2.5 hours of training. I warmed up by hitting the Thai pads for 30 minutes before class. Muay Thai and Kali were fun classes tonight. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for the great classes.
Muay Thai – Trigg Combo
When we were at Thai camp we got to work with the one the only Ajarn Leonard Trigg. The guy responsible for our Trigg 10 drill. We love him and his drills. He worked with us at Thai camp and he gave us this combo to work on. I had the pleasure of working with my instructor for this combo and when we did I had so much fun. It was hard, but it was great. I asked that we do this combo in class.
So what did we get to do today in Muay Thai? Yup you guessed it. That very same Trigg Combo. I don’t know if it has a name, but suffice to say, Ajarn Trigg is well known for his amazing boxing skills.
The combo is this:
feeder feeds a jab
you swipe right
you return a R shovel hook
you return an R overhand
you return an L hook
you return an R cross
This combo is great. Ajarn Trigg emphasized that he wanted us to work on flow and timing. The goal is for every one hit the opponent tries to make you return 4 shots. There pop, your pop, pop, pop, pop in rapid succession.
I worked with one of my favorite partners, my husband. I got a great workout, and he know just how much to push me, and tries to keep me honest about keeping my hands up. I find sometimes when I work with people that are newer that my class is not as physically demanding cause we are going slower, and we are getting in less reps. So sometimes it is nice to work with some one I know that can hold pads well, and I can go at a faster pace with. I get more rounds in and I can work on my speed, timing, and form at the same time.
Some more combos we worked on today:
Opponent throws Right head kick
You lean back by – taking a step back, cover face on right hand side, left arm goes down to side of body and you shoulders are level.
You throw a right cross
You throw a left body hook
You throw a right roundhouse
Opponent throws inside leg kick
You step back to avoid the kick
You throw a left roundhouse
You throw a cross
You throw a hook
You throw a right roundhouse
Kali – Asymmetrical Sparring
In Kali we worked on disarms again, and mostly entering on the inside deflect. However, we also worked on a weave. We did some puno disarms and the inside deflect snake and vine disarms again.
Weave Leg Take down:
Inside deflect
control opponents right hand with our left hand
return a #4 rib shot
Step on opponents foot
weave our stick between legs
pull opponents hand and push opponent over with our stick
I got a video of me doing this.
Then we got to do asymmetrical sparring. In this version of it, we had one person with boxing gloves on, and one person with a boxing glove and a soft stick. We would attack each other. The goal of the one with just boxing gloves was to crash in and disarm the other. The goal of the one with the stick was to just keep the opponent with just boxing gloves away and don’t get disarmed and or punched.
Asymmetrical sparring is fun, and I have enjoyed it every time. It makes you have to think about how to get in, when you don’t have all your tools available to you.
Thanks for reading. I hope you had a fantastic day. Keep working to be the best you that you can be. Respect to you.
2.5 hours of training today. We worked on bo staff, and striking (JKD). Today was the first day after Muay Thai camp where my body felt like normal. Even felt good. I went hard, and got a good workout with my husband and partner feeding me.
We started out with staff class. We had some visitors down from Maryland, and it was cool to have new people in the class. They have come down once before and wanted to train with us again.
Staff Training:
We started off with abecedario with staff. Which while a fundamental move with sticks changing staves makes the movement slightly different.
Abecedario = High forehand, low back hand, high back hand
Then we worked on abecedario with redondo. A redondo is a circular forehand strike from around your head. Not to be confused with an ordabise which is a circular back hand around your head.
Redondo with Abecedario = Circular forehand strike high, circular for hand strike low, circular forehand strike high, low back hand strike, high back hand strike.
In preparation for the high box, we did a roof to shield drill that required the feeder to feed a #15 strike that you roof, then a #15 strike to a shield.
And finally for staff training we did high box with staves. Now this for some reason was more difficult for my brain parts. I can do a high box with sticks, with swords, with espada y daga (sword and knife), but with staff you have to hold with both hands and your body movement is different. Which makes for the perfect storm for Kali brain issues. Which hand.
Staff High Box – #15 strike from opponent, you roof block, opponent returns a #1 strike, you inside deflect and return a #2 strike. The opponent shields the #2, and then you start the circuit over by feeding a #15 to your opponent.
We started to work on middle box/standard but we ran out of time.
I love Kali and the staff class. I love how it stretches my brain muscles and makes me think. Now my brain is dead.
This video is of us working on the Redondo with Abecedario.
We worked on combos. This is were I was able to work on flow, timing, and speed. My partner told me he could see a difference between when I left for Muay Thai camp, and now. He said I flow better, my speed, form and focus are much better. I could not ask for more from Thai camp. I wanted to learn all I could, and to increase my skill set. It seems I have. Yay!
Khun Kru Krysta broke the training down to two sets of combos. First where the feeder feeds, a jab and a right straight cross/cross. The second where the feeder feeds a jab, and a wide cross. For the wide cross think John Wayne punch. Or old western bar fight punch.
