Sam…
I will
start by saying that I had been struggling adjusting to the 11 hour time
difference quite a bit. Between having trouble staying awake during the day and
sleeping through the night I had trouble getting any real restful sleep . Thankfully with the help of some melatonin I was able to catch some great sleep and am feeling great now. With that being said, mentally I was quite tired and scattered
brained, but still loving every moment and trying to soak in everything. I will
admit the island life style has definitely taken away all stressors in my life
and for the first time in a while I feel like I am able to fully relax. Being
around the Thai people is a great change of pace from back home (no offense).
Everyone’s laid back attitude is starting to rub off on me, I find myself just
going with the flow not worrying and feeling anxious about small trivial
things.
With a lack of sleep also comes
some physical fatigue. Let me not forget to mention that I took some time off
of training before this trip, which clearly was a bad idea. I feel a bit out of
shape and find it hard to make it to both the morning session and afternoon
session without paying for it big time the next day. I am hoping that I am more
able to recover and push myself a bit harder once I can find a way to get
restful, restorative sleep. Besides fatigue I have suffered quite a few large
bruises down my legs from sparring and techniques, which is putting a damper in
my stride (literally). I have always bruised easily, but after getting bruises
under bruises and then kicked numerous times on the exact spot where I have
those bruises... I am finding it hard to walk. So I took the night off training
and am hoping my legs want to function enough to at least work some boxing
tomorrow at training. (I will be avoiding leg kicks and checks at all costs). After getting rest and a couple days off things feel great and physically I am ready to learn some new things.
One really great thing about the
training here is that the instructors are amazingly understanding of injuries
and fatigue. Yes, they will push you and test you while teaching you to become
a better fighter, but if you are hurt they will also take it easy with you and
work on techniques that don’t require you to overexert yourself. I love the way
training is here. Every trainer has their own strengths and focuses on
something different from the next. One trainer loves to work on pure power and
boxing, while another works only on technique and meticulously picks apart each
movement. Then the head trainer Mon, he has taught me so much about the
fighting mentality and how to put it all together. He’s somewhat of an unintentional
perfectionist, he will show you the same technique a hundred times until you understand
each movement and thought that goes along with it. But most importantly he has
taught me that fighting is about seeing what your opponent is doing, not
thinking about what you’re going to do.
Paul…
Adjusting to
the time difference came a bit easier to me than Sam. I have been able to sleep
throughout the night, with the exception of barking at 3AM by a dog that sleeps
on our patio. Quality of sleep has been much better than back at home, all of
the distractions during everyday life in the states are draining. Life is much
slower here and I swear no one wakes up before 10AM. Food has been very
addicting and delicious. The vegetables and fruit don't even compare to what we are used to... in a good way.. they don't use the word organic here, you can taste that it's almost straight off the vine.
Training is not only high quality, but being able to
do it 6 hours a day 6 days a week is the main difference from training in the
states. I cannot imagine having to work or be in school and train how the
fighters do here. All of the available hours not spent in the gym you want to use
to recover. Every trainer in the camp has their own style, it could be frustrating
if they contradict each other, but being a fighter you should know that you
create your own unique style. Take what fits you and make it your own. I have a
trainer that kills me on the pads till I want to collapse, a trainer who breaks
down my technique centimeter by centimeter (yes.. not inch by inch..), and a trainer who basically fights me with the
pads. All serve a purpose and have been critical in me improving my overall
fight game and toughness. The mental aspect of training has been definitely the
biggest obstacle, we can spend a full hour on something I am not understanding
at all, but the trainer will never get frustrated with you (at least at Team
Diamond). Their smile is always "ON" and it's contagious.
The battle has been within myself, seeing how well trained
and perfected their technique is, has made me think “Do I even belong to fight in
the ring with the Thais?” I’ve humbled myself, but also have to be realistic
and confident. I know my movement and fitness is superior, using this will be critical
in standing toe to toe with these guys. Hopefully next week I will have post in
regards to my fighting experience in Thailand. Oh, and staying hydrated is something I've never struggled with, with the heat and humidity cramps are almost as bad as the Thai leg kicks on your hamstrings. Make sure to drink your electrolytes!
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-Written by Samantha Abrams & Paul Banasiak
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