Muay Thai?

[Virgo Nightingale]

I signed myself up for a muay thai class (Thai kickboxing), the guy who owns the studio is a guitar student of my fiancé's. My first class is tonight, and I'm scared shitless. I don't exercise very often, and I'm a clutz. This might kick my ass.

Anyone else here ever take kickboxing? What is it like?

[CkretAjint]

Never have but I am interested in taking some Muay Thai classes.

Let us know when you are ready to beat down Tony Jai. He still blows my mind in all his movies! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYIyGpbz6II ;)

[Red Kittie Kat]

I wish I could take a class like that looks like so much fun.

The nieces do Tai Kwon Do and love it.

Good luck .. just relax and enjoy it :)

[wallaby]

I took a Muay Thai class last year as a part of a school club. It was pretty fun, although strenuous. I ended up getting out of it due to lack of time and the club getting overrun with wrestlers who were way more serious about it than I was.

The way my class usually went, you'd usually start off stretching before the class began. Then some light cardio stuff to get you warmed up (crunches, lunges, etc). Our instructor emphasized shadow boxing quite a bit, so we'd always end up doing that for awhile (boxing the air with an imaginary opponent). Then we'd split up into pairs, and take turns holding the pads while the other person did the prescribed drill. We'd usually do that until the end of class, where advanced members would suit up to spar and beginners would continue on with drills.

Probably going to need to get yourself some hand wraps to protect your knuckles. And they look kinda cool. :D You'll need a mouthguard and codpiece later if you plan to spar.

Good luck!

[marshdesign]

what I love about it is you dont have to be strong to be awesome and take down 300 pound muscle heads. The creator of this style of martial art was less than 140 pounds and took down the best of the world.

[budafist]

Never done it myself but when we went to Bangkok we saw a Muay Thai show. It was very choreographed and a bit tacky but hey, that's what you get for being a tourist in the touristy part of town! We got to pose and take photos of ourselves with the boxers in faux fight poses.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Well, I survived! :D

The first part really kicked my ass (all the push ups/jump rope/crunches). The next part of the class involved aerobic exercise based on Muay Thai moves. I was quite uncoordinated as I'd never done these moves before, but there was a second instructor at the back of the class with me to help me learn and get the forms closer. The last part wasn't sparring really, but punches, elbows and kicks into pads being held by classmates.

You can't wear sneakers on the mat so I was barefoot like everyone else. But I got big nasty blisters between the balls of my feet and my big toes. The one girl took one look at them and said "You did well! You got blisters your first day, I threw up my first day."

I'm hurting a little today, but I've been taking Tylenol so perhaps I should be in more pain than I am. :)

[CkretAjint]

Sounds like you did well and enjoyed it!

Are you going to go back and take more lessons? :)

[Virgo Nightingale]

I paid for a month's worth of classes (Tuesday and Thursday), so I'm at least doing this through June. I'll probably keep it up through July (ya know, fitting into a wedding dress and all...) If I get decent results and still enjoy going to the class I may take it back up after the wedding.

[tuliptree]

That's so cool Virgo! I've never taken it, but my sister has. She's a work out nut, and she said it whips her hiney!

Hey, when is the wedding date again?

[wallaby]

You can't wear sneakers on the mat so I was barefoot like everyone else. But I got big nasty blisters between the balls of my feet and my big toes. The one girl took one look at them and said "You did well! You got blisters your first day, I threw up my first day."

I'm hurting a little today, but I've been taking Tylenol so perhaps I should be in more pain than I am. :)
Oooh, yeah, forgot about that part. Foot powder can be helpful, but blisters on your feet in any martial art is sort of a right of passage. ;)

[Virgo Nightingale]

I might have to invest in a roll of that athletic tape so I can tape up my toes. Those things hurt, especially since they weren't blisters in the "pad of fluid" sense, more in a "rip the skin off" sense.

Tulip, the date is August 9th. And it's creeping up on me like you wouldn't believe. :eek:

[WannaBrie]

I thought this was gonna be about Thai food! Reminded me I haven't any in a long time, now I'm craving it big time!

Seriously, though that sounds cool. I wish they had something like that at the Y here. Glad to hear you made it out alive!

