Visited A Muay Thai Gym ! Options

[Ben Higgins]

For the first time ever, last night I walked into a Muay Thai gym and started training and it was awesome ! I had to travel about an hour and a half to get there but it was worth it because it's not a commercial, pay a contract type place.. it's old school, rough and ready.. just like it should be !



The instructor is Thai himself and he's brilliant. Had me working straight away as soon as he spotted me !

Any of you guys experienced Thai Boxing before ?

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Aug 2 2012, 09:12 AM

[bleez]

Ive done a little bit thai boxing and some regular western boxing. The thai stuff is great fun though. I really liked it.
it was so demanding, I remember my first night about 20 mins in I was thinking that Id never make it out of the warm up!

did you go on your own Ben? None of my mates were into this kind of thing so I was always on my own going to these places ( billy no-mates! )I used to get quite anxious walking in, that was the only part I really hated.

good to see you rounding out your martial arts dude

[carminemarotta]

I have expercience with Thai food, Ben: you may like it

[Ben Higgins]

Ive done a little bit thai boxing and some regular western boxing. The thai stuff is great fun though. I really liked it.
it was so demanding, I remember my first night about 20 mins in I was thinking that Id never make it out of the warm up!

did you go on your own Ben? None of my mates were into this kind of thing so I was always on my own going to these places ( billy no-mates! )I used to get quite anxious walking in, that was the only part I really hated.

Yeah, I'd never even been into an actual gym, let alone a Thai boxing club/gym. I was nervous as hell about 2 days leading up to it but as soon as the main man, Sert, spoke to me I was fine. Really great vibe in there.

He got me on a tread mill which you had to operate with your feet, no electric.. that was weird and I felt really awkward doing it
Then it was rowing machine and then doing sit ups on an incline bench with your legs in the air. Man, that was burning !! All before I even put on a pair of gloves. Love it, can't wait to go back. If it wasn't for the distance and petrol costs, I'd probably be in there every night

good to see you rounding out your martial arts dude

Well, that's another story which I hadn't said yet but I decided to move on from karate. Probably too hard to explain here.. the people were great and there was no problem but there are some things about it (and some other traditional martial arts in general) that I don't really agree with and I kind of had to swallow a part of myself in order to be able to do it. I don't regret doing it and will always have a soft spot for karate as it got my foot in the door and showed me that anything's possible.. but a problem I have with a lot of the Eastern arts is the air of hierarchy and the fact you feel like a subordinate which I don't think is a healthy mind set for any person. Imagine that you were ever faced with an unfortunate situation of possible physical harm.. the last thing you want is to have a subconscious willingness to 'obey', especially when somebody is shouting commands at you. 'Give me your wallet !' People don't really think about stuff like that, but any martial art should really be instilling an attitude of f*** you, I won't do what you tell me, instead of yes sir, no sir, and bowing to somebody who's just tried to kick your head off.

The etiquette thing is just a carry over from the Eastern ways but I think it's wholly unnecessary and actually detrimental to people's self respect. Anyway, that's enough of that.. so yeah, that's my story !

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Aug 2 2012, 02:43 PM

[Gitarrero]

Hey Ben,

I didn't see you in the video??!? Did they cut your scenes out?

Never tried any martial arts myself...and now I'm to old and lazy

[bleez]

Well, that's another story which I hadn't said yet but I decided to move on from karate. Probably too hard to explain here.. the people were great and there was no problem but there are some things about it (and some other traditional martial arts in general) that I don't really agree with and I kind of had to swallow a part of myself in order to be able to do it. I don't regret doing it and will always have a soft spot for karate as it got my foot in the door and showed me that anything's possible.. but a problem I have with a lot of the Eastern arts is the air of hierarchy and the fact you feel like a subordinate which I don't think is a healthy mind set for any person. Imagine that you were ever faced with an unfortunate situation of possible physical harm.. the last thing you want is to have a subconscious willingness to 'obey', especially when somebody is shouting commands at you. 'Give me your wallet !' People don't really think about stuff like that, but any martial art should really be instilling an attitude of f*** you, I won't do what you tell me, instead of yes sir, no sir, and bowing to somebody who's just tried to kick your head off.

