At the Training Camps

"Endure."

When one of the men at the training camp got his first massage in Thailand, he told the masseuse to lighten up.  She was going too hard.  This is what she told him: "endure."

This sums up the mentality you need to train Muay Thai in Thailand.

The humidity and heat are legend.  Unrelenting, cruel.  You will sweat just lying in bed, doing nothing.  You will train outside in this heat.

A Typical Training Day

5:00 am: Morning Run, 5-10km

7:00-9:00 am: 

• Shadow boxing, 
• Five 5-minute rounds on the pads with the trainers,
• 30-40 minutes of work on the bag, 
• 200 jump knees, 
• 200 push/front kicks on the heavy bag, 
• 100 push-ups, ab-rollers, 100 sit-ups, 20 pull-ups, stretching.

3:00-6:00 pm:

• 30 minutes of jump rope,
• Five 5-minute rounds on the pads with the trainers,
• 30-40 minutes either on the bags or sparring
• 200 jump knees,
• 200 push/front kicks on the heavy bag,
• 30 minutes of Clinching,
• 15 minutes of cool-down running,
• 100 sit-ups, stretching

This schedule is an approximation; the trainers will throw in random drills and change up the schedule based on where they see you progressing.

You begin early in the morning, at 5am or 6am.  This helps minimize the time spent in the hottest part of the afternoon.  The break in between the two sessions is spent refueling, napping, and relaxing generally.  Some days I have enough energy to taxi into town and do some shopping or site-seeing, but this is only about half the time.

Here are links to a well done video series about the camp on YouTube:

Tips:

• Buy and use electrolyte supplements during training - the refuel will help you stay hydrated and prevent/minimize muscle cramping.  Royal D works wonders and can be found at most pharmacies or 7-11 types stores.
• Drink as much water as you possibly can.
• DON'T GIVE UP.
• HAVE FUN.  If you don't, what is this all really for?