Caring for your Boxing Gloves

With prices exceeding £60 buying your first pair of boxing gloves can be a daunting task, there are many types, sizes and styles on the market. You instructor will help you decide on weight and style but as a general rule you should always look to purchasing leather gloves, cows hide is better, go for a Thai brand and get a set of gloves towards the top end of your budget. 

Once you receive your new gloves you will want to look after them, this will ensure years of use. Throwing your gloves in your kit bag and forgetting about them will dramatically reduce the life expectancy circa 10 years down to 2 years. Looking after them is not a massive task, several minutes at the end of a training session and proper storage in essence is all that is required. 

The biggest killer of your gloves is sweat, you will sweat as your training and this will collect in your gloves. If you fail to dry your gloves bacteria will grow inside and a pungent sickly smell will permanently take root. Leaving sweat on the outside of the gloves causes the leather to crack over time.

Firstly you should always wear hand wraps, these will help absorb some of the sweat and can be easily washed, purchase some leather wipes from Poundland and regularly wiping the outer casing of your gloves will nourish the leather prevent cracking of the leather, get rid of all the sweat, blood and tears before allowing it to dry.

Drying the innards of your gloves is essential between training sessions, failing to do this will cause them to rot from the inside out. The best method is to place your gloves in a light airy room away from direct sunlight and preferably where there is a light breeze. This method is not always possible due to our climate, an airing cupboard can also be affective in this instance.

For those students who train 3-4 times a week drying using this method is not always possible. I find using silica crystals stuffed into an old sock to be the best method, the crystals absorb the moisture before any bacteria takes hold. Just remember to dry your stuffed socks on a radiator to recharge them!

Never put your gloves on a radiator or in front of a direct heat source, they dry too fast and will instantly crack. You might as well put £50 on the fire. Periodically I see facebook posts with people discussing the same topic and I wince every time I read them.

Don't put talcum powder inside your glove, it might temporally mask the smell but next time you sweat in them the talc will become a sticky gloop that you won't be able to remove. Never store bars of soap inside your gloves again this will only mask the smell. Never put your gloves in the washing machine / tumble dryer - firstly this will alter shift the filling altering the shape of your gloves rendering them useless and secondly the tumble dryer will overheat the leather drying it faster than the insides causing them to crack.

The final step to caring for your gloves is to store them in a large airy kit bag, allowing  the leather to breath is essential for longevity. 

Beetroot Juice - Natural Stamina Boost

Drinking beetroot juice can boost your stamina and athletic performance, scientific studies have confirmed.

One of the first such studies, conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter and published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2010, looked at seven men who consumed either 500 mL per day of beetroot juice or placebo for six consecutive days. On the last three days, the men's metabolic performance was tested as they underwent both low-intensity and high-intensity step exercises.

The researchers found that the muscles of the men who drank beetroot juice needed less ATP to produce the same force, meaning that their bodies needed less oxygen. This allowed those men to perform high-intensity exercise for longer before becoming exhausted, in comparison with men who drank the placebo.

In a similar study, beetroot juice was found the reduce the oxygen needed in moderate-intensity cycling by 19 percent, and to increase the amount of time participants could perform high-intensity cycling by 17 percent.

Naturally high in nitrate

Beetroot first attracted the attention of sports researchers because it is naturally high in nitrate (NO3), a compound that the body metabolizes into nitrite (NO2) and nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is known to help regulate muscle contraction, blood flow, the balance of blood sugar and calcium, and cellular energy use. It is also a powerful vasodilator that helps regulate blood pressure and inhibit inflammation. By expanding the blood vessels, nitric oxide increases the efficiency of oxygen in reaching the cells, thereby decreasing the overall amount of oxygen that the body needs.

Nitrite has also been shown to help prevent blood vessels from injury and appears to play a role in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

To test whether it was really the nitrate content of beetroot that was responsible for its stamina-boosting effects, the researchers conducted a follow-up study in which they proved that consumption of beetroot juice more than doubled the blood concentration of nitrates in participants. Other studies have shown that beetroot juice that has had the nitrates artificially removed does not provide the same benefits as natural juice.

