Coming back

I’ve been away from training. A lot of my time, besides work, was spent at the gym.

Not away totally – just have been having some long standing health issues checked out and treated for.

And that is why the last 3 months I have not been sparring nor doing fight drills. Only pads.

Learning Muay Thai is like learning a language. There is a process of acquisition.

Pads class is like flipping through your grammar & vocab flashcards, practicing reading/writing, doing scripted role-play with partners, etc.

Sparring and fight drills are like –

Okay, I’ve been studying flashcards and I’ve been playing with different scenarios, got some grammar down, got some vocab down. Now let’s make use of it in conversation. 

I haven’t been able to practice conversation the last 3 months.

You study a language, usually, to become fluent.

You only gain fluency in a language by speaking and conversing while also fumbling through your speech…making mistakes and learning from those mistakes; by putting yourself out there again and again each time you fail.

Now that some light has been shed on those health issues, things are looking brighter- I can start doing drills and sparring again soon.

With all that being said, it’s time to start talking again, baby.

Time to start jabbering; time to grow from my mistakes.

Time to move forward.

What we do for fun

Half way through the rounds of sparring, Coach goes

“Listen for my cues…”

I’m over here like…

Middle of the round…

“Clinch!”

“Break throw!”

12 low!

Sparring ends

If there is one philosophical lesson I’ve learned from sparring so far, it’s that you are far tougher and braver than you may realize.

Sparring, it’s what I do for fun now. What we do for fun. Welcome to the club.

This ain’t kickboxing, honey; this is Muay Thai

She pulled me in for the clinch and started throwing knees; without thinking I said with a little shock in my voice, “WOAH clinching”

“This ain’t kickboxing, honey; this is Muay Thai” she replied jokingly (but also, seriously) as she broke the clinch by pushing my face away.

That was snippet of my first Friday advanced sparring class.

The freedom to throw knees readily and clinch in sparring was new to me.

Everyone is so skilled.

It’s inspiring.

I recently ranked up; meaning I am able to now spar with the best of ’em.

And you know what?

Until next time!

 

Giving it all you’ve got

Bearing our souls to the world. That’s what we do when we train; when we fight. The fact that we make the choice to do this on a regular basis despite the bullshit or pain we may be enduring in “real” life is an amazing thing. And honestly, it’s healing.

Some days you may feel so physically/mentally/emotionally exhausted from on-going personal battles, work, general lackluster for life, or whatever it may be. Still, you show up. You show up to improve yourself when yourself feels drained like a car running on no fluids.

You could justify laying on the couch and doing nothing. I mean, after all, you’ve had a looooong day.

But, the fact that despite it all, you show up, put in the work, channel that fire inside you, connect the pieces, make it flow, and give your all is incredible. 

Everyone develops their own unique style, has their own quirks, their own strengths and weaknesses; all which are exposed to the world. It’s intimate. We bear our souls. 

Speaking with our bodies. Both violent and beautiful. Poetry in motion.

[Deep thoughts over – insert segue here]

Rank test.

One week from today. 

My plan to prepare

1. Get to work early so I can leave work early so I can get to The Cellar early to train more
2. Do classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.
3. Do drills on lunch break every day with Michael (his work is close to mine and he has pads–yay!)
4. Use study guide to practice before class with cellar buddies
5. Bag work focusing on specific goals

Specific goals

Shadow box in the morning before work

Check, block, parry faster 

Practice defense. Defense drills before or after class with someone

Keep mentality in check. No sulking or self-doubt allowed

Keep tools sharp 

Answer back

Be aware of my openings – work to keep them closed 

Be aware of their openings and exploit them

Distance. Jammed up after throwing kicks too often still

Footwork and cutting angles 

Technique with speed. Improve technique and speed during sparring

Attack and counter without hesitation. Don’t hold yourself back. Keep going

Tap into my creativity. My creative side is highly developed, but I feel I haven’t applied to Muay Thai; yet

Recognize patterns and read opponent. It’s natural for me to  read people and spot patterns pretty quickly/easily in daily life- now to apply this in sparring.

——————–

Coach Chris mentioned how sometimes we take a moment (without realizing) to recognize when an opponent lands something solid on us or vice versa and how we should avoid this at all costs because it makes us vulnerable and causes missed chances to counter. Try to resist the urge, even though inside you be like…

To everyone testing Saturday: let’s have some fun and kill it.