I have been here a week and a half now and well into the routine at TMT. For anyone thinking about coming here to check out the classes or training then here is a little run down on the layout for the beginner Muay Thai class. Please don’t let this put you off at all as it isn’t as bad as it all sounds… but it is tough!
About 10 mins before the start of the class they start with a system of stretching and flexing on the floor to get the muscles warmed up and ready to work. This is definitely advised as trying some of the kicks when cold is usually the easiest way to get injured. After everyone is nice and stretched out its time to start running around. When I came to my first session I expected this running around to last around 2 mins before moving onto something else… How wrong I was. The running around the room lasts for about 15 – 20 mins depending who is leading the class at the time. During the last 5 mins things start getting mixed up a bit with some heel flicks, high knees and jumping sideways all while starting to practice different punches in order to get the arms nice and warm.
After the run it is time for everyone to get their hands wrapped and gloves on. If you have issues doing your wraps properly then all the instructors help with it which does save quite a bit of time and makes them solid. Once everyone is ready we then all line up and follow one of the instructors through various different moves and punches. It is all quite basic but that is part of the reason that we are there, to get the basics down and down well. The more you practice the better you will get so they do drill it into you. While all this is going on multiple instructors are coming through the class and helping people improve their technique to try and keep everyone moving forwards and getting the moves right. All that goes on for the best part of an hour before we move on to some technique.
Depending on the day of the week we swap between sparring which involves kicking training or defensive clinching and knees.
Sparring Days – On these days the instructors will show us a few different techniques usually involving performing a few different types of kicks or how to defend and counter a specific kick if you can catch the other persons leg. Once they go through this with us then we end up partnering off and drilling through some of the stuff that they have shown us.
Clinching Days – One these days we learn a bit more about what to do if things get really close and personal. In Muay Thai peoples legs are really dangerous and it isn’t good to have someone throwing kicks at you all day to try and defend. The best way to minimise this risk is to get in close and take away the leg option, hence the clinch. While in the clinch it is possible to get some knees into the ribs and side areas as long as you have the other person in the right position. The instructors go through a few different ways to try and manoeuvre your opponent to get them where you want them to strike properly and get in some well timed strikes. After this we partner up again and go through the drills for a while with our partners.
Once the technique work is out of the way it is time to move onto some more intensive work. At this point the class gets split up and people work through 3 different drills. Each of the drills goes for 3x 3min rounds and this is where the arms start to hurt. As soon as the bell goes for the end of the round everyone has to drop and do 10 press ups. That means 100 press ups in total (as we do some before we start) which is a real killer on the arms and chest.
In the ring – Some people will get into the ring and start to spar, either using the clinching technique or general sparring using some of the kicks we learnt that day. Most people take it nice and steady, however it can get a little annoying when you get someone who just takes it over the top. Thankfully those people are few and far between.
Pad work with a trainer – Due to the number of trainers in the class there are enough people to have maybe 10 – 12 people on the pads doing combinations together. Depending how sadistic your trainer is feeling at that time it can be quite a hard set of rounds to get everything done but they will push you to struggle through.
Bag work – This is either the easiest or hardest of them all depending how you feel and how much effort you put in. In general by the time you get to the bag you have already done the sparring and pad work and are good for nothing. A few power punches and that is all your energy gone and you are stuck tapping the bag.
By now everyone is pretty tired but luckily the