Performance also improved

All these studies; however, suffered from an important flaw: rather than evaluating actual athletic performance, they merely evaluated how long an athlete could perform before becoming exhausted.

To compensate for this weakness, researchers performed another study in which participants were timed performing four kilometers and 16.1 km cycling tasks. All participants had rested for 2.75 hours before beginning the test, and had been assigned to consume either 500 ml of beetroot juice or the same amount of a nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo.

As expected, the researchers found that participants in the beetroot juice group completed the task significantly faster than those in the placebo group (11 seconds faster for the 4 kilometers task 11 seconds faster and 45 seconds faster for the 16.1 km task).

While beetroot juice is safe, inorganic nitrates like potassium nitrate can be toxic. Also, high-nitrate diets (including nitrates from beetroot juice) may interact with some pharmaceutical drugs.

Copied From: http://www.naturalnews.com/039599_beetroot_juice_stamina_nitrate.html#ixzz2emDyEAbf

Sealing the ring.

Sealing of the ring is a ceremony performed by the fighter once entered the ring and while still wearing his ceremonial Monkol and Muay Thai Boxing robe.

Thais believe that the ring contains a spiritual guardian who protects the fighters during the fight, fighters also believe that evil spirits and spells cast by members of the audience can also affect the outcome of the fight by affecting the judgments of the guardian. By sealing the ring the fighters are banishing the evil spirits and allowing the guardian to protect the competitors during the bout.

On approaching the the ring the fighter will climb onto the outside lip of the ring lower his head and bring his hands up to his head (hands together) offering a prayer. He will then lower his hands three times in a almost brushing motion onto the top rope returning to the prayer position each time.

He will then enter over the top rope, this is very important because you wouldn't want the most sacred part of your body to pass under anything.  Once in the ring the fighter should turn and face his corner, head bowing down and hands together he would offer a prayer to the guardian and ask for protection. He will then touch the corner three times at different heights lowest first and highest last with the final touch rising into the air. That is one corner sealed.

He will then put his right hand on the top rope and left hand high on his temple so he dosent gaze at the guardian or his opponent. Next he will walk anti clockwise around the ring sweeping with his lead foot with every step to brush the evil spirits out of the ring. He will repeat the bowing at each corner until he returns back to the start.

With the evil spirits banished and the guardian of the ring able to do his job, the fighter will then continue with the rituals and perform the Waikru (bow to the teacher) and Ram Muay (Boxing Dance) before the fight starts.

Mongkol - Ceremonial headpiece worn by fighters.

Whenever I'm at a Muay Thai show the ceremonial headpiece worn as the fighters enters the ring is always a discussion point. The Mongkol is a ceremonial and sacred headpiece made of intertwining rope, thread and silk. 

It is said that the Mongkol dates back to time of war where soldiers were not permitted to take personal belongings into battle. The headpiece would be made from personal possessions, maybe a lock of hair from their children or wife, maybe a cut of fabric from their clothing. The Mongkol would also contain prayers from family members and monks. A sentimental item to remind them of home and bring them good luck on the battlefield. 

Today the Mongkol is predominately owned by the instructor, given to him by his instructor and eventually passed down to the next generation once a worth successor has been chosen.  Its often taken by the instructor to the local Buddhists Monk who blesses the headpiece for good luck and protection in the forthcoming battle (fight). Its worn around the fighters head - Buddhists believe this is the most sacred part of the body and is said to represent.

You wear the Mongkol as you enter the ring to show respect to your gym, instructors and family members, your saying the fight is not all about you, your also asking to be protected in the ring by wearing a blessed item so close to your head.

Everyone should learn about the traditions and history of wearing ceremonial items when fighting, a head piece is only part of the ceremony, it could be classed as disrespectful if the other formalities were ignored whilst wearing the Mongkol for example not performing the Waikru or Ram Muay.

The Mongkol is very sacred and should be the centre piece of every gym, it should never come in contact with the floor or a persons feet and should only be touched by the most senior instructor, failure to follow these simple rules could make the Mongkol lose its magical powers and it would need to be re-blessed.

