Muay Thai

[Magoo]

Ow.

Wellll, Coach thought I had the first two rounds, but I gassed the third and got rocked by an uppercut. Got a standing 8 count and that gave him the point advantage. Boo.

Dude rocked my thigh. Big ol boy, too. I am SORE.

I watched the footage. It's rough. I'm overweight, only been training for a bit over a year, and it was my first fight. I'm actually not terribly upset about the outcome. I did the thing.

[Magoo]

Well ouchies. Given my weight and experience class, I'm a little less concerned my opponent might get his foot up to my 6'3" dome, but yeah, gotta watch out for that.

Speaking of, I dodged a helluva bullet. I was the only one in my class for a while, right up to the end of the registration window. If I didn't get a competitor, I'd have to move up to the 4-9 fight guys. Not something I was keen to do. I'd do it, but I wasn't KEEN on it... Thankfully, a guy in my class registered at the last minute. I ought to thank him before we throw hands and feet.

[FullContactUSA]

I have trained martial arts most of my life; karate, kick boxing, judo, jujitsu, and trained mma. First mma fight I got kicked in the head hard enough it broke a chunk off one of my front teeth (ended up winning by submission.)

The funny parts: I had no actual recollection of getting kicked, after the fight I was talking to a team mate ND said "damn that dude has a hell of a right hook." My buddy respond that it wasn't a hook, it was a round house kick and "He kicked you square in your mind"

Two days before the fight I'm playing some recball and a little kid with his brand new ion (I know I'm dating myself) runs up next to me in a bunker, I don't notice that he's right next to me and pointing his marker almost strait up in the air. He gets startled, taps the trigger and puts a round right under my mask. My eye is ok but it breaks the skin something nasty with pieces of shell in the skin on my cheekbone.

And two days (I think) after the fight I took my girl friend to some charity art gala with people from her college and I show up with a massive bruise on my jaw, scabbed welt on my cheek, basically a black eye, and a broken tooth; but it gave me a conversation peice since now I looked like a Picasso.

[Magoo]

Has anyone here ever fought? How did that go?

[Magoo]

It will be for me. The divisions are further divided between 0-3 fights, 4-9, and 10+.

I'm getting better at controlling my movements, and I've been told I have a decent shell, but in the bruiser class standing there and taking shots isn't great, shell or no. I'm trying to work on countering and learning those aforementioned tells.

[cellophane]

I'm still learning about keeping movements tight, so, naturally, I telegraph like a 19th century railway operator. During a round, my partner noticed me leaning in a bit much, so punished me with a cross right in the orbital.

Everyone's definitely cool about it, but holy hell I gotta git gud. I still can't tap into that aggression, but I'm getting better I'd reckon.

Oh noooooo I'm fighting in a tournament March 3rd............

Is it a rookie tournament (i.e. less than 4 or 5 fights)? If so- remember that they will also be telegraphing and leaning in like that. Take advantage of it and smash them. And at 6'-3" you will probably have the reach advantage. A push kick or jab will keep distance and you can do what you want at that point.

[Magoo]

I weigh in at 250# currently. So I'll be in the heavyweights. That'll be interesting. I've been running a lot trying to get my gas tank up. I need to start blasting kicks because they're my forte, but just lifting these legs is a workout in of itself. I, naturally, gas fast. But I'm definitely improving. Got 4 weeks.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Get Sum!

[coyote]

Oh noooooo I'm fighting in a tournament March 3rd............

Good for you.

I remember first tournament nerves/excitement.

[Magoo]

Oh noooooo I'm fighting in a tournament March 3rd............

[Magoo]

The spring helps a LOT. It's a 350# rated spring, and I'm still quite surprised at how much it bounces around. I couldn't imagine all that force going directly into the rafters.

[Spider!]

Nice idea on the spring! That might save some damage. I'll be curious.

[Magoo]

Got the the bag filled a couple weeks ago, mostly, and hung. Turns out rafters don't like 100 El Bees swinging around, but I attached some support struts and that seems to have solidified it nicely. Now I'm researching Muay Thai bag work programs.

And by research, I mean I watched Van Damme's "Kickboxer."

I'm now hyped. Next stop: Rajadamnern.

[Magoo]

Fourth sparring session, and I think my partners are stepping it up a bit. I got my first real taste of "What the hell was THAT?"

I'm still learning about keeping movements tight, so, naturally, I telegraph like a 19th century railway operator. During a round, my partner noticed me leaning in a bit much, so punished me with a cross right in the orbital. He's a big dude with a solid right and I leaned into it. THAT one dizzied me. He knew he threw too hard and apologized, but I really need to learn to keep square and not lean heavy into my punches.

Speaking of, got swept for the first time today too.

Everyone's definitely cool about it, but holy hell I gotta git gud. I still can't tap into that aggression, but I'm getting better I'd reckon.

[Magoo]

Yeah, it's gotta go in the garage for sure. I'm gonna lag it into a 4x4 and run it across the rafters to distribute weight. Bolting straight to the rafters is asking for trouble. I'd bet they don't like >120# swinging laterally.

A Fairtex bag brand new, unfilled, was about $130. But it takes a L-O-T of clothes to shred and fill. It's either time or money, I guess. Pick what you're willing to spend...

Filling: