My First Day of Muay Thai

Definition: Muay Thai, literally "Thai Boxing," is a form of martial art practiced in many South Asian countries and is Thailand's national sport. Muay Thai implements hands, elbows, shins, and knees which is why it is also called "The Art of the Eight Limbs."

So I need another way to let off some steam and get a good workout that is more than just lifting heavy things, so I looked up a dojo called "The Elite Fighting Academy" here in Orlando. They teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Capoeira, MMA, and Muay Thai, so I checked it out. The cheapest classes/training sessions available that worked into my work schedule was Muay Thai, so I decided to take the courses. I also decided to take it since I already had some knowledge of grappling (amateur wrestling) and I wanted to get a good cardio workout.

There is also something inside that just wanted to know if I could still take a punch, take a kick, and be able to deliver a solid strike in return. It's not that I want to injure anyone or am bloodthirsty, it's just something I'm compelled to find out; to test my physical prowess, match myself against my fellow man, and test my pain threshold in a "civilized" fashion. In Sam Sheridan's book, A Fighter's Heart, he discusses how man deep inside has a primal part of him that is the survival instinct; fight or flight. That there is a desire and need to confirm that if necessary, he can physically overcome any predator or threat. The part that screams in victory, "I WILL NOT BE EATEN TODAY!" I wanted to test my limits and train myself in that fashion. To fill that drive and pseudo-psychological need.

That and I also wanted to make some new friends outside of work.

So I walk into my first session in gym shorts and t-shirt. The instructor told that I would have to eventually purchase kick pads for my shins, hand wraps, and gloves in order to protect myself and others. I was given a pair of "loaner" gloves (complete with a gaping hole at the wrist in the left handed glove) and we got started. We did a lot of running, jumping jacks, and push-ups to warm up. I was proud that while I was the last in line, I wasn't lagging too far behind the little guys that were half my size and had great lung capacity.

The class size was small. There were three men easily shorter than 5'10", but built like they were carved out of oak. There was also a bright-eyed sixteen year old boy who was slightly taller than the other three, a little lanky and scrawny, but was able to stay in step with them. I figured I would easily be the largest man there at 6'4" and 270 lbs. I was wrong.

Due to my inexperience and size, I was paired up with a large man named T'Chaka. T'Chaka was 6'6" and easily weighed over probably about a me and a half. I would come to find out while practicing combinations and sparring with him that T'Chaka had been fighting in amateur circuits for over a decade in other disciplines, but was still a novice in Muay Thai. He was born and raised in Alaska and revealed to me that he was a graduate at the University of Dayton after he saw my Ohio University gym bag.

That's the weird and cool thing about fighting in a dojo. This large man kicked my thighs to the point that I had large purple bruises, Charlie horses, Willie ponies, and Johnny mustangs aching on my legs. He also had some free shots to my face. In Muay Thai training, the strikes are not at 100% but the speed and power are at a still threatening, painful 60%. I got a few shots in as well, but I sucked and because I didn't own any kickpads and neither did T'Chaka, my shins were bruising and killing me due to striking and blocking with them. T'Chaka knew what he was doing due to his experience edge. If it were a real fight, my legs would be obliterated at the knees and I would be vomiting up my teeth. To the layman, we should be rivals and shy away from each other except to fight/train; him being angry because I tagged him or me being angry because he owned me. Instead, we opened up and instantly became friends because of mutual respect along with challenging each other.

That's why many times in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and other violent sports, the victor hugs or thanks their opponent. There is a bond formed. For the victor it is "Thank you for giving your all to test me" proving that for today I will not be eaten in the wild. For the loser it is "Thank you for pushing me to be better" to learn my mistakes so I will not be eaten next time.

But enough philosophy.

I enjoyed my time despite my pain and soreness. I will go again and get better, get stronger, make more bonds, meet more people, make more friends in combat and hopefully just life as whole. I will become a better man physically, mentally, spiritually. I WILL NOT BE EATEN TODAY! I WILL EAT YOU!