[Drawing the line with critique, criticism and commentary]

Thank you for all the amazing feedback guys.It's helped a lot.

I need to clarify though before I paint myself into a corner... I don't do microcorrections on every technique or anything, only usually when someone asks or they look frustrated when we're doing something... It's the shutting up once I start that's the problem lol.

I'll definitely take a look at the inner game of tennis, I know Sylvie also did a few videos with a round table on Patreon too, so may follow up with that.

Thanks again guys. "Khob kun krub"

[Drawing the line with critique, criticism and commentary]

 Thank you for the feedback guys. It's much appreciated.

@LengLeng I'll definitely keep your pointers in mind going forward.

@MadelineGrace I completely understand what you're saying. I've just passed the year mark with Muay Thai, and as much or as hard as I train, I still think of myself as relatively "new".

Our Muay Thai classes are only run twice a week at our gym, but there are guys there who train K1 5-6 times a week and do Muay Thai on top, but I only do the Muay Thai classes so always feel a level below if that makes sense.

I think where I've watched almost 100 hours watching the Patreon videos though, there are small things I can contribute which they may not have thought or seen before and in most cases they havent, especially in the clinch.

I think I will just try to keep myself more grounded going forward, and apply what I know, and just throw the nuggets if someone has me in a dominant position and doesn't know where to go, or vice versa.

[Drawing the line with critique, criticism and commentary]

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I posted, but I've been meaning to ask this question to a broader audience.

Just where do we draw the line when it comes to critiquing someone, criticising, and basically commentating?

What I mean is, I am an overthinker, unfortunately this is a curse and a blessing as I can't turn it off, it's amazing for my work, but not so great when it comes to Martial Arts. I can critique someone, the snap pointers where you see your partner not twisting their hips on a round kick, or pivoting on a hook... But it seems whenever I attempt a constructive criticism as to why something isn't working by brain goes into overdrive and I basically start explaining it step by step as if I was telling myself how to do something, which the digresses into micro adjustments and eventually onto a full blown commentary... There are examples of it on this forum.

Extremely valid examples which I was called up on, which at the time I was writing seemed important, and relevant, but upon going back and reading after, I could totally see why I was called up on it and gave me a completely different perspective on what I'd written.

Where should I be drawing the line to just help my partner? But at the same time, no be stepping on toes of instructors etc.

Does anyone else have a similar problem with things like this? Especially if it is a subject which you are extremely enthusiastic about and have a tonne of observations which you think would benefit.

There will always be a point where help becomes hindrance, and at that point no on is learning anything. How do I keep things objective, and subjective when there is so much noise to filter?

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

I've been meaning to ask if that was you in the video lol.

Even though you're going through it all at an intensive rate, you are both doing great! I have no issues with inboxing you bits if I see you getting frustrated with yourself at anything. From what I've seen though, it's that "generating power from the hips" and the elbow tracking the hips which each person on the video struggled with.

Practice practice practice

keep up the good work guys !!

[Examples of Low Kicks in the Muay Thai Library]

 

On 7/1/2019 at 10:10 PM, Gibu said:

I've been perusing the muay thai library erratically, and I have noticed that a lot of trainers don't really cover lowkicks.

Pornsanae's the power of hooks and low kicks was amazing, are there other sessions in the library that are a must see on low kicks? What's your favorite one?

I believe the Hippy Singmanee - Developing Power has some nice low kicks in, and I know the Rambaa M16 Session covers them too.

[Sparring Advice: Facing a Pressure Fighter]

On 6/27/2019 at 5:52 AM, Tyler Byers said:

 Most of the times I have seen sparring get out of hand is when the two partners don't know each other outside of that setting. Someone feels like they get tagged too hard or starts to panic a bit and it just escalates.

I completely agree with this. The golden rule we have in sparring is "Leave your ego at the door". You shouldn't be trying to kill eachother, it's just not what sparring is for.

At times when it seems people are going too hard, our instructor makes us take shin guards off. It's amazing how quick people calm down then.

When it comes to sparring people who I know are better than me, or are known to be aggressive / pressure sparrers (if that's a word), I just think of one thing I want to achieve out of the round. Whether it be to land a combination we have drilled, or just land a knee. Something simple which I want to work on. From that point on, I've narrowed the room for overthinking and getting flustered, and can simply concentrate on trying to relax, and look for openings. Then, if it's going well, I can then start trying to make openings, and build from there.

It's a lot easier to build from a muted canvas than it is to turn down the noise from having so many options from the offset.