The etiquette thing is just a carry over from the Eastern ways but I think it's wholly unnecessary and actually detrimental to people's self respect. Anyway, that's enough of that.. so yeah, that's my story !

interesting mate. Ive dabbled in various traditional MA's myself and ive had a few issues with some of them I think its good to breed respect around the place but I wouldnt like that to turn into a feeling of being a subordinate. that would make me move on as well.

pity that thai gym is such a distance, it sounds really good. if you have the chance to do some submission wrestling ( if youve not tried it ) its well worth it. its like a crazy game of chess...... kinda.

[Ben Higgins]

if you have the chance to do some submission wrestling ( if youve not tried it ) its well worth it. its like a crazy game of chess...... kinda.

Yeah I'd give that a shot too if I could but there's nowhere around that does it... oh well, I'm sure there'll be the chance to try it in the future sometime, somewhere

[Cosmin Lupu]

Man....Yesterday, I got poked in the ribs with the sword by a fat girl...

It felt pretty awkward at first, but since she was older than me at practicing, I swallowed my pride and went along with the thing - it proved a good idea

This post has been edited by Cosmin Lupu: Aug 2 2012, 07:31 PM

[Ulrik]

It's great to get a good work out like that.

I did Kung Fu for a short time as a kid.
Then when I was 22 I started to practice Capoeira, I really liked this, but got injured a lot, and never got real tight with the inner circle of the club.

I also tried Weng Chun once, just an hour. When I rode my bike home afterwards my hamstrings totally cramped up and my knee was stuck in a 90 degree angle for 1-2 minutes before it started to losen up.


Christian you should go for a practice lesson somewhere!

[Ben Higgins]

Man....Yesterday, I got poked in the ribs with the sword by a fat girl...

The things we do for fun, eh ??

At least it wasn't you poking a fat girl...

It's great to get a good work out like that.

I did Kung Fu for a short time as a kid.
Then when I was 22 I started to practice Capoeira, I really liked this, but got injured a lot, and never got real tight with the inner circle of the club.

I also tried Weng Chun once, just an hour. When I rode my bike home afterwards my hamstrings totally cramped up and my knee was stuck in a 90 degree angle for 1-2 minutes before it started to losen up.

I've often thought about Wing Chun but not sure I agree with the chain punching principle that they do.

Which one did you enjoy the most ? Capoeira ? Looks really difficult !

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Aug 2 2012, 08:00 PM

[Dieterle]

High Ben, ( hope you understand my english !?)

its sad to hear about your bad experience with your old dojo and zenzai.

I know how difficult it is to find a good and honest teacher and there are not many ,

but when you are serious with yourself to go the way of the Warrior ( i dont mean it the bad way)

the day will come and you meet your real Zenzai one you can look in the eyes without feeling like a subordinate

but with respect .


In between time (Zwischenzeit) all the others are still Zenzais for you because the all showed you something you recognized on your OWN WAY!

And now why not kick and box the thai

and dont forget to get into the art of breathing .

Dieter

[Ben Higgins]

High Ben, ( hope you understand my english !?)

its sad to hear about your bad experience with your old dojo and zenzai.

I know how difficult it is to find a good and honest teacher and there are not many ,

but when you are serious with yourself to go the way of the Warrior ( i dont mean it the bad way)

the day will come and you meet your real Zenzai one you can look in the eyes without feeling like a subordinate

but with respect .


In between time (Zwischenzeit) all the others are still Zenzais for you because the all showed you something you recognized on your OWN WAY!

And now why not kick and box the thai

and dont forget to get into the art of breathing .

Dieter

Hey Dieter, your English is always cool

Thankfully, it wasn't a bad experience with the dojo or anybody at the dojo.. it's just my personal feelings and I had to listen to them.

