New Gym

Wow.. so many things have happened since I last posted and I haven't had a lot of time to get to an internet cafe to write about them.

I've taken a break from Sasiprapa for a while. It's been 3 weeks since my last fight and my chest still isn't right. I think maybe something broken so I'm not training hard, mostly jogging.

I did run into an old friend at the local mall from a gym called Sor Ploenchit. The gym takes in mostly kids who have no parents or come from poor families. He's had 260-270 odd fights and won a few belts in Thailand. He's just holidaying here, sorting out some visa stuff before he goes back to Australia to help out with teaching muay thai over there and luckily for me he's the head trainer at this gym so I get to train there for free.

The gym is really impressive. I already knew a few of the kids from last time I visited him there and they're always happy to see us white folk. It's a large gym and really well built. It's obvious the owner has put a lot of thought into its design. It has a hard wooden floor, the ring is softer then I'm used to though, you can work 360 degrees around the bags and the equipment and gloves etc are in good condition. There are a lot of mirrors and floor space in the middle. They even have showers, no hot water, but working showers, not just a bucket of water and a cup.

So I'm planning on staying there for a week or so, just some light training to stay in shape and spend some time with my friend. We play games with the kids, take them to the pool, buy them lunch (they're too poor to eat 3 meals a day) and just muck around with them a lot.

While the gym is good, it's not a tourist gym and doesn't usually take in or train new students so I'll try and make the most of the opportunity and get some photos to post up.

I'll update more as soon as I can, and try and get some photos.

Back into it

This mornings training -
6km jog
2 rounds shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
2 rounds heavy bag
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
3 rounds technique work
50 knees heavy bag

Not bad for a start up session after over 1 week off. I haven't lost much conditioning or fitness. Looking forward to fighting again in 3/4 weeks time. I ran into the owner of the gym yesterday as I was buying breakfast and he told me to get my ass back to training, train for 3 weeks and fight again. Fun times.

This aftenroons training -
2km jog
1 round shadow boxing
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds tyre/footwork with weights
A lot of rounds grappling
50 knees heavy bag

Thats it, end of the day thank christ. After tomorrow I have no excuses, time to knuckle down.

Fight Round Up

Ok so it's been one week since my fight and I've stopped hurting enough to sit down at a computer and write about it.

So on the night of the fight we all got loaded into the minibus to Pattaya. There was about 14 of us and only 13 seats so I got to share mine and after a 2 hour journey, arrived with a sore back. No problem really but it was a sign of things to come.

We got to the Sityotong 'International Stadium' which in reality is a ring surrounded by go go bars. People can sit at the bar and drink and watch two fools smash on. Great stuff.

We all split up and got food then met back at the 'International Stadium' to 'check weight'. Checking weight involved my trainer and another trainer sitting around a pool table surrounded by gogo dancers, matching everyone up based on rough height and experience. I was up against a Thai who had 10 fights experience, and I found out afterwards, had just gotten out of prison. I also drew the last fight (they probably knew it was going to be a short one) which meant I wasn't fighting until around 12:30am.

So I hung around and watched some fights, met an old ex fighter named Chang who gave me some great advice (keep your hands up) in between sipping his beer. He also let me feel his calf muscle (I didn't ask for this).

Eventually 12:30 came and I was started to get tired, but excited to get into the ring. I was still surprisingly calm by this stage.

Got into the ring, managed to not fuck up the wai kru and before I knew it the fight was on. First he kicked me square in the arm and I was surprised how hard it was. Followed by a hook and a flurry of punches, none of which got through (thank god for Changs advice). Once that was over I thought 'fuck this' and wanted to knock this guy out. Up until then I thought it was going to be an easier fight than this.

So I managed to hit him with a few shots straight through his guard, and just worked on simple combinations, 1-2-kick, 1-2-hook-kick. I moved him back into the corner and his leg was starting to give out every time I kicked him. I remember having a brief moment thinking I was going to knock him out very shortly when all of a sudden he stepped up and hit me with a knee (left) to my chest. It winded me but before I got a chance to get my breath back or move he pushed my hands down and hit me with the same shot again, just to the right of my sternum. That was enough to drop me and the fight was over.

It wasn't a straight knee, I actually felt like I'd been stabbed and couldn't breathe properly for a couple of days afterwards. I couldn't lay down from sitting or move around without a really intense pain in my chest. It's been getting better slowly, day by day, but one week on it still hurts and I haven't been training. I'm going to try going for a run this afternoon, just 2kms and see how it holds up.

