in and shoulder check
  4. Lead upper cut
  5. Cross
  6. Bob and weave out
  7. Upper cut burn out for one minute
  1. We then did 3 rounds of 3 minute sparring.
  2. This is where I got my hits in.
  1. 3 rounds on the heavy bag. I opted out of clench sparring to baby my shoulder a little bit.
  2. 1 round of flutter kicks
  3. 10 burpees

Kali Training-

We worked on stick grappling again. We covered the inside and outside disarm, using snake and vine technique.

My partner was trying to figure out a way to get up when the person they are fighting has their arm, they got up in such a way as to have their head down and then were on their knees. So I saw the guillotine and I took it. Kru Krysta said, “that is great! A sneak guillotine!”

  1. Eqquise, kumbiata switch, crash into the person with your shoulder, start walking stick down, pain compliance on pressure points on side of body, then to double leg and behind knee. Push with shoulder and dump person. Get out and hit knees and angles to shatter them then run away.
  2. Eqquise, kumbiata switche, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
  3. Eqquise, inside deflect, paper cutter on the arm and breaking opponents posture.
  4. Eqquise, inside deflect, pull oppnents hand with weapon to third point in the triangle, insert stick between the legs of opponent, step on foot and then push and pull to take opponent down.
    • Alternately you can use the punio pull out their knee while standing on their foot and pulling them over to 3 rd point in triangle.

Today was a great day in training. I was seeing openings and at least attempting to get them. I got punched in the face many times today, so I am by no means an expert. But I am really happy with my performance today.

Wednesday 9/25/2019 – 2 hours BJJ and Muay Thai – spring on your toes

It’s official I am now officially a jitsu-Er. I took the plunge I did three classes, this was my third and I loved it.

BJJ training-
We worked on breaking posture of opponent.
Compromising opponents elbow to break posture
Using a hand lock and blade of wrists to remove opponent posting with one arm to break posture.
Sit up sweep

Thai training-
We worked on elbows, putting power into them- like honing a sword isolating movement. Kicks, to shields to elbow entries
I need to work on being springy on my feet

Sparring. I felt like wow. Just like I did not know what I was doing. Today I seemed to forget all that I learned, when punches and hits were coming at me. I got into my head, and I keep thinking that if I am getting hit I am doing something wrong or I did not block correctly. Sometimes I do miss a block, but sometimes it is just my opponent saw an opportunity and took it. Not that I was bad, but that they were even better. I need to keep this in mind so I can get out of my head space.

It is so much fun. If you are in the Reston/Herndon area you should visit the One Spirit Martial Arts Gym. http://virginiabjj.com/Thank you to my trainers Mike H, Kevin, JD for BJJ, and Tony in Thai.

P.S. I fit in a smaller sized gi than I thought I would. Woot!

Thursday 9/26/2019 – 2 hours Muay Thai, Kali – Blade Seeks Flesh, and Stick Seeks Bone

In Kali
“Blade seeks flesh, and Stick seeks bone”

Paul S. our resident ninja

What the heck does that mean? You may be wondering that. As my friend Paul S. put it. Use the stick to hit, or put pressure, make painful on your opponent/assailant. Stick on bone hurts a lot, and also can shatter bone. Blade seeks flesh is just that. A blade is meant to cut the flesh, to remove some or sever tendons to keep your assailant from running after you.

Wow class was amazing. I had a great time. I was complimented on my form. I was dropping my hand a little when I threw my cross. Gotta work on that.

Muay Thai Training –

  1. Warmup – jumping rope and stretching
  2. jab, cross, rear knee
  3. jab, cross, lead elbow, rear elbow, rear knee
  4. jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, rear knee, rear kick
  5. jab, cross, lead hook/lead elbow, lead knee, lead kick (I did a stutter step on this one)

Kali training –

  1. Inside deflect disarm/snake
  2. Inside deflect plus sign disarm/vine
  3. Outside deflect disarm/snake
  4. Outside deflect equal sign disarm/vine
  5. Eqquise, kumbiata switch, tricep smash, stick assisted rear naked choke, and hold the arm with weapon to hip.
  6. Eqquise, inside deflect, pull opponents hand with weapon to third point in the triangle, insert stick between the legs of opponent, step on foot and then push and pull to take opponent down. Alternately you can use the punio pull out their knee while standing on their foot and pulling them over to 3 rd point in triangle.
  7. Eqquise, inside deflect, pull opponents hand with weapon down toward their own body, insert stick between opponents body, and bicep, and using opponents back or hip, leaver them down while standing on their foot.