The Monkol is also known as a Mongkon or Mongkong. I guess the actual pronunciation has been lost in translation or perhaps its regional.

Health Benefits of Drinking Warm Water

Drinking warm water for most people is not part of their daily routine.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that few people understand the health benefits of drinking warm water. It is a good health practice to drink warm water on a daily basis because of its health benefits. Most people ignore warm water and always choose a glass of cold water. Below, we explore the health benefits of warm water.

Warm Water Health Benefits and Advantages:

• Warm water is very important when it comes to digestion and washing out toxins from your body.
• Drinking warm water makes it very easy to break down food and also help the process of digestion.
• When we eat food, the temperature in our stomach is generally high.  Drinking warm water during a meal helps in keeping most of the food in a semi liquid form to break it down and get released into the small intestine.
• Drinking warm water also helps break down oily food by making it easier to digest. Warm water breaks down solid food into semi solid and also helps food from concealing together.  This helps process of absorption and digestion on a large scale.
• Drinking warm water on hot days help the process of perspiration, which is very essential if you reside in hot areas.  Doing this will help you cool down and help your body to flush out toxins. 
• In addition to this warm water also helps in purifying the blood stream. Bowel movements stimulation is very vital for every body to maintain health.  Drinking a glass of warm water along with walking will help to stimulate bowel movements.
• Research has proven that drinking warm water helps with removal of toxic deposits from the nervous system. It is believed that these toxins if not cleansed and eliminated can have negative effects on a person’s emotions and thoughts.  Drinking warm water helps to purify your mind to maintain a balanced mental state.
• Warm water's biggest health benefit to an individual lies in the fact that it provides essential hydration to the body. Proper hydration helps in the removal of toxins and wastes from the body.  It also helps the kidneys to function.  Good hydration stands as a base for biochemical and metabolic processes in the body.
• Drinking warm water aids in reducing and killing harmful infections that you might suffer from.  Warm water increases the circulation to the gastrointestinal tract and also vitally decreases the amount of mucous in mucous producing tracts of your body.
• Drinking warm water eliminates harmful viruses and bacteria that reproduce and infect our body. When you heat up water, it makes sure to force out all the dissolved gases.  Heating the water in India is useful to remove or kill any bacteria that may be in the water.  
• Warm water or hot water helps preserve safe drinking water by storing it in a sterilized container. Warm water or water in general is a zero calorie hydrant which does not make you add on any calories. Drinking warm water helps burn calories to aid in weight loss.  However, cold water generally burns more calories but warm water also does help in burning calories.  Because water is pure without any chemicals, caffeine, or sugar it is the best drink for health.
• Drinking warm water topped with honey and lemon helps reduce congestion and keeps you hydrated when you are fighting a cold. Warm water is the best homemade medicine to help fight a bad cold.  You could either drink it or gargle it with some salt in the warm water. This also helps to prevent a sore throat. Vitamin C has long been believed to provide quick relief for the common cold. Obtaining this essential vitamin through warm water and lemon can add other benefits as well.
• Drinking warm water soothes the throat, prevents dehydration and can help break up chest congestion. Adding honey to warm lemon water for extra soothing relief.
• Other health benefits from drinking warm water with lemon include improving and cleansing the urinary tract.  This will aid in flushing out any bacteria from the urinary tract and also helps speed up recovery.

Taken from:- http://www.360living.in/article/health-benefits-drinking-warm-water

Thai Boxing Linament (Thai Oil / Thai Cream)

The Application of Namman Muay Thai Boxing Liniment or Oil.

Boxing oil or liniment is for the sportsman who needs extra help in keeping his body in tip top condition both before and after exercise. This pleasant smelling liniment provides quick and soothing relief for joint and muscle aches and is also effective in relieving pain attributed to overexertion, back pain, stiffness arthritis and the usual strains & sprains.

Its real secret power is realised when the liniment is used as the lubricant for the prefight massage often associated with full contact martial arts. Thai oil quickly warms up large muscle groups, loosens stiff joints and relieves tension in the shoulder and neck.

