(Entry # 6) They broke my spirit, but only for a minute

You get used to the routine of things in Tiger Muay Thai. You know what to expect and when to expect it, because, if anything, they are consistent … generally.

Today our coach threw us a wrench.

A typical class is the following:

20 minutes of operation

10 minute stretch / shadow spar

15-minute technique (exercise combos with a partner shown by the coach

Put on the lap of the hand Glub (gloves and bandages)

Three 3-minute rounds on Thai tacos with slippers

Three 3-minute rounds in heavy bags

3 rounds of 5 minute combat, changing partners each round

15 minute conditioning

300 push-ups / 300 sit-ups

10 minute stretch

Classes last approximately 2 hours.

Generally, you can set your clock according to this schedule.

Today, we pretty much did everything the same, except they mixed it up. The rounds of pad thai were at the end. I had nothing left in the tank when they got here. I spent most of the time vomiting.

The combat was not much better. I had an amazing first round with Mustafa. It’s a great match for me. He is much bigger than me, and his Muay Thai is perfect. However, he has great control and a great attitude.

Second round, I went with Ash. His Muay Thai is probably the best in the class. He is a little smaller than me, but he stands firm. He’s another great kid, with a great attitude. It is a lot of fun training with him.

In the third round, I went with the guy who was hands down the least skilled fighter in the class, and he’s pretty small. I just had absolutely nothing left when I got to it. It was a particularly hot day, and I really struggled just to get through the round. Obviously he has experience in Tae Kwon Do because he had a lot of kicks coming from all over the place and zero boxing skills. However, it got to the point where it was more exhausting to block his kicks than just letting him land them. I was taking them as a karate stylist so I resigned myself to letting him kick me instead of mounting any kind of offense or defense. Every once in a while, he would return something to him, just to keep it honest, but it acted like a punching bag to him. It was easily the worst round of combat I’ve had since I got here.

After the rounds of pad thai were over, I was able to get some air and condition with the group, but felt guilty about not doing my rounds of pad.

In the past, I would be punishing myself right now for that. I’m obsessive, compulsive, so things like this eat me up. I’ve been coming here long enough to know that a bad training day is often followed by an incredible one. If anything, I’m excited for tomorrow, because I know it’s going to be great!

I’m moving a little better today than yesterday. Not so sore, but then again, I didn’t do that much this morning. I was going to go to the beach this afternoon, but it seems like it rains all day … no good! I could go anyway, just to get out of my hotel room for a change.