Getting Hit in the Face and Going Home...

So at the end of our session yesterday Greg and I decided that we would try sparing.  We are both new to the sport and basically at the same level.  Sparing is soooo different from training its crazy.  We were light sparing which means that we were not going at it full contact (aka light punches and kicks), but it still is hard to get over.  Two things I noticed: First I am not very aggressive....or aggressive enough.  Greg went at me whole hog with arms flying everywhere and I really didn't have an answer.  I would just back up which eventually put me in the ropes.  I really have to work on my angles and push kicks to get out of trouble.  Because of this I was off balance and not really able to swing back like I would have like to.  After a while Greg was getting gassed however and I was able to get a few kicks and punches in. This brings up the second thing I noticed, having huge lungs is a real advantage. Through out the whole thing I was not even breathing heavy which is either a credit to Ming or I was not working hard enough (I might be leaning to the latter). On one kick hit Greg square in the hip and my whole foot went numb even with the leg guards on.  All in all I would say Greg kicked my ass and I will have to work on the whole sparing thing...Its very, very different.  


I am writing this while waiting for my cab.  The cab driver is name Mr. Porn....yup....Mr. Porn. I am leaving here with still a ton to learn and I feel like I have just started to get fit.  I missed a lot of training time on this trip with the fat elbow.  I am very impressed with the family atmosphere that they have created here.  Everybody here, guests and staff included all want to know when you are coming back and genuinely want to see you again. 


At the same time I am looking forward to getting back to my life.  I have two new hockey teams to play for when I get back and I am going to be continuing training at a gym called Dynamic in Vancouver as well.  


I will update you on the flight....


Jordan

The Trainers

This place does have amazing trainers.  They are fun to chat with even though we speak different languages.  They are alway happy, smiling and laughing.  And they are amazing at teaching you their trade.  Most of these guys have had a crazy life and have grown up fighting.  It is so different from mine yet everyone seems to get a long so well.  Some of the trainers don't even have rooms here and actually sleep on the gym floor under bug nets. Holding pads is a super tough job and basically they are getting paid to get kicked and punched all day.  It is very hard on your body and it says a lot about the toughness of these guys that they can do this all day and still be smiling. Well here are some introductions.

First up is Ming.  His full name is Sonram Giatbutsaba which I have no clue how to pronounce. The head trainer and also my trainer. He is one of the few people I actually revere.  I have worked with him almost every day now for 4 weeks and still makes me nervous.  He is tough but actually cares.  His English is almost none existent but he is amazing at getting you to do what you need to do.  He also has a very wacky sense of humor. Basically he is straight out of a old ninja movie with crazy kicks and super fast hands.  I thinks he likes training the taller people too and that is why he grabbed me the first day.  He works super hard though training up to 4 people per session. Ming has 115 fights and has won 75 of those which is an amazing record here. He has fought multiple bouts in the Lumpinee Stadium as well, which is internationally recognized as being the 'pinnacle Muay Thai'.  He also has one of the cutest kids you will ever meet.  I imagine he is going to grow up to kick ass one day.

Next up is Gan or for some reason people call him Phillip. His full name is Anantasak Giatprasanchai, another mouthful. He is actually Teg's trainer. Gan has been in the gym for about 7 months and comes from the North-Eastern province of Buriram.  He has racked up a total of 60 fights at both the Lumpinee and Raja Stadums in Bangkok. Sporting the hugest pair of calves (seriously...its like he has melons strapped to the back of his legs), Gan is an amazing teacher. He is alway laughing and when you do something good like a kick or a punch he makes a noise that sounds like its right out of the Street Fighter video game (like when you toss a fire ball with Ryu)...Nerdy line there but it was the only way I could describe it.  Its awesome though.

And this is Pot.  Yup his name is that of a certain narcotic that BC is famous for.  I have no clue what his full name is but I am sure it is humongous and not pronounceable by me. When he is not holding pads you can find him playing guitar.  Spent some time teaching him how to do some fun hand shakes.  Trained with him for one day....it was very different from Ming but I learned a lot.

On the left is Lucky who I mentioned I watched fight a couple of weeks ago and to the right is Dam.  Dam is actually fighting September 9th with a few of the other guys from camp.  Both of these guys are intense trainers but at the same time you can still joke around with them. When they are training getting ready for their fights you see how far you have to go be for you are good at this sport.  I will try to catch it on video and show you....its crazy.  Both these guys have over 300 fights...