Thai Oil or liniment has been used in Thailand for generations and although predominately associated with Muay Thai Boxing it’s now widely used by athletes around the world.

It has even been suggested that the oil containing amongst other ingredients Methyl Salicylate can actually aid performance in the ring. Methyl Salicylate is a natural product derived from the wintergreen plant an evergreen shrub.

The oil possess a deep penetration formula that is easily absorbed by the skin. It works by acting as a mild irritant to the skin increasing the blood flow to the region and also the muscles located below the skin area. The pleasant menthol aroma opens up the nasal passage allowing easier breathing resulting ultimately in better oxygen absorption – essential for those about to take on strenuous activity.

To apply the oil, firstly ask your partner to lie down on a massage table, if not available use the floor and ensure that they lie on a towel to prevent the liniment seeping onto other surfaces. Apply a good tablespoon measure of Thai Oil to the back of your partners and the hands of the masseuse, don’t scrimp at this point. Working from the neck down lightly work the surplus oil around the fighter until the back and shoulders are covered. Repeat this process for each arm and both legs before returning back to the neck.

Unlike normal massages where relaxation is paramount a prefight massage should stimulate the muscle groups and energise the fighter with a more rapid dynamic massage firstly concentrated on the areas that will be shortly working hard during and secondly the areas likely to face trauma during the fight.

Thai liniment is very affective at numbing pain associated with muscle trauma including twisted ankles and bruising, to treat these areas again don’t scrimp on the measures, cover the affected areas and massage deeply. You will feel a cooling sensation followed by heat. Repeat the process as and when required.

Standing Order Confusion

I thought I'd blog about another pet hate of mine.

As a reward to loyal students who train at our gym we offer reduced training costs if they set up a Standing Order. We offer this because its cheaper for the student, easier for the student and helps us avoid costly bank charges when we pay cash into our account. It allows us to budget. Not to mention the time saved for the instructors who have to get the money to the bank before certain deadlines.

Standing orders can only be viable for our students if they remain in tact, cancelling them when you go on holiday for example is not acceptable - the gym still needs its bills paying in your absence. If you want to work out if a Standing order is for you multiply the amount of classes you attend each week by the price of your class. If the amount is more than the standing order price then its for you.

Don't get confused with a direct debit! We still want you to remain in control so to put your mind at rest :-

A standing order is an instruction a bank account holder gives to his or her bank to pay a set amount at regular intervals to another's account. A standing order is NOT contractual.

A direct debit is a financial transaction in which one person withdraws funds from another person's bank account. A direct debit IS contractual and requires a direct debit mandate form to be completed.

What is Respect?

Respect, wow I've really picked a huge subject here!

So what is respect? This would be an easy answer if everyone admired and respected the same traits. Some people cheer at what I consider to be barbaric men and chastise fair and honest men. Kindness is often described as weakness and being cold blooded as something to be desired. So to try and answer the question what is respect may be a bit optimistic.

Wikipedia's definition of respect is very ambiguous and in my opinion fails to get the meaning across so I believe its down to personal interpretation.

Personally, I respect people who can teach me something, People who have achieved a personal goal, people who are truthful. I respect people who are focused. I respect people who give more than they take. I respect people who know who they are. A person doesn't have to possess all of these traits rolled into one in order for me to respect them, I respect people on a individual basis. Its difficult to get your head around and its different for everyone.

Anyone who demands respect is often getting confused with tolerance, they lack the first golden rule - respect must be given in order for respect to be received.

Respect for yourself

How can you understand respect if you don't respect yourself - be confident, strong, determined, look after yourself, stay fit and healthy, lead your life as you would like others to.

Respect for your family

It goes without saying, your family brought you into this world they cared for you when you were most vulnerable, they may have let you down since but without them you would not be here.

Respect for your teacher

Knowledge is paramount, without increasing knowledge the human race cannot move forward. Your teacher is the gateway to knowledge.

Respect for other people

Act in a way that you respect other people, understand that people have different outlooks and beliefs and accept that we are all different.

Respect for property

You will have property, a phone, a computer, a car, a house or whatever!! How would you feel if your property was defaced, broken or damaged.

