Training Martial Arts 11/16/2020: Training Fatigue or Overtraining the Who/What/How?

I am feeling overtraining setting in. To head it off I am going to try to take advantage of the holidays and change things up a bit.

So the question you may ask about overtraining:

  1. What is overtraining?
  2. What are the signs symptoms?
  3. Who can it affect?
  4. How do you deal with it?

You are chugging along, you have been working out. You have been sticking to your training. You have made progress but you wake up and feel strange. You feel tired, restless, no amount of sleep is helping, you maybe don’t love what you are doing any more, you have hit a plateau and you are not making any progress. You are sore and its taking longer for you to heal up.

You might be experiencing overtraining or training fatigue.

What is overtraining?

Here is a definition of overtraining or training fatigue from a children’s hospital sports medicine group. You may think what does a children’s hospital know about adults? Pediatricians will see athlete’s up to 18, some even will see people up to 21… so a person can be considered a child in the medical sense and the information can still be applicable to our needs as adults.

Burnout, or overtraining syndrome, is a condition in which an athlete experiences fatigue and declining performance in sport despite continuing or increased training. Overtraining can result in mood changes, decreased motivation, frequent injuries and even infections.  Burnout is thought to be a result of the physical and emotional stress of training.



http://www.rchsd.org
https://www.rchsd.org/programs-services/sports-medicine/conditions-treated/overtraining-syndromeburnout/#:~:text=Burnout%2C%20or%20overtraining%20syndrome%2C%20is,frequent%20injuries%20and%20even%20infections.

Just as described above, a overtraining is a condition that can cause a cascading effect and if left unchecked and unaddressed it can cause more issues.

What are the signs/symptoms you might be experiencing overtraining?

  1. an athletes performance declines, and or they experience fatigue – not your normal fatigue after a hard workout, your workouts you feel sluggish
  2. lack of motivation – where once you did, you do not looking forward to the exercise
  3. decrease in the enthusiasm of the sport/training – temporary loss of your love for a sport or training.
  4. recovery is taking longer – after an adequate amount of rest you
  5. emotional volatility – disproportionate emotional response, not one particular emotion. Like snapping at people, crying more often
  6. trouble sleeping – insomnia, interrupted sleep, and less restful sleep
  7. more prone to illness and injury– your immune system is taking a beating because your body is can’t recover.
  8. Lethargy and reduced sex drive – if you are exhausted, and lethargic it is reasonable to that your sex drive will be reduced.
  9. Low heart rate variability – when your resting heart rate is less quickly variable at rest can mean your nervous system is fatigued. You can learn more about HRV here. https://trainright.com/heart-rate-variability-hrv-endurance-athetes/

Who can it affect?

You might think that only a olympic athlete, an athlete that trains 20 hours a week, or a professional athlete will get this. But you might be surprised to find that anyone can find themselves with the overtraining or training fatigue symptoms. This can happen to an athlete of any training level.

  1. People new to training or working out can experience this, because their threshold is lower than an athlete that has been training for a while. If they are less fit, their bodies cannot compensate as well as the well trained athlete and therefore can experience training fatigue.
  2. People who have to quickly upped their amount of training recently, and have not taken adequate rest can experience this condition.
  3. People who are experienced athletes can find themselves facing this problem when they don’t take adequate rest.
  4. I also believe that external stressors, like this Covid-19 pandemic, can also factor into the causes of possible training fatigue or overtraining. I generally take adequate days off, usually 2 to 1 day a week, however I have not been sleeping well since the pandemic hit, and due to political stimulus over the past weeks. I think my body is just tired, and needs a rest.

How do you deal with it?

Not to be flippant but, rest is the first and foremost thing you should do. The pushing through and unwillingness to acknowledge that you need rest is the reason you may be here.

If you have injuries you must address those, and tend to those as well.

The length of rest is variable per person, but generally it is agreed upon but sports doctors, and therapists that when your symptoms have gone away or are retreating you are going in the right direction. When the lethargy no mater how much rest you get is gone, when your motivated to reach your goals, when you sex drive, and your love for your sport returns are all great signs.

In the future:

Schedule in breaks.
I am bad about this. I have been training for years, without scheduling a week or two off here and there. I tend to wait till I am injured and it forces me to take the time off.

Look for signs of overtraining and Listen to your body.

Try to reduce the stressors externally in your life.
I know easier said than done, especially if a pandemic is foisted on you, and or the political landscape of the country you are in has you questioning the sanity of the politicians, and the future of your country. But I digress…

Tune in your diet. If you are not fueling your body with enough food and good enough food your body cannot recover, and rest properly.

If you don’t do these things, it will be far easier to fall back into an overtraining, training fatigue cascade of symptoms that you will have to address or run the risk of greater injury.


Monday 11/16/2020:1 hour – 1 mile run, leg and glute day, core workout

I was feeling a little sassy today, don’t know if I feel like I can pull off a crop top yet but wore it anyway.

Woke up late for me 8 am and slept great. It’s been a while since I slept like that. So I got to my workout and start of my day and week.

Leg day but had to be careful with my tweaky knee still so I focused on making sure to keep it steady, aware of placement, and movement.

1 mile run

Weight Lifting Leg and Glute day: all exercises done in a super set, 15 seconds rest between sets

1) Back Squats 3x sets of 8 reps
2) Jump Squats 3x sets of 10 reps

3) Dead Lift 3x sets of 10 reps
4) Bulgarian Split Squats 3x sets of 15 reps ( L/R)

5) resistance band Leg Adductor 3x sets 1 minute (L/R)
6) Goblet Squat 3x sets of 15 reps

7) Single Leg Dead Lift 3x sets of 1 min

Core: Dana Lynn Bailey’s 10 minute core workout.
45 seconds on with 15 seconds rest between each
1) Hollow body
2) Hollow body reverse crunches
3) Sit Bicycles
4) Star Crunches
5) Side Right planks dips
6) Side Left planks dips
7) High Plank opposite Side Knee to Elbow
8 ) V Sit Leg Circles
9) Heel Touches
10) Explosive Sit Ups

Monday 11/16/2020: workout #2 – Ran another mile with H and helped him through part of my leg day.

Tuesday 11/17/2020:1 hour of Muay Thai training

A great day of training. I am as exhausted but really looked forward to training today. Consistency is the key to getting better and reaching your goals.

We worked on Teeps, knees, and 4 counts. I even dented the heavy bag with my knee.

Thanks Khun kru Krysta for the great class.

Training: jumping jacks, kicks and ladder kicks in between rounds for active recovery.

1) lead Teep, rear Teep
2) Held pads for H

3) Lead Teep, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, lead Kick
4) Held Pads for H

5) Rear Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
6) held Pads for H

7) Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Knee, Rear Kick
8 ) held Pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Rear Body kick, Pead leg kick
Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Rear Body Kick, Rear Leg Kick
10) Held Pads for H

Friday 11/20/2020: 47 minutes run, agility ladder, and full body weight lifting workout

We ran a mile, I decided to add some footwork agility to my workout with the ladder, then I worked in a full body weight lifting workout.

Workout:
1) barbell clean and press – 3x sets of 6 reps
2) dumbbell seated snow angels – 3x sets of 10 reps
3) kettlebell swings – 3x sets of 50 seconds, 10 seconds rest
4) kettlebell high pull – 3x sets of 50 seconds, 10 seconds rest
5) kettlebell tricep overhead extension – 3x sets of 50 seconds, 10 seconds rest

It was a short quick one but I am glad I got it in. Missed Wednesday and Thursday workouts so needed to do something today. Yay!

Saturday 11/21/2020: 2 hours of training. Kali/staff and Muay Thai

Training was fun and challenging today. We were outside in uneven ground that made it challenging, but it was fun. It reminded me of Thai Camp! I miss Thai Camp this year.

When you are outside on uneven ground, you want to focus on proper form, target acquisition, and working the technique. You do this so you don’t break yourself. 😆

In a leg kick you want to sink your weight, but for the body kicks you focus on the lifting the body and getting/pivoting on the balls of your feet.

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta!

Kali: We worked on-
1) high box with the staff
2) high box with the jab/Speer with staff
3) hubud with double stick

Muay Thai: knees up a hill for active recovery
1) shadow boxing
2) shadow boxing
3) plus sign drill w/ Jab, Cross, Rear Leg Kick
4) Jab, Cross, Rear Body Kick
5) H turn to kick me
6) Jab, Cross, Switch kick to the Body or lead body kick
7) H’s turn to kick me
8 ) Jab, Cross, Leg kick, partner kick response you shield.
9) H’s turn to kick me
10) pushing knees up the hill

Extra curricular 3 x 3 minute rounds of Sparring


Overtraining is a real thing. It is something to look out for. Keep in mind it is not just fatigue after a great workout. It is the inability to recover fully after your training. You then train again while tired, and feel lethargic, sluggish, and unable to attain the goals you are going for much less the levels of training you once had experienced.

Everything feels harder, and that is no fun.

I am starting to feel these symptoms. I know my body enough that I am aware that I am feeling like I am slogging up slope, in the mud. So I am going to take advantage of the coming holidays, and take some extra time off. I am going to change up my workouts.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms you may have to stop all together. But if you catch it early then you can just schedule in more rest time and let your body catch up.

Thank you for reading. If you liked it please click the like button. If you wanted to comment please feel free to do so I would love to hear from you. If you want to keep up with my adventures and all the things I learn as I go through my training and reach for my goals please subscribe. Have a great week, if you are in the states Happy Thanksgiving to you.

I post some videos of my training on my instagram #sharpcupcake .

Training Martial Arts 11/09/2020: Nothing Witty Just Get Out There and Do It

Really no witty repatee today just a general you gotta get out there and do your workouts. You have to get out there and train. It does not look like this pandemic is going to end any time soon, so waiting for it to end is not a solution.

What ever you can do at home do. Run if you can, order some resistance bands they are pretty cheap, get some kettle bells, and youtube has a wealthy of information you can use. Youtube has workouts to try, yoga you can do from home.

You may not have your team sports you like to do any more, but I am sure there are drills out there that you can do. If you like soccer there are ball drills you can do at home. An agility ladder, also pretty inexpensive is great for soccer, football, tennis, Muay Thai, any sport really that has you on your feet.

Don’t be afraid to change up your workouts. If you have been doing workouts at home great. Change it up, learn a new skill. Focus on one skill you want to make better. Like say agility, or hand eye coordination.

