I know I've said it once before, but it needs to be stated again. Pimpan is amazing.
Although my Investments class has about 50 Thai students, Pimpan is the only Thai student in my HR class. She gives all of us advice on where to shop, where to eat, and.... where to get into Muay Thai.
A few weeks ago, we all headed to the other side of town to check out a Muay Thai fight (Thailand style martial arts..... Read more about it here, if interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai).
The weight classes of the fighters ranged from 86 pounds to 130 pounds. I'm talking US system of measurement, and I'm not kidding. Their "heavyweight" class was just a bit bigger than me!! Talk about a self confidence booster when you can almost qualify to fight the largest guys of the night....
The fights got more intense as the night went on and as the fights increased in weight class. Just because I could classify within some of their weight classes, I figured I should give it a go someday (don't know what my logic was behind that, actually). Or at least learn some of their moves. Doesn't every girl need to at least know how to manage personal finances, drive stick, shoot a gun, and be able to conduct self-defense Muay Thai style? (kidding, kidding....)
Well, when in Thailand, I figured we could work on at least one of the above.
Which is where Pimpan comes in....
Kristina and Pimpan organized a Muay Thai fight class for us! We took the BTS train to the general area of the Muay Thai gym, followed some very vague directions (the lack of iPhone GPS is really a game changer when trying to get anywhere over here), and we finally made it - just a few minutes late.
Once we walked up, I kept looking around for the door to the gym, until I realized I was standing in it... the Muay Thai gym was a boxing ring about 8 ft by 8 ft, 5 or so punching bags, and some mats on the ground. It was all outside... in almost 90 degree heat.
I've always known that I can work up a good sweat when working out at home. And that's when I'm inside the nice air-conditioned SRC gym... this 'sweatiness' at Muay Thai did not even hold a candle to me at the SRC...
Two full hours later, I was beat.
Although my Investments class has about 50 Thai students, Pimpan is the only Thai student in my HR class. She gives all of us advice on where to shop, where to eat, and.... where to get into Muay Thai.
A few weeks ago, we all headed to the other side of town to check out a Muay Thai fight (Thailand style martial arts..... Read more about it here, if interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai).
The weight classes of the fighters ranged from 86 pounds to 130 pounds. I'm talking US system of measurement, and I'm not kidding. Their "heavyweight" class was just a bit bigger than me!! Talk about a self confidence booster when you can almost qualify to fight the largest guys of the night....
The fights got more intense as the night went on and as the fights increased in weight class. Just because I could classify within some of their weight classes, I figured I should give it a go someday (don't know what my logic was behind that, actually). Or at least learn some of their moves. Doesn't every girl need to at least know how to manage personal finances, drive stick, shoot a gun, and be able to conduct self-defense Muay Thai style? (kidding, kidding....)
Well, when in Thailand, I figured we could work on at least one of the above.
Which is where Pimpan comes in....
Kristina and Pimpan organized a Muay Thai fight class for us! We took the BTS train to the general area of the Muay Thai gym, followed some very vague directions (the lack of iPhone GPS is really a game changer when trying to get anywhere over here), and we finally made it - just a few minutes late.
Once we walked up, I kept looking around for the door to the gym, until I realized I was standing in it... the Muay Thai gym was a boxing ring about 8 ft by 8 ft, 5 or so punching bags, and some mats on the ground. It was all outside... in almost 90 degree heat.
I've always known that I can work up a good sweat when working out at home. And that's when I'm inside the nice air-conditioned SRC gym... this 'sweatiness' at Muay Thai did not even hold a candle to me at the SRC...
Two full hours later, I was beat.
A few lessons learned from the Muay Thai class:
- Even the guys in the 86 pound weight class could have easily kicked my butt
- Billy Blanks Tae Bo videos - while helpful - did NOT fully prepare me for this. I wonder if you can still get a refund on those VHS tapes?
- A round-house kick to a really hard punching bag leaves a big 'ole bruise when you don't use proper round-house kick form
- When the instructor tells you to shout "huuuah yah!" as loud as you can every time you jab and kick because it makes you better.... he's probably doing it to make fun of you. Note to self - not everyone else is going to start screaming "huah yah." You'll likely be the only one shouting "huuuah yah!!" at the top of your lungs (so loudly you can't hear anyone else), and you'll look pretty dang ridiculous when no one else is shouting and you don't know it.... Not that I know first hand....
- The Muay Thai definition of 'warm up' is my definition of 'full workout'
- Respect is ingrained in nearly every part of the Thai culture. Whether you are fighting someone else, or just a punching bag, you fold your hands and bow (to the other person or punching bag) at the start and end of each fight / workout. It is out of respect - respect for the other person, respect for your body, and respect for the ability to fight
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| Hand-wraps before boxing gloves... the ring in the background |
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| Our group (though note the REAL Muay Thai fighter in the background) I'm sure he thought we were really tough... |
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| The outdoor gym... it. was. hot. |
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