Please describe a MT class

[Monkey Paw]

Can you please describe to me what an "average" Muay Thai class is like for you? I'm guessing that you start by doing some kind of warm up but what do you guys do then?

Ex:
Warm up
4 (3 min) rounds of pad work
4 (3 min) rounds of Heavy Bag work
4 (3 min) rounds of sparring
Cool down

Or is it something totally different? Thanks.

[Tom Yum]

Warm-up + shadow boxing ~ 10 minutes.
Pad work/drills/conditioning ~ 20 minutes.
Sparring ~ 20 minutes
(3-4 rounds per person)

Cool down/discussion ~10 minutes.

[Khun Kao]

It varies from gym to gym, and even day to day.... If you check out my website... http://khunkao.com/Workouts.html ....you will find each of this years workouts outlined.

As you can see, the standard workout for my guys is basically:

10 min's warmups
5 min's stretching (not listed)
3 rds shadowboxing
6+ rds of pad, partner, and sparring drills

[Monkey Paw]

Thanks for your responses!

Khun Kao, your website is really cool!

When you guys do pad work who is usually holding the pads? Is it your instructor or fellow students? At our gym its usually fellow students. I'm wondering whats the case 'normally'?

[Khun Kao]

Thanks for your responses!

Khun Kao, your website is really cool!

Thanks! I appreciate that!

When you guys do pad work who is usually holding the pads? Is it your instructor or fellow students? At our gym its usually fellow students. I'm wondering whats the case 'normally'?

To begin with, its usually your fellow students. Beginner & Intermediate level students hold the pads for one another. But as you begin to reach the Advanced levels of training (i.e. - fighting) then you get a lot more one-on-one time with your coaches who will hold the mitts & pads for you.

[Monkey Paw]

Khun Kao,

How long do you usually recommend a student - who has no prior MT experience - to wait until they are relatively ready to start to compete/fight? How long does your average student take to get to the "advanced levels of training" and begin to fight matches?

Could you describe how or if sparring is different from the beginner to the intermediate to the advanced levels in your class?

Do advanced guys go 100% in sparring in class regularly? How about when you’re a beginner like me? When I wrestled we varied to what degree we went "live" but we usually went 100% live a few times a week. I can't imagine doing that with MT, especially if getting a cut in training could keep me from competing but I want to know what the norm is.

I also want to say I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

[Khun Kao]

Khun Kao,

How long do you usually recommend a student - who has no prior MT experience - to wait until they are relatively ready to start to compete/fight? How long does your average student take to get to the "advanced levels of training" and begin to fight matches?

I hope I don't sound evasive with this answer, but it really does depend. I became a fighter after only 6 months of training (I had prior Karate & Ninjutsu experience, no Boxing yet). I would say the average is between 1 - 2 years to reach the advanced levels and start thinking about joining your gyms fight team.

There are a lot of factors that must be taken into consideration. In my own experience, I started training in MuayThai being in "decent" shape and used to hard martial arts workouts. Mind you, "decent shape" and "hard martial arts workouts" proved to be laughable in the MuayThai gym, but my point is I came in with the right mindset to begin my training.

The other key factor was that MuayThai was like CRACK to me! (LOL) I would arrange to train with my coach every single free day, as opposed to the mere twice a week I had originally signed on for.... So I was learning at a much faster rate than many of the others in the gym. If you put that kind of time into your training, then sure, you could possibly earn a spot on the fight team in under a year like I did. But if you are only able to attend following the 2 - 3 x's a week schedule, it could take a year or two before you're ready to be considered for that kind of training.

Could you describe how or if sparring is different from the beginner to the intermediate to the advanced levels in your class?

Just the level of skill being used. Everyone is given the opportunity to spar.

Do advanced guys go 100% in sparring in class regularly? How about when you’re a beginner like me? When I wrestled we varied to what degree we went "live" but we usually went 100% live a few times a week. I can't imagine doing that with MT, especially if getting a cut in training could keep me from competing but I want to know what the norm is.

In a traditional MuayThai gym, there is next to no sparring at 100%. As you have surmised, thats asking for trouble. Hard sparring is an important part of the training process though, so typically hard sparring is "Boxing" only. As different weapons come in to play, the intensity is dialed back. I have 4 chief sparring drills...

1. Boxing only -hard contact
2. Kicking only -medium hard contact
3. Clinch & Knees -light contact
4. "Touch" sparring -very light contact

We never, never, never spar with elbows! That's asking for a trip to the emergency room. I've seen enough accidents just in elbow drills where someone lost their concentration.....

I also want to say I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

No problem, glad I could help

[Cannon_6]

Nice work, Khun Kao.

I'm curious... what's the "Buakaw combo" (Friday, April 6)? I know who he is, but what's this specific combo?

[Khun Kao]

Its my own take on a combo that I see Buakaw use frequently, where he steps in with a left hook to the liver, then follows it up with another punch, kick and/or knee....

What I specifically refer to as the Buakaw Combo is: Left Hook - Right Cross - Right Round Kick

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

describe a muaythai class? ok.

WHAK!!! owwwww!!! THUD!!! ooooooof!!!!! BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM!!!!! urrrrrrrrrkhhh!!! THWACK THWACK!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! CRUNCHwhooshCRUNCHwhooshCRUNCHwhooshCRUNCHwhoosh!!!! CRACKahhhhhgh!!!! BOOM!!!!!! mommy!!!!!! BOOM!!!! ohgodhelpme!!!!
BOOM!!! mercy!!!!! KAPOWWWWW!!!!

"we are gathered to lay this body to rest................"

hahahahahahahahaha!!!

thanks.

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

actually, it can vary widely, depending on the instuctor, number of students, skill level involved, fight coming up, fight just happened, and specific lesson plan.

in very broad terms, there is a warmup of some sort (this can be quite intense in and of itself). often shadow boxing or shadow muaythai for a couple of rounds, then the lesson plan.

different techniques or ideas will be trained in different ways. if it is a class for beginners, it is likely to be more technical (more explaination, more drilling) emphasising proper technique over intensity. for fighter, techniques and drills , usually more tailored to each individual and INTENSITY INTENSITY INTENSITY.

western based schools usually take the academic method (actual classes with a schedule). eastern based schools usually take the tutorial method (gym always open, one one one with the coach is stressed).

again, this is a broad generalization. each instructor, throughout a year will give many kinds of classes and therefore it changes quite a bit.

hope this helps.

thanks.

[WildWest.]

When you guys described your classes you forgot to mention stand up grappling. We do it "live" for several rounds usually just wearing your wraps and/or bag gloves. We throw knees and try to evade them and it's very hard work.

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

agreed. wearing wraps or gloves for several rounds IS hard work!!

hahahahahahaha!!!

all joking aside, pluhm (plumm, plaam) is intense work. takes a lot of work to get good at it. the rewards (performance wise) are well worth it.

thanks.

[WildWest.]

hello,

agreed. wearing wraps or gloves for several rounds IS hard work!!

hahahahahahaha!!!

all joking aside, pluhm (plumm, plaam) is intense work. takes a lot of work to get good at it. the rewards (performance wise) are well worth it.

thanks.

What are you some sort of smart arse or something??

[lorenzodamarith]

hello,

of course. definitely. absolutely. you bet. correct.

that said, do you understand all elements of that post?

hahahahahahaha!!!

thanks.