There are some other trainers too but I have not really had a chance to get to know those guys yet.  The trainers seem to change here quite a bit and are even different from the first time Teg was here.  Lucky is actually going to Greece next month to work at a gym there.  Its cool to see the international respect that they get and the skill they have.  I am lucky to be learning here.

New Trainer

So Ming is in the midst of getting 3 people ready to fight on September 9th including the tallest guy in camp who is 6'9" (picture below is Derek and Martin, Derek is the tall one).  When you are holding pads for taller people its really hard on your shoulders because you have to hold the pads high. So yesterday Ming asked if I could train with Pot instead of him.  It was interesting.  


The first thing I discovered is that everyone has a different style of holding the pads which means a few things.  Timing was difficult because he does not call out what he wants me to do in the same way and also because he was holding the pads in different positions my aim was all over the place.  When you are working with a trainer for 3 weeks straight you get used to how they move and there is a kind of rhythm in what they are calling out for you to do.  Basically it was like learning all over again.  At the same time Pot had totally different tips for me in terms of  technique and I like the change of pace.  I am not sure if I will be working with him again on Monday or if I will be back with Ming but either way I am still training.


I am leaving on September 7th and I am feeling like I am just starting to learn to move my body right.  A typical day here starts at 7 am with a 5 km run and some wind sprints up the hill at the camp.  A little bit of skipping rope and then some stretching.  You get your hands wrapped up and then do some shadow boxing.  (some dudes are amazing at shadow boxing and it is really fun to watch.  I on the other hand can not think fast enough or know enough combos so I just work on foot position and technique).  Then you do 3 to 5 rounds of hitting the pads with your trainer. At the end you can lift weights, and do sit ups and push ups.  After that is all done you can shower, eat, nap and get ready to do it all over again.  Some sessions you can mix it up a bit with sparing, clinching etc but for the most part there is a set routine.


There has been a lot more sparing as of late because everyone is getting ready for their fights next month.  Teg actually got in the ring yesterday with Derek yesterday and totally dominated him.  Derek got Teg with a few leg kicks but Teg's boxing really was the difference and Derek ate a few huge punches.  Teg still has a bit to work on in terms of cardio but they only did three rounds.  I was really impressed with Teg.  His balance was awesome and he was really thinking about what he was doing in the ring and picked Derek apart.  Teg really has learned a lot.  After watching them I was jazzed about getting in to spar too but then I remembered I am a huge wuss and I think I might table that till the next time I am here.


So I have 6 more days of training to get under my belt and I really want to get the most of this.  I feel like I have been short changed a bit by getting sick and a fat elbow but I actually feel really good now and starting to get my kicks to where they are fast and look a lot more actually Muay Thai kicks instead of huge looping swings.  Ming is constantly telling me "You kick come from America.....Make come from Thailand" I know they are getting better because the other day he said it came from Vietnam.....

Same Same....But Different

So day one in Cambodia and I am blow away.  The political history of this place is both sad and amazing at the same time. When we first arrive here you still feel like you are in Thailand because the way the buildings are constructed and the geography have a similar feel to that of Thailand.  But as you get further into the city you notice the differences.  A lot of the locals here and in Thailand  say "Same same....but different" (to the point where they put it on t-shirts) and for the first time I feel I can use that saying here because a lot of Cambodia is the same but different.

For starters the roads switch sides back to the way it is back home because of the French influence here.  There are still the shops and the massage parlors but for some reason the people selling are much more aggressive here and when you say no they still harass you.  We are in a town called Siem Reap which actually means "Defeat of Thailand".....It would kinda be like having a town in Canada called "US Beatdown" (funny but I don't think it goes over well). There is a pub type area in town where tourist seem to gather but for the most part the tourists here seem to  be a bit of a different lot than the ones you would find at Bangla road.   More of your hippy type variety vs your jocky meat head (think more backpacker vs resort goer)...I do get along better with the hippies so I kinda like this place.

Today we rolled through a few of the main temples that Siem Reap is famous for.  The first was Angkor Wat (image with the pond).  These temples rival anything I have seen in the world....super ornate, incredibly large and built over a thousand years ago.  Angkor Wat has been restored and is the most famous of the temples here but many of the other temples have been left as they are, weathered by time. The jungle has taken over a few and it is quite amazing how nature can take over a physical structure.