This is my week of martial arts training, and workouts. Nothing special just me working at my training. Sometimes you just need to grind away. Results come when you consistent and intentional about your training. I put up some video on my instagram account #sharpcupcake if you are interested.


Monday 11/09/2020: 1 hour and 10 minutes – 1 mile run, weight lifting leg and butt day, core

I am smiling cause I got that workout done even though it was hard to start and I really was not looking forward to doing it this morning.

Also look at this cool shirt I made. It was inspired by a quote from my Muay Thai coach Krysta. Yay! The back side of the shirt says, “I can’t… I have Muay Thai” I made it for my training team/class mates.

So while I was not feeling like doing the workout I did it and happy I did, I wore clothes that made me feel good, and kicked this workouts butt, also my own butt.

1 mile run

Leg and Glute warm up/activation
(45 seconds on 15 seconds off)
1) lunge stand kick back
2) mini band squat walk
3) mini band kick back to side kick
4) banded hip thrusters

Weight lifting leg glute – done in a superset
1) back squats 3x sets of 8 reps
2) jump squats 3x sets of 10 reps

3) reverse extensions 3x sets of 12 reps
4) dumbbell lunges 3x sets of 12 reps

5) dead lifts 3x sets of 10 reps
6) Bulgarian split squats 3x sets of 15 reps (L/R)

7) leg abductor 1 minute each leg (L/R)
8 ) goblet squats 3x sets of 10 reps

9) 4 way mini band walks 1 minute 3x sets
10) single leg dead lift 3x sets of 20 reps

Core: Dana Lynn Bailey’s 10 minute core workout.
45 seconds on with 15 seconds rest between each
1) Hollow body
2) Hollow body reverse crunches
3) Sit Bicycles
4) Star Crunches
5) Side Right planks dips
6) Side Left planks dips
7) High Plank opposite Side Knee to Elbow
8 ) V Sit Leg Circles
9) Heel Touches
10) Explosive Sit Ups

Tuesday 11/10/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

So it’s been a day! Had some good things like a great compliment and happy letter to my company from a customer about my customer service.

Then I had some things that made me doubt myself that those internal voices got to me. I hate it when my brain does this.

On top of all that D.O.M.S. set in. But after I got warmed up and moving even thought I still felt sore things felt better. I just focused on fixing one thing today in training. So I could have a singular area to sick my brain on, it let me drown everything else out. I did it and had a great class. Thanks for a great class Khun Kru Krysta!

Training: jab cross flurries, and double kicks for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, Body kick, Jab, Cross, leg kick
2) held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Cross, Rear Body Kick
4) held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Overhand, Cross, Rear leg Kick
6) held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Cross, Rear Body Kick
8 ) held pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Rear Body Kick, Rear Leg Kick
10) held pads for H

Wednesday 11/11/2020: 1 hour- 1 mile run, upper body/arm day, and core

What a great day of training. Still wrestling with feelings of self worth, but it was a great training day. And H my partner did the entire thing with me. He said he wanted to get as strong as I am. Yay!

We ran a mile in the rain, but it was a pleasant warm rain.

Shoulder arm warm up

Weight lifting workout: 15 seconds rest between sets. Focus on time and attention.
1) Seated Snow Angels 5x sets of 10 reps
2) Dumbbell Shoulder Press to Chest Press 5x sets of 10
3) Front Raise to Lateral Raise 5x sets of 10 reps
4) Bicep Curl 5x sets of 15 reps
5) Tricep Dips 5x sets of 10 reps
6) Halos 3x sets of 10 (L/R)
7) Tricep Kick Back 5x sets of 15 reps
8 ) Shoulder stabilization band exercise 3x sets of 10 (L/R)

Core: Dana Lynn Bailey’s 10 minute core workout.45 seconds on with 15 seconds rest between each
1) Hollow body
2) Hollow body reverse crunches
3) Sit Bicycles
4) Star Crunches
5) Side Right planks dips
6) Side Left planks dips
7) High Plank opposite Side Knee to Elbow
8 ) V Sit Leg Circles
9) Heel Touches
10) Explosive Sit Ups

Thursday 11/12/2020: 1 hour and 10 minutes – Muay Thai training

Great day of training today. We worked the lead kicks today Tuesday we worked the rear kicks. Then I did extra curricular knees on the bag. 150 knees to be exact.

I took an ok picture (I generally hate pictures of me) and one where I show my arms. I hate my arms but one of my online friends suggested we show all our bits because beautiful is not just what we were taught is beautiful.

Beautiful is strong, smart, kind, has cellulite, anxiety, has an oval/round/square/diamond/rectangular face, has scars, is working better themselves every day, even on the days where it’s hard. Beautiful is not what the magazines tell us, it’s what we see in our friends and loved ones. I keep comparing myself to everyone else and keep coming up short. I trying to learn to love me. I am trying to see the beautiful in me. I can find it in everyone else.

Training: jab cross flurries, kicks for active recovery between rounds
1) shadow boxing Jab, Cross, Rear Kick Spin Through with Shield opposite leg
2) shadow boxing Jab, Cross, Lead Kick Spin Through with Shield opposite leg

3) Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Body Kick
4) held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Overhand Cross, Lead Leg kick
6) held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Cross, Lead Body Kick
8 ) held pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Cross, Lead Body Kick, Lead Leg Kick
10) held pads for H

Extra curricular:150 skip knees to the bag
Video of part of the skip knees is on my instagram #sharpcupcake

Saturday 11/14/2020: 2 hours 15 minutes – Kali/Staff class, and Muay Thai training, with 4 rounds of sparring afterward

Even though my face looks a little meh, I had a great day of training. It was very cold outside when the wind was blowing and my face was showing it. Lol

Kali/Staff training– We worked equise with low backhand high backhand, switch, and jab/stab

Then we worked western pole arm training Kevin was kind enough help us learn more about western pole arm fighting.

Muay Thai- we worked on the same drills from this week.My knee was feeling a little strained today so I worked around it. I focused on making each strike correct, taking the power out of the strikes. It is inevitable that you will get minor injuries or strains and you have to work around them.

Then I sparred with our small dedicated sparring pod to avoid COVID-19. Was thinking about not sparring due to my knee, but decided with a little nudge from my trainer Khun Kru Krysta to work on timing and go light but still participate in the sparring. It was fun and I am glad I did. I really need to work on my tells.

I will keep training and focusing on not transmitting my tells. So my opponent does not see me coming.


It is Monday, so that means I started my week of training again. We can’t control what this pandemic is doing to our world and the people around us. But we can control what we do while we are living through it.

Get out there, work on your goals and I hope you all have had a great week. I hope this new week is amazing for you all, and if you are already training, keep it up.

Thanks for reading, if you liked this blog let me know with a like, if you want to hear more adventures in my training please subscribe, and comment if you get a wild hair to do so.

Training Martial Arts 10/26/2020: Train Through The Holidays

It was a big holiday for us in the U.S.A. Halloween is a fun holiday normally in an non covid atmosphere for us. With dressing up, parties, and festivities.

Often times I think people who are starting out or even have been on a workout journey think they have to take off for the holidays. You don’t. I have heard my friends and fellow classmates say they can’t come train cause their friends would make fun of them for training on a holiday.

Ok so here is the thing. If you want to take off for the holiday or holidays that is all you. Do it if it makes you happy. But if you are only taking a day/week/weeks off because you are visiting family and there is no gym, or they won’t understand, or your friends are causing static, I say nay do what you want or what makes you happy.

  1. If you are just starting out, I would say don’t take the time off. Try to stick to your schedule even if you are traveling. It takes 21 days to form a habit and if you stop before then you might derail your entire process.
  2. If you are traveling and don’t have access to a gym, or your equipment at home.
    • Do research
    • Make a plan to do calisthenics wherever you are
    • Write it down, so you can access it even if you don’t have internet access
    • Explore the gym facilities where you are, in your hotel, it may surprise you.
    • Pack and bring your gym shoes/clothes/and portable tools like resistance bands.
  3. If your friends are haranguing you. Tell them that this is important to you and get them to understand that you want to do this. If they still don’t maybe reevaluate that friendship. I would want friends that are happy for me and supportive. I would want friends that are supportive and want you to be happy.
  4. Invite your family/friends to go with you, or workout with you.
  5. Wear cute/funny things for the season while you workout. It will help you still feel like you are being festive but are staying on track. What you may be asking could I wear? Santa hats, jingling bells, for us a turkey during Thanksgiving, etc. Whatever your holiday is make it fun, and stay on track.
  6. Make it a game: Finding ways to get a workout in is fun. Take walks/runs around the new neighborhood. Look at the scheduled activities if there are any, and swee where you can fit it in. If your family is going to the beach, plan to spend 15 minutes running through the tide. You can find some time anywhere. If you are traveling in a caravan/RV do a squat challenge during your travels.

You might be wondering why I am mentioning any of this. We trained Muay Thai on Halloween, in costume and it was great fun.


Monday 10/26/2020:1 hour, 1 mile run, glute activation, lower body, core workout

Woot done!

So this glute activation I have been doing lately is to address some tightness, sometimes soreness of my IT band and pain in the outer knee. Research says that when you stretch, activate abs develop your gluteus muscles all three. Everyone knows the Gluteus Maximus, but it’s the Gluteus Medius, and Gluteus Minimus that are typically underdeveloped or undertrained.

This can cause knee pain, IT band pain, affect your run, lower back, and your feet. On the other hand if you focus on working all of the these it will help the above problems. Also another perk is it makes your butt look pretty! Lol

It is probably to early to tell a difference, but I will say today I knocked 15 seconds off my run time. I was not pushing it. I was doing my steady state run just for cardio and warm up.

