More Thai pads, less Pad Thai

Hey all,
One thing I think is important is to understand WHY you do what you do in training. Every school has their own reasons for doing or not doing something.

Here is a little insight into the pad work we do in class, for those of you that don't know.



Pads is technical training. It's the best technical training because you've got an interactive human target and you can hit as hard as you can.

It's because of this, you need to start at about 60% max power (get a feel for your partner and your own technique), but then you need to be going full power once you are in the zone.

Muay Thai weapons are designed to be thrown with intent, and in a real situation that is how your technique would come out anyway. So, pad work is the most important part of your class in terms of working technique. If you don't use the proper power, you won't be learning the extent of your technique.

Imagine getting in the ring having never hit the pads properly. How will your technique come out? You'll probably be both messy and tired, since you aren't used to going full tilt.

* a side note: proper full power doesn't mean being tense. It means being relaxed and letting your strikes go. Think about letting a rubber band fly, as opposed to throwing it in frustration (you can use all the muscle you want, it's less efficient to throw the band than it is to pull and fling it).



If you are making mistakes during pads: it's your partner's job to remind you about a hand dropping or anything else. It's also your instructor's job to come and feed you tips in increments while you hit pads. Keep hitting the pads with proper power and fix your technique according to the advice being given to you as you go along. Avoid wasting too much time. Work and correct as you go.

If there are glaring issues that can be fixed right away, your instructor will slow you down and go over them.

This will translate into partner-cross fighting drills. When you can hit the pads with proper technique and power, you'll be able to throw controlled techniques on your partner without compromising proper form. Many people don't want to hurt their partner in drills and end up using bad form when they do so. This is usually because they haven't properly worked the technique enough on pads/bags to control it yet.

Bag work is similar. The bag allows you to go as hard as you can and is a great tool in the absence of a pad holder for many different drills and exercises.

Watch your seniors or even videos of Thai's hitting pads/bags. They let their technique go and breathe out deeply with each strike.

Aaaand that's it. Keep in mind other schools may have different philosophies for their training, but this is ours.

Home (gym) work!

If you are looking to take your technique to the next level and build some extra skills, you should come early and do some bag work or drills.

Some of the students showed up today really early (before the 5pm class) and wanted to work on their kicks. I saw that they had a common goal and gave them some sets they could do together on the bag before class...and they each made some small improvements they took with them into class.



You'll see the fighter's do this often; they'll come in, warmup and do some work together

So come on in, grab a buddy and get working. If you are on your own or you aren't sure what you should be working on, just ask any of the instructors and we can steer you in the right direction :)

PS. A lot of students stay back after a class to work too. Feel free to ask someone if they are up for some post-class pads or drills! It's good for both of you

A Message from PC Nick Bautista

"Sawadee Khrap,

Just wanted to take some time out to thank you all for your support and hospitality at the club. York MT is truly a special place, and that is a rare culture for any Martial Arts club--the mark of a good club is the way they treat it's visitors/newcomers, and you guys have treated me like family from day one. Thank you for the warm greets, conversations, and curiosity in my classes!

Also, I wanted to clear up some confusion about some footwork technique.

On Tuesday, I had advocated a 'non pivot' during the cross punch and accidentally confused some of the yellow shorts.

I'd like to clarify this a little further so we're all on the same page...

Not pivoting on the foot when the cross is thrown is the goal, not necessarily the starting point. For beginners and yellow shorts, pivoting and turning over is fine, because it allows one to rotate the body easily.

However, as you progress, you'll find that Muay Thai power is generated when LESS is done.

That being said, as you progress to higher levels in Muay Thai, you'll find that your power is to be refined to it's most efficient state. The Pivot, becomes less of a pivot and more of a subtle turn, and over time, no turn is required at all, because the body and the hip suffices.

Again, apologies for the confusion, I meant to express a process of power generation defined by phases, as opposed to a hard rule.

Thank you for your genuine effort in training, you guys bring the best out of me!!"