Starting out in Muay Thai

[Nathan Teodoro]

Karrie,
You mentioned in an email that you're getting started in since moving to VT. Can you share a little about what they've got you learning as a new MT student (if that's the case)? I'm interested in whether your instructor is Thai or not, and his/her approach to teaching new students. For example, what do you learn first? How much emphasis on conditioning, etc.
Thanks!

[Karrie Bowen]

Well, for the first class I attended we focused mainly on combinations and kicks, using focus pads. We just got right into it from the get-go. I was a bit put-off, however, in that the instructor did not ask what my experience was and I even had to let him know that I had had martial arts experience before. He is not Thai but American and I'm not sure what his background is in Muay Thai. I plan on asking him at the next class, will get there earlier in fact so that I can speak with him about what his goals are for his students.

The class was difficult, I'll say that. He's a pusher, but in a good way. There was A LOT of focus on conditioning, especially endurance. For example, near the end of class we did 10 rounds of 10 punches followed by 5 burpees. If you finished one round after everyone else you got a bit of a break, but if you were slow you went right into the next round. Not fun!

I got the feeling that a few of the guys present actually partake in fights and this was part of their training. In that class we did not spar, but I was told that sparring is usually included. Maybe it was due to the fact that I was there and was a new student that he chose not to include sparring. His name is Jared, BTW.

I'll keep you posted about what I find out about Jared's background. The most difficult part about a karate practitioner moving into Muay Thai? The power of the kick is different (in fact, you whip your kicking hand behind you as you kick) and the hands are held a little higher in fighting stance. My body had a hard time with the roundhouse kick we were doing. My muscle memory will have to do a bit of shifting since I do plan on sticking with this, at least for now. It's a great way to stay in shape, and since I have not been sparring as much as I used to it will also be a great training tool in that respect.

[Nathan Teodoro]

Thanks Karrie. I think you'll find that it's going to be a fantastic workout. When I train others, we actually use a round timer and go almost the entire time, interspersed with some teaching, then back to drills. In other words, you don't usually train on your own, except when hitting a bag, contact is heavily emphasized, and most drills are contact drills. I think another benefit for most traditional karate stylists (or TKD) is the contact - you get used to hitting and getting hit, and therefore get tough.

As far as the kick, try not to think of it as a roundhouse, or any other technique in terms of what you know (I can tell that's what you're already doing), but always aim through the target. Follow-through, not control. There is a "snap" but it takes the form of a whipping type motion.

Whether you fight in a ring or not, you'll have a lot of fun. Can't wait to hear more.

[Karrie Bowen]

Yup, that's exactly what I'm doing with the kick. My muscle memory says one thing, but my brain knows that's not right in this case. Jared even said to me to follow through and whip my kicking hand behind me. I was practicing on a heavy bag the other day and I know that's what it's going to take, just doing it over and over.

In my dojo light contact has always been encouraged, and sometimes it's not so light, so I'm used to getting hit, just not really hard. The higher my rank got, the more I got hit, and I believe that's a really good way to train. My Sensei always stressed that if you got hit you immediately hit back, no waiting, no saying, "Ah, I just got hit!"

I go back this evening, so I'll give you an update. I'm going to grill Jared on his background...

[Nathan Teodoro]

Cool. I've always maintained that it's safer to train with heavier contact; there are less "accidents!"

[thefightgeek]

Hey Karrie,

nice to see you giving muay thai a try. the conditioning can be hard, but you'll be surprised at how quickly you adapt to it (if your consistent).

conditioning is integral to muay thai, i've noticed some martial arts like to separate technique from conditioning. it's not like that in muay thai. there is no muay thai without conditioning.

Hope that makes sense

cheers

[Nathan Teodoro]

Great point (regarding conditioning). MT is great to build toughness, too, as a result of the constant contact.

[Karrie Bowen]

Yeah, contact....it really makes a difference. I'm not sparring with those boys yet. First I have to work on my conditioning so that I don't suck wind the whole time and make a complete fool of myself.

[Nathan Teodoro]

Actually, what I meant by contact is that very little of what you'll probably do will be in the air. Most of the techniques are practices with a partner (on pads or in drills), or on a bag. In other words, you're always going to be hitting something. Very good for learning to hit things when you do that. Heh.

Also, you'll be used to getting hit harder, even just by holding pads, so if you ever are in a self-defense situation, you'll probably react without thought before you get scared, especially if someone actually touches you.

I am thrilled for you, and hope you stick with it. As Fight Geek says, give it a few months.

[Karrie Bowen]

Thanks for the comment, FG. So far I'm really enjoying MT. In my old dojo we did a lot of conditioning along with all of the forms and self-defense stuff. However, it was nothing like what I'm experiencing now. It is really hard, and for the past two classes I've been the only female, which turns on my I'm-out-to-prove-something button. That's never a good thing since I only end up doing more than I'm capable of. However, I know that will go away the more classes that I attend. I love the training, and that kind of conditioning works very well for me. I hate lifting weights, running, all of that boring stuff. Bring on the burpees! I'm going really regret saying that....

The type of kick used in MT will take me a little while to really hone, though. I'm so used to roundhouse kicks, and as Nathan said, I need to just put out of my brain and into my body.

How did you start in MT?

[thefightgeek]

Only female in the class? That's a good thing. In a few months you'll be making the dudes look bad :)

Got some bad news about the running . . . Pro Thais do a shit-tonne of it (5 to 10 miles a day, six days a week). WAY too much if you ask me, but it seems to work for them. If you decide to fight, don't be surprised if your coach tries to get you to run everyday :(

Thai fighters certainly like alternative, old school conditioning (instead of weights and treadmills etc). Nothing like hardcore bodyweight exercises and the odd spank of a tyre with a sledgehammer to get your body pumping :)

Once you get the muay thai round kick, I think you'll like it a lot.

I used to teach a different style of MA but I had a run in with the leaders of the organization, and 'left'. I won't bore you with the gory details, but after leaving I decided I wanted to try something new. And since I all ready knew how to box and kickbox a bit, I thought muay thai would be a good option. I've never looked back. It's a great lifestyle.

I've only had a few Thai fights (mostly because where I live is isolated—Tasmania), but I'm looking to fight once or twice a year for the next few years (in Thailand). Though to be honest, I'm mostly in it for the shits-and-giggles . . . I'm not a very competitive person. If I do my best in training or in the ring—win or lose, I'm happy. It's the fun I have along the way that's important to me ;)

Anyways, my advice is to give it three months. You should have a pretty good idea if it's for you or not by then.

Have a good one!

cheers