[Question for Punches - What To Do When Facing Them]

It depends on the overall situation... putting up a tight strong guard and waiting for an opportunity to hit back is good; so is stepping out and away (quarter out and you can immediately kick them); so is backing up (to give yourself room to react); maybe a nice pushkick (or even a knee if there's a gap); or you can attack back. In my admittedly  limited experience I don't think there is an 'exact' way to react in this situation. I've used all of these reactions when my opponent is pummeling me vigorously. And same if it's me in the attack, and he has gone into a nice tight guard - how I continue depends on that particular moment in that particular session.

Just keep on sparring, and practicing, and watching fights and training sessions (whether professional stuff or other people at your club or whatever), and gradually you'll feel more confident and your body will start to do the reacting for you (maybe you're over-thinking it a bit!) It's also very helpful to film your sparring sessions and to watch them, and see how it's all playing out.

Main thing is to relax, smile, and have fun.

[Gift for a gym opening]

Sorry, only just seen this post - a clock with his logo on sounds nice, and can go in the office or gym, or anywhere. And it is useful, and can go with him anywhere if he moves. Or maybe a decent gym bag with his logo? But actually, I like the clock idea. Hope it goes well anyway.

[That's me out of action!]

An update on my poor foot: I have finally been discharged from fracture clinic. It's still not completely healed, but it's now as stable as it's going to get, and the last gaps and holes will fill in over time, and the whole bone will gradually tidy itself up. I had another long chat with my consultant about exactly what I do in MT, and he has again confirmed that there is no reason why I can't go back to full training now.

It still aches a lot mind you; and sudden steps sideways are painful. However I feel a lot more confident now that the damn thing won't just explode again! Today I even repeated the knee drill on the heavy bag - this time I managed to refrain from snapping anything.

I am now booking sessions with my trainer again; can't wait to get back to sparring.

[Injury may hold me back from my goal]

I know some of these posts do go back quite a while, but I was reading it anyway; and I have asked one of the Orthopaedic Surgeons at work about training etc with meniscal injuries.

Basically: meniscal tears never heal; they can't. Resting the leg may well stop any pain and ease symptoms, but any sort of impact exercise will make it all start up again. The damage will probably get worse with continued impact and action. Essentially, you have to decide whether continuing is worth it. Surgery is available (and getting better all the time - no more three months with a full leg plaster!) but it won't stop more damage being done in the future. You can either decide to continue training with such an injury and put up with the pain and wait until you're stopping your MT and then have surgery; or have surgery now and then have to have it again in the future (assuming by then you have any meniscus left!) Really, your best bet every time is to discuss it with your orthopaedic consultant - they know you, they know the extent of your injury, they can discuss your training wishes, and give you the best advice suitable for you. After all, they are used to working with keen marathon runners who aren't going to give up running; with horse riders who aren't going to give up riding; and martial arts fiends who aren't going to give up fighting.

Pain from arthritis is often eased by maintaining good leg fitness because the muscles help hold the joint apart and stable. I have inoperable (well, it was inoperable when first diagnosed 16 years ago, they could probably do something about it now) mashed up meniscus but I have found keeping good muscle condition helps enormously and I now (touch wood) hardly ever suffer from any symptoms. I've got stunningly flat feet too!

[Recovery Tips for Recurring Rib Injury?]

I would say get it properly checked out for a crack, muscle damage, or damage to the deeper tissues. Then give it a good rest and let it recover.

Then try and avoid getting hit there again! But definitely get it checked out.

[Learning to Speak and Read Thai]

I take my hat off to all your fine folks who have learned, or are trying to learn, another language!

Darina: I know what you mean about doing your best and everyone looking blank at you. Some years back I did a crash course in Arabic and learnt enough to be able to ask for directions etc. So one day in Cairo Himself, our friend and I were looking for a particular off-the-beaten-track museum. I approached (well, I was shoved towards!) a group of little old ladies who were sitting around, and carefully greeted them, then asked for the museum, which I knew was adjacent to a particular mosque. Blank looks. I repeated it. More blank looks. I said it all again, and then one little old lady went, "I'm sorry dear, how can I help you?" in perfect English! Cue gales of laughter all round.

Later in the same trip I tried to compliment a stall holder on his fantastic display of flowers and although he smiled appreciatively the rest of the group (who were all Egyptian or lived there and were fluent) collapsed in hysterics because it turned out that instead of saying, "They're beautiful!" I had said "You are beautiful!"

I sort of gave up after that, especially as whenever I tried to speak to my Egyptian friends they could hardly stand for laughing at my appalling pronounciation (laughing at me in a nice way, I hasten to add!)

[Any Bugs, Errors and Confusions?]

Thanks folks. Looks like an animated avatar won't work - so I shall redraw my frog from being just the first frame!

[That's me out of action!]

Well, the foot is still somewhat broken (the top part is still not healed) but it's all stable enough now that my orthopod has said I can return to normal life - go back to work, drive, start GENTLE exercising. Well, it only took three and a half months. Pffft.