Workout after 1 mile run below:

8 min Glute activation– only do these exercises till you feel your glutes activate but not to failure. You want to make the mind body connection between the muscle groups.
1) Mini band glute bridge 25 reps
2) Mini band clam shell 25L 25R reps
3) Donkey Kick 15L 15R reps
4) Fire Hydrant 20L 20R reps
5) Reverse hyper – on the bench. (little hard on my back but will get better) 10 reps

20 minute lower body workout – Each set is 10 minutes long – x 2 sets… 45 seconds on 15 seconds
1) Jump Squats
2) Alternating Stepping Lunge
3) Single Leg Hip Thrusts Left (Note: if you don’t feel your glute activating during this exercise use 80/20 hip thrust instead. I did this to get a better activation.)
4) Single Leg Hip Thrust Right
5) Alternating Stiff/single Leg Deadlift
6) Standing Calf Raise
7) Speed Air Squats
8 )Alternating Side Lunges
9) Hamstring Heel Curl
10 ) Static Squat Hold

Burn Out Glute Activation 8 min
1) Straight Leg Fire Hydrant – 40 reps each side L and R – point toe down to activate gluteus medius
2) Bird Dog Slider 25 reps each side L and R – I used a sour cream lid because I don’t have a slider disk
3) Side Balance leg circles 30 seconds each side L and R
4) Side Balance leg curls 30 seconds each side L and R

Core workout 7 minute – 60 seconds each
1) Seated Ab Circles clockwise circles
2) Seated Ab Circles counter clockwise circles
3) Plank Mountain climbers 30 seconds rest
4) Marching Planks
5) Scissor Kicks
6) Starfish Crunches 30 seconds rest
7) Russian V tuck twist (these were hard for me)

Workout #2: 1 mile run, and coaching H in my morning workout

I can’t believe it! Normally my second run I am slower than my first one of the day. Today just this morning I took 15 seconds of my normal running time. Just a steady state run, I was not pushing at all.

This run with H I ran steady state again, took another 20 seconds off!!! 20 seconds off, I was not trying to run harder. I just ran. This was another steady state run.

Anyway we focused on time and attention to the eccentric motions. Glute activation, with the mind body connection. We will get H there. Also it’s great for me, we are working on making those muscles stronger. Woot! 🍑🍑🍑

Tuesday 10/27/2020: 1 hour and 15 minutes of Muay Thai training

We worked elbows today! Yay!

Also tweaking my stance just the tiniest bit changed the magnitude in power for my Teep a and kicks. I had gotten into the habit of blading my body to much. So now just working on squaring my hips toward my target.

You can see me working on my hip squaring in the video. On my instagram #sharpcupcake You can see H have to readjust the belly pad because my kicks were transferring more power through his body. That equals ouch. 😁

I had a great day at training and loved working the elbows. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta.

Training: Jump squats, jab cross blitz, elbow blitz, and kick ladders for active recovery between rounds.

1) Jab, Cross, Lead Elbow # 1, Jab, Cross, Rear Elbow # 1, Jab, Cross, Lead Elbow # 2, Jab, Cross, Rear Elbow # 2. continue through elbows 1 – 9
2) held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Lead Elbow # 1, Rear Elbow # 3, Rear Knee, Rear Kick
4) Held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Shovel Hook, Chain Lead Elbow # 2, Rear Elbow # 6, Rear Elbow # 7, get out of the pocket
6) Held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Lead Elbow # 4, Lead Elbow # 5, get out of the pocket
8) Held Pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Hook, Lead Elbow # 1, Rear Elbow # 9, Lead Elbow # 9, Rear Elbow #3, Rear Knee, Rear Kick, block blows/get out of the pocket.
10 ) Held pads for H

Extra curricular: Worked on kicks and my stance. Squaring up my stance instead of blading my body so much.

Wednesday 10/28/2020: 1 hour – 1 mile run, 45 minute upper body weight lifting workout 🏋️‍♀️

Whew I kicked my own butt! What a great workout.

We all have things about our bodies we don’t like. I can I can name more than I have fingers for in these pictures. Hips, thighs, arms,… etc. But I am trying to rewire the way I think, the way I see things. I can see the good in everyone else. I should be able to see the good in me.

So here is a start. I love how strong I am. I love that I can ask my body to perform and it does. I am working to be the best me I can, that means mentally as well.

I also understand I will have bad days, down days, but not every day is going to be positive and upbeat. I just have to keep picking myself back up. Then I try to keep moving forward.

Training: focus on time and attention on eccentric motion. I focused on doing compound movements then doing a focused movement.

1 mile run

Weightlifting:

1) Front Raise to Lateral Raise 5x sets of 10 to 15 reps
2) Overhead Tricep Extension 5x sets of 10 reps
3) Chest Press to Shoulder Press 5x sets of 10 reps
4) Bicep Curl 40 lb w/ resistance band 5x sets of 15 reps
5) Lat Pull Down 30 lb resistance band 50 reps
6) Elbow Plank to Pushups 5x sets 6 reps
7) Halos w/ 25lb Kettlebell 3x sets of 10L 10R reps

Core: 1 minute each exercise
1) Clockwise seated ab circles
2) Counterclockwise seated ab circles
3) Drunken Mountain Climbers
30 seconds rest
4) Marching Planks
5) Scissors
6) Starfish Crunches
30 seconds rest
7) Russian V Tucks

Workout #2: 1 mile run and coaching

H through my workout this morning. Get out there and if you can find a buddy to workout with you.

We are doing upper body today. So Bi’s, Tri’s, shoulders, lats, and chest. Focus on the eccentric motion. (The elongating of muscle in tension after contraction.) We are working our muscles to failure. Doing 5 sets of a moderate weight.

Thursday 10/29/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

Today was a great day. I was working on squaring up my hips and working through the drills. I am going to have to be more conscious about it till I retrain my body. I did not realize how much I was blading my body. I am glad I am working on fixing it now.

We had a skills demo, and test today. Congratulations to Kevin, Ashley, and Guy on earning new Pra Jiad (ranking armband).

Then we worked similar drills to Tuesday’s class.

I was sore from our upper body workout, but it felt good to get warmed up and working. I find I heal faster when I do.Thank you for class Khun Kru Krysta!

Saturday 10/31/2020: Happy Halloween Muay Thai training. 2 hours and 15 mins.

I made a His and Hers costume for us. His says Fairtex the brand of thai pads, and mine says Fairer Sex! Hahah. Pic included to show actual size of pads vs gigantic ones I made.

Training was great fun. 1 hour of staff class, 1 hour of Muay Thai training 15 minutes of sparring after class.

Woot! We had so much fun, and Khun Kru Krysta got video of our ridiculous costumes when we did jumping jacks.

Yay, we worked the 17 count, and some drills. It was great. Now I am pooped.


We having been training during the holidays for years. I can tell you that as an athlete in competitive sports we trained all the time rain or shine. We only took off days like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. Major holidays and just the day of.

If we had to travel coaches would say, “make sure to get your calisthenics in. Don’t forget to train, and if you can get some laps in.”

I find it a challenge and make it like a game to find ways to train while I travel. I have found challenges like squat challenges that I ended up doing at some famous sites, and have pictures of. Squatting in front of a national memorial might get you looks from others, but you will have amazing memories, and have gotten a workout in. Win win!

Thanks for reading. If you liked it please let me know, click the like button. If you want to hear more of my adventures subscribe and of course if you want to comment I would love to hear from you.

Have a great week.

Training Martial Arts 10/19/2020: When Your Want Is Greater Than Obstacles In Life

Part of making a change in your life, in your routine, in your health and training is wanting it more than any obstacles that are thrown in your way. When your want is greater than the obstacles in front of you, you can do anything.

Some of the obstacles you can avoid and set yourself up for success.

  1. Knowing your schedule: Lunch at 12 pm, Meeting at 2 pm. You have an hour to two hours to get a workout in. So you plan your day and your workout ahead of time.
  2. Setting up a workout routine: setting up a workout routine helps keep you on track. Trying to come up with a workout while you are trying to do it is difficult. Sometimes you will not challenge yourself as much as you could. Sometimes you will not remember how heavy, and what intensity you did the same workout before.
  3. Make it a priority: Making your workout, your training a priority will help when you have to prioritize your activities in the day.
  4. Inform your support group: Let your loved ones and friends know your goals, what you plan to do, when you plan to do it. This helps them when they are planning their events. This also helps you stay on track. They can be a voice of reason, support, or even encouragement.

Sometimes obstacles are unavoidable and will come at you fast. You can throw your hands in the air and give up on your goals. Or you can adapt and wedge your workouts in where you can.

  1. Stop and regroup: Sometimes a meeting comes up and messes up your routine. Instead of giving up on your training for the day. Look at your schedule and see where you have time. Wedge it in even if it is right before bed.
  2. Change up your workout: If you have something come up and you cannot use the time you had allotted. Work in what you can. If you only have 20 minutes get a run in around the block.
  3. Keep your training/workout a priority: If you keep a priority you are more likely to find a way to get it in.
  4. Make it a game/challenge with yourself: its going to be hard in some cases to get the workout in, so make it a game/challenge. See where you can wedge it in. This way you won’t just say F’ it, the day is shot. I at least find it more fun this way to try to wedge it in.
  5. Be kind to yourself you can control how you respond: It is not easy to switch gears all the time. Sometimes it is out of your hands. You may be waiting to workout with a partner but they are detained, you may be wanting to do an outdoor workout but it is raining. These things are not in your control but you can control what you do and how you react.

This week was that kind of week for me. Obstacles came in many directions. My want is greater than those obstacles. I came into this week with a rib still dislocated. My partners work was going to mess up our Muay Thai training for Saturday. The person I was waiting for to train with on Saturday decided they needed a rest day, so I had to regroup and do the training on my own.


Monday 10/19/2020: 58 minute – 8 minute glute activation warm up, 1 mile run, 20 minute lower body workout, 8 minute glute burn out, 7 min ab/core workout

Been resting since Thursday. I went to chiropractor on Friday to find out I had two ribs out, I had suspected 1 rib, so I rested my back for last three days.

But back on the wagon today. I still have a rib out I can feel it, but does not hurt nearly as bad as it did.

So since I had time to change up my workouts and plan to try something new I stated a new way to do my workout.

Training: Lower body workout day, I started with a glute activation

8 min Glute activation– only do these exercises till you feel your glutes activate but not to failure. You want to make the mind body connection between the muscle groups you will be using.

1) Mini band glute bridge
2) Mini band clam shell
3) Donkey Kick
4) Fire Hydrant
5) Reverse hyper – on the bench. (little hard on my back but will get better)

20 minute lower body workout – Each set is 10 minutes long – x 2 sets… 45 seconds on 15 seconds rest
1) Jump Squats
2) Alternating Stepping Lunge
3) Single Leg Hip Thrusts Left (Note: if you don’t feel your glute activating during this exercise use 80/20 hip thrust instead. I did this to get a better activation.)
4) Single Leg Hip Thrust Right
5) Alternating Stiff/single Leg Deadlift
6) Standing Calf Raise
7) Speed Air Squats
8) Alternating Side Lunges
9) Hamstring Heel Curl
10 ) Static Squat Hold Burn Out

Glute Activation 8 min
1) Straight Leg Fire Hydrant – 40 reps each side L and R – point toe down to activate gluteus medius
2) Bird Dog Slider 25 reps each side L and R – I used a sour cream lid because I don’t have a slider disk
3) Side Balance leg circles 30 seconds each side L and R
4) Side Balance leg curls 30 seconds each side L and R

Core workout 7 minute – 60 seconds each exercise , 3 exercises then 30 seconds rest.
1) Seated Ab Circles clockwise circles
2) Seated Ab Circles counter clockwise circles
3) Plank Mountain climbers
———–30 seconds rest
4) Marching Planks
5) Scissor Kicks
6) Starfish Crunches
————30 seconds rest
7) Russian V tuck twist (these were hard for me)

Workout #2: 1 mile run and partial of what I did in the morning for Lower body workout.