Respect for rules

Without rules we would live in a lawless society, we should obey rules at all times even if we disagree with them in principle.

Respect for differences

Differences equal diversity, the world would be a boring place if everything was the same.

Respect for the environment

In return for respecting the environment the environment will look after us, its not rocket science.

There are some scenarios that have unwritten rules associated with respect, you call a school teacher 'Sir' because its perceived the right thing to do - you are giving him respect! We should respect those in a position of perceived authority. A police officer should be respected because of the job they do, in return they look after us. The same applies to most employment situations, A shop keeper - in return for their service, payroll clerk because they process your money..

So is respect attributed to giving in order to receive something? No, respect can be probably closest described as doing the right thing in each situation.

In Martial Arts respect is commonly used and is sometimes confused with etiquette, both are very important and intrinsically linked. Again there are many unwritten rules in Martial Arts all considered respectful for example you always address an instructor by rank or a generic title like sensei or kru, this stems back to when hand to hand combat was used in the military.

 The systems of unarmed combat that people study throughout the world were not designed to be conducted like a spinning class where you say hi to Dave, Jon and Marcus before stepping on the bike. To make this subject even more complicated, Respect and Etiquette are also linked to formality they all overlap and its difficult to differentiate between them.

So bowing to your instructor or senior student is a formality and Martial Arts Etiquette and if performed considered respectful. Bowing before entering the mat to train is a formality to show respect for the training hall, It also shows respect for all those coming before you and shows your instructor that your leaving your ego at the door and your there to learn.

There is a general level of respect that should be transmitted between those that we train with.  We have to respect each other; this is absolutely vital. We are punching, kicking, grappling, throwing, and doing other techniques that derived from the ancient battlefield onto each other. If there isn't mutual respect we will be seriously injured.  If we do not have the proper respect for each other we might not take on the task with the correct level of seriousness required.  Mutual respect is so important in the martial arts and it must not be understated. Formalities like bowing are used to create this mutual respect as well as indicating that both parties are ready.

Rank deserves additional respect, the more people learn about an art the more respect that person warrants, a complete beginner should as a form of etiquette bow to a higher graded student because that person is not only to be admired because of an increased knowledge and ability in technique and form but also because they have become models of humility and respect within the training environment - a black belt is an example to other students.

The same applies to outside the gym, someone who has become a model citizen and treats others with humility, who applies etiquette and formality to everyday life and has something to teach, a person of authority should be treated with utmost respect. The respect you chose to give depends on the person who you are offering It too, a simple thank you or a bow will be at your discretion.

Martial Arts Drifters

I have only ever trained at one club. It was a club recommended to me by a friend and the only Muay Thai gym in the area. As I got into my training I was made aware of satellite clubs all run by the same chief instructor. I increased my training to include all three different venues each week, although all run under the same umbrella organisation, each gym had a different instructor. Over the last 15 years (98-13) my involvement in each club grew and in 2010 the club was left for me to run when my instructor decided to leave for family / work commitments. I decided to keep the 'non for profit' ethos and expand the good work that had been done since the club opened in 1986.

Over the last few years I've noticed more and more people who have no commitment come to our gym. The first type drifts from gym to gym, the second type drifts in and out of training, some train wherever there is a class on irrespective of what it is or the credentials of the instructor, mixing up different arts and mastering non. Others pop in when they've got some spare cash and disappear shortly after - These ‘Martial Arts Drifters’ make my blood boil.

Anyone who has been at any gym for a period of time will have met a drifter. Type one is usually recognised by the different shorts, the know it all attitude, ability to turn any instruction into their own interpretation and lack of respect shown to other students whilst training. Everyone has one friend whose social networks are full of pictures / updates of 'it' in different gyms as if this is normal behaviour - it may have become normal but its not right. Type two is more difficult to spot, sporadically appearing usually around gradings or large scale activities.

