RayD550

I have just started to train mainly to lose weight. I am pushing 40 and really needed to get a hold on my health. Well MT has helped me more then words can say since I started Feb, 24th 2005 I have lost about 18 pounds and still going.

Well the funny part to all this is during class there has been this one guy who I always get teamed up with to train and go over blocking and light sparing. He is always causing problems for me like going a little to hard or not sticking to what we are doing. It was causing me a lot of stress because I was thinking that it was I and I should be doing a lot better then what I was. I always had this feeling that if I stepped up the pace and really pushed I could just lay this guy out.

Well last night we had sparing and you guessed it we got matched up with each other. I made my mind up I was just going out punch and out move this guy. Yea he more experience then me with kicks and knees but I knew I could out box him.....

Well we got started and I played the weight and see role. He had a few nice shots. At one point I just saw my opening and went for it. I got him with two quick jabs and then faked a kick that left him open for a cross. When I made contact with the side of his face every shit head I ever had to deal with felt it. Then from where maybe my little bit of training I knew that I should throw a uppercut the it was just lights out for him. Well not really lights out because I was not hitting that hard but he got the point. The teacher then stopped us, and gave us a lesson on how to look for an opening and if you need to weight one will come but always be ready to explode when it does come.

Well after class the shit head came up and said great shot. He also thanked me because he always falls for the fake kick and drops his hands.

I don't know I just think that is funny to me.

Rahde

drop his hands to block a kick? aren't they taught to lift up their leg to block with the shins?

THT

It would depend where the kick was going. To the body I would Drop that one side down (keep the other hand blocking face) and block or try to grab the leg. Or move or even just sort of take it. In M.T. you get used to taking a lot of hits to the body and develop quite a strong core. I would think that doing a shin check anywhere above your waist would possibly put you too far off balance. Just my two cents. I'm sure there are always many options.

Tom Yum

Congratulations on loosing weight.

Some guys just try to train hard and forget that they are working with someone else. People should consider the other guy they're working with. Its an unspoken rule - with two guys who are about the same level, you have to go with the flow. If he tries to take your head off, you can let him know how hard he's hitting.

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Khun Kao

drop his hands to block a kick? aren't they taught to lift up their leg to block with the shins?

I'm a MT coach (not this guys, though). We do teach our students to block kicks to the legs and body with their knee. But I cannot tell you the number of people who will still 'flinch' and drop their hands to try and defend the kick. Heck, I see some of the more experienced students still do this as well. Its kind of a natural reaction to many people that needs to be trained out of 'em. And it ain't easy.

GOOD JOB!

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Kru Brooks C. Miller
GCA MuayThai Board of Advisors
USMTA Director of DC, MD, and VA
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