H said he wanted to get more workouts in than just the Muay Thai training days. So to help I told him I would do a second workout on Mondays and Wednesday with him to help him out. He has a hard time getting the energy to do it after work so I just grab him right when he gets home so he can’t think about it and say no. First day he has done it after work, and hoping we can make it a habit for him and us together.

Tuesday 10/20/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

It was so nice to get back into the gym again. We worked the Thai 4 counts. I love coming back to these, and getting back to basics.

I still have one rib dislocated but I feel much much better. I just avoided clenching tonight.

It was an amazingly fun class. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta! It was a great workout and great training.

Training: jab cross burn out, kick burn out, Minnesota Shuffle burn out between rounds
1) jab, cross, left kick, right kick

2) rear kick, hook, cross, rear kick
3) held pads for H

4) lead kick, cross, hook, lead kick
5) held pads for H

6) rear kick, hook, cross, lead kick
7) held for H

8 ) lead kick, cross, hook, rear kick
9) held for H

Remember to clean your equipment! Especially during Covid-19.

Wednesday 10/21/2020: 1 hour 10 mins – 1 mile run and Biceps, Triceps, shoulders day, core workout 10 min warm up before run

1 mile run

Weight lifting: 50 minutes Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders
1) front raise to lateral raise- 2 x 10 lbs , 5x sets of 8 reps
2) overhead triceps extension – 20 lb kettlebell, 5x sets of 10 reps – ( set 4 I got 9 reps, set 5 I only got 8 reps)
3) chest press to shoulder press – 2 x 10 lbs , 5x sets of 8 reps
4) push up to elbow plank – 3 x sets of 5
5) Bicep curl 30 lb resistance – 5 x sets of 15 reps
6) Lat pull downs 30 lb resistance- 50 reps
7) halos – 25 lb kettlebell, 3 x sets of 10 counter clockwise and 10 clockwise

Core workout 7 minute – 60 seconds each exercise , 3 exercises then 30 seconds rest.
1) Seated Ab Circles clockwise circles
2) Seated Ab Circles counter clockwise circles
3) Plank Mountain climbers
———-30 seconds rest
4) Marching Planks
5) Scissor Kicks
6) Starfish Crunches
———-30 seconds rest
7) Russian V tuck twist (these were hard for me)

I finally got a full set of resistance bands that will got up to a 150 lb pull when you use all together. I need to invest in some actual dumbbells, I used plates from my barbell set for this. But you use what you have and you make it work.

Workout #2: 1 mile run with H, and coached him through my workout I did today.

Also my outfit is on point and I look cute! We worked on compound movements, like front raise to lateral raise, and then moved onto more isolated muscle focus. Like bicep curls and lats pull downs. With the isolated muscle focus, we worked on time and attention on the eccentric movements. Did core work, and glute activation again. Yay!

Thursday 10/22/2020: 1 hour and 10 minutes Muay Thai

Whew it was an amazing day of training. My ribs are feeling better. And while I am sore from yesterday’s upper body workout day, I had a great class. I kept my energy up and did not get into my head about my mistakes. It’s a constant battle of mine.

Funny quote of the day. “None of you are Sanchai, so don’t do it.” Khun Kru Krysta.

Also got two rounds of extra curricular pop the leather in with H after class. I am pooped. Happy to have a rest day tomorrow to let my tired muscles rest. 😁

Training: ladder kicks 1-5, double kicks, and Minnesota shuffle for active recovery between rounds
1) Jab, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Kick
2) held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
4) held pads for H

5) Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
6) held pads for H

7) Jab, Lead Kick, Cross, Rear Kick (I did this in a flow trying to go non stop)
8 ) held pads for H

9) Cross, Lead Kick, step back after kick to switch stance, Cross, Lead Kick
10) held pads for H

Extra Curricular
11) Two rounds of pop the leather

Woot what a great day!

Saturday 10/24/2020: 45 minutes – 1 mile run and Full body weight lifting workout

Some days things just don’t go to plans. Sometimes what you expect to happen, plan to happen, just does not follow suit.

So you get your workout in when and where you can.

And then sometimes fresh fruit is waiting for you after your workout, so it makes things all the better.

1 mile run

Weight lifting:
1) cross over – using resistance bands 3x sets of 20 reps
2) Back squat – Olympic barbell – 3x sets of 8
3) shoulder press – using resistance band 3x sets of 8
4) Front Raise to Lateral Raise – using plates 3x sets of 10
5) Good Morning – Olympic barbell- 3x sets of 10
6) Bulgarian Split Squat – 3x sets of 15 each leg
7) Frog hip thrusters- 3x sets of 15
8 ) Bicep Curls – resistance band, 3x sets of 20

So while not what I expected I still got one in. Yay!
Also wore one of my favorite shirts.


I had so many obstacles this week. Some were known, some were out of the blue. Some were avoidable, some were unavoidable.

  1. Rib out (unavoidable, unplanned)
  2. Work schedule being messed up (planned, unavoidable)
  3. Partner not wanting to workout after I planned for said partner and waited (unplanned, unavoidable)
  4. Weather not working with us (unplanned, avoidable)

But I did my workouts, I went to my training, I did not let those things derail me as they can so easily do.

Now you won’t be able to plan around, avoid, and wedge a workout in all the time. You will have days where there is no time to do that. No extra time, no down time. You will have days where your body says no…Those are understandable.

However, if you have days where things come up, your plans are scattered, and you still have time and or with a little creative juggling you can wedge a workout/training in. Don’t let those obstacles derail you while you throw your hands in the air. You are the one that is in control of how you react to a situation. I have to still tell myself that on those days when s*$t is just not going to plan.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a fantastic day, and week to come. If you liked this post, please click the like button so I know. If you want to follow my adventures, subscribe, and if you want drop me a line, or comment please feel free to do so.

Training Martial Arts 10/12/2020: How I cope while recuperating

What is it about having to sit out and not do your normal training, that drives a person like me crazy. Is it F.O.M.O.? What is F.O.M.O. you ask? F.O.M.O. = Fear Of Missing Out.

I don’t think it is entirely F.O.M.O. Maybe partially a little bit of annoyance cause I am missing out. But full blown F.O.M.O. I don’t think is what my problem is.

More appropriate I think is the worry that I am some how sliding backwards. I know this is an unfounded fear. Take a few days off to heal and recuperate does not make you lose your progress.

I have been training for long enough to know scientifically that it takes 14 to 21 days or 2 to 3 weeks for you to start losing strength. But that does not stop the little voice in my brain at least, you know the one that starts up and nags at me that I am missing classes, or training days.

Anyway I had two ribs right under my scapula that were dislocated, and causing an incredible amount of pain, when I was hit, jostled, and or moved that arm and neck area. I tried dealing with it and training with it Tuesday, and Thursday. It did not get better, no matter how much I stretched, massaged, and or worked that areas muscles. So I went to my chiropractor on Friday and got myself popped back into place.

I know myself and I know that I will sit here and just worry, fret, and get annoyed that I am hurt. I will be annoyed that I have to take time off and let my body heal. So I tried to refocus my energy and figure out how I am going to alter my training when I can get back to it again.

So how do I cope with not being able to train?

  1. I worry, fret, and tie myself in knots. (then I try to realize that I should refocus, and I know that science shows that my worries are just messing with me.)
  2. I study, I take notes, and learn more about training, what I can do and how to do it. Make a list, plan, and get details on how and what I am going to do for training. I just focus on that, and I don’t have to think about not training.
  3. I work on something that I have been putting off. Maybe an art project, maybe a project around the house.

Monday 10/12/2020: 1 hour – 1 mile run with 1 mile walk, bob and weave drill, weight lifting workout, and core workout

H was home for the holiday and he decided to come with me on my workout. Woot! It was a great day of training, I hit a PR for weight lifting, and I shaved 10 seconds off my run just in steady state.

He spotted me on my bench press, and I went up 10 more lbs today! Woot! (last week I went up 10 lbs, as well. However, when I weight lift alone I don’t push the amounts of weights to far, because it is not safe.) So as of today I am up 20 lbs total for my PR for bench press. Woot!

I worked a bob and weave drill on orthodox and south paw stance. Where I was working under a bar and touching my shoulder to the bar.

We did a short walk to warm up, a mile run I shaved 10 seconds off my run without trying, and then we did a cool down walk.

Weight lifting: 30 minutes

  1. clean and press – 3 x sets of 6 reps
  2. standing rows – 3 x sets of 10 reps
  3. bench press – 3 x sets of 6 reps ( I hit a PR with H spotting me )
  4. hip thrusters – 3 x sets of 15 reps

Dana Lynn Bailey’s: 10 minute core workout
45 seconds on with 15 seconds rest between each

  1. Hollow body
  2. Hollow body reverse crunches
  3. Sit Bicycles
  4. Star Crunches
  5. Side Right planks dips
  6. Side Left planks dips
  7. High Plank opposite Side Knee to Elbow
  8. V Sit Leg Circles
  9. Heel Touches
  10. Explosive Sit Ups

Tuesday 10/13/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai

There are always going to be excuses about why you can’t do a thing. The key is to regroup and work around it. Obviously as long as you don’t hurt yourself more.

Today is a high pain day for me. I have a rib that is out under my scapula. It hurts when I jump rope, when I get hit, or just jostle around.

H looked at me and said, “there are always going to be excuses.” So I regrouped and just worked around my pain. Sometimes I need a little help redirecting my perspective.

Training: jumping rope for warm up
Jumping jacks, pushups, flutter kicks, between rounds for active recovery

  1. Jab, Cross, Teep
  2. held for H
  3. Lead Teep, Lead kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
  4. held for H
  5. Rear Teep, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
  6. held for H
  7. Lead Teep, Cross, Hook, #6 Elbow, Elbow, Rear Knee, Rear Kick
  8. Held for H
  9. Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Overhand, Hook, Cross, Rear Knee
  10. held for H

Thank you for the great class Khun Kru Krysta!