Below is a video of me doing the rear naked choke.

I really enjoyed the chokes, maybe a little to much. But they are fun. I am amazed that I could remember all of these drills. We worked on all of these. I had to work in the bakery early this morning. I got in at about 4:50 am, and did not get out till later almost 11 pm. To say I am tired is an understatement. But I did it, I clung in there, I came and I trained. Did I think about not going in, yup. But I am glad I came in.

Stick-to-itiveness… its a strange word, one I have heard since I was a child. It’s a informal word in U.S English. According to Merriam-Webster a (famous in the states) dictionary publisher it is:

stick-to-itiveness

nounstick-to-it·​ive·​ness | \ stik-ˈtü-ə-tiv-nəs  \

Definition of stick-to-itiveness

: dogged perseverance : TENACITY

US, informal: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant

So yes this week has been about, stick-to-itiveness, perseverance, tenacity, or just hanging on like an angry sloth. I went into the gym to train even though I was tired, I went in even though I had a bad day, and I went in because I wanted to. However, when my body (read scoliosis) was telling me to take it easy I did just that. Friday night I listened to my body, and stayed home from my workout.

Today/Saturday I missed class due to my re-certification class for CPR, AED, and First Aid. I need this cert for work, and I am happy to be re-certified. Tenacity is a good quality to have, but don’t let it give you tunnel vision like I get. Like all things, take everything in moderation. To much of anything is not good for you. Listen to your body, do the things you need to do, and enjoy a day off if you need it.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are having a great weekend. My respect to you and your family. Keep working to be the best you can be.

The Supplement Stacks I Use and Why I Use Them…Do they work?

Warning: This is a hotly debated topic among the fitness world. Some people really swear and live by them, and some people say they are not needed or only certain supplements are needed.

When I first started my fitness journey, supplements seemed to be popping out of the wood work. I could look at a fitness article without there being at least three adds for what would help me with energy, recovery, and muscle building. Or do I want the best performance for the time I put into working out? If so then use this product!

My head was spinning and I was so leery of being scammed that I tried to do as much research as possible. Because who does not want to get the best out of their workout, and not waste their time doing their workout? I decided to just change one thing at a time. I just wanted to get my body moving, and find a workout that I did not hate. That was my goal. I focused on working out then on my diet, trying to get all the nutrients in that I need. Because I thought and still do, that you can get most of the nutrients you need out of the food you eat. So even though I did research I still sat on all my information and just ruminated on it.

Now I do take supplements but use them just as what they are supplements. I take them to supplement my nutrition. I do not rely on them however have found them to be helpful.

If you are just starting out, and or just working out 2 times a week, at a very moderate to light level. Then I really don’t think you need to take these supplements. If you tighten up your nutrition and can get your protein, carbs, and fats in through food. Stick to that.

However, if you are training hard, doing HIIT workouts, training more than twice a day, and more than 30 minutes at a time… then I have found for my body, the supplements actually have helped me. Again, all I can speak to is what has and is working for me at the time. Experimentation is the key. Find what works for you and your body. Also of note, I am not a great meat eater. As a matter of fact I prefer plants to meats. Just as something my body processes better. So for that reason these supplements actually help me.

Ok So my “stack” of supplements I take are as follows:

(note: I am not sponsored by any of these companies and I am not paid by anyone to say this)

Pre-workout – BCAA’s + Caffeine – I take ON BCAA’s

Post workout – Recovery after strenuous workout, contains BCAA’s, B vitamins, electrolytes, replenishes glycogen, and carbohydrates –I take Vega Sport Recovery

Nuun – is an electrolyte replacement for hydration, low calorie, and low sugar. (15 calories, 1 g sugar, 300 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium, 25 mg magnesium, 13 mg calcium

Every day – Multivitamin, vitamin D, Glucosamine and Chondroitin ( This was prescribed to me by my doctor after my herniated disk. But is a great addition to your supplements as you get older for joint and cartilage repair.)

What is a BCAA? There are 20 amino acids your body uses to synthesize proteins. Nine of the 20 are considered essential, and your body cannot make these you must ingest them. Three of the 9 essential amino acids are the branch chain amino acids or (BCAA). They are Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine. As a primarily plant eater I have a hard time getting in quickly soluble proteins. When you take the right supplement, you get all the BCAA’s that your body needs to repair your muscles from a strenuous workout.

