Well it’s been my first week back in the UK. I seem to have spent the majority of this weekend sleeping although my bodyclock is still set to waking me up at stupid O clock on a Saturday. Waking up just before 7am yesterday didn’t leave me in the best of moods but I guess I’m still adjusting to being back. I went for a run yesterday and probably will later too. I decided to go around the same kind of pace as I did in Thailand every day and realized I can actually go much further than I am currently so I think I’m going to start doing six mile runs as well as training rather than my current four.

I also got myself down to the gym yesterday morning just to do some bag work, and although I was only away a few weeks I found that my teeps, elbows, knees and hands are better and stronger (my knees I am very happy with ) although rib kicks still need work. I know what I need to do to correct them and will just keep practising. My left kick (my power side ) is ok but can always be made better. I’ve decided to practice the same drills and same use of the bags as I was shown in Thailand and a little voice keeps telling me don’t forget what they taught you and just ‘keep doing’.

I made myself do a hundred knees on the bags yesterday. (we averaged on around 200 knees per session if not more at Sitsongpeenong so I guess I must of been lazy.)  I think I’m going to do the same thing every time I am at the gym but will do more next time. The same goes with teeps and really it all comes down to repetition and drilling from my point of view. Teep that bag so much so that you use the kick without thinking. Knee the bag so much that as soon as  your in the clinch knees are second nature. And so on and so forth.

When I was training in Thailand one of the trainers said to me ‘your a southpaw don’t worry so much about the right kick  Use the right kick as a distraction and make your main shots come from the power side. Set them up with the right.’Or something along those lines. I even got shown a technique my old trainer in Bournemouth showed me on how to kick off your right leg without having to switch (especially if your switch is too slow.) Just a step forward with the left leg and then kick off the right. But it has to be quick. I found that works for me and have totally forgotten about using it so I was pleased to have my memory refreshed. The principle of working the left more than the right is something I am going to focus on too but I want to make sure both are equally balanced. It’s simple things almost common sense if you will, that strike a cord most with me with Muay Thai. Keeping it simple is the order of the day as I’ve mentioned before. The corrections of technique were also a lot of help ‘twist more, hip more ‘ more twist on the elbows..I’m hoping it all helps me improve even more and start to deliver techniques more effectively.

when training and on the pads and on the bags I’ve realized how important it is too relax.  Even if your throwing shots with power don’t think so much and just throw them. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of over analysis with what you do,  and in effect I find this takes away the enjoyment of learning. So I’m going to improve my kicks by kicking a lot more instead of breaking things down to the point it becomes something I want to avoid having to practice.

I’ve decided to head back out to Phuket for a month in March next year and I’m already excited about returning. Of course there’s more to me than Muay Thai but training out there I felt at home, and in a lot of ways it reminded me of my old camp in Bournemouth. It’s not often you get a chance to train with world class instructors that have produced some of the best fighters out there and I think if I am disciplined enough and work hard out there then I can achieve anything I put my mind too. Although last Saturday night down the Aussie bar in Kamala was a lot of fun. I’m not sure who got me back to my apartment but thanks. I guess everything is ok in moderation.

So in the meantime I’m back at the gym as of Monday, and it feels good to have a fresh outlook on my training. It’s not at the same level here as it is in Thailand and I am going to miss the intensity that much is certain, but I’m going to keep training hard. Besides its only another three and a bit months till I head out to Phuket again, and when you set new goals time flies. Especially when your having fun. Have a good week, and just like the last time, I’ll see you on the road.