This area of Cambodia has a ton of temples but there are many more in the jungle that have yet to be explored because there are land mines everywhere.  The picture with the tree on the wall was taken from a temple called Ta Prohm.  It was actually the temple used in the movie Tomb Raider.  This temple was not accessible till after 1997 when all the land mines were cleared from the surrounding area.  There are still millions of mines everywhere here and a lot of the country is inaccessible.

Today we are heading to the National Museum and then back to Patong and our temporary home at the Gym.  Not sure if I am looking forward to training again after traveling and making my own schedule for the last 5 days, but Ming will make me work no matter what anyway.

Mid Trip Break

Two weeks down and Teg and I are in need of a break as well as a Visa run.  Basically we have to leave the country and come back so that we don't use up our visas here in Thailand so that gives us an excuse to head out to Cambodia and check out Angkor Wat. It also means that we can give our bodies some much need recovery time and be right as rain for the remaining 2 weeks of workouts.  


Our break started with a camp outing to Phi Phi island. Leaving early Saturday morning I was a little beat down from my latest bout with 'Thai tummy'...yes that is what you think it is.  I honestly didn't want to head out on this trip but holy crap was I glad I did.  Phi Phi has to be one of the most beautiful areas on the planet. Its about a 45 minute boat ride from Phuket and you find fine white sand beaches and crazy rock formations rising from of the most amazing color water. Every time I took a picture I was disappointed because it could not convey the epicness (I know that is not a word but it fits).

The owner of the gym, Bow, set up this trip for everyone.  We got to do this excellent boat tour through the islands which included snorkeling, kayaking and an evening meal. The image to the left is of one of the island coves taken from the boat. After that we went to a bar called Reggae Bar which included a boxing ring in the middle where, for a free bucket of booze, you could get up and fight a full contact kick boxing match with full padding of course.  This was kinda trouble when 10 dudes from a kickboxing camp roll in but luckily a combination of a lot of guys having a fight coming up on the 9th and me being a huge, non drinking, wuss, kept us out of the ring.  It was funny to watch several drunk dudes throw wild haymakers at each other for a bit though. After that we went to a bar on the beach and just chilled out.  After the craziness of Bangla Rd it was nice to be in a much calmer environment with a lot of tourists. A late sleep in and another boat ride and we are back in camp.  I will toss the full report of Cambodia next...

Down time

So I have been out of the game for a little while.  On Friday night a bunch of us went out to eat at a place called Monty's (they have an all you can eat buffet for 150 baht which is awesome for a bunch of guys who are training everyday).  After dinner we went down to Bangla Road which is basically the craziest place in the world and I will get into that in a little bit.  When we got to the first bar I put my arm on the table and noticed that my elbow hurt.  I didn't remember banging it but I noticed it was starting to swell a bit.  It swelled a bit more that evening and got super hot.  I iced it when I got home and went to bed not thinking that much of it.  When I got up in the morning it was HUGE.  Here is a picture so you can get understanding:

Teg and I saddled up and took a trip to the International Hospital where they took blood (lord do I hate needles) and in the end the doctor thinks I might have been bit by a bug and it got infected. The infection got into the bursa sac in my elbow giving me no end of fluid build up.  So after giving me a round of antibiotics and some anti inflammatories  I was left not being able to train for the next little bit.  I should be back at it Wednesday morning (with no elbows to the pads of course). My elbow is back to normal size and don't worry mom everything is fine. The doctors and nurses were awesome and I am being careful with it. 


So what are you left to do when you can't train here.  Well you have a few options.  First would be shopping.  There is tons of super cheap clothes here.  Its so cheap I think I am going to buy a bag and fill it with clothes right before I go home.  I am not much of a shopper though so I don't think I will do that till one of my last days here.


There are massage places every five feet here.  Basically there are two types of massage places...sketchy and not so sketch...I try to stick to the ones in the hotels or the giant mall here called Jungceylon, but on the street there is no end of girls who jump out at you and try to come in to their parlor.  They are almost as bad as the suit guys but kinda funny at the same time. For the most part I have only gotten a few massages though when I am really sore.  I am not super into strangers touching me for the most part.

The movie theater here is awesome.  The place is huge and the movies are cheap.  The chairs are more comfortable than any theater that I have been too.  The only issue is that there are not many English movies playing.  Right now its Salt, Toy Story 3 and Step Up 3D.....booooooo


Eating takes up a lot of time....apparently we have to eat a lot here.  There is a restaurant every 5 feet in Patong I honestly have not had anything here I didn't like. You can get a fruit shake and pad thai for 100 baht (3 dollars) and you are good to go.


