I have been training now in Thailand for 5 months. The first part of the training experience here has been a trip to different gyms to meet many new people and get a taste of the life in Bangkok. Now I have been adjusted to the life here and been to several gyms, looked in different places for many fights and I feel it is time for a new challenge. Many of you might know that I fight in Holland and the reason to go to Thailand is to enhance my game and develop more skills in Muay Thai. I have to say that I learned a whole lot more than I expected before going here.
Everything I have learned, whether it is in terms of offensive or defending techniques, stance, footwork, nutrition, mental attitude, conditioning and much more I have documented and I will process it in a book for those interested to get practical knowledge from really good trainers, fighters and promoters that I experienced myself so I can tell you from firsthand how to move in certain situations or how to develop the correct mind state. One thing I am always been obsessed about is the small details; they can make such a huge difference! Did you know that when you make a right kick, you swing your arm to the side to give extra power to the swing and make it easier to totally put your hip into it? This you might know right? But did you also know that it makes a big difference in power if you make sure your palm is pointing outwards, you stand on your toes with your left leg and keep your back straight? You can try it out for yourself and feel the difference. There are many details like this that helped me improve my skills. So keep on the outlook for the book that will, by putting your attention on many small things, build your power, increase your speed and improve your fighting game in every aspect. Now I am training at Pinsinchai Gym, at first because it fit my time schedule pretty good, but now I wouldn’t want to change to another gym if I could. Here I train with only Thai fighters, I am the only foreigner. They are obsessive about the little details because it is in those things that the difference is between a good and a great fighter.
The owner asked me if I would be interested in fighting in the ring. It would be a great experience and a perfect conclusion of my stay in Thailand. Actually, I have been thinking about for quite some time, but not knowing when exactly to plan it. Now he just said: “Ok, you want to fight, we will prepare you and July 31 you will fight”. Simple as that. The only thing he said besides that is that I should “train serious, no lazy! You can or not?” I said I can do that and we agreed. Now, before my training was primarily focused on learning new techniques, so I would not be present every day. Sometimes I had plans the evening before and got home late and then the next day I decided to sleep some more. However, now I have a fight scheduled, either in Rachadamnoen Stadium or Asawindum Stadium, there is no more slacking allowed. I get up at 5.25 AM every morning, eat a banana and some muesli and go out to the gym. Let me draw you a typical training schedule on a Saturday. As I said I get up and go to the gym, I arrive around 6 am, when the sun has just risen. I meet the other boxers who live there, put on my running shoes, and we take off, usually with my eyes half closed because I’m still really sleepy. This means 45 to 60 minutes running, starting at slow pace, but eventually running too fast to run comfortably, in the final few rounds we really pick up the pace so I feel my heart pounding. I love it. Now I started to train more seriously, I can see the difference in how the training is for me. Before I got some attention and actually learned a whole lot already, but now they stepped it up.
After the morning run, we shadowbox for a couple of rounds and then I go one on one on the pads for three rounds. This is one of the best things of the training; the pad holder corrects me whenever I make a mistake, which is often. They correct every technique I make to have it adjusted to their style of fighting, which is real Muay Thai. After three rounds of pounding on the pads while putting attention on the details, I step out of the ring and walk towards the kicking bags. Here I spend some more rounds, practicing the technique and building up strength and conditioning. I know I am not ready yet, I have been in serious training for two weeks now, but I am confident that I will be ready for the fight in time. After the kicking bags, it is time for clinching. We spent around 5 rounds clinching in the ring, meanwhile scrutinized by the trainer and corrected when necessary. When this is finished, sometimes we go a few more rounds on the kicking bags, or we spend some time form general fitness. Think pushups, sit-ups, chin-ups and more. There are weights available and the Thai fighters use them, although a little bit, but the only ones I use are the 5 pound weights, I use them in Shadowboxing. This was the morning training. In the afternoon, we run 30 minutes or more, I will go on the pads again for three rounds, although sometimes it will be on the boxing pads, thses are smaller and only suitablr for boxing. Following are more rounds on the kicking bags. After this we do more clinching and then I am pretty much done. This was on a Saturday, I have to say that normally during the week I only do the morning session, which is the hardest, because my other obligations take up the rest of my day.
Now it has been 14 days of serious training, including 14 morning and 2 afternoon sessions. It is really paying off and I still have more weeks to go. As I will progress in my training, I will keep you updated on how it is going. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask me, I will answer it or find a way how to. Thanks for visiting the site, let me know what you think! In strength and peace my friends, Signing off, MTD
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