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

8 minutes ago, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

I think it's totally great to be offering support, but maybe, because Timothy is brave enough to be sharing video which will record things he feels are failures, by which we all can learn, it's best to not be giving too much "advice" from the crowd. These kinds of comments are super well-meaning, but they really don't help someone who already knows they aren't hitting the mark they want to hit, and putting it out there. Very few people post video of development. Sylvie gets lots of these on YouTube. We are all cheering Timothy on.

I apologise for going a bit overboard in my responses. I'll tone them down a bit. I only mean to encourage and empower Tim to get as much out of this as possible.

What he is doing is above and beyond the expectations set out by this project, and he is doing an amazing job.

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

There is a saying from Bruce Lee which we have in our Dojo "I am not afraid of a man who has practiced ten thousand kicks 1 time, I'm afraid of the man who had practiced 1 kick, ten thousand times" which is beautiful in in its self, but at the core of it he is saying the one who had practiced the one kick ten thousand times may only have the one kick in his arsenal, but it can come from anywhere, or from nothing at all. It is so finely tuned that no matter the situation, that kick can come with just as much technique and force from an offensive, defensive or neutral position.

Basically, what I'm saying (before I start rambling), it isn't a matter of doing a technique right or not being able to do it wrong, it's more a point of being able to use that technique out of nothing, or it being so automatic you practically don't know you're doing it until you've already thrown it.

In essence, your body reacting automatically to a trigger rather than you thinking "I'm going to throw this particular technique"

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

Hey Tim. Great work with this! I've only managed to watch the day one clips so far but wanted to comment on an observation I made in the tail end of day1b and through day1c while it was fresh in my memory.

With the punch you were working on, you are engaging your shoulder in the offset which is retracting from the movement of the hips. When you watch it back you will see it, but the moment your shoulder engages, your elbow comes out and away from your hips.

Another good example of this type of movement, if you have access to the Patreon Muay Thai Library, is Sylvie's session with Sagat, in particular when he is demonstrating his uppercut to the stomach. Your elbow stays almost flush to your hip and just tracks it, and it's the momentum of the hip which propels the punch out, which barely engages the deltoid and the bicep, and allows the tricep to accelerate the punch. Maybe try just tracking your hip with your elbow, to give yourself a feel for the movement, then allow the strike to come after?

Also, the footwork, and change in guard you were doing through the first video was beautiful. I noticed you getting frustrated at times, but just give it time, it's something that will come with practice, and probably from having to un-learn old habits.

Awesome start to the project. Looking forward to more.

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

Of the 4-5 times I've watched Sylvie's session with General Tunwakum, 2 things become especially clear in the Lertrit style. Breathing, and how you use your hips. I did notice the Generals feet the last couple of times I watched, and it's exactly like Sylvie's catchphrase... "So beautiful".

At the same time, you can see how quintessential these points are in its effectiveness. I.e. every attack is 100% economical, and is fundamentally developed to end a fight.

Can't wait to see more of this. Keep up the hard work

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

3 hours ago, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

We visited the General and Timothy today to drop off a tripod and a phone for hotspotting (with the help of our patrons). A photo taken of the General demonstrating, with Timothy looking on:

The general looking as focused and animated as ever. Can't wait for this series

[Discussion - Rambaa Somdet M16 Muay Thai Library Session]

I really enjoy the moments where he just stops everything in this one with "Muay Sai-Gon" (if I'm spelling / pronouncing that correctly).

You can seen in how he moves, as well as his millimetre precision on technicalities just how much and how hard he would train. The Burklerk segment was amazing, even being able to characterise him in his movements.

I also like the way he drills repetition with the way he teaches, not only that, but forcing them one after the other, letting the speed build the power while forcing you to figure out your balance and center after each shot. It is a genius way of drilling into your head what you have just learned, while also putting that pressure on to micromanage your feet and your defence to gain a solid understanding for what you're doing and why your are doing it.

[What is Your Favorite Technique?]

I have a special place in my heart for a long hook into low/quad kick.

Always puts a smile on my face, even if I'm on the recieving end

[Muay Lertrit Diaries - Coming to Thailand To Train in Traditional Military Muay Thai]

I'm sure you will do fine. I'm also really looking forward to following your progress with this, and like Kevin said, look at it like a conversation rather than writing a post to update people on your progress. 

You would be surprised how much you could Yammer on in a conversation if it was actually typed out

There is no right or wrong thing to say, and you will have a whole community of people behind you who believe in your ability 100% 

Most of all, have fun with it. It will definitely be an experience you will look back on with fond memories