First combo –
Feeder feeds Jab
You catch
Feeder feeds straight cross
You parry while doing a simultaneous left kick to inside of leg
You return a cross
You return an upper cut
You return a cross
You return Left torso kick/round house
Second combo –
Feeder feeds Jab
You catch
Feeder feeds straight cross
You split the cross, slide in with a cross to the body
You follow with a hook
You return a cross
Right kick/round house
Third combo-
Feeder feeds Jab
You catch Jab
Feeder feeds a wide cross
You shoulder/bicep stop the cross
You return a cross
You return a hook
You return a cross
You return a right torso kick/round house
Fourth combo-
Feeder feeds Jab
You catch Jab
Feeder feeds a wide cross
You bob and weave
You return a body cross
You return a hook
You return a cross
You return right long leaning knee
You return right torso kick/round house
These were great combos. I loved feeling like I was back into my groove. I liked feeling like I had more confidence, and I love just working on my technique, flow, timing, and target acquisition.
This video is of us working on the third combo, or the stop the shoulder or bicep combo.
I hope you are all having a great weekend. I certainly am. Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any questions. Keeping working to be the best you that you can be. Much respect to you all.
Where do I start… Muay Thai camp was an amazing adventure. I am so happy I got a chance to attend and learn from the many amazing martial artists there. Muay Thai camp was put on by the WTBA (World Thai Boxing Association).
It was hard getting on a plane and leaving my family. It was harder going 5 hours clear across the country in a plane. I have worries about being away from my home base, about being so far from my family should something go wrong. Muay Thai camp was a big unknown too. One person I knew for sure was going to be there was Khun Kru Krysta. She is my instructor and we were going on the same plane. I had some other people I had met at another seminar here on the east coast.
So with all that going on, I also was worried I was not conditioned enough for the camp, and I wanted to do well. =) I had one month notice and I had to get myself ready. So I worked hard to get that conditioning in, running and 16 to 20 rounds a day of bag and pad work.
We got in to Portland, went to dinner, waited for a new friend and roommate, then we got to our house. I was lucky enough to have a friend rent an Air B and B and I was able to pitch in for a room. So instead of camping in a tent and using a communal bathroom/shower, I was able to have the amenities of home. I would guess a good half of the people who attended Thai camp stayed in tents.
I have a restless sleep, and wake up on my own at 5:30 am Portland, Oregon time. Everyone gets going with their ruitine. We all have something we do, supplements, taping up our various body parts, brushing our teeth, etc. We head of for coffee and then to the first day of training.
I am buzzing with caffeine, and even more so with excitement. I don’t know what is going to happen exactly and I really really want to make it through so I decide to take one challenge at a time.
Training Day 1: (notes: curtesy Khun Kru Krysta, and Kru Caro)
~7 am :
We start shadow boxing, then Ajarn Greg Nelson leads everyone in stretching.
We then do 1.5 mile run. I got slightly lost because I missed the trail. I laugh about it.
We get back and Ajarn Chai starts us off with the combos that we will be working on for the day. We start with a combo and work on the variations each day. This day he wanted us to focus on leg kicks, with entry to boxing, and elbows. He wanted us to always think about counter attacks.
Combos:
Left inside/lead leg kick
Right Overhand punch
Lead body shot/hook
Rear kick to body
Lead Jab
Right leg kick
Left inside/lead leg kick
Right cross
Lead body shot/hook
Shield
“Everything is basic until you start taking punches.”
Ajarn Greg Nelson
We worked the combos in shadow boxing. Then Ajarn Chai had us pair up and work together. He wanted to make sure we got this timing, flow, and combos down.
~9 am:
Then we break for breakfast, and a break. Ajarn Chai gave us about 2 hours for break and breakfast. He wanted us to get enough time to eat and rest.
By the time breakfast came around I had already drank two liters of water. I only mention this because it will become important later. =)
“Get some breakfast and rest, because we are going to work hard when we get back.”
Ajarn Chai
~ 11 am:
When we all got back and got started working. He had us shadow boxing to start with. Then we stretched.
He had us working some of the variations of the leg kicks, and entries. Then we started.
We did more partner work. We worked with partners on pads.
“On the balls of your feet. Lift your body up when you kick, or when you knee.”
Ajarn Chai
Ajarn Chai wanted us to focus on form and getting the combo down. To really know it for the first day. He wanted us to focus on teqnique and not how fast we could do it.
~2 pm:
We break for lunch. Again Ajarn Chai wants us to eat and rest cause we are going to hit he circuit hard after lunch.
A special thank you has to go out to the kitchen staff. They worked hard every day in the heat to feed all almost 100 of us students, instructors, and staff. I know how much it takes to feed an army like that. So many thanks and much respect is owed. Also Ajarn Chai brought out his sister to make us some amazing Thai dishes. I will be dreaming about those dishes for a while to come.