These are the 4 benefits of BCAA’s:

  1. Decrease muscle soreness- BCAA’s decrease muscle breakdown that can lead to soreness, so you have DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) for a shorter period of time.
  2. Builds muscle – BCAA’s leucine activates protein synthesis, to help build muscle
  3. Prevents muscle wasting – When your body is low on BCAA’s it will break down your current muscle and re-synthesize its proteins for what it thinks you need. This breaking down and re-synthesizing is normal body process, and the BCAA’s help prevent that even if its just a little bit.
  4. Reduce exercise fatigue – BCAA’s are used up when you exercise, and as the levels of BCAA’s decrease in your blood, your body releases tryptophan to your brain, which makes you brain think you are tired and fatigued. The theory is taking them before workout keeps the levels high in your blood and therefore you can work harder for longer.

You don’t need the BCAA’s before every workout, and you don’t need to drink the Vega Recovery after every workout. You want really want to take them only if you did or are going to do a hugely strenuous workout. Also you want to take time off taking the preworkouts that have added caffeine in them.

Here are some BCAA’ rich foods:

  1. Greek Yogurt
  2. Eggs
  3. Chicken
  4. Turkey
  5. Tuna
  6. Beef
  7. Milk
  8. Soy Powder/Milk
  9. Whey powder

Why Are These Supplements Great For Me?

Here is why they are great for me. Over the holidays, I ran out of BCAA’s. I went for a month without them, and I was doing fine. However, I noticed that my muscle fatigue and soreness was sticking around a bit longer. I took it again last night and had a much better sleep this last night. I woke up not feeling like my muscles had been run over.

Also during Thai Camp, I became desalinated. I took my BCAA’s in the morning and made sure I was drinking plenty of water. This is great for a normal workout but after about 4 hours of working out that day, water and pre BCAA’s was not enough. I got a major cramp in my calf, and needed magnesium, potassium, and salt replaced. It also took a massage therapist to help me calm the muscle down. I was facing another 3 to 4 hours of training that day, and I made sure I replaced what I lost in sweat, and what my body was burning through.

Again do your research, find something that will work for you. If you are vegan or vegetarian a great product I like and its called Vega. As with everything, look at the ingredients and make sure they source their ingredients from reputable places, and with good nutrition.

As always thanks for reading. My respects to you, and have a great day!

Martial Arts 09/10/2019: Muscle Memory

Muscle memory… in general I don’t think I know much. I mean when it comes to martial arts. I have been training for nearly two years in Muay Thai and Kali, with a smattering of JKD, Silate, and very little BJJ. I am often looking toward the next little thing to tweak. The next skill to learn. So when my instructor says, we are doing X, and I know exactly what to do I am amazed. Further more when my instructor says we are doing Y, and I am hazy about the terminology but I have done it so many times, in so many different configurations, that I have muscle memory, and my body just does what I need it to do.

I googled Muscle Memory and this is the first response that came up:
“The ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement.”typing relies heavily on muscle memory” “

Tuesday 9/10/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali

Muay Thai – compliments on my movement, heck I am moving more.

The ability to reproduce a movement without thinking about it. Yup! This week I am noticing more muscle memory. Movement… I am moving more. By this I mean pivoting my feet correctly, getting in and out of the pocket, cutting corners, and in general just getting out and away from strikes.

I got a compliment on my movement. My instructor Kru Kristen is so happy to see me moving more. What I mean is my pivot is much better on my punches. My head movement is getting better. I am getting my head off the line. I am slipping the punches more. I am covering with windshield wiper more. I am in general upping my fight game. Yay!

Today we worked on: Countering jabs and returning strikes

  1. Parry jab down and returning a jab right away. (This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
  2. Parry the jab slip and return a gut jab (This is better for the shorter people.
  3. Scoop the jab, pulling in your opponent, and then returning a over hand. (This is good for almost all people)
  4. We returned hook, or upper cut, cross, and then bob and weave a hook to head, then boogie out or step in and shoulder bump.

Kali – disarms and chokes

In Kali, today’s training muscle memory kicked in. Because when my instructor asked us if we remember the high box. My brain did not remember the term, but when we were working on the drills, my body kicked in. 15 strike, block strike incoming, strike 2 returned, block incoming strike.

  1. We worked on disarms, inside deflect which is plus sign disarm, and vine disarm.
  2. We worked on disarms, outside deflect which is equal sign disarm, and snake disarm.
  3. We worked on kumbiata switch to triangle chokes
  4. We worked on getting out of those chokes and returning a paper cutter choke.

