It was 630 now. Muay Thai started at 630. I woke up late. I wasn’t surprised though because I went to bed at 2am.
I debated what to do next. Should I get up now and arrive late at Muay Thai? Or sleep in and arrive on time for the afternoon session? I thought about it for 10 min. I hadn’t had a full night’s rest. It’s three miles away. I had to bicycle there. The session was three hours long. But I wanted to keep my own commitment to attend the morning session. I left for Muay Thai right away.
I arrived 30 minutes late. Only one person was there–an instructor. Everyone else was out for a 10km run. The instructor asked me if I ran already. I said I biked 5km here. He told me to jump rope. So, I jumped rope until the group returned. I did about 500 rope jumps. I knew my calves be sore tomorrow.
The group returned. There were three distinct groups: Thai men (all instructors and fighters), Thai boys (all future fighters), and foreigners (men and women–there for the fun).
A Thai boy helped me wrap my hands with two, white, long cotton cloths. The wraps help prevent fingers and wrists from bending the wrong way and help pad the knuckles.
An instructor taught me my first combo: left punch, right punch, left hook. I practiced this combo against the air for about 30 minutes. Then the instructor called me into the ring. I put on boxing gloves and climbed over the ropes.
The instructor taught me how to kick. It’s a high kick to the upper rib cage, right under the under arm.
He shouted out moves and I hurled myself at him.
“Kick! punch! punch! kick! elbow! knee! kick! kick! kick! kick!”
And again.
And again–slightly different combos each time.
“Now 10 pushups.”
We repeated that routine three times.
“Go practice now,” he said, motioning over to the body bags. 30 minutes later I was back in the ring for another whoopin’.
The tops of my feet turned red. My shins both developed large bruises. Two of my knuckles rubbed raw.
Then the owner told me, “You come back at 4!”
Oh man, I thought, I have to come to both sessions each day? This is too much too soon.
I felt exhausted. I rode home much slower than on the way there. I got home and felt I may be sick. I napped. I did not set an alarm for 330pm. If I woke up in time, then I would go. Otherwise, no.
I woke up at 330. But I felt sick. I debated whether to return. I wanted to get my money’s worth. And maybe a good night’s rest would take care of my health.
The ride to camp was hot and had lots of traffic. It took longer this time. I was running on E. I got to camp late. It was a different crowd: no Thai boys, and the foreigners all looked like they were fighters. I noticed: the morning session is for the “boys” (and newbies); and the evening session is for the “men” (including a fierce woman).
I did some rope jumps, and got in the ring. My right shin was killing me. Every kick was painful. And I was out of energy. One time in the ring was enough for me.
I sat down on a bench and chatted up some foreigners. We bonded over how sore we were, and how it takes time to acclimate to a new sport.
I bounced an hour early and went straight to bed. Maybe I could return tomorrow if I felt okay.