By this time I had drank 2 more liters, for a total of 4 liters. Again I only mention this as this is pertinent to happenings later on.
~4 pm:
We all come back and assemble. Again start with shadowboxing, and stretching. Then Ajarn Chai introduces the station we will be working for today.
Khun Kru Krysta tried to help me prepare for this camp and told me years past that there were four stations. Shadowboxing, Pad Work, Bags, and then Clench Work. This year Ajarn Chai added a station. This one was partner timing. Not going as hard as you can, like on pads on bags (note: he wanted us to go hard while observing technique) , but working on flow and technique.
We would do 4 x 3 minute rounds with a 30 second burn out after each round. The burn out was a:
Makatune, #8 elbow, to skip knee #2, then two torso kicks
We were working on the combos and variations of the combos Ajarn Chai taught earlier in the day.
Water is not enough
We start on the first circuit. I get through all 5 stations, and I am doing grate. However, I start to notice my right calf is locking up on me. If I point or flex my muscle it wants to lock in place and not move. I make it through 2 stations and notice it is acting up more. I head to Khun Kru Krysta and tell her what is happening. She and another Ajarn tell me to go Devon. He is a massage therapist. He comes to camp just to help us when we are having muscle and or joint problems.
Let me just take a side note to say Devon is amazing. He is calm, calming, and listens to you. He deserves so many thanks, and much respect.
However, I make it to Devon’s table. He listens to what happened, and he begins stretching. I tell him I don’t know what the problem is. I took my bcaa this morning, and drank 4 liters of water already. He is stretching my calf and then it goes into full charley horse/muscle locked up. He mentions I am “desalinated”. I need to be ingesting more magnesium, potassium, and salt. My body is lacking and this one muscle is complaining about it.
That Charley horse hurt a great deal. He had to keep massaging it and then letting it relax. He made sure I drank some Gatorade. I was laying on the table watching my fellow Muay Thai Camp family rotating through rounds. I ended up missing 8 rounds. I was so unhappy. I was brought down by lack of minerals and salt. I did not want to fail the entire camp. This was day one. How could I, a seasoned athlete, and just some one who keeps an eye on health mess this up.
Devon made sure I drank two of the cups of Gatorade, and two cups of water before I re-entered the rounds, and finished out the day. My calf was sore and painful for the rest of camp, but it felt like a light muscle tear. I just worked through it.
So now you know why I was mentioning how much water I was drinking. Water is not enough. I was going to drink my recovery drink that replaces magnesium, and potassium after the day. But I underestimated just how much I was going to be using during camp.
All in all every day I drink about 8 liters of water. I made sure after the first day to drink water, and recovery drink, and Gatorade as well. Just to get the minerals and salts in me. I also made sure to eat bananas every day. I did not want another charley horse.
We finished the circuits of the stations, then Ajarn Chai had us line up, count down the line 1 to 5 and then stagger ourselves. He had us doing 8 count body builders. Think if burpees had a bigger older meaner brother.
The group did 50 of them. I got through 40 of them.
~8 pm:
We broke for dinner and finished for the night.
This was one of the most amazing, difficult, and wonderful things I have ever had the chance to do. I was so excited for the next day, but was annoyed my calf gave out on me. I am happy to say that I did not have any more muscle issues. Yay!
In total my Fitbit told me I 34,264 steps and burned 6,731 calories
Thank you for reading, keep working to be the best you can be. Respect to you and your families!
2 hours of training. I still feel it from Thai Camp. I got in on a red eye at 7 am yesterday and had to work last night. While I had a nap yesterday after I got home, I had a nap today. I am still tired. But doing well. So today is our regular training day.
It was really nice to get back on the mats. I had so many people welcome me back and ask about Thai camp. They also congratulated me on completing it and making it. It was really nice to be back in my home. The area I am comfortable in.
So today Khun Kru Krysta told me, “to take it easy, and that is an order.” Kru Kristen was surprised I was in for training today. =)
So I guess other people might not have been in. I can say my muscles are still tired, and my hip flexors are sore still. But I did it.
Enough gabbing, here is what we did. Muay Thai Combos from Thai Camp
1 round of jump rope
Feeder Jabs, and then right kicks
You side step, or move leg out of the way
You teep
Feeder feeds a right kick then a cross
You parry the cross, with left hand
You cover with right hand, grab back of neck and then knee feeder
Feeder right kick
You Shield kick
Feeder feeds a lead hand upper cut
You lean step back and lean back with left arm down to the side, and right hand covering right hand side of face.
Right knee, to right Kick
Kali
In Kali we worked on a entry with jabs creating noise or distraction. The finished with an Cross, hook, cross.
