It's been three weeks and I feel great. My cardio has doubled and I'm much better on the pads than I was when I first arrived. I still have a long way to go with my cardio and losing weight, but I can see it making steady progress. Unfortunately I bruised my knee and ruptured my eardrum sparring then got a mild case of the flu this week making me take two days off. But I was back to training today and felt decent. Injury is something that will happen while you're here. It's the nature of the sport, but there are ways to keep it at a minimum. I truly think that a big reason why my cardio and conditioning is improving so quickly is because I haven't drank any alcohol since I've been here. As much as I love whiskey and long for a glass of Macallen 12, right now my priority is Muay Thai and getting in the best shape possible.
The other thing about this training camp vs. the others I've been through is at KC Muay Thai it's a small enough gym that they actually keep track and see if you're running everyday before practice. If that wasn't enough they also have us jump rope a few times a week as well. Even though I was technically supposed to run at my other gyms, no one ever forced us to or cared enough to keep tabs. The run and the actual training session length is perfect at KC. The run is about 2.2miles or 3.5km which is perfect, if it was any longer I wouldn't want to do it everyday and would be exhausted by the time I was finished and started training. The sessions itself are also just long enough at 2 hours total including the run and the warm down.
Sometimes just like in Spartacus you'll get random visitors, usually fight promoters or owners of the stadiums that will come watch you train. They'll ask the trainers what weight class you are, your experience and when you'll be ready to fight.
I know it's a bit silly to think myself a gladiator but it gets me through the day watching Spartacus and putting myself in their shoes. Showing up for training even though I'm tired or hurt. My right foot has been swollen since the first week, the bottom of my feet are all cut up and blistered, my neck is strained from clinching, but all those things are unimportant. The only thing important is getting through this fight camp.
The other show that has been good to watch while training is "The Ultimate Fighter" as they are all living together and training as well.
Warm Regards,
Johnny @ My Fight Camp
Hey, looks like I am getting ready to do something similar just up the road. Was wondering how the bike was working out for travelling around here. A lot of the apartments in the area have all been full for high season so I was considering moving out towards Doi Suthep / CMU area and bike commuting. I have been jogging around town, but not biking. Can't say it seems too promising because of the traffic and layout fo the roads.
ReplyDeleteThe push bike isn't the best for getting around, especially since the traffic on the main road is so fast and crazy. I only use it on weekends mainly when I have the luxury of time. Also I wouldn't want to ride it in the dark, even with signal lights.
DeleteIf you're going to commute, a motorbike would be a better choice. But I would recommend staying near camp. If you walk around door to door, I'm sure you'll find some place to live. Most aren't advertised and you'll need a thai translator to secure a deal, but they're out there. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
What gym are you training at btw?
I signed up for Team Quest for a month to start out. All week I was looking around for something ASAP, but couldn't find anything ideal and available. So I had my solid fallback that told me they didn't have anything till Dec 1. Down off the main road probably 10min walking south of central. Of course I just went back there and she said no nothing now till Jan. Didn't realize high season was so nuts in Chiang Mai or I would have gone elsewhere like the Gulf area (Samui, Tao, Phagnan area). Since I am just focusing on training the season doesn't matter to me.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how things are team quest are, I've heard good things about the gym. It's high season everywhere in Thailand, so Samui, Koh Tao and Phagnan would have been just as busy. It'll all work out, best of luck and keep in touch.
DeleteDamn dude... I am gonna be there in February. Maybe I should postpone my trip to see if I can get an apartment around there...
DeleteJohnny, what do you do about health insurance over seas? How does that work if you get seriously injured?
ReplyDeleteYou'll always find an apartment somewhere close by, don't make it postpone your trip.
DeleteI don't have health insurance in the U.S. so I'm actually better off here because Thai hospitals even paying out of pocket are cheap. And pharmacies sell anti-biotics and such.
For serious injuries, I have travel insurance that should cover it.