Thursday 10/15/2020: 1 hour of training

It is a special day today! We honored Khun Kru Krysta with Wai Kru Day! We celebrate on the same day as Ajarn Chai’s Birthday (or nearest day that we have class on). Because he brought Muay Thai over to America. His birthday is tomorrow. In Thailand kids do this on their first day June 7 the to their teachers.

Wai Kru Day is the day we honor our teacher (kru) and let them know we appreciate them and thank them for what they do.

We give rice, fruit, incense, a candle, and flowers traditionally. I always sit and think about the flowers to put on it. We don’t have the same traditional flowers that are used in Thailand. It was a really fun day of class today. But it was also special to honor or teacher. We love her and want her to know that.

Training: warm up modified to just shadow boxing, cause of rib out still
Jumping jacks, ladder kicks in between rounds for active rest

  1. Jab, Cross, Lead Kick
  2. held pads for H
  3. Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
  4. held pads for H
  5. Rear Teep, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
  6. held pads for H
  7. Lead Teep, Cross, Overhand, Elbow #3, Rear Knee
  8. held pads for H
  9. Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Overhand, Cross, Knee
  10. held pads for H

What do you do to cope? Do you have problems just waiting for your body to heal so that you can get back to training?

While I had to slow down and let things heal. It was an amazing week still. I got a chance to honor my teacher on Wai Kru Day. I also focused my energy on changing up my training. I started that changed training schedule today. More on that in next weeks post.

Thank you for reading, if you liked it, please hit the like button. If you want comment. If you are interested in reading more of my adventures please subscribe.

Have a great day! Have a wonderful week, as it is when I am typing this up. I hope you start off your week great! Get out there and get moving. You have to start somewhere.

Training Martial Arts 10/05/2020: Rolling out your shins and recovery

Ok ok… let me say… I am terrible about getting to rolling my muscles and shins. H is on me about it, and I am trying… but damn does it hurt. I know I need to do it, to help smooth out the ossification that happens in the micro fractures. I say, I say… It don’t feel good though.

So while I am bad about doing it myself, I am going to talk about why we should do it. You know how you say “I love burpees.” Just to try to reverse psychology yourself into thinking you like them. I am going to write about the process of rolling out your shins, bones, and muscles. Maybe reverse psychology myself into doing it more. It could happen right. But H is there and he will do it for me even if I am not happy about it and mutter terrible things due to the pain. But I am getting better… I am always reaching to be better than I was before. So doing it regularly will be better than I was before. Yay! Its the small goals.

Alright first things first – Muay Thai is awesome, and awesomely hard on your shins. It is this way because we use them to shield kicks coming in. It is far better to take a kick on a shin, then get hit in the liver, and puke blood. Just a thought.

There are many memes going around about it, for good reason: I did not make these. Copyrite the internet

So we shield kicks with our shins, toes up, muscle wrapped around the shin to protect our vital organs. Yes the pain goes through the shin guards, and yes you still get bruised. I do all the time. Some times we go crazy and shin to shin check each other. Ouch, and sometimes we use our shin guards… Ouch too but not as ouch.

What happens to your shin: (Hint: no you don’t have to kick banana trees or any trees to train, leave the poor trees alone, the heavy bag will do plenty for you.)

When you do shield and hit shin to shin, when you hit heavy bags, and sometimes even the corner of the pads, you get small micro fractures in your shins.

When your body repairs those micro fractures in your shin by adding calcium deposits called ossification. This is your bodies way of finding say a weak point and adding more material to strengthen it. Yay for smart bodies.

These ossifications can make your shin feel bumpy, and or be uneven. Those bumps can possibly cause more pain when you kick, so you must roll them out while they are healing.

So you must roll out your shins. We like to use a tiger tail. Some people swear by a metal pipe. Others like to use just a wooden dowel.

This is all called shin conditioning, because you are conditioning your shin to contain more dense bone tissue, and to maybe feel the pain less. Although I think it is more your body is used to the pain. It still hurts but since you have healed from it before you don’t care as much. I am not a doctor this is just what I have discovered in my training.

(Running: is also a great way to increase density in your shin bones.)

What to do/after care: (believe me the last thing I want to do after I have a couple of huge knots on my shin that are sure to be bruises, is roll a cylindrical pipe like thing on those aching bruises and that aching bone.)

  1. Roll out your shins, using a Tigertail, or pipe, or bamboo stick –
  2. Roll in a downward motion
  3. If you find an area that hurts put constant pressure on it with the stick for 30 seconds and roll it down again.
  4. Thai Oil (we use Namman Muay boxing liniment), or tiger balm – something that will get the blood flowing to shin area.
  5. Make sure you are consuming things with calcium and vitamin D.
  6. Drink plenty of water
  7. Go out and train again, even if it hurts… you will find it will hurt less (??) or perhaps you just notice it less.

When I am consistent about taking time to do my maintenance and upkeep for my body. I can see it perform better. Less pain and better training. So you know it just behoves me to do it.


Monday 10/05/2020: 1 mile run, 30 minutes weight lifting workout, 10 min core workout from Dana Lynn Bailey

1 mile run I just stuck to my normal path.

Weight lifting: done as a superset
(Note: curl bar not the greatest to use for hip thrusters but I made an improvised pad and it worked)

1) Clean and Press x3 sets of 6 reps
2) Hip Thrusters x3 sets of 15 reps

3) Bench Press x 3 sets of 6 reps
4) Bulgarian Split Squats x 3 sets of 15 reps (L and R side)

Dana Lynn Baileys 10 minute core workout
45 seconds on with 15 seconds rest between each

1) Hollow body

2) Hollow body reverse crunches

3) Sit Bicycles

4) Star Crunches

5) Side Right planks dips

6) Side Left planks dips

7) High Plank opsite Side Knee to Elbow

8 ) V Sit Leg Circles

9) Heel Touches

10) Explosive Sit Ups

Tuesday 10/06/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai

If you want to change up your training and make it instantly harder. Try doing the rounds in the opposite stance. Man south paw can be confusing sometimes for me. But I am pleased to say that it’s getting easier. I felt like my foot was not in the bucket, I felt like I was getting some better extensions in my punches, and felt like it was flowing better, all on the south paw side. Yay!

Training: jump rope 8 mins before classJumping jacks, squats, and pushups between rounds for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, Teep


2) Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Bob and Weave and get out
3) held for H


4) Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Bob and weave, Cross, Hook, Bob and weave, Hook, Cross
6) held for H


7) rear Body Cover, Lead uppercut, Cross, Rear Body Cover, rear uppercut, hook, Cross.
8 ) held for H


9) full boxing 20 – Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Bob and Weave, Cross, Hook, Bob and Weave, Hook, Cross, Bob and Weave, rear Body Cover, Lead uppercut, Cross, Rear Body Cover, rear uppercut, hook, Cross, Bob and weave an incoming overhand, shoulder check, hook, Cross.
10) Held pads for H

Wednesday 10/07/2020: 40 minutes- 1 mile run and 26 minute calisthenics workout

I ran 1 mile early this morning and felt like I could keep going. Yay!

Calisthenics workout: HUMP DAY

Done in a superset, x3 sets

H) 10 tricep dips
U) 30 Bicycle Crunches
M) 30 Plank Jacks
P) 20 Reverse Lunges- 20 on each leg

D) 30 second Plank + shoulder touches
A) 30 Star Jumps
Y) 50 Flutter Kicks

Thursday 10/08/2020: 1 hour and 15 min of Muay Thai

Ok today was a great day. I worked hard and kept up the level of energy. Yay! Learned a new drill. Shin is sore but it was fun today.

It was super fun. Made small tweaks to make my drills better. I got compliments on my feed. Was hitting my partner harder to make him shield and cover better. Khun Kru Krysta appreciated my feeeing. Yay!

Training: jump rope to warm up
Jumping jacks, jump squats and pushups between rounds for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, rear Teep, Jab, Cross, Lead Teep
2) held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Overhand, Rear Kick
4) Held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Bob and Weave, Cross, Hook, Bob and Weave, Hook, Cross
6) I repeated this round working South Paw both times.

7) Rear High elbow cover, Uppercut, Cross, Lead High elbow cover, Uppercut, Hook, Cross
8 ) held for H

Sangtinoi (spelling?) drill from the seminar…Yes
9) Rear leg shield, Rear Kick, Rear Leg Sheild, Rear Kick, Rear Leg Shield, Overhand, Cross, Knee
10) held pads for h

Extra credit training

11) repeat of # 9
12) repeat of # 7 with random hit/strikes to make you either High elbow cover, or low body cover
13) repeat of # 7 with random hit/strikes to make you either High elbow cover, or low body cover

Thanks for a great class Khun Kru Krysta.

The video is of me learning the new skill so not polished or shiny yet. But will keep working on it. You can see video look for Thursday October 8 – on #sharpcupcake on instagram.

Saturday 10/10/2020: 2 hours – Kali/staff and Muay Thai

What a fun day of training. It was a bit chilly this morning for staff class but so long as I kept moving it was alright.

In Muay Thai we worked some new drills, new to me and it was fun. I loosened up and try to keep flowing. I worked on shuffling out and getting distance after each drill, all the while keeping my guard up.

Kali/Staff training:
1) low witik, high witik, low witik, low back hand , high backhand
2) low redondo, high redondo, low redondo, low back hand, high backhand

3) high witik, low witik, high witik, low backhand, high backhand
4) low redondo, high redondo, low redondo, low backhand, high backhand

5) high witik, high witik, high witik, low backhand, high backhand
6) high redondo, high redondo, high redondo, low backhand, high backhand

7) low witik, low witik, low witik, low backhand, high backhand
8 ) low redondo, low redondo, low redondo, low backhand, high backhand

9) full box

Muay Thai Training: jumping jacks, squat jumps, pushups, flutter kicks, reverse crunches, plank

1) Jab, Cross, Teep
2) held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Overhand, Rear Kick
4) Held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Hook, Chain Elbow, Rear Knee, Rear Kick
6) Held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Elbow, Elbow, Lead Knee, Lead Kick
8) Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Rear Kick, Rear Shield, Overhand, Cross, Knee

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for great classes.


Oh and the tiger tail is great for rolling your muscles after you get done working out as well.