We worked on: Disarms both Snake and Vine
Vine disarms – are weapon assisted disarms, in this instance with a stick
Plus leaver disarm with the stick, using an indide deflect
Off of an equis feed, or strike #1 and strike #2
Inside deflect, and control opponents arm
Strike a #4 or back hand shot to opponents ribs
Slide controlling hand to end of opponents stick
Strike hand of opponent holding stick
Making a plus sign with sticks use your stick to leaver opponents stick out of opponents hand
Equal leaver disarm with the stick, using an inside deflect
Off of an equis feed or strike #1, strike #2, strike #1
Outside deflect, and control opponents arm
Slide your stick along their stick and under opponents wrist making an equal sign
Turn over your hand, and slide your other hand along stick to their hand to grab and wrench out of their grip
Inside Snake disarm
Off of a Strike #1 inside deflect
Snake arm down and around counter clockwise
Look at palm of your hand and turn your whole torso around to pull stick out of their grip in your arm
Outside Snake disarm
Off a Strike #2 outside deflect
Snake arm down and around clockwise
Either wing it out of their grip, or blade hand and squat to take stick from opponent.
Below is a paper doll I made for the 17 count. So the numbers I am referring to above are here below.
Then we worked on Kali sparring with a soft stick, and boxing gloves. One person had gloves and one had a soft stick. We had to work on our distance management, getting in for the boxing and keeping the other person at bay for the soft stick.
Today was a really fun day. I did not push it to hard. I had a good time. I got to see my fellow classmates and Martial Arts family again. As always I try to put up terms when I remember them, into the glossary (What does that even mean?) if you are interested. I use it to remember terms myself. It is a living document, and will keep being added to. If you practice Kali/Escrima/Silat/JKD or Muay Thai and I made a mistake let me know of course. I will fix it.
Thank you for reading, and if you have questions let me know. Keep working to be the best you that you can be.
this is my actual leg, no models were abused in the taking of this picture
4 hours of conditioning training. I did not run today. It was 96 degrees Fahrenheit or 35.56 degrees Celsius outside I was not going to run in that. It would have just sapped my energy and I would have not gotten the training rounds in that I wanted to. I don’t like running and that would have been miserable. I run as a cardio component to my workouts, but not for funsies. I tell people I am a water mammal. I used to be a competitive swimmer, and would only run for cross training.
Muay Thai camp is just around the corner. I leave on Tuesday, and it is 4 x 10 hour days of training with the best. I hope I can keep up. =) I hope my form is not crap, I know it breaks down the more tired I get. So I just have to work on making it awesome. Kru Krysta has said my knees are so much better in just a few weeks.
Per Kru Krysta I am taking tomorrow off, hitting it hard on Saturday, and then taking Sunday, and Monday off. Tuesday I will be flying.
Monday I have an appointment with my Chiropractor. One last adjustment before I go put my body through hell. I am both excited and have trepidation.
Mostly I just want to honor my instructors and make them proud. I also want to learn everything. I want to improve on my technique and I want to experience this.
Anyway enough babbling here was what I did:
1 x 3 minute round of jump rope warm up ( I did not count this in on my rounds)
1 x 3 minute round of shadow boxing ( I did not count this in on my rounds)
16 rounds of hell/heck/poopy, I am fine no really I am.
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power. My partner and pad holder would call out 1 kick, that was for power, then he would call out 3 kicks left side, and I had to do those for speed. Taking the power out but putting speed and flow into it.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking. Kicks for speed, and kicks for power.
30 second rest (Note: at this point I am gassed, that is a lot of kicks)
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of mixed kicking (speed and power), and spearing knees or knees to push back
30 seconds rest (this is the point where you want to die, or be ded, but no sitting or laying down, must just walk it off.)
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest
1 x 3 minute round of kicking (speed and power), Knees (spearing, push back), and tie ups with #2 knees
30 seconds rest (dead, just dead, but keep trying)
1 x 3 minute round of punching and elbows,( jab, cross, elbow), (jab, cross, body shot) indicated by if the focus mitt was in the air, or if he patted the belly pad.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round of punching and elbows,( jab, cross, elbow), (jab, cross, body shot) indicated by if the focus mitt was in the air, or if he patted the belly pad.
30 second rest
1 x 3 minute round on the heavy bag, 30 second burn out of knees and two kicks.
15 second rest
1 x 3 minute round on the heavy bag, 30 second burn out of knees and two kicks.
15 second rest (fin… for now… I stopped there, cause I had class in 20 minutes)
Thai Class – Get in and get out
Thai class we worked on more clenching, defending an elbow attack with a pillar block, then returning a punch combo, like jab to hook, or cross, jab. The deciding factor is where the elbow is coming from, and what opening you have.
Then the upper ranking armband students were split off and we did clench sparring. Whew boy, I was tired. But I got some good pointers on how to deal with taller people. And at 5 foot nothing everyone is taller than I am.
