The Academy

Workout of The Day

3 rounds of:

10 full mat length suicides

50 GHD sit ups

50 Back extensions

Quote Of The Day

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

Eleanor Roosevelt.  

Workout of the Day

24-12-6 of:

Sledge Hammers (1/2 with a right grip, 1/2 with a left grip)

Tire Jumps Holding Sledge (1/2 with a right grip, 1/2 with a left grip)

Turkish Get Ups w/Sledge Hammer (1/2 right hand, 1/2 left hand)

Being A Good Partner in Thai Boxing Pt 2

Today we talk about the Jerk!

There are two types of jerks. One is the conscious jerk. Easy to explain. They're jerks. They try to go too hard or fast for their partner on purpose. Either to make them feel better about themselves, or just to be mean. Those guys I don't really need to discuss. That's because they get run out of the Academy very fast. We do not tolerate intentional jerks!

Most "Jerks" are actually good people, they are just having a lapse in perspective. They momentarily forget that at that moment their partner is the focus! For example, if we are working head movement as a defense to a punch, the person doing the head movement is the focus, not the person punching. The puncher starts punching allowing their partner to work the defense. Then, they kind of forget themselves. They start thinking "missing this many punches is bad". Then they start finding ways to land more. Faking punches, punching where they know their partner is moving to not where they are now. They start finding ways to shut down their partners ability to do the drill! Most of the time, when you call them on it, they feel horrible. They aren't really jerks, they just got a little confused in their perspective.

The tough part about being a good partner in Muay Thai is applying the appropriate amount of resistance or pressure. A reference that I like to use is they should succeed a little more than they fail! If they are never ever failing, they are not being pressured and therefore not getting any better. If they're failing a lot, then they aren't developing any new skill. They are just getting beat up! The trick is to apply enough pressure to make it difficult, but allowing for success. As they get better, you apply more pressure. Soon they are doing it correctly with full pressure!

It's just like lifting weights. Too light, no improvement. Too heavy, no improvement. Only here, you are your partners "weight". The goal is to be a good partner to others, and you'll have a room full of people motivated to be good partners for you!

Workout of The Day

4x4

1 Hand Kettlebell Squat Snatch

Being A Good Partner in Thai Boxing

Last night in Muay Thai class, we were doing a touch drill.In case you're not familiar, that is a drill with a pre-arranged set of attacks and defenses that works as a kind of bridge between the totally choreographed techniques practice and the uncertainty of sparring. Watching everyone training, I realized how hard it is to be a good partner! Most people (whether they mean to or not) fall into one of two categories; 1- the too helpful, or 2- the jerk.

The too helpful people will make their partner feel like they're doing the drill right, even if they aren't. The way I say it in class is "The Speed bump". It's when they're punching straight at their partners head and suddenly, as if there was a force field involved, their punch goes up and over. 

The good news is they aren't jerks. They care about their partners feelings and are looking out for them. The bad news is they're doing more harm in the long run. Their partners will develop a sense of success well above what they can actually accomplish. This will only set them up for confusion when one day they run into someone who will tell them the truth (and punch them right in the face!). 

It is more kind to help them achieve their goal of getting better at Muay Thai in reality. Taking it slow and telling them the truth (aactually aiming at them), will develop their skills and save them a lot of pain and suffering if they ever really need to use them!

Tomorrow we'll talk about the Jerk!

Workout of The Day

Row 6k

My first Muay Thai Book

As a kid, I read every single book about every martial art I could find. This was my first introduction to Muay Thai. Soon after reading this book I found my first Muay Thai instructor Debs Laird. This book was my inspiration for years.

It is an excellent recourse for the original Muay Thai style. Modern Muay Thai, has a bit more emphasis on Western Boxing. But this book very clearly describes the Basic Techniques in detail. Almost every technique is displayed, and then shown in application in the ring. This is a must have for every serious practicioner.

Truly awesome book.

Jay Jack

Workout of The Day

Run 1 mile (or row 2,000m if badweather)

20, 14, 10 of:

Clean and jerk (half on left/half on right)

Pull Ups

GHD Sit Ups

Box Jumps

Quote of The Day!

I have not failed 700 times, I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated all the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work
~ Thomas Edison