It's quite uncomfortable still; and I must admit I'm terrified of flexing my foot and it all falling apart again. I've started adding some gentle jogs for a short distance when I go for my daily walk; it's rather flat-footed (I'm very flat footed anyway), and in sturdy supportive boots. Not exactly great technique, but it's a start.

Next week I shall try a few rounds on the heavy bag; I've been doing just a little each week to remind my muscles what to do, but without going onto my toes. However my situps and knee-based push ups (I can't put any pressure on my right foot) have come along a treat!

[Training whilst unwell]

Depends how you react to colds... if you're feeling lousy then skip 'proper' training and do a little quiet shadow boxing at home or something if you really feel worried about missing a workout; but there's no point in making yourself really ill by pushing yourself too hard when your body is busy using all its resources trying to fight off a virus. I know how frustrating it is to be trying to restart training and then having to stop again, but you're loving it - so there's no real reason to fear that you won't feel bothered enough to get cracking when you feel better.

Get well soon!

[Any Bugs, Errors and Confusions?]

I want to change my avatar from the standard anonymous octopus to a little animation. Can I do this, and if so, what format? I've made is as an MP4 but the website doesn't like it. SHould it be a gif, or can't I have a moving avatar? Thanks!

[Kem Muay Thai Gym Review (3-Month Stay)]

This is a really good review: informative and as impartial as a review can be. Brilliant. I'd feel quite confident going anywhere you recommended as a result. Thanks!

[Mental toughness]

Lucy: so what if you're not good enough? You're not planning on fighting for a living, are you; the idea is to enjoy yourself! Your new trainer obviously thinks you ARE good enough, and they won't put you forward unless you're ready, and you'll be placed against someone who should be roughly your equal, so the two of you won't be hopelessly mismatched.

As for injuries; well, injuries happen all the time, no matter what sport you do (or even if you don't do any sport). I understand your worries, but you have to just let them go. The referee and your trainer should make sure things don't get out of hand. I worry sometimes that by some freaky chance I get a good punch or kick through and hurt my trainer; but that's the job. Anyway, he's pretty damn tough!

I think when I get back to training again I may worry about hurting myself, but quite honestly it's not any potential injury that bothers me (as realistically the chance of a serious injury is very remote, and anyway I ride motorbikes and horses, so I have a high-risk lifestyle), it's my work's reaction if I end up with another prolonged period of sick absence (I do a physical job and cannot do it with a limb in plaster!) But then again, we're a long time dead, so we might as well throw ourselves into Life while we can.

If you want to do this, then you can. Believe it.

[Mental toughness]

Lucy: your previous trainer refused to carry on training you 'because you won't be good enough for a fight'? WTF?! So he's saying he's no good as a trainer then? It's one thing to gently let someone down by explaining that perhaps their ambition outflies their likely ability (dear me, have I heard that more than once in my life before!) but you don't then refuse to work with the person (unless it's to say, 'Try working with this trainer instead, perhaps they'll click better with you and maybe they can advance you more than I can'). Good for you not letting that wreck you, and picking up your training again.

Then go back to that original gym and beat the **** out of that trainer...

[2018 GOALS!]

I really really want to have a hard spar with someone I don't know (I can't get into a tournament and there's no chance for a proper fight, so I'll take what I can!) Lucy - depending on your weight etc and location, fancy meeting up for it?!

I'll settle for my training just going well without time out for health and injury (from other events) issues.

[Help with ego sparring / fighting]

You could either refuse to spar with her again unless she agrees to behave sensibly; or use sessions with her as an excellent opportunity to have a practice fight! Speak to your trainer - after all, part of his/her job is to referee this sort of thing and step in and sort it out if necessary. And it's just plain pig-ignorant of her not to touch gloves/shake hands/hug/whatever after sparring, however put out one is; very bad manners. Thinking about it, if she's getting angry then surely the trainer ought to stop things; isn't keeping control of your feelings all part of any martial art? I know my trainer spots me starting to get annoyed (ie frustrated) even before I do and tells me to control it and focus the energy.

Take care!

[Training gear smell]

I always used to use talc or baby powder on my new goatskin rugs to get rid of the smell - if it can shift goat, then I reckon dusting your kit with it ought to work!

Also: I wash my handwraps after every single use...I think that can help a lot too. I always hang my gloves out somewhere to dry in lots of air, and every now and again squirt the insides with febreeze, or similiar product. Could try squirting some perfume into them them instead. I wash my shinguards (they're the cotton variety) in a washing machine every week or two.

Stinky kit - yeurghh!

[Backing up in Sparring]

Practice stepping out sideways from your opponent...do it all the time if your natural tendency is to go straight back. Do drills whereby you step sideways and attack from the side every single time until you are doing it in your sleep! We also do lots of drills with stepping around a diamond or a square (which is also good practice for improving one's footwork generally). You can do it with a heavy bag too - get it swinging towards you, then step sideways and kick/punch it.

At least, I think that ought to help. My trainer does it with me all the time - get out of the attacker's way, attack them.

Think street fight.

Good luck.

[WHY fight…?]