This attitude to their club is in part is why many people tend to clash with my views of why I have a problem with Martial Arts Drifters, I hope this blog helps to educate you as to why I say "I can't stand them".  Firstly I've been burnt too many times to feel anything other that loathing for these people, I've befriended and trained these people for years often correcting mistakes inherited from other drifting adventures and helping them with personal goals. I now find myself as an instructor reluctant to work with new students until I feel they are showing sufficient commitment to the club this is a failing on my behalf. Despite a higher guard from me I'm still periodically scalded and left annoyed when those I've spend a great deal of time working with drift away especially when they leave with no face to face communication.

I believe strongly that I have been taught well, not only in my art but also in the etiquette connected with Muay Thai.  I wouldn’t for example even dream of wearing shorts to training from any other gym. I wouldn't turn up for training without wearing the correct club uniform and grade, I wouldn't talk over a senior student in the gym, and as a student I would always ensure that I communicate absence with my instructor - is this not basic manners?  Perhaps that might seem a little over the top to some people, but to me, failing to follow these basic rules is simply disrespectful. I believe this statement 100%  "My gym supports me by giving me knowledge, so I do the same for them by buying and wearing their gear, listening and respecting the instructor"

There are many forums where this topic is debated, most of these keyboard warriors miss the point, they are fighters that want to make a name for themselves and in their opinion they should be able to take what they can from as many people as possible in order to achieve their goals. I can understand their perspective but the point is they are missing one of the core values of Muay Thai - Loyalty. From these forums I get the impression that people don't like the idea of 'belonging' to a gym or instructor its apparently an ego thing.

As a gym owner I see it from a different point of view, I have a responsibility to you as my student to help you achieve your goal, I give you my time, finance your progression often personally! I pass on my knowledge and want you to achieve your goals as much as you. No two instructors are the same nor are two gyms, training at another gym will simply undo the hard work that I've put into you (The other gym doesn't know your strengths or weaknesses) when you return I will need to spend time correcting any changes that have happened.

It is difficult for me to see how a student can expect to grow and develop in their arts when they are unable to stay in one place. Instructors make huge investments of work, time and heart in order to build their students, and to walk away from that would be not only quite offensive, but a waste of time and down right disrespectful especially if this person has desires to become a fighter and has taken even more of his instructors time trying to achieve this ambition.

I have noticed a cycle of events leading to the beginning of the type one Martial Arts Drifter.. The student always starts being genuinely and whole-heartedly loyal to their gym, they help promote, fundraise and quickly become part of the furniture. This period can last for anything from a few months to a few years. However, I often see cases where the student becomes less active in training for one reason or another, excuses start to flow and they are often caught out for telling lies. One particular students family members were so sick he was unable to train on 10 separate occasions but analysis of attendance data showed they were sick only a Thurs - suspicious? The drifter is then distracted by delusions of grandeur, they’ll start spouting bull shit like 'their is no point doing interclubs, I wont learn anything', They’ll look for holes in the training offered by their own gym. Perhaps they’re not getting enough clinching even though they have never asked for it, or there aren’t enough sparring partners for them event though they don't attend fight training, or they’re simply bored with the routine despite being given the change to change. Once they’ve found those holes, they will then convince themselves that they would be better off not training, not paying training fees or worse still start training elsewhere, and make a move.

The type two drifter is also swimming in self importance and a great excuse maker, everything from lack of money to the dogs died have been offered as a reason for not training, one thing that's certain is that the type two drifter lacks the ability prioritise his life. He dreams of achieving his goal but doesn't see the gym or instructor as part of the path he must take. He will offer a lack of money excuse and brag of spending £100 on alcohol during a Saturday night, he may even ask for credit because training is what he wants.

Many of the Martial Arts Drifters go on to brag about how superior life has become since leaving the club or missing a few sessions, the bull shit they have spent months concocting is now being believed. This is a back-handed insult to the time and effort put in by the club and instructor. This cycle continues, they find another passion, before often moving on to another one shortly after. However, more often than not, those people want to return to their original gym at some point. The chances are that if you are one of these people, your gym would rather let you go. That’s not to say that there would be any animosity surrounding the issue, or that you would be kicked out, but as an instructor I'd be much less willing to invest my time into building you up again or correcting mistakes gathered on your drifting journey if I remember that your likely to do the same again. It’s not quite worth it.