Yes, don't forget to breathe !!

[Dieterle]

Man....Yesterday, I got poked in the ribs with the sword by a fat girl...

It felt pretty awkward at first, but since she was older than me at practicing, I swallowed my pride and went along with the thing - it proved a good idea

High Cosmin,

your Zenzai is quiet wise that he gave you a fat partner ,

right now your sword is out of control

and when in a accident you hit the partner

she is quiet good padet

and wont cry then

Dieter

This post has been edited by Dieterle: Aug 2 2012, 08:16 PM

[Ben Higgins]

High Cosmin,

your Zenzai is quiet wise that he gave you a fat partner ,

right now your sword is out of control

and when in a accident you hit the partner

she is quiet good padet

and wont cry then

Dieter

[Ulrik]

Which one did you enjoy the most ? Capoeira ? Looks really difficult !

Yes capoeira was really fun, in 2004 I even started to practice this in an extreme fashion on the freeway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH8kz6BLUYQ
The video was really rushed, so it was just for fun, and not really any good technique

[Cosmin Lupu]

The etiquette thing is just a carry over from the Eastern ways but I think it's wholly unnecessary and actually detrimental to people's self respect. Anyway, that's enough of that.. so yeah, that's my story !
[/quote]

I think the thing here is that back in those days, honor was a different thing - you had respect for your opponent, on the battlefield, on the street, in the dojo. These things were developed back then, so they stayed like this, even though our society un-evolved to the state where things are exactly as you say - give me your wallet

Respect must be shown towards an opponent who respects you in turn.

[Todd Simpson]

Fun! Ben have you competed in the various circuits and such? The guitar player for Five Finger Death Punch is always necking his medals for his Judo wins. Fighting and Metal! Goes well

For the first time ever, last night I walked into a Muay Thai gym and started training and it was awesome ! I had to travel about an hour and a half to get there but it was worth it because it's not a commercial, pay a contract type place.. it's old school, rough and ready.. just like it should be !



The instructor is Thai himself and he's brilliant. Had me working straight away as soon as he spotted me !

Any of you guys experienced Thai Boxing before ?

[Cosmin Lupu]

So, if I would become a good fencer, it would not be something weird, eh?

[Ben Higgins]

I think the thing here is that back in those days, honor was a different thing - you had respect for your opponent, on the battlefield, on the street, in the dojo. These things were developed back then, so they stayed like this, even though our society un-evolved to the state where things are exactly as you say - give me your wallet

Respect must be shown towards an opponent who respects you in turn.

Yes, I think it's only applicable in a mutual duel type situation. Where 2 opponents are willingly engaging in a combat exchange, with certain rules and expectations.

A lot of the 'discipline' side of things though, came from the fact that the Japanese adopted karate to drill young Japanese men in schools into obedience so they would be prepared to give their life for the Emperor and kill any foreigner without question. Any self defence applications were completely secondary to the purpose of instilling unfaltering obedience. So a lot of karate was changed to be used for this military discipline regime and it was that version that was brought to the Western world. Since then, a lot of people have attempted to go back further and uncover the 'true' karate before it was changed by the Japanese but essentially they will never remove the unnecessary and outdated training methods and etiquette that are in every style.

Fun! Ben have you competed in the various circuits and such? The guitar player for Five Finger Death Punch is always necking his medals for his Judo wins. Fighting and Metal! Goes well

I've never competed, no. Judo looks very cool though and is held in very high regard in the MA world. I guess it's because it is extremely effective, tough and nothing is taught that doesn't work.

[Cosmin Lupu]

So far, none of the annoying obedience stuff has happened to me and I hope I won't experience such stuff... I understand what you are saying, but maybe you just had a bad experience which had to do with the Sensei as a person and his own interpretation of some etiquette things, rather than the real deal? I say, don't give up on trying to find a good dojo to train Ben!