Surprisingly I met the owner of the gym and he wants me to go back to training tomorrow, train for 3 weeks then fight again, which I will do if I can run today no problem.

Although the fight was over quicker then I wanted, I was really enjoying it and pleased with how I fought (apart from the knockout, obviously). I just wish it had gone on longer but it's all a learning experience isn't it.

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with some more training news. Thanks to everyone who emailed me, sent messages of support etc. It really does enter my mind a lot when I'm training and fighting and it helps a lot.

Last Sparring Session

Last sparring session this afternoon before my fight on Tuesday. Am I excited? Well...not really, to be honest I'm more looking forward to it being over with so I don't have to run so damn far every day.

Anyway, as promised, here are some photos from Boo's channel 7 fight (lost by 1 point), starting with a random photo of some lighting taken from my balcony.

I hate running. 100% absolutely, jing jing. There is nothing good about it.

In preperation for my upcoming fight, Im running for around one hour before I start training every day.

I have to keep dodging crazy motorbike drivers, sometimes I get chased by soi dogs, and smile at the stupid comments the thais make as I drag my tired carcess past.

Training is as usual, running, shadow boxing, thai pads, bag work, clinch sparring, boxing sparring, sit ups, push ups, eat, sleep, train again etc etc. It's not a glamourous or exciting life. I certainly couldn't write a book about it...well not the training anyway...

This mornings training -
8km jog
6 rounds clinch sparring
4 rounds heavy bag
100 kicks heavy bag
100 knees heavy bag
2 sets pull ups
2 sets shoulder press
2 set bicep curl

I got hit with an elbow this morning, which was unexpected, but it didn't hurt anywhere near as much as I thought it would. Also, I seem to have taken some skin off my ass from doing so many damn situps. Talk about uncomfortable.

Fight

So I'm fighting in Pattaya on the 28th of this month. I have no idea who I'm fighting...I guess it doesn't matter so much.

Nothings really changed at training, I pretty much follow the same routine, except a lot more of everything. More rounds on the thai pads, more push ups/pull ups, more sparring. I sparred 4 different guys yesterday which was um, challenging.

There's a new/old trainer at the gym. When I say old, I think he's worked there before but I'm not sure. He's a terrific pad holder but loves smashing the thai pads into your head. Lots of fun.

Some interesting stuff has been happening at the gym, a couple of guys almost got knocked out during sparring, one guy was left bleeding from his mouth after going at it with a K1 fighter. I'll have some photos of Boos fight on Channel 7 tomorrow. He lost that fight but it was great to watch, a lot of elbows.

I'm exhausted from training and trying to eat as much as I can, so I'll leave it here for now

Hello everybody.

It has been a while since I updated my blog and I'm in 2 minds as to wether to keep it going.

I had almost 3 weeks off training because of a skin infection (another one!) which pissed me off throughly. In that time I watched a lot of movies, applied for a job and was turned down, and generally just lazed about. I was supposed to fight on the Queens birthday next month, but now I'm not sure if it's still happening.

Martin, as far as prices etc go, it depends on if you're staying at the gym, how often you're training etc. It may have changed since I started training there. The owner of the gyms email is Thakoonp@hotmail.com - you're best emailing him for up to date and accurate info.

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
3 rounds thai pads
1 round teep kick block
1 round upper cut block
4 rounds heavy bag set combos
2 rounds tyre/footwork
50 teep kicks heavy bag
50 knees heavy bag
2 sets shoulder press
2 sets bicep curl
2 sets situps

Day of the Motorcycle Accident

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
4 rounds heavy bag
50 elbows heavy bag
2 x 50 knees heavy bag
2 sets shoulder press (max)
2 sets situps (max)

This afternoons training -
2km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
4 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds tyre/footwork with weights
50 elbows heavy bag
50 teep kicks heavy bag
50 knees heavy bag
4 rounds technique work
50 knees heavy bag
2 sets push ups (max)
2 sets bicep curl (max)
2 sets twisting situps (max)

Long day today, although a minor motorcycle accident outside the gym provided a distraction. The kid who crashed was alright, but he was racing another motorcycle when he tried to overtake a taxi and didn't realise he was headed straight towards a parked truck. Anyway, he dropped the bike and slid, clipped the taxi and ended up under the ute. He was fine but the taxi driver was mega pissed off and grabbed him and dragged him into his taxi and drove off. God knows where they went.