So that is all for today. I got done with my workout this morning, made sure everyone was fed, and now am finishing up this post. I have not rolled out, but I am about to go do that now, I told myself as soon as I was done with this post I must do it. =)

This was an a 31,000 foot/9448.8 meter high overview of shin maintenance. I am not a scientist, or doctor, so consult your doctor. This is what I have learned and what we do to maintain..

Get out there, work hard for your goals. I am working on being better about maintenance for my body, but be better than me, and make sure you do your recovery/maintenance on your body.

Thanks for reading. If you liked it please let me know by liking the post. If you want to see more of my training, or adventures subscribe. And of course if you want to comment please feel free to.

Training Martial Arts 09/14/2020: What to do when you get tired.

Oh boy you will get tired in training. That is a promise. If you are doing what you are supposed to do. If you are following your trainer/instructor you will get tired.

Here are some of the things to do when you get tired. Its going to happen so being prepared is great. Note however, as much as I know this. It is still hard, some days to realize I am exhausted, and refocus my mind to follow the following. I recommend just focusing on one at a time till you can remember that one and add the next one. Trying to remember them all is going to be difficult.

Things to try:

  1. Slow the drill down and work on form.
    • when you feel yourself slipping and losing form slow it down and make pretty.
  2. Focus, and make your Muay Thai pretty
  3. When you are exhausted leveraging your muscle memory is so important.
    • When you are bone weary or that tired your body will find the most efficient way to do what you are asking it to do. Which is why it is so important to focus on technique, so that your muscle memory you are forming is the muscle memory for that technique.
    • The most efficient way most likely will be the most effective way as long as you are working on making the form perfect.
  4. You train to failure, or exhaustion because that is what is going to happen in a fight on the street or in the ring.
    • You train like this you don’t have to think when your body is put to the test. It’s just ready because you trained that way.
    • If you don’t have to think about the move you are going to do you much faster. It takes time for the information to go from your brain to your hands to punch. But if you are doing already before you can think about it, you will be faster than your opponent, and will hopefully catch them off guard or kick his butt before you get yours kicked.

You can see videos of some of my training on my instagram #sharpcupcake


Monday 09/14/2020: 1 hour, run 1.25 miles, weight lifting, and core

Woke up and was not sure about what I wanted to do for my workout or if I wanted to.

Have had some bad self image days, but trying to be more positive today.

So let’s be happy about what we do have and that we are alive.

I had a a beautiful run today. 1.25 miles.

Weight lifting workout:

1) back squats 135 lbs, 4 x sets of 10 reps

2) RDL (Romanian Dead Lift) 95 lbs, 4 x sets of 10 reps

3) Kettle Bell Swings 3 x sets for 1 min each

4) Bulgarian Split Squats 3 x sets of 15 on left and 15 on right

Dana Lin Bailey 10 min core workout.

Tuesday 09/15/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

This is the look of TIRED. Lol

But I felt good and I felt like I was flowing.This was a fantastic class and I was working hard on staying loose and flowing through the drills. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta.

When you are tired you have to focus on form and executing that form as best you can. You will develop muscle memory that you can then fall back on when you reach the point of exhaustion again.

My training partner said I was loose and flowing really well today. Yay! I was exhausted and totally wanted to just gently lay in the strikes, but I dug in slowed down and made sure to work the drills as exactly as I can. I focused on keeping my hands up after my hooks, and keeping my body shifting smoothly from one position to the next. What this will do is next time I am tired in my training I won’t have to focus so hard (here’s hoping) on keeping my hands up after the hook.

It will be a muscle memory that will just kick in.

Training: jump rope for 1 round warm up, Jumping jacks, jump squats, mountain climbers, and push ups for active recovery between rounds.

1) Jab, Cross, Lead Hook, Jab, Cross, Rear Hook
2) Held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
4) Held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
6) Held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Lead Uppercut, Rear Uppercut, Cross, Lead Kick
8 ) Held pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Cross, Lead Uppercut, Rear Uppercut, Cross, Lead Kick10) Held pads for H

Bonus training:
10 rear round house kicks, 10 lead round house kicks
10 rear leg kicks, 10 lead leg kicks
Pushing knees practice

Wednesday 09/16/2020: 45 minutes 1.33 mile run, 15 minute jump rope, 10 minute core workout

I was brisk, chili and cold this morning. When I started my run it was 52 degrees F out.

Then I did 15 minutes of jumping rope. It took 20 minutes but I only counted 15 because it took a while to get pictures.

Did you know that most of the pictures you take jumping rope look like some one standing still? Bwahahah 😂🤣

Then Dana Linn Bailey’s workout gets my core on fire. Happy hump day/Wednesday! Get up and get working to your goals.

Thursday 09/17/2020: Muay Thai, 1 hour

Have you ever gone into a workout and just feel like you don’t have the energy reserves to make it through. Those are rough days. Today was that day. I could feel it. I was sluggish.

I sometimes have to use reverse psychology on myself and say “I am good”, and act like I am not tired. I don’t think it makes me any less tired but I don’t go into the training thinking I am tired. That sets up the training more on a positive note. If it helps just a fraction I am all there for it. But even when you are exhausted and weary you have to put in the time and work on the form.

I think someone might be behind me. Lol

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for a great class.

Training: I used the weighted jump rope 1.5 lbs to do warm up. I jumped about 5 to 6 minutes. Jumping jacks, jump squats, pushups, and burpees are done in between rounds for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, Slap Hook
2) Held pads for H

3) Jab, Cross, Slapp Hook, Rear Kick
4) I held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Rear Kick
6) Held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Uppercut, Hook, Chain Elbow, Rear Knee
8 ) Held pads for H

9) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Cross, Uppercut, Uppercut, Hook, Rear Kick
10) Held pads for H

Bonus training:
Knees after one round
10 round house kicks lead and 10 round house rear 10 lead leg kicks, 10 rear leg kicks

You can see videos of my training on my instagram #sharpcupcake, just look for this days post.

Saturday 09/19/2020: 2 hours of Kali/Staff and Muay Thai training

We worked outside in the brisk morning for staff class. I am glad I brought my jacket today. It was fun but my arms, shoulders, and forearms were tired this morning, after a long week of working out.

I however did feel like I working more on the balls of my feet during Muay Thai. I pushed through the fatigue and enjoyed working the drills. Kali we worked the 15 count staff drill and then we did the full box.

I have a video of us working the full box. You can see it on my instagram #sharpcupcake, just look for this days post.

Muay Thai we worked on the same and similar drills that we did on Thursday. So I was able to focus on form and flow. I also worked on my south paw form. Instead of staying in my comfortable orthodox stance. I worked south paw and felt a little stiff on that side so I need to work that more and get it smooth. I did not keep my foot in the bucket and I got in and out watching my range.

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta for great classes.


That is it for this week. Today starts a new week and I am already on that train. I got my run and workout in today. In the end things will get tough. You will get exhausted, you will get tired. It will be hard to keep going on. But every instructor, every trainer, every coach I have every had, in elementary school through to now has said we have to keep going when we are tired.

We do our best learning when we are tired. It may not be pretty. You may hate ever minute of it. And boy do I hate it some days. But you will gain much.

Thank you all for reading. If you liked this post hit the like button, if you want to see more of my adventures subscribe, and comment if you feel moved to do so. Keep working toward your goals, and keep pushing to be the best you can be. I will. Have a great week.

Workout/Martial Arts 08/10/2020:A Knee Or An Elbow Is A Conversation Ender

We started the conversation in the fight. We were talking back and forth, jabbing, responding, dodging, hooking, looking for openings. Now how do you stop that conversation. Hopefully with the least amount of damage and pain to yourself. Extra points if you end it with a surprise. Like say a surprise elbow, or knee to the face after you landed a punch to the gut.

I am still working on why my conversation looks/sounds like. However, it is good to have an ending. To know how to end the conversation. How to end the fight. So no mater what your conversation is or how your conversation goes… you can end it. Look no matter how you fight, with technical precision, with fun and feints, with aggression, or as a responder to incoming attacks. You have to be able to end it.

Elbows and knees are the sharpest tools you have on your body that will do damage. Just a glancing elbow strike will cause a cut on you face, opening up a gash that will bleed into your opponents eye. I properly placed knee will break ribs, damage internal organs, or if get them in the head fracture an orbital socket. Those are terrible injuries to take. However, these strikes can also mean lights out or even death. So when I say elbows and knees are a conversation ender that is what I mean. It is hard to continue to go on after any of those injuries. These strikes are a punctuation at the end of a sentence. Arguably by far the worst injury you could take is death. This is why so many amature fights do not allow elbows and knees. An elbow strike to the chest just at the right time can stop an opponent’s heart.

Here are some links to rules if you are interested in fighting:
(Note: this is by far not a complete list, know your fight, your level, and the rules surrounding your fight.)

IKF (International Kickboxing Federation) https://www.ikfkickboxing.com/RulesMT.htm

Muay Thai Canada https://muaythaicanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MTC-National-Competition-Rules.pdf

UFC Rules https://www.ufc.com/unified-rules-mixed-martial-arts

This post is late, I try to get it out Sunday or Monday, but hey life gets in the way.

Training


Monday 08/10/2020: 1 hour and 20 minutes of run, bag work, shadow boxing, weigh lifting, and core workouts


Who looks like a goof ball? Me but I did my workout.


Run: 1 mile, It was hot and muggy outside at 7 am.


10 min Bag work: simple combos, Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook (working on changing levels, and getting full extension)


10 min Shadow Boxing: worked on flow, and swing through with kicks


30 min Weight lifting:
1) bench press 3 x sets of 10 reps
2) dead lifts 3 x sets of 6 reps
3) Goblet squats 3 x sets of 20 reps
4) Bulgarian Split Squats 35 reps each leg

Core: Dana Linn Baileys 10 minute core workout – 45 seconds on 15 seconds rest between
1) hollow body
2) hollow body reverse crunch
3) v Sit bicycles
4) Star Crunches
5) right side plank dips
6) left side plank dips
7) high plank opposite side knee to elbow
8 ) v Sit leg circles
9) heel touches
10) explosive crunches

Tuesday 08/11/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

I could not think of another way to spend my birthday evening than training with my Muay Thai family.

Thank you for a great class Khun Kru Krysta!

