Thursday, February 15, 2007

Thai Kickboxing Lessons

Thai Kickboxing Lessons Really Kicked My Butt! by Yoshi Kundagawa

I'm totally serious about getting in shape. With at least 30 pounds to lose, I'm one of the fatter tubs of lard at the gym, but this week I'm not the most out of shape. Two guys have come to today's muay thai kickboxing lesson that easily are 50 pounds overweight.
One is tall, and one is short. But they are both shaped like Anjou pears. They are sweaty and wheezing before the class even starts.
We warm up with skipping rope. I am horrible at skipping rope. It's only been 3 weeks that I have been taking thai kickboxing lessons, and my techniqe would have a 3rd grade schoolkid howling. The jump rope is plastic covered and it hurts my toes when I wack them every fourth or fifth skip. I see some of the more experienced kickboxers can skip on one foot or even alternate feet. Something to look forward to I guess.
To my surprise the little fat guy can skip better than I can. His taller counterpart is already dripping with perspiration, his Judas Priest tshirt is drenched. When we stop skipping and move onto burpees, jumping squats and hillclimbers, he calls it a day.
Today we are learning elbow strikes. This is a very dangerous drill, even at slow mow. If you clip a guy in the eyebrow with your elbow, he's looking at five to ten stitches, easily.
The Kru, or teacher, shows us a lethal techniqe he calls "Breaking The Elephants Tusk". Imagine a guy punching at your face, you ducking to one side, then ramming the tip of your elbow down full speed into his bicep. Crazy stuff man...if I had known this as a kid my buddies in high school would never have picked on me. Of course they'd be in hospital and I would have been in Juvenile Lockup.
The 60 minute session ends with abdominal work...oh my god the pain! The entire front sheet of muscle and flab on my body is on fire. Another great muay thai kickboxing lesson has come to an end. I feel exhausted but amazing. What's really amazing is how well I sleep at night and how well I go to the bathroom. I'll leave that story for another day!
About the Author
Yoshi Kundagawa is a freelance journalist covering the martial arts world. Too much time at his computer eating donuts reduced him to couch potato status. He's on a quest to recapture his youth and fitness. You can read his blog at http://www.martialarts3000.com

Saturday, January 27, 2007

What You Need To Know About – Thailand Travel

What You Need To Know About – Thailand Travel
By: Mansi Aggarwal

Thailand is one of those destinations, which is forever teeming with tourists. The country holds an exclusive position in the hearts of all vacationers for the place has much more to offer than anyone can expect. Thailand lies in the South East Asia region and can be taken to be the land of Buddha. Almost all the Buddha devotees desire to visit this country once in their lifetime. This is due to the fact that Thailand has some of the unique and exquisite Buddha temples where perfect tranquility prevails. A Concise Review of a Seemingly Interminable Place The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is worth visiting spot. This sacred temple has Buddha statue that is 65 centimeter elevated and is entirely made of jasper quartz or jade. While the jade goes back to 15th century, the murals on the walls of the compound can be traced back to 18th century. The visitors can take a look at The Royal Thai Decorations and the Coin Pavilion. All in all the sanctity of the temple speaks through itself and the ambiance is enough to enchant the visitors. Along with Temple of Emerald Buddha, several other grand Buddha temples can be seen once you move into the city of Bangkok. Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand has proved its worth across the globe. This metropolis has everything to offer to its visitors. From wonderful museums to thrilling nightlife, Bangkok has it all. The bustling city owns the largest South East Asian museum called The National Museum. National Museum has a gathering of various things like Thai art from old to contemporary, musical instruments, weapons, woodcarving, ceramics, clothing and sacred Buddha images. Visitors that come to Bangkok never miss the opportunity to encounter Vinmanmek Teak Mansion that is supposed to be the largest teak building in the world. The Royal Elephant Museum and Dusuit Zoo are perfect places to have some learning with fun.The Wat Pho temple near the temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok is perhaps the oldest and the largest of all Buddha temples there. The Wat Pho temple is known for its 46 meter long statue of reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddhas in the country. A refreshing massage therapy is done at this place that too attracts a lot of people. Finally when it comes to shopping, Bangkok has it all. There are ample of markets here that will serve you with all the things of your necessity. The Chatuchak Market or The Weekend Market (that is open on Saturdays and sundaes only), the Pak Khlong market and markets in Chinatown and Phahurat district are particularly quite famous. The Thonburi region resting on the west bank of river Thonburi has always gathered attention due to different reasons. The Taksin Monument that has a statue of Thailand’s eminent king Taksin which is a delight to watch. The Royal Barges Museum that has a fantastic collection of boats, the outstanding one being the king’s personal barge –The Golden Swan is definitely a pull in Thonburi. Buddhist stupas area centre of attraction at Ayuthaya, a city that lies to the north of Bangkok. The oldest and largest temple here is the Wat Phra Si Sanphet, another famous temple is Wat No Phra Meru that has a green stone Buddha statue inside. The Ayuthaya and the Chantharakasen are the two significant national museums. The Lopburi and the Kanchanaburi town in the Central Thailand region is a host to a lot many tourists every year. In the Southeastern Thailand region is situated the Ko Chang National Park that is crammed by people due to the various activities like elephant riding, diving, snorkeling etc. and also to enjoy the wildlife in this area. The Rayong Province has a set of exotic beaches along with the Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park that has striking limestone mountains, caves, cliffs and waterfalls including impressive wildlife. Pattaya is another eventful beach spot located 150 kilometers away from Bangkok. The Northern Thailand is bedecked by the Lamphun Province that has numerous historical temples, Doi Khun Tan National Park, the Lampang Province that grounds the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang temple which is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand and there is also the famous Thai Elephant Conservation Center which provides acre for sick elephants, animal shows and tourist exhibits from time to time. The Sukhothai Province is important for its Ramkhamhaeng National Park. The Isan Region of Northeastern Thailand has the renowned Khao Yai National Park, which is a home for innumerable wild animals and the Phanom Rung Historical Park. Few places at the Thailand’s Southern Coasts like Phetchaburi city, the Southern Gulf Region (known for marine life and water sports) and the Andaman Coast are everlastingly meant for vacationing in Thailand.
About the Author:Mansi gupta writes about thailand travel topics. Learn more at http://www.thailandvacationhelp.comRead more articles by: Mansi Aggarwal Article Source: www.iSnare.com