Today was a great day of training.

Thrusday 9/12/2019 – 1.5 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali

Class was fantastic today. I love love love Muay Thai and Kali. I can’t put into words how much I love the martial arts styles. I will try here… I really believe it is because of my two great trainers/instructors, and because of the culture of the gym. Because of these two ladies their teaching style and encouragement, this is such a part of my life that I rearrange my other obligations and jobs so that I can continue and improve my skills with these ladies.

I am crazy enough that I am going to try to add in BJJ into the mix. I am going to try to see if I can at least attend one BJJ class a week, maybe two starting next week.

Muay Thai – Countering crosses and returning strikes

In Muay Thai now, I know how to do many things. I don’t know all the things mind you. I rely on my muscle memory to carry me through, and then I try to focus on the little tweaks I need to make. Like lifting my elbow to more horizontal to throw the hook correctly. Working on my foot work (meaning pivots, and getting in and out of the pocket). In general working on my form. I know the basic drills, now its time to tweak and improve my fight game.

  1. Parry jab, and parry cross down, returning a cross to head(This is great for taller people, or people taller than their opponent. )
    1. return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  2. Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a chest cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
    1. return hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  3. Parry the jab, then parry the cross slip and return a gut cross (This is better for the shorter people.)
    1. return body hook, head hook, cross, then bob and weave to get out
  4. Then we worked on pop the leather. Where each two group person does a 4 count combination.

Kali – disarms

We worked on disarms and chokes as well again. Today I had to leave early to go and get H from the airport. He was coming back in from a business trip.

I was acting as a single parent for 4 days of the week. Let me say those single parents out there my hats off to you. I was happy to see my husband, but I was also so happy to have my partner and fellow parent here to help with the kiddos.

This week I only made it to two of my martial arts 5 training days. Wednesday baby girl was sniffling and had a runny nose, and I was on my own so I decided to let her rest. On Friday I had my husband home and we got a much needed date night away from the kiddos. Today we decided to just rest and let everyone recoup. Life happens and I feel like I have grown realizing that not all the time will the schedule work.

I have a new martial arts class to look forward to this next week. Brazilian Jui Jitsu, I am hoping it will be ok for my back. All I can do is try it out and see.

Keep working to make yourself the best you can be, and thank you for reading. As always please let me know if you have any questions. My respects for you all.

Martial Arts 09/03/2019: Muay Thai – Balance is king, Boxing, (High, Mid, and Low line)

Woo this month in Muay Thai we are focusing on boxing. For the more advanced students Kry Kristen is focusing on the more technical side of boxing. She mentioned when she started Muay Thai she would throw noise punches out there that did not do anything just to get to kicks, however, when she figured out how to pivot and move her feet properly to get power into her punch it changed her game entirely. Anyway this week I completed 6.75 hours of training.

Tuesday 9/03/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Kali

Muay Thai – Boxing, Technical training, (High, Mid, and Low Line)

So I know people learn in one of 4 ways. When I was a child they tested me and found I learn all 4 ways equally. This is… wait, I just read an article stating that the learning styles are not exactly accurate… however, when I was a little girl… Hrm… that makes me sound really old. But non the less… when I was little, they tested me and I learned all 4 ways equally. What are the 4 ways you ask? (Memorization, Visual, Auditory, and Doing/manual manipulation) Apparently your preferred method of learning changes based on what you are doing. You don’t learn math just verbally, and you can’t learn language very well just by seeing pictures. So what I was going to say goes out the window.

However, that all being said, and my verbose description aside, for me and martial arts visual seeing it done, verbal, and writing it down is really helping me. So I am going to make another chart for boxing ranges and High/Mid/Low lines shots. Here is the chart below.