Also Kru Kristen mentioned again, our motto, get in and get out, or often said you go all the way in or all the way out. If you are being aggressive say, then you may want to go all the way in. If you are defending or don’t want to get hit, you are all the way out. Don’t hang around in the middle and get hit.
Kali we worked on espada y daga, and gunting:
In Kali Kru Krysta shows us double stick, espada y daga, and just single knife. Gunting drill 1 – 5. I love kali, but at this point my brain is saying nope, you need to feed me and we need to sleep. So my partner and I just went slowly and worked the drills.
We also did 1 – 12 strikes. With the 1 – 5 gunting response added into it. So for instance your partner swings a one, you defend it, then you gunting, and finish with the 1 – 5 for every strike. This is just to get us to think along the lines of, lets just not get hit, and lets return shots.
Savage Vag
I have bought all of my Grrrl clothing I have. I am not sponsored in any way, but I love the company. For girls from strong girls, to lift us all up sot that we can all be stronger. So I saw these leggings and I loved them. They say Savage with the word VAG in bright red letters. They crack me up. They are great quality, and support this great woman run company.
The quality is great. They pass the squat test. The compression is spot on. They have awesome patterns, and I just love them. Oh also they fit a thicc booty like mine.
This is the website, and if you use this link you get 20% off your first order. I get credit for your first purchase. I have not had anyone buy anything yet, but one day I hope some one will, and that money will go right back into Grrrl and I will get new tights. That is how much I love them. I have bought 5 of their tights to date.
4 hours of training today on day 15. I am exhausted. I hit a wall. Not a plateau, nor do I feel like I hit an over training hurdle. I just hit a wall like Wile E Coyote hits the ground after falling off the cliff. Like a Mac Truck hit me. I know that for your body to adapt you must hit these walls/hurdles and keep going, so that is what I did. I got in 20 rounds of training.
Yup that is what it felt like. But I had to keep pushing through.
I started out with a 1 mile run. It was not great timing wise. It was a 13.33 minute mile… it was also 93 degrees out.
I cam back in and did kicking rounds.
Power kicking rounds. 1 to two kicks per side for the entirety of the round.
Speed kicking rounds. Power is taken out, and technique is focused on. Pyramid kicks from 1 kick, 2 kicks, 3 kicks, 4 kicks, 5 kicks, 6 kicks, 5 kicks, 4 kicks, 3 kicks, 2 kicks, 1 kick. All in succession.
Speed and Power kicking rounds mixed together.
I did 4 bag rounds of 3 minutes each with a 30 second burn out.
I also working on rounds of boxing. Jab, Cross, Upper cut, Upper cut, body hook, body hook.
Muay Thai Class
Then we had Thai class. We warmed up with jump rope, then we did clench work to warm up.
Kru Kristen had us then work on punches transitioning to elbows, to knees. I got to work with Kru Krysta so we could both work on our conditioning for Thai Camp. As we are both going. Yay!
Each round ended with an elbow flurry blitz.
Kali – Espada y Daga
Then came Kali class, the 4th hour. My brain had stopped braining. My body was just tired, but I kept working at the drills. We worked on Gunting (scissor) five count. With double stick, Espada y Daga, and with single knife. We worked on pass, cut and disarm.
I know this is not super detailed but I am exhausted, need to shower and get to bed. I hope you all have a great day/night when ever you get to read this. Keep being awesome and working to be the best you can be.
1 hours and 30 minutes Conditioning day 9. I ran 1 mile this morning, and then worked 12 x 3 minute rounds. I intended this blog to write about the good and the bad on my fitness journey. I am doing so, even though I worry it will bother some. I hope it will help others who feel the same.
Reflection on Yesterday’s Feelings
Now that I have slept, gotten up, done a workout, and eaten breakfast. I can contemplate yesterday, and how I was feeling. When I am having a lack luster day, not wanting to do my workout. Tired and annoyed. I get into my head. I worry that I am just a joke to almost everyone. That when I am practicing, I see all my faults, and how ridiculous I look. I think everyone else can see that. I start thinking. Why did I decide to go to this camp. I am going to fail and look stupid.
I have been regularly waffling from so much excitement and anticipation, to oh my God what have I done. I am crazy for trying to get ready in such a short time.
Days like yesterday, a third feeling is added to the mix. I am just a joke and ridiculous. What am I even doing here? I don’t look like everyone else. I make so many mistakes. Am I even improving?
I know I am getting into my own head, and worrying about things. I know some of these feelings are fleeting, but it is hard to get out of your own head and keep pushing on. I have done, and will do just that.
Anyway… onward to better things, and my training that I did today.
Conditioning Training Today
I had a great day of training. I even ignored my run time. I just did the mile run. I was able to get 12 rounds of 3 minutes in today before the gym closed for the morning.
Training:
1 mile run
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
Shadow Box for 1 x 3 minute round
Shadow Box for 1 x 3 minute round
Shadow Box for 1 x 3 minute round
Shadow Box for 1 x 3 minute round
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
1 x 3 minute round on the bag
30 seconds burn out Makatune, #6 elbow, and knees till time runs out, double kick.
