The Bongo

Anything stitched can be restitched! Most cities have a cobbler/leather worker who can fit the required foam. I'd imagine that foam selection is pretty difficult.

The journey should change us. We should not travel a journey contrived for our convenience. I experienced similar working in the Middle-East. People had to live with 'face' and real social pressure, none was projected onto me, at least none that I understood. I love Sylvie's Muay Thai and her approach to fighting, the respect that she shows to the retired fighters and her coaches. Unfortunately, 'All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.' Money corrupts. All relations are social, but those mediated by money and social hierarchy are corrupted too. More power to Sylvie's project! Keep it real!

I'm more of a grappler too. It took me about three years to adjust my mind to Muay Thai. It's easier to feel swamped in something unfamiliar, plus large gloves feel all wrong when I parry or trap. I also found that I'd sink my weight when I should go light as an opponent gets close. Initially, I was only happy clinching or going for sweeps and trips. My style is still pretty unconventional but I can go a round with a smaller or less trained opponent and not get hit once now and then. Set up strikes with shovel kicks and low kicks, sweeps, and grabbing their guard. Glove blocks use your grappling skills too. Grabbing someones guard and using your knees is good too.

I guess you're in the UK? If so, do college. At your age it's free. As for after college, do what youth allows. Have a go at fighting. You pay for uni whatever age you are. Nothing wrong in doing something in uni in your mid -20's+. I did a second degree in my 30's. I would not have been held back by a career as a fighter earlier on. As you get older, you begin to regret the things that you didn't do, far more than the things that you did. Good luck in your fight career!

Whatever the art, only you can truly answer your question. I'm 49. I train twice a day, twice a working week. With no work I'd be fine training twice, but then I've always had decent stamina. I train 9 to 10 1/2 hours per week with a physical job of 20+ hours hard physical work. If you have a desk job, build your strength with resistance training. You'll be amazed at what you can do.

Your instructor is a fool. Pad holding is a serious technique in its own right. He should have taught you how to kill the power in a kick with movement.

Excellent thread. We are us. We should express this; whoever we are. Explaining how we can do this through the medium of a sport we all love is invaluable.