Well, I adore training, and I adore sparring - and I would give my eye teeth for a fight, even at the most baby level. But there's precious little chance of me getting even an entry-level inter-club tournament bout. It's one of the reasons I've joined kickboxing classes, because at least tournaments for KB do exist in the UK for women.

I know what you mean though, about 'why' spar if you're not going to get a fight (either because one doesn't want to, or due to other factors such as lack of opportunity, age, weight, whatever). At least by training and sparring you stand a better chance if you get into an unpleasant situation in 'real life' (such as being grabbed by a person with wicked intentions, or in an attempted robbery, or something). I'd say training in any martial art has got to be a good idea for that alone. MT has not only improved my mental awareness, but also improved how I stand and walk, as well as toning my body generally.

I think women in particular can gain a lot from training and sparring because generally speaking a lot of women are not very physical - they might run, or do pilates, but don't often push themselves physically and mentally the way you do when sparring. That's got to be a good thing; to have physical power. I'm not finding this easy to explain - but the closest I think I can get is the feeling I got the first time I shot an arrow - all that power and force as the arrow shot across and hit the target, and that power came from ME. Yes, obvs the construction of the bow gave me maximum force for my pull, but it was still MY physical muscles that provided the initial energy. It was an amazing buzz. And the realisation of Wow, yes, I'm female, so I'm not going to be as strong as a male, but I CAN do this, I do have physical strength.

I am Woman, hear me Roar!

Besides which, there's no better feeling than landing a really good punch or kick onto a worthy opponent, is there!!! :woot:

[Boxing emphasis for first fight?]

I do think that straight boxing is a good exercise and practice as you can really concentrate on hands and moving your head, plus the footwork is always useful. But surely you don't want to be doing too much on it so close to a fight - unless perhaps your coach feels you all need a bit more work on hands? My trainer often has a few rounds with me each session that are straight boxing in order to concentrate just on hands (same as we'll often have a couple of rounds that are kicks only).

Good luck with the fight!

[Which martial art sparring is closest to a street fight?]

And come to think of it, street fighting is nothing like any form of sparring anyway. Street fights (generally speaking) are over in seconds - one or two hard punches/elbows/stabs and it's all over apart from possibly kicking any person who has been unfortunate enough to hit the deck. Anyone with any sense in a street fight will run for it at the first opportunity if they can (even the aggressor will generally run if the defender manages to get a good hit back). In sparring you don't generally leg it out of the gym after making the other guy reel. :smile:

[Which martial art sparring is closest to a street fight?]

None of them, unless you offhand know of a martial art which allows multiple opponents; the use of broken bottles, knives and furniture; no rules about not gouging eyes, grabbing genitals, strangleholds and so on; an opponent who may be extra-strong and aggressive due to stimulants; an opponent(s) who is much taller, heavier and stronger than you; and in which the aim of the game is to kill you. :pinch:

Krav maga maybe? After all, that was designed to quickly kill or completely incapacitate the victim (and thereby allow you to shoot them dead at your leisure). But I should think that the KM taught in clubs etc is pretty watered-down from the original military version, and so is going to be correspondingly less effective in the street.

[That's me out of action!]

I've been training for a couple of years now; some of the time on my own against the heavy bag, some of the time very intensively with my trainer.

At least I can still do core and upper body work, but even just standing right now is intensely painful (as is just sitting, if it comes to that).

It's a very bad fracture so I really will have to be careful and follow the surgeons' instructions as it will take a long time to heal. I may never be able to flex my foot properly again, so doing pushups etc in the future will be tricky.

[That's me out of action!]

Great...was training on my own today on the heavy bag; at the end did another set of knee kick drills...and got a super nasty stress fracture of my right foot. It's absolutely ****ed.

I'll be in plaster for the best part of two months; but with luck I won't need an op to plate it.

That's totally stuffed my training though. And I shall have to completely re-think how I train in the future; although in fairness it could have just as easily happened while running, lifting something heavy, or jumping off a kerb.

[What makes you happy during sparring/fighting?]

jacobT: yeah, we do a LOT of sparring. In our typical 2 hour session there will be pad work and technical work; work on a move that needs improvement or a new move; then usually a bit of 'play' sparring where we'll exchange kicks and blocks or something; then it escalates up into 'proper' sparring. We generally do an hour sparring of 4 min rounds with 1 min break. We often finish up with three or five rounds of fairly hard sparring to try and create a 'fight' atmosphere.

I train one-on-one with him. It's great. :woot:

[What makes you happy during sparring/fighting?]

Last week I managed to land a lovely knee right into my trainer's right floating rib during a clinch. I was so pleased (so was he) because I am rubbish at clinch and usually get chucked all over the place.

What else? Oh yeah, he was being deliberately super-awkward and really using every advantage he has over me, and I managed to pop one right round his guard and catch him in the ear. I was very pleased, because he really wasn't giving me an inch, and I felt I really deserved that hit!

I was also pleased that he managed not to break my nose when I made a horrible mistake and crashed in far far faster and more untidyily than he was expecting and he had no chance to pull the punch anymore than he does anyway.

And on our last session, right at the end of sparring, I caught him with a right kick to the head - yay! Mind you, it surprised us both...