[morea]

I find that when I start working out it usually hurts worst the 2nd day after - so be sure you've got some Tylenol or something on hand for tomorrow!

Congrats on surviving the first class! It sounds like it could be lots of fun.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Great. Extra pain for when I go back for my second class tomorrow. Woo hoo. :( :p

[tuliptree]

Tulip, the date is August 9th. And it's creeping up on me like you wouldn't believe. :eek:

Wow, it is coming up fast, and I am sure faster for you! Our anniversary is the 10th of August!

I have to say, your post inspired me today! I haven't exercised in way too long, so I did a nice yoga session. When I do exercise I am a yoga nut. I love how I feel afterwards. So thanks to you I got off my butt and worked out!

[TheBluePanda]

The creator of this style of martial art was less than 140 pounds and took down the best of the world.

Who exactly are you referring to? I've never heard of any individual person creating Muay Thai. I could be wrong though.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Woo hoo!! Way to go tulip! That I inspired you has inspired me a little more! :)

And yes, it is creeping up way too fast. I know every year seems to go by faster and faster as I get older, but this year is flying by at an unbelievable pace. I barely feel like the year has started, and I'm about to write out my rent check for June. :rolleyes:

Anyone see "A Little Peace and Quiet"? It was a segment from an episode of the New Twilight Zone series where the woman finds an amulet and soon realizes that it gives her the ability to pause time. (Based on an old Twilight Zone episode called "A Kind of Stopwatch".) I want that thing so bad right now.

[tuliptree]

Never seen it, sounds like a good episode though!

Ok, let's keep inspiring eachother! I'm cheering you on for your next class!

[Tea]

Good for you on trying something that looks pretty intense! I exercise regularly (although you would never know it) and we just purchased a WiiFit. It's so fun. I suck at the giant slalom, but can hula hoop pretty good!

Otherwise I walk/jog on the treadmill, bike, get my ass kicked with Jillian Micheals, yoga, blah, blah, blah...I have it all.

[urstwile]

Congrats on making it through the class, Virgo!

[garricks]

*shipping a case of Ben-Gay to Virgo*

Tai Chi is more my speed. If I could find a class close to me..I admire your ambition!

Wax on, Wax off!

[budafist]

Second class tomorrow? How many are you doing a week? You don't want to overdo it in the beginning sweetie.

[Virgo Nightingale]

It's twice a week. Tonight being class #2. No, I certainly don't want to overdo it. As it is I don't know how I'm going to get through tonight with the muscle aches I've got already from Tuesday. I wonder how I'll feel tomorrow... I do want to try to fit some kind of exercise on Sundays to fill in the gap between Thursday and the next Tuesday. Something light like a brisk walk, and a couple push ups and crunches maybe.

Keep it up tulip!! Yoga has always looked like fun too..

Garricks, I didn't know Ben was gay!?!? My gaydar just didn't pick up on that! :p :D

[tuliptree]

Go Virgo Go!

Yoga (I almost typed Yoda! ahahah, can't tell where my head's been lately) is a ton of fun, and it is truly amazing how good you feel afterwards, such a good stretch and so good for you. I don't know if I've posted this anywhere yet but my goal is to be able to do this someday (and have her strength!). This is Meaghan Townsend, she's my yoga hero:

http://www.sunleaps.com/UserFiles/Image/11976281961197592733index_scorpion.jpg

[Virgo Nightingale]

Yeah, see that's the problem, my balance isn't so good! Though I know with practice, it would develop.

And when I typed yoga in my last post, I did type yoda first! :D

[morea]

actually Virgo, the workout tonight will probably ease a lot of the muscle aches. The first few workouts are the toughest, and even if it starts out feeling crummy I bet you'll have some relief by the end of class.

I think it's a good idea to try to get some exercise on Sundays too... may I recommend cycling? ;)

Oh, and I'd recommend you pick up some Myoflex cream - it's put out by Bayer, and it's great for relieving muscle pain (it's unscented, too) - but I can't seem to find an informational site for it outside of Canada! Looks like they sell the regular version on Amazon.com, but I get the maximum strength (purple tube). They must have something similar at your local grocery store/pharmacy.