Today was a great day. Its always more fun to train with others. But today as I was training in solitude I was able to reflect on my last day. I was able to think about my day and week to come.
I filmed two of my bag rounds to see how I was doing and to review in the future.
2 hours and 45 minutes conditioning training for Muay Thai camp. Whew I had the honor to work with Kru Krysta at an empty gym today. 4th of July they have no classes so we had the gym to ourselves. Thank you One Spirit Martial Arts for letting us train.
We started out with a 1 mile run. I ran it in 12 minutes 35 seconds. I feel slow with my run. But hoping to get it at or under 12 minutes. This is a warm up.
Then we worked on 16 x 3 minute rounds.
We started with working the bag 4 rounds of 3 minutes. Choosing a 4 count and just working solidly through 3 minutes. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
Then I held 2 x 3 minute rounds for Kru Krysta, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, right kick, teep. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
Then she held pads/fed pads, 2 x 3 minute rounds, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, right kick, teep. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
We started with working the bag 4 rounds of 3 minutes. Choosing a 4 count and just working solidly through 3 minutes. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
Then H held 2 x 3 minute rounds for Kru Krysta, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, right kick, teep. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
Then H held pads/fed pads for me, 2 x 3 minute rounds, Makatune, Cross, Right knee, right kick, teep. 30 seconds of burn out makatune, #6 elbow, skip knees, and double kick at the end.
Stretch
I did it, I made it through. I am tired and my muscles have given everything they could, however, I made it through. I worked on my form toward the end as my muscles were screaming. So I slowed down and made sure to try to make my form correct. The last round of pad work/conditioning, I fisnished strong. As Kru Krysta says, “last round, best round.”
After training, I drank my recovery drink, and we went to have lunch at Mezeh. So tasty. Look at that rainbow of food. I often eat in a more vegetarian vein, as my body responds better to that food. I have been burning about 3600 calories each day. Woot!
Yay so it was a great training day. I need to shower, and possibly soak in the tub.
Thank you for reading. 19 days left for conditioning and training before camp. Keep being the best you that you can be, and keep striving to be better.
Photo credit to MD Thai Boxing who took the group photo and said we could have it. This is the Day 2 of the seminar group photo.
5 hours of Muay Thai training. This was Day 2, and the final day. I cannot put into words, in a way that would do justice to how the seminar with with Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute was.
I am sore everywhere. I worked so hard and we drilled so hard, that I damn near vomited. It was fantastic. It was the hardest I have worked since I had that herniated disk in my back that was pressing on my sciatica nerve. I have been holding back just that last 10%…just cause I was/am scared of hurting myself again. However, it felt good to get in there and do it.
I am so proud of myself and my fellow student. I got a compliment from Kru Karo. I heard it by way of my Kru Krysta, that Kru Karo said, “she has great form.” Kru Krysta told me about it at lunch today. Then Kru Jason said I executed a set of knees and a drill fantastically.
As always I will try to put down what I remember, but I am pretty tired and wrecked right now. However, wrecked in a good way. =)
Kick Stance and Footwork
We started off with kick stance and of course footwork today. Because in Thai Boxing or Muay Thai, the footwork and kick stance are everything. If you are not in the right stance, it makes everything you do be it striking, or countering, or shielding that much harder.
Drill with elbow and knee
Left hand reaches
Right hand pushes opponents arm at elbow away from you
Left hand Tachmalach #8 elbow
Left hand head control
Right hand bicep control
Right curved knee
Clench Work
We worked on entries and how to get into a full plumb clench and how to remove a person when they have a full plumb clench on you.
Clench Counters and Entries
This is a drill we did today.
Your opponent reaches out and tries to grab you in a clench with their left arm
You pinch their arm with your shoulder and head
Slap their arm down and out of the way
You grab their neck in full clench
Duck Stance
Stand Tall
Bracing your elbows on their collar bones
Counters:
#1 Cross Face
If you arms are outside their clench
Push their face away with palm of your hand
Swim in your arms to clench
Duck stance
#2 Wedge Over and Under Prayer Hands
Opponent has full plumb on you
Control elbow on one side
Opposite elbow you wedge over arm you don’t control, and under the arm you do control
Make prayer hands under your opponents arm
Drop your elbow to your hip
This will get them to release their hand
#3 Spike Elbow to the Bicep
Opponent has full plumb on you
Control elbow on one side
Opposite elbow you bring your arm over, and grab elbow you control
Drop your weight and elbow to your hip
This will cause the opponents arm to release from your neck
Elbow your opponent and swim in for full plumb
Duck Stance
#4 Pull down and Push Up
Opponent has full plumb on you
Control their elbows
Hip in
Pull down on one elbow while pushing up on the other elbow
knee the thigh
curve knee to body
Swim in and get plumb
Duck stance
I know there were two more but I can’t remember them right now.
