Michelle Nicole

So, question, how are you stretching your calf out ? Reason I'm asking as I am also hypermobile and have had similar sensations. It turned out to be that I wasn't stretching the Achilles part at all. It took a few weeks of stretching and massage and correcting how I stand to get it working without pain. (I have high arches as well and would end up rolling my foot inward when standing and stepping.)

Honestly, it's probably the footwork that was my favorite. Like, it just clicked. And I got the opportunity to use some of it today. Saturday is flow spar day, and I was able to pair with the pro fighter at our gym. She is short like me (which is also rare to have someone to work with that is my height.. everyone else is like 5'8 or taller) (I'm 5'3) and so it actually challenges me more because I'm so used to working with taller people. And she kept getting into my space faster than I could react. It's always been that way. But with the explosive footwork, I was actually able to get a couple shots on her for once. That and the Dutch Rush worked really well, too. Like, I just had the biggest grin on my face when I was finished with the realization that the stuff I learned at the seminar could be used in application. I even texted my husband when I got done and told him how excited I was. He, of course, doesn't understand, but considering how bad this week has been otherwise, it was such a satisfying feeling. I will post a link to the blog post once I get it written up.

Okay, feedback on the seminar... FUCKING AWESOME. I was soooo nervous about it. Up until the point we got started my anxiety was through the roof. But looking back, it was well-organized and well taught. I honestly could not have asked for a better experience. We did start a little late, but it was understandable being that a majority of people probably came from out of town. I thought I was one of the farthest, but turns out there were a couple people just south of me. (I live in North Carolina.) --- But, alas, an overview: Introductions. Warm-up, shadowboxing. Started with the basics, footwork. Brief practice of the movements. Then she talked about explosiveness, which she is known for. Moved into learning how to explode, forward, backward, and side to side. (Each drill was probably 10-15 minutes a piece.) Learned the Dutch Rush. Inside, outside, go. (She may have called it something else, but this is what I heard/what the literal movement is.) Rush on rail, hit one rail off. (Lots of train metaphors. Surprisingly helpful.) Controlling space. This one is a big one for me, as I'm short and have a difficult time with this in sparring. I forget that I can use angles to help control my space. Basic point being there is a "V" of green space (or good space) and it goes from your shoulders out into a V. Don't let opponent/partner get past your shoulder. When trying to get close for elbows, step into the person's space. You can use any movement, but you have to step in. IE, Dutch Rush. When hitting with someone taller, step off line/rail. Catching a switchkick and sweeping. When someone Dutch Rushes you, do J's or step and then cut. Spinning Back Elbows. Question and Answer session. I asked a question. It was a humbling experience. From my Facebook post about it : "I was given the chance to ask Tiffany a question while there. She had already brought up her elbow surgery in another person's question, so I immediately latched onto that because a year post-surgery from my shoulder and I'm still having issues. I asked her how she dealt with the frustrations of coming back from something like that. Answer ? One step at a time. Go after little goals. Don't get overwhelmed by the bigger picture. I'm not sure what miracle answer I was hoping for, but she told me the truth that I've been staring in the face for quite some time. Guess I'm one of those people who just has to hear it so many times before finally getting it. Lesson learned." --- I know there's probably a couple things I missed. This is the first time I've taken notes during a session so remembering to take them down was difficult. Also, we were constantly doing something. I only got one quick video of the end. There was only time to learn and practice on the go. For those who DO decide they want to go to a seminar, I highly recommend going. But, in conjunction with that, I also recommend: DRINK WATER, before, during, and after. I came home the next day, 10-11 hours in the car and hardly drank anything and only drank my normal amount the day of. Tuesday and Wednesday I was so incredibly sick and dehydrated, it was horrible. I'm still reeling a bit from that today. TAKE NOTES, while the person is speaking about the drill. Water breaks weren't really offered much, so note taking had to be done on the fly or from memory. Hence why I missed a few things. But I'm sitting here trying to remember everything and I can't. Notes have saved the day. PICK YOUR PARTNER ASAP. Set the tone of the seminar for yourself. I'm incredibly shy in person, and it took a lot to get out of my comfort zone and approach someone my height to work with. I ended up having an awesome partner who was also patient with me as I still struggle with movements sometimes. SMILE. Why? Because while you're learning, you also need to have some fun. Three hours is a long time to frown. And if you make mistakes, laugh it off. You're learning, it happens. I kept getting frustrated in the beginning because I wasn't immediately getting it. But, it's also a learning process. ALSO, Kudos to Kate for putting this thing together. I know it can't have been easy, and I commend you for it. PS, I am working on my blog post for all of this. It might take me a while as I'm a slow writer.