Elbows are so much fun to throw and so scary to hold pads for. It really makes you want to concentrate as hard as you can, so you don’t get hit. Elbows and knees are conversation enders. I talked about fighting being a conversation in my last blog post. Well elbows and knees tend end the back and forth conversation if they land on your target. They can be brutal and terrifying, but fun. 😊

Muay Thai:

1) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
2) Held for H

3) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Rear Kick
4) held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Hook, horizontal Elbow #1, Rear Knee
6) I held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Hook chain horizontal Elbow, Spinning Back Elbow #9, Spinning Back Elbow #9, Rear knee
8 ) I held for H

Thursday 08/13/2020: 1 hour and 20 minutes Muay Thai training

Elbows are so much fun. However feeding them can gets scary if the elbows slide off the pads cause the elbows and partner are sweaty.
So when you are looking for an opening and land an elbow the reason it is scary receiving or holding pads it’s, one wrong move and it’s lights out. Time to take a nap on the mat. End of your fight conversation.

Anyway lots of fun today in class thank you Khun Kru Krysta!

Training: jumping jacks in between rounds, and H and I did 30 knees when everyone is wiping down their stations


1) Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
2) Held pads for H 30 knees, I held 30 for H

3) Cross, Body Hook, Head Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
4) Held pads for H 30 knees, I held 30 for H

5) Cross, Uppercut, Cross, #3 elbow (downward diagonal- you have to cock your shoulder back to throw this), Lead Knee
6) Held pads for H 30 knees, I held 30 for H

7) Cross, Uppercut, Overhand, #3 elbow, #9 elbow (spinning back elbow), c out, #3 elbow, Rear Knee
8 ) Held pads for H 30 knees 5 Kicks each side, I held 30 and 5 each side for H

Burn out:
9) Jab, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Kick, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Lead Knee, Rear Knee
10) I held for H

11) Held for H- Scissor Teeps, and Flying Teeps, 10 kicks each side full power
Showered and rolled out Hypervolt massaged I am pooped.

Saturday 08/15/2020: 2 hours, Kali/staff, and Muay Thai training

Whew it’s been a fun day of training, but I hit a wall hard. I felt exhausted and a lot parched. I have been up since 4 am, went into work did the work stuff/bakery fun. Got groceries for the house, came home and ate breakfast. Then it’s training time. I think I was dehydrated but I remedied that and pressed on with the training. Listen to your body people.

Kali/Staff:

1) 3 x equise, low backhand high backhand
2) 3 x witik, low backhand high backhand
3) 3 x redondo, low backhand high backhand
4) Now left handed for the above three
5) block # 15 strike, with a roof black and shield

Muay Thai: jumping rope to warm up, jumping jacks between rounds
1) Jab, Cross, Elbow # 6 Side in
2) Jab, Cross, Elbow # 8 spearing Elbow

3) Jab, Cross, Elbow # 8 spearing Elbow, tie up 6x skip knee, rear double kick 4) Held for H

5) Jab, Cross, Elbow # 6 Side in, # 9 Spinning Back Elbow, Rear Kick
6) I held for H

7) Jab, Overhand, Elbow # 3 downward diagonal, # 9 Spinning Back Elbow, Rear Knee
8 )I held for H

9) Matkatune, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick Mix punches up by changing levels (High, Low, High), (High, High, High), (High, High, Low).
10) Held for H I am exhausted. The video is of the 5) round, Jab, Cross, Elbow # 6, Elbow #9, and Rear Kick.

I need to work on it more, but it’s super fun. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta! 🙏


Well that is it for the last week. It was my birthday week. I am a year older, and hopefully for all of us a year wiser. I am continuing to reach for my goals, working toward making myself better every day. I am working on my conversation in my fight. What do I want to say? How do I want to say it? I am also working on how to end my conversation, or the conversation I have.

You may never be in the ring. I may never be in the ring, but you may get into a fight/conversation one day, and you will want to end it on your terms not theirs. Elbows and knees are some of the fastest ways to end that conversation. Know your fight and know your exit strategies, and abilities.

I had a fantastic birthday surrounded by people I love and that love me. I got to be with my Muay Thai family. I got to practice the martial art I love. I hope you all have birthdays in the future that are fantastic as well.

Thanks for reading. Please comment if you feel like it. Hit the like button, and follow if you want to hear more of my adventures. Have a great week.

Workout/Martial Arts 08/03/2020: A Fight Is A Conversation

When a person throws a strike they are asking a question or making a statement. Then they are watching what you do about it or how you answer. You have to figure out what your response to it is. Strike, counter, strike, block, strike, strike, counter.

When you are sparring, you will have strikes that you are like, “hrm… ok that happened.” Then you will have strikes that will make you go, “nuh uh… not again.” Things will aggravate you. This is natural.

In a lot of the Thai fights I have viewed, I see the first round is each opponent just getting to know each other. They will throw a strike out, and watch how/if it is blocked, counterd, and what is returned. They both go about it, if they get a strike in that gets through all the better. The next round though is, where they amp it up, take the conversation up a notch.

Fighting is… as counter intuitive as you might think this is… Fighting is a very cognitive. You might be wondering why I am talking about this at all. I am learning Muay Thai, and I am learning all of this art. Part of learning is not just the physical, it is the mental, the cognitive parts of this art. It is not just theory but study and understanding of your opponent.

Fight IQ – Fight intelligence, your ability to process information in a fight or glean information, and utilize it to their advantage.

Suphachai Saenpong is considered one of the best Thai fighters of all time, he has real high fight IQ. He does a really good job of processing info during a fight and using to their advantage.

A lot of this is a subconscious process. It is a culmination of training, experience, and natural inclination.

I have yet to get to that level, but one day I hope I can be a fraction of the fighter he is. Of course I would love to be as great a fighter, but let us have smaller stepping stone goals to get to.


Monday 08/03/2020: 1 hour – 1 mile run, 30 minute weightlifting, 10 min shadow boxing, 10 min core

1 mile run it looked like the sky’s were going to open up on me

30 min Weight Lifting:
1) bench press – 3x sets of 8 reps
2) tripod tricep row – 3x sets of 20 reps on each arm
3) kettle bell row – 3x sets of 1 minute swings
4) goblet squats – 3x sets of 20 reps
5) Bulgarian Split Squats – 3x sets of 15 reps each leg

10 min shadow boxing

10 min Core workout Dana Linn Bailey’s 45 sec on 15 seconds rest
1) hollow body
2) hollow body reverse crunch
3) V Sit Bicycles
4) Star Crunches
5) Right Side Plank Dips
6) Left Side Plank Dips
7) High Plank Opposite Knee to Elbow
8 ) V Sit Leg Circles
9) Heel Touches
10) Explosive Crunches

Woot I am done and feeling good.

Tuesday 08/04/2020: 1 hour and some change Muay Thai training

Ok another fun class today I focused on just having fun and letting my body move. Woot! Also it’s a lot of fun for me to have awesome workout tights. I have bionic legs!

Been wanting these bad boys for a while and they had sold out. But I finally got a pair. Yay!!! Squee!! This shirt I got a is little big for me but that’s ok. It says I Am Enough!

Also also, D.O.M.S. Set in hard today and my flutes to legs hurt so much going up and down stairs. But after I warmed up they still hurt but I was able to work. We worked on the same things from last Saturday and it was so much fun. I love JKD. H and I then worked on some new combos.

Muay Thai/JKD Striking:Warm up with jump rope, jumping jacks between rounds for active recovery
1) Jab, Cross, Lead Knee, Jab, Cross, Rear Knee
2) Held pads for HJKD

3) Fake High Jab, pendulum leg kick Lead, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
4) Held for H

5) Fake Low Jab, Fake High Jab, pendulum leg kick Lead, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
6) Held for H

7) Fake High Jab, Low Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get outIf opponent blocks Low Jab- ping choy, gua choy- or block pass strikeFake High Jab, Low Jab, (opponent blocks) Ping Choy, Gua Choy, (Low Jab, clear opponents arm, return a back hand to the face) Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
8 ) I Held pads for H

Burn out:
9) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
10) Held for H

New combos
11) Cross, upper cut, flying elbow
12) double jab, Lead Teep, and a hop switch Teep
13) Cross, rear knees, Teep, Rear Flying Knee

Thank you Khun Kru Krysta.

Thursday 08/06/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

Oookay so today, has been a crazy busy day. I have gone to work, had meetings, set up more meetings, delivered a cake, fed the family meals, and had Muay Thai training today.

Some days you just have to put the time in to training. It’s not going to be perfect all the time. Some days you don’t see the conversation of the fight. Some days it is just strike after strike and drill after drill. Some days it’s going to be hard but you just gotta get up and do he work.

Focusing on the positive, work was great, I had some amazing compliments come out of the blue from friends. Especially one I have not seen in a long time. She said, “you look strong Tanya, your quads are amazing.” Instructor said my knees in Muay Thai looked great. Another friend said that I am inspiring.

So all in all while busy a surprisingly good day with many positives. Boy but am I tired… anyway on to training…

Muay Thai/JKD Striking: Warm up with jump rope, jumping jacks between rounds for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, Lead Knee, Jab, Cross, Rear Knee
2) Held pads for H JKD

3) Fake High Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
4) Held for H

5) Fake Low Jab, Fake High Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
6) Held for H

7) Fake High Jab, Low Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out If opponent blocks Low Jab- ping choy, gua choy- or block pass strike Fake High Jab, Low Jab, (opponent blocks) Ping Choy, Gua Choy, (Low Jab, clear opponents arm, return a back hand to the face) Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
8 ) I Held pads for H

Burn out:
9) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
10) Held for H

11-12) Held pads for H Thanks for a great class Khun Kru Krysta Scharlach

Saturday 08/08/2020: 2 Hours Kali/Staff and Muay thai


What a great day of training! I had a lot of fun. I focused on the conversation of the fight. Not just the words. How the words flow together.

My instructor was really happy with my flow and performance on the Spinning Back Elbow still. She is a fantastic instructor, and will not hesitate to tell you when you are doing something wrong. So I take her compliment and reaction as it is intended. Thank you Khun Kru Krysta.

Kali –
1) started with full box warm up
2) full box with a spearing attack instead of #4 strike
3) full box with spearing attack instead of #2 strike
4) full box with any spearing attack that you have to avoid/counter/parry

Muay Thai-
1) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick
2) Held for H

3) Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Rear Kick
4) held pads for H

5) Jab, Cross, Hook, horizontal Elbow #1, Rear Knee
6) I held pads for H

7) Jab, Cross, Hook chain horizontal Elbow, Spinning Back Elbow #9, Spinning Back Elbow #9, Rear knee
8 ) I held for H

9-10) held pads for h while he practiced switch teeps, and jab, jab, leg kick


I am still figuring out my conversation. What conversation am I having with other fighters? What do I want to show them? What do I want to hide? Do I want to be mostly technical like Suphachai, or do I want to be a trickster like Buakaw, feinting, and attacking.