Skip Knee #2
We worked on these and I got complimented on my form and flexibility. I am a short person and I can knee another person as high as my shoulders. It is tiring but I can do it. I have some things to work on because I am far from perfect.
To practice getting over shin blocks Ajarn Chai recommends that we curve them over a chair. This will help with our form and make us stronger.
For a burn out after drills he had us doing the following:
Clench
#6 elbow
Off balance opponent
6 rapid skip knee #2
Spin opponent out
Double Kick
Teep
Third Man Out
We did a really cool drill called Third Man Out. This was a 4 minute round. Where we are clenching with our partner and we have a third person with their glove on the man in the middles shoulder. We then clench and try to get the upper hand. Whistle blows and the one holding onto the back of the other takes their place, and clench spars with the third person. One person is clenching and sparing for 4 minutes total, while your opponent changes.
This may not be a great description but its the best I can do. My body is tired and ready to sleep. =)
Thai Boxing Association 4 count Left Kick to Right
We worked on a 4 count L to R. Where you either cut step to left kick, then over hand punch, body shot hook, and then right kick.
The other version was doing the same but instead of cut stepping, you take a step forward with the right leg. This is done to close the distance.
Lean Back to Avoid High Kick
We worked on a lean where if you see a head kick coming you step back with your back foot, and lean back dropping your opposite hand. The key was to make your shoulder level with the other. If you leave it out you can have your shoulder dislocated.
Drill with Lean Back
Opponent throws high kick
you lean back avoid kick
come back with a over hand jab (like you have a jug of water and you turn your hand to empty it out)
upper cut
Left kick
Bleed Power off Rear kick to Your left with Counters
One of the last things we did was a drill where you bleed off the power of an incoming kick. Instead of catching it though you step off the line, then hit them with an overhand jab, and follow it with more strikes. Here is the drill.
Drill with Bleed Power of Rear Kick to Your left
Opponents round house kick is coming to your left hand side
You step out 45 degrees with your right foot this bleeds off the power
As you step off at 45 degrees you throw an over hand jab that comes down on their face from top
Upper cut
Double rapid torso kick
Teep opponent away
We did this drill for 3 minutes to get the technique down. Each partner got a chance to work on this drill once. Then the next one, we were supposed to go as hard as we could for 3 minutes. Put the power into it. After that was a 30 second burn out drill with mackatune, Skip knees #2 for duration of time, and then double kicks right at the end.
This dam near killed me. It was great and so very hard. I did not stop I did not take a breather. I did keep going. Even though I was going a little slower than I started. We did this after nearly 5 hours of training. My muscles were screaming at me, and I was hitting a wall where I did not think I could physically pull more out of them. But I did and I did it.
I know this post was more of a list, but at this point that is all I have the juice for.
I got the best compliment from the man, the legend himself. Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute himself. He said, “You have great discipline!” Our school, really emphasizes the respect and honor you have to have for the art and the people. So we always wai when we should. He really wants to make sure that we keep the honor and the discipline in our martial arts. Throughout his seminar, he would stop other people who did not salute/bow/wai to their opponent. Ask them who their teachers were, and they and their teachers have to do 100 push ups. Because he said, “its your teachers fault to.” You wai ( means to salute, bow, with hands clasped together) before every drill with your partners, and you wai to your instructors. This shows your respect for your partner, your respect for the art of Muay Thai, and for your Kru and Ajarn (teachers, instructors).
The other honor he gave me, was he personally invited me and my fellow teammate to the Muay Thai Camp that is put on by the TBA (Thai Boxing Association). This is a 4 day camp. Where you live, think, and breath Mauy Thai. If I did this I would have to start training hard to get the endurance up. This is such an honor, because, this is normally only for instructors and students are allowed only if the instructor okay’s it and recommends it. I am not an instructor nor nowhere near one.
I have to think about this. I really want to, but I have to think about logistics and economics of it. I will have to make my decision soon, as it is in July.
Kru Krysta, one of my instructors really wants me to go too. So I have that vote already. =)
What this seminar did for me, was it made me realize how much I have learned, and do honestly know. Hearing other Kru from other schools say I have great form and execute the move properly was amazing. Such a huge boost for my feelings about adequacy in my martial arts. I let myself work at 100% which I have been afraid to do. Having Ajarn Chai compliment my work the first day and then invite us to camp was amazing.
This seminar was amazing and I really believe a pivotal point in my training so far. That is all my brain can dump out right now. I met some amazing people and I hope to see them again.
Thank you for reading. I see I have a new reader that is following this blog so welcome to you. I am still amazed that you all are reading it. Keep being awesome, and keep working on being the best you that you can be.
2 hours of Muay Thai and Kali Training. Today was a fun fun day. Killed my brain in Kali and we got to work on 15 count and sparring in Thai. It was challenging and fun. Not every day is like that, but when it is fun it is fantastic.