This mornings training -
4km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
2 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds thai pads
1 rounds focus pads
1 round teep kick block
3 rounds muay thai sparring
50 knees heavy bag
50 teep kicks heavy bag
50 elbows heavy bag
30 kicks heavy bag
2 sets pull ups
2 sets push ups
2 sets sit ups

And to think I wanted to take it easy this morning because I only got 5 hours sleep last night. Anyway, it was a good session. Ritchie won his fight in Pattaya last night, congratulations man!

This afternoons training -
2km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds uppercut block
2 sets shoulder press
2 sets bicep curl

Lazy lazy. The gym was busy so hard to get any bag work done, but yeah...damn lazy.

National Clinch Day

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
5 rounds clinch/grapple sparring
1 round teep kick block
2 x 50 knees heavy bag
2 x sets pull ups
2 x sets push ups
2 x sets sit ups

I forgot to mention the sword vendor I saw yesterday. In Thailand people ride past all hours of the day or night on bicycles peddling all kinds of stuff, blankets, fruit, brooms, ice etc. Yesterday I saw someone pushing around a basket full of gnarly looking swords and knives for sale. Funny thing is that all the motorbike taxi guys were buying them.

This afternoons training -
2km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds uppercut block
3 rounds clinch sparring
2 sets shoulder press
2 sets bicep curl

Thank god that's over. Most of the ferang went to Pattaya to watch a fight (sure) so the gym was relatively quiet today.

My neck hurts from grappling so much. That is all.

Queens Birthday Fight

This mornings training -
4km jog (because I'm a fucking lazy donut)
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
4 rounds heavy bag
4 rounds technique work
Wai kru practice..just something different I guess
50 knees heavy bag
60 kicks heavy bag

Got asked if I want to fight at the Queens Birthday in August, which I jumped at. Gives me a lot of time to prepare though. Something sooner would be cool but I can't complain about that.

This afternoons training -
2km jog
3 rounds boxing shadow boxing
3 rounds boxing sparring
4 rounds heavy bag
2 sets pull ups (max)
2 sets push ups (max)

Good sparring, have a bit of a black eye but nothing got through my guard, moved around a bit more, felt good.

Got offered a fight on the 11th, I don't know if that's July or August, at Lumpinee or Ratchadamnern but it means I'll have to drop almost 2 kgs. I don't know where I'm going to find that. I wonder how much body hair weighs? Anyway, it's still in the works so I don't know what's happening yet.

This mornings training -
4km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
1 round heavy bag
3 rounds thai pads
1 round teep kick block
3 rounds heavy bag

Bah... no energy whatsoever this morning. I didn't even have the energy to open a second bottle of M150. I was going to go for a swim but I can't be bothered doing that either.

Another Rainy Day In BKK

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
2 rounds upper cut block
2 rounds teep kick block
2 rounds heavy bag
50 knees heavy bag
2 sets shoulder press
2 sets bicep curl
5 rounds technique

Just going through the motions this morning as the gym was busy. I do like being left to train alone though, it really gives me a chance to work on the things I want as opposed to someone barking orders at you.

This afternoons training -
2 km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds teep kick block
2 rounds uppercut block
4 rounds grapple/clinch sparring

The gyms over run with Kiwis (NZ) at the moment, but they seem like nice people. Definately have to get out on the piss with them while they're here though.

Internet Warriors

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
2 rounds fast punching
1 round heavy bag
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
2 rounds teep kick block
4 rounds technique work
50 knees heavy bag
2 sets pull ups (max)
2 sets push ups (max)
2 sets sit ups (max)

Imran lost last night by KO in the 3rd round. Photos up soon

This afternoons training -
2km jog
3 rounds shadow boxing
5 rounds muay thai sparring
3 rounds heavy bag
2 sets shoulder press (max)
2 sets bicep curl (max)

Today on a forum I encountered a keyboard warrior of the highest order. He/she took great offence that I said martial arts gyms back home are overpriced (imo $200 a month is overpriced), and started ranting about all kinds of irrelevant shit, to try and discredit me. Apparently 13 years of martial arts experience is not enough to open a muay thai gym, which is a goal of mine later down the track, nor is training in Thailand from people who have 200/300 fights experience.

Dear reader, every now and then you will encounter some pissant who is either jealous or trying to make up for missing chromosomes, who will try and put you down without knowing absolutely anything about you. These are more common on martial arts forums, but they do exist elsewhere as well. Unfortunately, the easy access of the internet coupled with no parent supervision means anyone can post shit about anything and put other people down in an attempt to make themselves feel good. My point is, arseholes exist, just ignore them. Especially witt from Perth. Actions do speak louder than words, and my actions over the past 13 years mean far more to me than some pathetic child whinging on a forum does.