For today’s class, Kru Kristen was explaining the different areas for strikes in boxing. How if your opponent goes for the high line, you drop your level and hit say a hook to mid section of your opponent and get the mid line etc. If the go low, you guy high, or mid line. She did not want to be to esoteric but thinking of the opponents body in terms of shapes and areas in those shapes to strike are helpful she said. For me this description is very helpful. I love the thought of this. I am an artist and I think and see shapes all the time. I see the way things are made up, so thinking of my opponent in shapes and how they are made up, to see where to hit in response to something just made a light go on. (see doll above, for shapes and strike areas)

Training:

  1. 1 x 3 minute round jump rope warm up
  2. 1 x 3 minute round plus sign range management drill
  3. 1 x 3 minute round plus sign range management drill with 1/4 turns
  4. The goal of this drill is to focus on pivot, and foot placement on the punches, the head movement and the deep step, then the shoulder check to close range. You are going to be in the inner mid line with the hook before you bob and shoulder check.
  5. Jab
  6. Cross
  7. Hook
  8. Cross
  9. Bob
  10. Deep step in to right side of opponent and shoulder check
  11. Either get out, or continue to press the strikes
  12. Cross to Hook burn out drill
  13. The goal of this drill is the same, pivot, foot placement, and range management, also adding change in level of strikes.
  14. Jab
  15. Cross
  16. Hook to body
  17. Hook to head
  18. Bob
  19. Deep step in to the right side, and shoulder check
  20. Either get out, or continue to press the strikes
  21. Body hook, Head Hook, Cross burn out drill

    Windshield wiper shoulder bump drill
  22. Windshield wiper = Lead hand covers belly, rear hand covers side of face usually on lead side face. Reverse when bobbing other side, rear hand covers belly, lead hand covers face.
  23. Foot work, is female triangle, or rear step out to side of opponent.
  24. Bob with lead shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
  25. Bump shoulders
  26. Bring feet back together, and hands up covering face
  27. Step with lead foot to lead foot to side of opponent
  28. Bob with rear shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
  29. Bump shoulders

    Windshield wiper shoulder bump drill with hook, or uppercut
  30. Foot work, is female triangle, or rear step out to side of opponent.
  31. Bob with lead shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
  32. Bump shoulders Bring, throw a hook/upper cut to opponents head (for drill shoulder so you don’t hurt your opponent)
  33. Step with lead foot to lead foot to side of opponent
  34. Bob with rear shoulder toward opponent doing windshield wiper
  35. Bump shoulders throw a hook/upper cut to opponents head (for drill shoulder so you don’t hurt your opponent)

Kali – 6 count drills

In Kali today we covered the basic 6 count drills. It was nice to work on something we have done before and we have the muscle memory for it already. Some days its nice not having to tax you brain. Muay Thai did that for us today already, so tonight was nice. I turned off my brain and just went through the movement. I tried to make my movements more smooth. Tried being the operative word there.

Wednesday 9/04/2019 – 1 hours of training Muay Thai

We worked on the same things we did yesterday, however, today we added one more drill. Also I worked with a girl who is brand new and because of that I went slower, tried to help teach her how to hold pads, and just made sure she was comfortable. While I go slower, I work on my form. Today I worked on my pivot and the escapes.

Escapes we worked on:

  1. Lateral step in and bump with shoulder to mid section, then bump with other shoulder to create space.
  2. Boogie out ( a way to get out of the corner, or cut a corner)
  3. Quarter turned out and side shuffle out

Warm Up:

  1. Monster walks with resistance band forward and backward across the mat
  2. Side lounges across the mat with resistance band down and back across the mat
  3. Contra Lateral Movement, bear crawls, side ways across the mat and forward and backward across the mat
  4. Agility Ladder drill – Ali Shuffle x 3 minute round

Found the Agility Ladder drill on youtube so you can see it:

New combo we worked on today:

  1. Jab
  2. Cross
  3. Lead upper cut
  4. Cross
  5. Quarter turn and side shuffle out

Today was a good day. Kru Kristen complimented me on my form and movement. She said the more I get into boxing stance. The more I move properly. I am using my body for my strikes and moving my head. That is great news, because when I spar I tend to feel very stationary. I need to learn to move and keep my movement dynamic.

Thursday 9/05/2019 – Took today off, scoliosis was hurting me and causing headaches all day.

Friday 9/06/2019 – 1.75 hours of training Muay Thai – Balance is king, and making your Thai pretty

I love working with Tony, he has a different perspective and he has points of view I had not thought of. When you train with a instructor in Muay Thai, and you go out there in the world, you are representing your trainer/instructor. Muay Thai practitioners really believe, that you represent all of your instructors. (I to believe this, and try to show respect in all things, and only do what would make my instructors proud.) I have mentioned it before, but when you learn from a instructor, when they take you under their wing and decide to teach you, they are taking you into their family. They are taking you into their lineage.

I am lucky and honored to have Tony, Kru Kristen, and Khun Kru Krysta instructing me.