I am also excited to almost bursting. I am going to get to go to a special training seminar with Arjan Chai this weekend. Two days 8 hours a day of basically a Thai camp. But I digress. On to the actual training today.
Muay Thai – Thai 15 count, Sparring
In Muay Thai today we worked on 4 counts with elbows and knees. This training teaches us distance management. Because our furthest attack will be our kicks. Then we have punching range, which is mid range. Lastly we have close range attacks with all elbows. Then we can use the knee to eject our opponent and then get ourselves back into kicking range.
This is exactly what the Thai 15 count drill does as well. As you will see in the video below, we have to address the incoming strikes to our head, slide in return elbows, knee them and create distance, then kick them. The whole drill is a study in distance management.
Kru Krysta started us off with some 4 count Thai drills after which we have to do the 5-10-5 for an active rest. What is that you ask. Well its a training mechanism to wear us out, and have us practice our kicks and clenches/knees.
5-10-5:
5 rapid/ballistic right kicks, Clench up then do 10 #2 knees, 5 rapid/ballistic left kicks
This wear you out. I love them and can’t wait to do more.
After the Thai 15 count, she had the orange arm bands/ more advanced students split off and go spar J. He is prepping for a fight and he needs practice. So I got to spar again today. I got some good kicks in, but he is a foot taller than me, so I have a hard time getting. I spoke with Kru Krysta afterward on how to get in, and I have to really get off the line. Or just take a hit to cover the distance. Because he can keep me at distance with his kicks and punches. He has a longer reach.
I am no longer afraid of sparring… I noticed this today. When we first started it was daunting and I was afraid. Of getting hit, of making a mistake, of just looking stupid. I am sure I still look stupid. But now I am more focused on trying to work on the things we have been taught using them in a practical way. When you get into the ring, or you start sparring, its really hard to remember everything you were taught. This is one of the reasons they drill it into us. Because, as Kru Kristen says, you don’t rise to the occasion when the adrenaline hits. You worst habit you will fall back on. Like if you drop your hands when you kick. (I will give you one guess on who does that. If you guessed me… Yup! I am working on it.) But if you do that you will do that when you are scared, or have an adrenaline dump. So when we are exhausted that is when we need to focus on our form and doing the drills right. So hopefully we rep in the good habits and forget the bad.
Kali – Brain Bending 4 to 5 to 6 to 8 to 7 count Kali drills
In Kali I worked with a student that has only been to 4 classes. He is a nice guy and really was starting to get some of the drills. However, it is amazing to work with people who are… less skilled. That sounds weird to say and to even type out. However, I have been doing Kali for 1.5 years, and while that is not a long time it is longer than 4 days. So what I found amazing was I could see in him what I felt and did when I first started. Getting my sticks tangled, getting confused, being surprised that you had both a left and right side that we do the drills on. (note: this is like asking some one to learn to use chop sticks with the right hand, then as they are just getting it saying, ok lets use the left hand right now. ) Yes Kali is like that. It forces you to use both sides of your brain, and bends that brain of yours.
Slowing down the drills is harder than it looks. To teach a person, you have to slow down the drills and when you do the rhythm changes or at least slows. Throw in foot work, and then just when you are getting that particular drill, Kru Krysta will throw in a few more strikes. I realized I know a little more than I thought I did. Cause I was able to help another person work on their form. =)
We worked on the following drills. (I have written them down as I remember them. If I am wrong let me know. =) I will fix them.)
Heaven 6:
starts in a chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of the head
Backhand strike to other side of head
ends in chambered position
Umbrella 6: Striking 3 times on one side of the head, and 3 times on the other side of the head.
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head
chamber sticks
Lather rinse and repeat the above
Umbrella 8: Striking 4 times on one side of head, and 4 times on the other side of head.
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head out of the redondo
Redondo the backhand you struck with and hit back hand
Witik forehand
Backhand
To redondo around head and hit with forehand again.
And if you are good enough you can keep going around and around and around
She had us doing the Heaven 6 to Standard 6 to Earth 6. Then she had us doing the Umbrella 6 to Umbrella 8 to Umbrella 7.
Umbrella 7:
Starts in chambered position
Forehand strike to head
Backhand strike to same side of head, while you are swinging that forehand strike you just did around your head
Forehand strike to same side of head out of the redondo
Redondo the backhand you struck with and hit back hand
Witik forehand
Backhand to one side of head
Backhand to other side of head
Below in the following video I am doing the Umbrella 8, and the Umbrella 7 counts respectively.
I am exhausted, my brain is not braining any more. I am going to start typing gibberish if I keep going so I am going to end it here. I had a great time. I am excited about the upcoming training. I am also nervous about it.
I hope you liked the blog, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them. Keep being your awesome self, and keep trying to make the best you that you can be.
Thinks with Spinks 