The most popular thing to do here is hit Bangla road and is more than likely why so many travelers come here.  Its a huge party. I can not begin to describe to you the craziness that is this small strip.  Alcohol is cheap and there are people everywhere.  People are trying to sell everything you can think of from ping pong shows (use your imagination)  to all types of trinkets.  The lady boys are crazy and every once in a while you will see a very drunk tourist thinking they are scoring a hot chick for the evening not realizing its a dude.  Basically we tend to sit in U2 bar and watch the crazy float by.  

It is very much Aussi time here in Patong because its their winter and its close.  There also seems to be a lot of Russians here.  Everybar is also filled with Thai women who all cat call you to come sit with them just like the massage girls on the street.  I think I will enjoy walking in relative silence back in the streets of Vancouver when I get home.


On that note I should head to bed as I am getting up early to kick and punch things in the morning.  




Jordan 

Fight Night

Sorry I have been lax on the posts this week but in order to get internet here I have to go on the balcony however its been raining....A LOT...

Thursday night we all saddled up to go to the Patong Boxing Stadium for the fights that Bow (the owner of the camp) was promoter for.  This was the first time I have seen a Muay Thai fight live so I was very pumped. Only two people from the camp were fighting this night but the whole camp saddled up and rolled to the stadium for the fights that start at 9 pm.  Nothing like being part of a International Muay Thai scooter gang to get you pumped up for a nights at the fights.  The stadium was honestly nothing like I expected it to be.  They show fights on TV all the time here but I had no idea that the place was such a barn.  Tickets are expensive for Thailand at about 1500 baht per for the cheapest seats and the place was fairly packed which made it hella hot in there.

The first thing that floored me is how young they start fighting here.  The first fighters pictured above are 14 years old and they actually start as young as 8.  In order to fight in this stadium you have to have at least 5 wins under your belt if you are under 18 years of age.  Some of the trainers who are not much older than 22 have over 200 fights already.  Its crazy but this is so normal to them that its not an issue at all.  Its what you do to get good at the sport.  These two little dudes in the ring above me would completely dominate me.  Their skill and speed was incredible but they really lacked the power to hurt each other.  

Each fight is 4 rounds of 3 minutes and the 5th round is 2 minutes.  It doesn't sound like much after racing 5 hour bike races but holy crap does it wipe you out.  The winner is chosen by either a knockout, ref stoppage which is basically a knock out or by score cards.  The scoring system is complex and I am still trying to get my head around it.  Kicks, knees, elbows and knock downs all score points while punching does not. The later fighters moved so fast it was really hard to see what was getting hit and what was getting blocked.

Before each fight the competitors perform the Wai Kru which is to respect their teachers.  This is an ancient Thai custome and it is a demonstration of respect and gratitude. Each fighter seems to put their own spin on the dance (Guan, one of the trainers stamps in the other fighters corner.)  It was cool to see and I want to get one of the trainers to teach it to me...when I feel less like gumby and more like a fighter which might not happen.

The other thing that floored me was the high level of sportsmanship that was displayed.  In my head I was like "THEY ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER"  but the fighters would slap gloves after good exchanges and hug it out after rounds.  They really respected each other and enjoyed the competition.  It kinda made me mad at our rec league hockey games where guys are huge jerks for no reason at all.

The first to get in the ring from our camp was Marianna from the Greek team.  Everyone was very excited to see her fight because she has held 2 belts and has a record 19 and 2.  the picture to the left is her getting taped up before her fight.  It was a hard fight that went the distance but in the end she was beaten in the clinch by her Thai opponent.  It was rough because the stadium was filled with Greeks and she looked very very disappointed.  This fight does not count towards her record but you could tell she was not used to losing.  The next fight was one of the trainers named Lucky.  Holy crap were these guys a different level than everyone else.  Lucky has been a trainer in Bangkok for the last little while and has not fought in a good amount of time.  The skill was there but his gastank fell short because he was up against a much bigger opponent.  After watching that fight there is no way I will ever get into the ring.  The punishment those dudes took and the speed at which the kicked and dodge was near super human.  it was crazy.  Lucky style had some funk to it with his head movements and how he attacked.  I hope I can get a chance to train with him later.  

As for this week I have been put on the bench for the last couple of days with a fat elbow.  Its alright just need to ice it and I will hopefully be back at it Monday.  I am going to leave you with picture of Ming's kid.  Holy crap is he going to be a bad ass when he grows up.

Jordan