BrownBear

I had a disk taken out of my back when I was fifteen. I was in good shape (5'10, 210lbs), played sports and rode dirtbikes. Doctors told me to stop doing all of that and begin a stretching regimine (I should have listened).

Over the years I've gotten progressively less active and experienced much more pain from the injury. At 29 I was 5'10, 270 and could bearly walk on many days. I decided, "forget the Doctors, I'm going to train Martial Arts". Hey, how can I get worse. I've trained for about 9 months and lost around that many pounds! My flexibility has more than doubled (I can actually touch my toes from the standing position).

Then I recently started reading this forum on Thaiboxing. I was especially intrigued with the posts on going to Thailand and training/fighting. I also noticed that all of the kickboxers I see are in very good shape. My school aslo has Thaiboxing classes. So I figured, "How hard can it be". It looks like lots of fun. I NEARLY DIED YESTERDAY!! My instructor was a small, very fit young lady that I am convinced could whip me on any given day. However she was patient and encouraging even when I couldn't finish some of the exercises. I had a blast! This is really going to help my cardio if it doesn't kill me first.

I just want to thank you all for the encouragement. And I want to encourage all who think they can't do it. YOU CAN!! Take it slow and enjoy having a useful body once again.

Respectfully,
BrownBear

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Student at The Brown Institute of Martial Arts. Blue Belt in Integrated Combative System.

Thai Bri

You go for it bear. Your attitude is what martial arts should be all about.

Keep an eye on the back though. Train safe.

Tom Yum

Congrats Brown Bear. Your first experience in muay thai kickboxing was probably the same as ours.

Before I started training, my fitness regiment was lifting weight 3 days a week and maybe swimming once or club dancing once per week.

I also couldnot finish the first class; about 40 minutes into it I got extremely light headed and couldn't catch my breath. Nor could I stand without the assistance of a wall. I was literally laying in a pool of my own sweat.

Continue the hard work and good luck; let us know how you're doing.

BrownBear

Tom Yum -

That is very funny considering that was exactly my experience less then 24 hours ago. When I got home my 3 yr old haded me a glass of lemonade that I had to take with both hands 'cause my arms were shaking so bad.

Thai Bri -

I will definitely be careful with the 'ole back. I have very little feeling in my left foot and I don't plan on loosing more do to stupidity or over exhuberance.

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Student at The Brown Institute of Martial Arts. Blue Belt in Integrated Combative System.

kh_s

If I did the beginner Muay Thai training I would probably have one of those puking buckets near me.... considering me

retired

Good on you brown bear, your proof just like the rest of us that just because the medical fraternity sign us off from martial arts we can take some of it with a pinch of salt & prove them all wrong.
All the best in the training & remember we all felt like throwing up when we first started in a hard class but with time we adapt.

Take it easy & enjoy life to the full.

M@T

I remember my first kickboxing class, it was so hard that when I finished and my instructor asked me to fill out all the membership forms he had to fill it in for me coz I was shaking so much I couldnt write.

Its made me very fit though. I used to think I was fit before I started martial arts but now I know i'm fit though not as fit as some of the others. Some people are just like machines.

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He who sweats more in training bleeds less in battle !!!