Today while we were training he talked with us about making our Thai pretty. We are representing him out there in the world and he loves it when people recognize his families art as pretty. He emphasized taking the power out of the kicks and the knees. He wants us to put them out there, make them pretty, work on our balance and then the power comes later. He really likes us to feel our bodies and how they work. You can see this in the warm ups we do. I really love the differences between my instructors. I get the best of so many worlds.

I started my workout 30 minutes before class started.

Training:

  1. 5 minutes of stretching
  2. 5 minutes walking knees across the mat
  3. 10 minutes bag work for, working on kicks, teeps to kicks, and closing the distance for knees
  4. 10 minutes of windshield wiper bump drill first on bag, then with partner

Training in class:

  1. 10 minutes of jumping rope
  2. 1 round of easy walking kicks to shields, using both orthodox and south paw stance.
    1. (He wanted us to losen up our hips, get our body moving, and feel how our hips move. Because all to often we are tight we are holding our hands up to cover our faces which is good, but then we tighten everything else.)
  3. 1 round of rear driving knees
  4. 20 push ups
  5. 1 round of pad holding for your partners rear driving knees.
    1. (Tony emphasized that the pad holders responsibility is to hold well for your partner. If they are shorter you should lower your stance and hold it lower for them. His contention is that yes a shorter person can kick higher, but that is a different motion and different kick, than say a torso kick at the shorter person level.)
  6. 20 push ups
  7. 1 round of lead teep, to switch step to lead knee.
    1. (The key here is balance. You want to be able to teep a person to stop them from coming forward, but not eject them. You then want to have your shield up for the second before you switch step into a driving knee.)
  8. 20 push ups
  9. 1 round of holding pads for your partner
    1. (The key here is that he wants the pad holder to not move back on the teep, and to get enough resistance and push back that the knee-er knee is pushed back down and then can get back into stance again. We need to be good pad holders so that our partner can work the drill correctly too. )
  10. 20 push ups
  11. 2 rounds of sets of 50 machine gun kicks.
    1. ( We worked both sides. after about the 200th kick I was gassing. He wanted the power taken out of it and for us to feel the movement and get the speed in. We ended up doing about 250 kicks per round)

Today was a great day of class. I loved it. I am glad I took the day yesterday. I could have pushed through but the way I was feeling was not conducive to a great training day. Some days I just have to take it off. I am slowly coming to grips with that.

Also today I was working on putting more weight on my back leg, and less on my front leg. I have a habit of leaning forward in my stance and that is not good. I makes me slower and less able to react quickly and reduces my power. Tony wants us to feel our bodies and how they move. I noticed my driving knees were so much more powerful when I just leaned back more on my rear leg. This was a light bulb moment for me. We are told to do just that lean back more, but it is hard to feel/see what they are talking about till you drill it out and figure it out on your own body.

Saturday 9/07/2019 – 2 hours of training Muay Thai and Staff – waking up on the wrong side of the bed

Today was one of those days where when you wake up and all the little things that irritate you or upset you through the day add up, you wish you just had not gotten out of bed. Yeah… today was that day. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed as I heard my elders say when I was a wee little girl.

I won’t list all the things that made it bad, or annoying, or sad, just that it was, and so it colored my day. It also made me doubt myself and have to cut out of staff class just to go check that I had unplugged a waffle iron. I wanted to make sure I did not burn the house down. So I missed a good half of staff class.

I had the pleasure of working with my trainer/instructor Khun Kru Krysta and I got to see all of my Thai family and my Kali family. That was nice. I shown up, and I tried to put the work in. As my friend said to me today, “even if you only put in 25% while you are here, you are here and you tried. You did not give up when you had a bad day!” So yeah I did that.

Training today was all things we have done and have been studying. This is good. This is great, because I did not have to over think what I was doing. I could just let for the most part muscle memory take over. Even though I felt like the kicks I was putting in were terrible. I was putting them in, and correcting as I was going.

Staff – We worked on various redondos and backhands.

Striking/Muay Thai Class – we worked on catch, parry, and returning 4 counts to opponent, teeping them and then getting out.

This is a video of me working on some of the drills we did in class. As you can see I am working on my technique. I am just not 100% today.

Well I hate ending on a down note. Wait a second it is not a down note. I went to class I worked things out. I did not let the little things stop me. I might have had a moment here and there that got me down, but I worked through it.

Thank you all for reading. If you have any questions feel free to ask. My respect to you and I hope you follow your dreams to become the best you that you can be.

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

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

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

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.