Teep Kick Fakes

This mornings training -
6 km jog
1 round shadow boxing
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds teep kick block
2 rounds tyre/footwork with weights
2 sets shoulder press (max)
2 sets sit ups (max)

The pad holder (Tee) taught me some different techniques for the teep kick including fakes. If I could have a session like that every time I'd be happy.

I haven't been doing a lot of ring work lately, no sparring or grappling, but I don't mind that so much for now. I've been pushing myself harder on the pads, learning to relax more and getting more into the thai way of fighting.

Imran Khan is fighting tonight at Lumpinee so as usual I'll get some photos and post them up tomorrow.

Germans and Smoke Inhalation

This mornings training -
6km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
1 round uppercut block
3 rounds thai pads
2 rounds heavy bag
1 set ab wheel (max)
1 set push ups (max)
1 set pull ups (max)
1 set sit ups (max)

Pad work was good, jog wasn't bad, bag work kind of sucked. One of the guys said I'd lost so much weight over the last 9 days of not training that I look like a marathon runner. God I hope I can fight soon, I'm getting bored of kicking things that don't kick back.

This afternoons training -
2km jog
3 rounds shadow boxing
3 rounds heavy bag
3 rounds thai pads
3 rounds heavy bag
3 rounds muay thai sparring
1 set ab wheel
1 set pull ups
1 set push ups
1 set sit ups

Great fun today, while I was walking to the gym I passed someone who had what looked like an exhaust attached to a chainsaw motor. It didn't take me long to find out what this was as two masked people walked up and down the soi with them, pumping toxic white smoke into the drains. Judging by the amount of cockroaches that came scuttling out afterwards I'm assuming they were to kill the insects or rats, or whatever lives and breeds down there. Of course because the camp is quite open it all came billowing in. If I'm still around on Monday I guess it wasn't so dangerous. Jesus I inhaled a lot though.

Also today, 3 rounds of muay thai sparring with some cockhead. The trainer said 'no power, no power' so as usual I thought, great, no power. I later found out the guy I was sparring was a) German, and b) only here for 2 weeks. I like Germans, but they don't seem to like me and always try and prove they should have won the war by knocking me out.

Anyhow, After 1 round I had enough of being teep kicked hard in the stomach. During round 2 I figured out how to make him teep kick high. During round 3 I caught his kick and aimed a hard kick squarely at his supporting leg. Success! He fell down, swore, got up, hopped around, swore, punched things (static things, not me), swore, and hugged one of the poles so he didn't fall down again. Although I hate hurting people during sparring, there's a limit to the amount of shit I'll take and I'm pleased with how it went because it meant I was able to make him do what I wanted (fake a short jab so he kicked high), and also that I'm using my head while I'm fighting.

Later on, my trainer called me over and I thought he was going to make me do 100 knees or something, but he pointed at my ankle and asked "you block?" I said "I catch, kick, like you teach me" and he let out a hearty laugh. He thought it was great.

Tomorrow's my day off, I'm looking forward to a sleep in. See you Monday if I haven't died from that smoke..

Oh Hi

This afternoons training -

2 km jog

1 round shadow boxing

2 rounds fast punching

3 rounds thai pads

1 round uppercut block

1 round teep kick block

1 round heavy bag

50 x knees heavy bag

1 set situps (about 200)

2 sets pull ups

1 set push ups

6 rounds technique work

Good to be back. I haven't been training for a week and a half because I got an infection in my arm (photo below). It caused my arm to double in size and made me swear a lot. I started on antibiotics before it started swelling because I knew was I was in for, but it didn't prevent it. In hindsight I should have gone to hospital and gone on IV antibiotics. There's always next time (but hopefully not).

So many new faces at the gym, I don't know anyone there...well almost no-one.

Good luck to Phet and Sammuk who are fighting in Germany tonight!

This mornings training -
4km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
5 rounds muay thai sparring
3 rounds heavy bag
2 sets pull ups
2 sets push ups
1 set sit ups

Muay thai sparring is improving, but my checks need to be a lot quicker. I didn't get tagged in the head for a change, probably due to the hard boxing sparring lately making me paranoid about dropping my hands. Felt so funny to do muay thai sparring after all this time boxing though.

This afternoons training -
2 km jog
1 round shadow boxing
1 round fast punching
4 rounds heavy bag
4 rounds uppercut block
1 round tyre/footwork with weights
2 sets pull ups
2 sets push ups
1 set sit ups