What is your fight conversation?

I am figuring out my conversation starters. I am figuring out my conversation flow. I look forward to seeing where it goes. I will look back on this post in the future and will have a better answer to what my fight conversation is.

Thank you for reading. If you liked this blog, comment and let me know, subscribe and hit the like button.

Workout/Martial Arts 07/27/2020: Pad Holding Will Make You Better In Your Martial Art

I have written about pad holding in a previous journal entry. I described how to do it and how it helps your partner that you are training with, especially if you are good at pad holding. However, I wanted to touch on another point that I thought of while training.

Pad holding will make you better in your martial art. Ok… yes this is opinion but bear with me here and hear me out.

Here is a section from my previous blog about it pad holding in general:

Pad holding Tips I Have Learned:

  1. You have to be able to feed the pads just right so that your partner can hit them.
  2. You have to be at the correct distance so that your partner hits them fully extended and not shortened, but not to far away so that they get hurt from missing the pads.
  3. You have to meet their strikes with the same force so that they have feed back.
  4. You have to be able to take the hits. The pads help you feed and take the hits, but if your partner is putting in the strikes properly you will feel them. The pads only distribute the power of the strikes.
  5. You have to lean in to kicks coming in. If the person is taller/bigger than you, you may have to jump a little bit with the kicks/knees.
  6. You mimic the moves your partner is making. For instance if they are throwing a jab you move your body shoulder, hip, leg, feet placement as if you are jabbing as well, but just holding the pad up for them to punch. Doing it this way helps you to work on your jab, while they are.

Alright back to pad holding will make you a better practitioner of your art. Look at #6, when you mimic your opponents moves it does help you get the body mechanics down. However, there is more to it than that. Here are the reasons why I think pad holding will make you better at your martial art.

  • Repetitions of Body Movement: Mimic the body moves helps with body mechanics when you throw your strikes. Any practice/repetition with correct form is great for your training.
  • Recognize and See Incoming Attacks: Holding pads helps you not only recognize but start to see the small movements that indicate the body is about to move/strike. You have to have the pads there to stop the strike or you run the risk of getting hit.
  • Understanding The Drill: You have to understand the drill to hold the pads well.
  • Block and Return drills: When you pad hold you have to block/hold pads for the strike and in some cases return a strike right away so that your partner can learn to block. This is fantastic training on hit response training.

So as you can see… pad holding has many benefits, not only helping your partner, making them look like a million bucks when they hit the pads, more repetitions of body movement, but it really does help you and your ability to understand and adapt to the incoming strikes. Pad holding is as I said before a completely different animal from just striking. I believe it will help you be a better rounded martial artists.

My Training: For This Week


Monday 07/27/2020: 1 hour and 40 minutes Running, wight lifting, Calisthenics, and shadow boxing

1 mile run, it was already hot outside

Weight lifting:
1) Standing Should Presses 3 sets of 8 reps
2) Good Mornings 3 sets of 8 reps
3) Bench Press 3 sets of 8 reps

Calisthenics workout of the day words were STRONG GIRL… it had two sets of 15 Burpees back to back ack, but I did it! Woot! Both of words done in a superset. 1 minute rest between each superset.

S) 30 seconds Fast Feet
T) 20 Hip Dips each side
R) 30 Crunches
O) 30 Sit Up
N) 15 Jump Lunges
G) 15 Burpees

G) 15 Burpees
I) 25 standing Knee Crunches
R) 30 Crunches
L) 15 resistance band Mule Kicks

Finally I did 10 minutes of shadow boxing 🥊!

Whew, what a great day of training! Go after goals what ever they may be. Fight for what you believe in and love one another. Love from me❤️

Tuesday 07/28/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai practice

Thai 17 count is what we worked on today. We have been working on it in small chunks but today we put them all together.

I worked on flow and staying in motion. I focused on feeling the body shifting weigh on each foot, and body mechanics.

I held pads and tried to incorporate all of the feed back given to me from H on how to hold better for him. I also tried to focus on mirroring his movements. Matching my weight distribution on each combo to his.

Then we did flying knees because heck they are flying knees. I am so not good at them yet but one day.

Training: jumping jacks for active recovery between rounds

1) Jab, Cross, Lead Kick, Jab, Cross, Rear Kick
2) Held for H

3) Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Upward Knee
4) Held for H

5) Rear upward Knee, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick)
6) Held for H

7) Hook, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Elbow to tie up 6 skip knee #2, push off double Rear Kick
**now** add 3+5+7 for full 17 count (Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Upward Knee, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Elbow to tie up 6 skip knee #2, push off double Rear Kick)
8 ) I held for H

10) Lead and Rear Kicks, and flying knees

Whew! What a great class! Thank you 🙏 Khun Kru Krysta.

Wednesday 07/29/2020: 50 minutes workout 1 mile run and Calisthenics

I woke up at 6:30 am and ent for a run it was beautiful outside.

Workout Word for the day is ANOMALY. Don’t let exercise be an Anomaly in your routine. See what I did there? Bwahaha

Calisthenics: word ANOMALY word is done as a superset, for 3 reps.

A) 30 Star Jumps
N) 15 Jump Lunges
O) 30 Sit Ups
M) 30 Plank Jacks
A) 30 Star Jumps
L) 15 resistance band- Mule Kicks
Y) 50 Flutter Kicks

Whew that was a great workout. Go after your dreams and goals. I will be your cheerleader!!!

Thursday 07/30/2020: 1 hour of Muay Thai training

Ever have a day where you are exhausted? You come home from one job to work on another job/project that is due the next day? Oh and you forgot to eat till dinner? Yeah that was my day.

I sooooo did not want to train today, but H popped out with a quote from Frank Herbert’s Dune. “What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises-no mater the mood! Mood’s a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It’s not for fighting.”

I heard my trainer/instructor say, “good that’s very pretty, now do the it (the Thai 17 count) like you want to kill someone.” Which I took to meanmt form and flow were pretty now put the power into it. To which I did, or at least tried and heard, “ok do it again, this time harder.” 😁

So I had my last meal after my workout because I was ravenous and I was super thirsty. Yogurt with strawberries and apples, unsweetened coconut and some walnuts.

Training: jumping jacks for active recovery between rounds

1) Jab, Cross, Rear Flying Knee, Jab, Cross, Lead Flying Knee
2) Held for H

3) Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Flying Knee
4) Held for H

5) Rear upward Knee, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick
**now** add 3+5 (Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Upward Knee, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick)
6) Held for H

7) Hook, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Elbow to tie up 6 skip knee #2, push off double Rear Kick
**now** add 3+5+7 for full 17 count (Lead Teep, Lead Kick, Cross, Hook, Rear Upward Knee, Lead Elbow, Rear Elbow, Rear pushing Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick, Rear Knee, Rear Kick, Hook, Cross, Elbow to tie up 6 skip knee #2, push off double Rear Kick)
8 ) I held for H

Burnout:
9) Jab, Cross,Jab,Cross, Lead Kick, Rear KickJab, Cross,Jab,Cross, Rear Kick, Lead KickJab, Cross,Jab,Cross, Lead Kick, Lead Kick Jab, Cross,Jab,Cross, Rear Kick, Rear Kick
10) Held for H
11) same drill above for me South Paw Lead
12) same drill for H Orthodox Lead

Thank you 🙏 Khun Kru Krysta. Again a great class and working us through the Thai 17 you are amazing.

Saturday 08/01/2020: 2 hours of Kali/staff and MuayThai/JKD striking training

Today was just a fun day in training. Partly because my awesome teacher/trainer Khun Kru Krysta had a fantastic lads planned out where we practiced some Jeet Kun Do (JKD Bruce Lee’s Martial Art form). It was so nice to block pass and strike again. Have not practiced JKD since COVID19 lockdown. Also much more fun cause I let myself have fun. It sounds stupid but I did not just focus on the form and trying to make everything perfect. When I study something I hyperfocus sometimes to the point of making it not fun but analytical. So I just worked and had a good time.

I am reading a book that talks about the inner game. I will expound on it when I am done. But letting myself just have fun and not be so uptight, quieting the mind and ignoring the bad things I might think about a certain combo I just did was what I worked on.

Kali/Staff: we did all these patterns both sides stance

1) equise pattern to low back hand high back hand
2) witik x3 to low back hand high back hand
3) redondo x3 to low back hand high back hand
4) redondo x3 with a spin on 4 and to low back hand high back hand Muay

Thai/JKD Striking: Warm up with jump rope, jumping jacks between rounds for active recovery

1) Jab, Cross, Lead Knee, Jab, Cross, Rear Knee
2) Held pads for H JKD

3) Fake High Jab, pendulum leg kick Lead, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
4) Held for H

5) Fake Low Jab, Fake High Jab, pendulum leg kick Lead, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
6) Held for H

7) Fake High Jab, Low Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out If opponent blocks Low Jab- ping choy, gua choy- or block pass strike Fake High Jab, Low Jab, (opponent blocks) Ping Choy, Gua Choy, (block, clear opponents arm, return a back hand to the face) Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Roundhouse Kick, pendulum get out
8 ) I Held pads for H

Burn out:
9) Jab, Cross, Hook, Rear Kick, Cross, Hook, Cross, Lead Kick
10) Held for H
11) flying knees on the bag

I missed practicing the Ping Choy, Gua Choy and I did not realize how much I did. Jeet Kun Do is all about the block pass trapping/striking.


What a week. It was a good week of training. There were ups and downs. I am learning to just enjoy what I am doing. I need to not just focus on doing the drills perfectly. I need to work on intent. I need to work on me. I am working on me.

Pad holding will make you better in your martial art. It is hard now for most people during this Covid19 we can’t all get that close. I am lucky to have a built in partner in H. However, this statement above is still true for as much as I know. Pad holding will make you better at range management, better at seeing strikes coming in, better at the drills with body mechanics, make you a better partner, and will help in hit response.

Let me know what you think. Have you experienced any of the things I am saying about pad holding? Thank you for reading. If you like this, hit the like button, and subscribe.

Have a great week, and keep reaching for the goals you made for yourself. Keep working even if you have to work around things in your life. Your dreams are worth it.