That makes sense Sylvie. Now that you say that, I can relate to that general awareness becoming better. Before I had zero body awareness, but slowly I'm becoming more aware of where I'm at, though nothing in particular has gotten better over anything else. Maybe that's why Coach has been giving me compliments where I felt he was full of it. I still feel super weak though.

For me, I'm scared of re-injury, so I don't go as hard. Especially when drilling. That's what got me into this mess in the first place. The one thing I am grateful for is that my lower body is substantially stronger. But I'm still struggling with distance judgement and stepping out enough. Or even stepping forward. Like when we're doing light sparring, I'm afraid to use my left side at all, so I keep switching to southpaw to feel and then orthodox to go after someone. It's really bizarre.

I know that since I started back training it's gotten a little better, but it still feels like I'm missing something when I'm working on it.

No. You're not the only one. My arms and punches used to be pretty even in strength and power. Since I tore my labrum, I'm a year since surgery almost and I still can't do very many push up and range of motion isn't much either.

okay, so my gym had a surprise last minute short seminar thing last weekend and I decided to use it as my practice for when I write my experience down later this month. I had one friend read it and say that there wasn't enough detail. any other feedback is welcome. http://crazyallyrose.blogspot.com/2016/01/muay-thai-seminar-1215-united-thai.html

Lobo, I watched some of her fights after I saw your post. She just breaks people down. It was pretty wicked to watch. Sylvie, I'm actually trying to talk my mom into going with me. I'm hoping she does, because then I'll have someone I can immediately babble to about it. She won't understand it, but I know she'll listen. I have a friend who has also asked me to write about my experience when I go. I will definitely be sure to write it down and share. And Kate, thank you for your response! I got your email as well. I didn't realize it would be an interactive thing, which is so awesome. I am so excited I can literally not concentrate on anything because I can't stop thinking about it. My only question, which is probably slightly silly, is do I need to bring gloves and handwraps ? I am mentally jumping up and down with excitement, like a little kid in a candy shop. Is it time to go yet?

Plantar is excruciating and an even bigger pain to deal with, so I am glad you don't have it.

I'm in agreement with Micc and Sylvie. Another possible thing is plantar fasciitis. Also idk what your day job is like or what types of shoes you wear, but I pronate super hard on my left foot because one leg is shorter than the other. And I've found that when I go to kick or move in general I start to pronate and supinate (i think that's what it is called, where you walk on the outer edges of your feet) to compensate for putting stress on one side too much. I would definitely look into an overall evaluation though, because it could be something as simple as a misalignment. Ie, when my hips move because my hip flexors tighten on one side over the other, I'll have back, knee, calf, and foot problems. Also, one last possibility I can think of is a situation similar to turf toe. A few months back I stepped into a hole and bent my toes too far back, and the pain from it was killer. I couldn't walk on it for a few days. But when going up on your toes, maybe you're bending them too far back possibly? Or it could be from kicking the bag. I've had that fuck up my toes a lot. My second toes knuckles are really big now from repeat injury, and still hurt to walk on occasionally.

Goals.. -lose weight from being sick -stop being sick -first fight -conquer that fear of failing and fear of being hit in the face -find a job closer to home so I can train more often

So I signed up for a seminar in January. It's a muay thai seminar with Tiffany van Soest (sp?), and though I don't follow her or know much about her, it seemed like a pretty cool opportunity that wasn't a huge cost and wouldn't be difficult to get to. But, I've never been to one of these things and have no idea what to expect. Has anyone ever been to one ? What happens, what's it like, are they helpful, etc ? Any advice or words of wisdom would be awesome.

This exact question is why I had a shoulder injury to begin with. I torqued my arm so hard to swing my hips and legs around I tore my labrum. Since then I have consulted a couple different people about the arm thing. My coach at the gym says I have to, and a martial artist of 20 plus years says I don't, and that it's better that I don't, as it's almost an unnecessary movement. Idk whose advice to follow per se, but I am absolutely paranoid that I'm going to do it again and every time I go to make that movement on either side I think I subconsciously just stop myself from completing the movement.

For me personally, when I started to feel "off" it turned out to be a health issue in the long run. What helped restore me a little bit though in between everything else was actually taking a bit of a break from "heavy" training and cross training with yoga. Something to stretch me out and relax me and de stress a bit. So, maybe not over training as in too much, but maybe need to switch up the type of training you're doing and incorporate a restorative element ?