If you do your homework before joining a club then you will know that the gym is the right place for you however if you made a mistake and its just not right for you by all means, seek training elsewhere. However, I’d urge you to think at great length before you do so. There may be genuine reasons for which you need to move on to another gym, but the chances are your suffering from an inflated ego, both type one and two suffer from this, you miss the point of training, you want something different in class but don't have the balls to speak to your instructor even on a friend to friend bases - this leads you to believe that you somehow don’t need your gym anymore and you either drift to another gym or drift in and out of training when you get a whiff of change.

Many of my students have been approached by people trying to convince them to train at other gyms, this usually starts on social networks, by the 'friend' telling them that their gym is much better for various reasons, the actual reason for this communication is jealously - your friends made a mistake in choosing the wrong gym and by buddying up with those who may question them in the future they are less likely to be found out. There have however been times where I’ve not felt passion for my own training, the simple solution is to decide what you want from training, fighting? Qualifications? Fitness? and work to achieve it. I would like to think that my students would never dream of training or fighting under anyone else or wouldn't get despondent with our club, to me, it’s simple. That’s just loyalty, a value that unfortunately, often seems to be overlooked.

One of the great things about our club is the family atmosphere that surrounds you when you’re in the gym, and even more so when your out socialising. It’s always nice to feel part of something, and the bonds that form amongst the people in and around the gym are hard to forget for those that experience them. I would like to think that it would feel wrong for my students to train with anyone else. I would like to think my students would want a trainer who understood them or to whom they were close to - I suspect I will be proven wrong time after time.

As a fighter, you can’t build success on your own, and it’s important to remember those who have helped you to get to where you are. It’s not about who seems to be offering the best deal at a certain time, it’s about who has built you, trained you and supported you, and will continue to do so. I find that most experiences are always what you make of them. If you put yourself into something with your whole heart, others will, too; that is when you start to achieve

The Sparring Tit

One rule in our gym that has its roots in the history of the club is that sparring must be controlled with no wild swinging and the contact level must be light and respectful. People who train with me are from many different walks of life, including students from a professional background, Solicitors, Doctors and Senior Management etc, These people will realistically never get into the ring and won't risk getting bruised while doing their hobby as it could jeopardise their careers.

Sparring should be considered a rehearsal for your fight, its an opportunity to learn what techniques work for you and practice fundamentals such as movement and distance. It is not the chance to decide who is stronger, nor the opportunity to practice how effective techniques are on your training partner.

Reading social networking sites where many of our friends are members of other gyms across the world, I'm continually confronted with statuses describing training knockouts and how they kicked ass while sparring, and not to mention pictures of injuries displayed as trophies. This is the worst way of learning, slowest way of progression and as far as I'm concerned should never be condoned. To knock someone out you inflict brain damage upon them, if your knocked out you need time for your brain to heal before continuing, knocking someone out is irresponsible and dangerous.

Your sparring is a time for learning and honing your skills only. The biggest mistake for people to make is trying to hit your opponent with power, whether this is through lack of experience, an attempt to impress your instructor or through frustration its wrong. It makes people avoid you and quite frankly just makes you look like a tit.

If you want to punch or kick at full pelt start on the bags, going hard during your rehearsal will only make your opponent retreat, he wont retaliate and will do the least he can get away with just to survive the round. Apart from looking like a tit and losing friends your victory against a survivalist will lure you into a false sense of security, you will think your really hard and in reality your not - your a bully. You will only get used to your opponent backing off and this wont happen in your real fight and you wont have the knowledge to deal with an opponent attacking you.

When sparring you should work to about 40% of your theoretical maximum also bearing in mind that other factors are important like size, weight and experience. Training at a reduced power will allow you or your partner to analyse why you got tagged and how to prevent it happening again. It will allow you to try different techniques and learn distance, reaction timing and ring craft.

Think.. If your actions could cause someone else to take a step backwards while inflating your ego, your progression will be limited, you will lose respect and friends and most of all you'll be branded "the sparring tit"