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