[morea]

Virgo - tiger balm (http://www.painreliever.com/princeofpeace_t-31508.html) is really good too... but fair warning: NEVER put it on your legs within a few hours of shaving. Holy Dear God! :eek:

This stuff smells pretty strong, but it works really well. It's sort of like icy hot.

[tuliptree]

Mmmmm tiger balm. My dad used to use it after his martial arts classes (he's taken many many different styles over the years I never know what type to say). But I remember how it smells. It reminds me of a sweet soy sauce. Totally makes me feel like I am 5 when I smell it!

Virgo, there's lots of Yoga styles too, and not all poses require balance. I would recommend a low level yoga stretch after any type of exercise to help work the lactic acid out of the muscles! :)

[Virgo Nightingale]

I think it's a good idea to try to get some exercise on Sundays too... may I recommend cycling? ;)
Of course you may recommend cycling! I don't have a bike though. My fiancé's mother has a bike I could use, but being so short (and her of average height) I'm afraid the bike frame might be too big for me. I don't have the funds for a new bike right now. :( Perhaps after the wedding I can investigate that.

I have to be really careful with those kinds of creams and stuff with the fragrance allergy. It may say unscented, but still contain "masking fragrances" to hide the unpleasant odors of the base formula. I'll try to check them out and do some label reading when I go to buy tape for my toes. :)

[budafist]

I love tiger balm. I carry it in my handbag over summer (I'm allergic to mosquito bites).

[urstwile]

If tiger balm has a masking fragrance, they picked a pretty odd choice.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Ha. I actually did buy a little jar of it, I double checked the ingredients and there's nothing in it I should be allergic to. I may have to put a ton on on my right tricep area because that area HURTS (didn't want to put it on and show up for work all stinky). I can't bend my arm too far without wincing a little. I might have tore it a hair, so I'm going to take it easy on that arm for a bit. Otherwise, the second class was definitely easier than the first. :)

[tuliptree]

Way to go Virgo! Are you having fun in the class?

Keep it up and if anyone has something bad to say avocados, you'll be able to defend them with honor! :p

[Red Kittie Kat]

Just be careful Virgo .. My sister ripped the ligaments in her foot doing Tai Kwon Do and it took a long long time to heal and she had to stop doing it because no matter how tight she wrapped it would cause a lot of pain.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Just an update on the Muay Thai...

Still taking the class, and enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. The studio is closed this week for the July 4th holiday, so no classes this week. I'll probably try to get in a few push up/crunch sessions in in the meantime so I don't fall behind.

The results so far? I haven't lost any weight. BUT... I have lost about 5 points off my body fat percentage, meaning I've built some denser muscle and burned off some of the fat. I have noticed that some of my tighter-fitting clothes aren't so tight. :)

At this point, I really just want to maintain since I don't want to keep losing inches after I've been fitted for my wedding dress.

I shoulda done this sooner! :D

[tuliptree]

Alright Virgo!!!! So awesome!

Muscle is heavier than fat, so it makes sense that you haven't lost pounds. You're toughening up!

Me, I've been really bad lately, once again your post will inspire me to get myself going. My problem is that I work out at home and it's so easy to not be in a routine.

Hey, T-minus one month til your wedding eh! :)

[Tea]

Excellent! I'm back on a weight loss program myself.

[Virgo Nightingale]

My problem is that I work out at home and it's so easy to not be in a routine.
That's why the treadmill thing hasn't really done too much. It's so hard to establish a routine like that at home. Way too many distractions, especially with wedding craft projects all around my living room that I could be working on (while sitting on my butt). Not to mention the storage disaster that my basement is, meaning that the treadmill has become a Christmas tree storage device. :D

Hey, T-minus one month til your wedding eh! :)
5 1/2 weeks. Scary. :eek:

[tuliptree]

Wow, that sounds even like less time when you put it in terms of weeks! How exciting though!

[Red Kittie Kat]

way to go virgo!! :)

[Riya]

Try stretching out really well immediately after a workout. Then go home and take a really hot shower (you can start off with cool water if you are still all hot and sweaty, but then crank it up). That will really help with the muscle pains. It will also improve your flexibility.

[urstwile]

Good goin' Virgo! Woot! :)

[budafist]

Woot for a tighter meaner Virgo ;)