I tried Muay Thai for a month, not just for my own personal growth, but also to gather firsthand experience for my latest writing project, the “Belladonna” trilogy. In this ambitious endeavor, martial arts plays a significant role, and I wanted to immerse myself in the world of Muay Thai to truly understand what my characters would go through. Join me on my journey as I train at a Muay Thai gym in Chiang Mai, live with monks, learn to use weapons, and much more. Stay tuned for a new episode every 8th day of the month and be a part of my behind-the-scenes experience.
From my first day of real Muay Thai training, I quickly realized that this was no easy feat. Even during the warm-up, I struggled to jump rope for four minutes straight. My form felt sloppy, and my endurance was lacking. But despite the challenges, I remained motivated to improve, and as I continued my training, I saw progress. However, as is often the case, something always goes wrong, and I faced setback after setback. But with determination and perseverance, I pushed through and experienced some breakthrough moments that made all the hard work worthwhile.
Session 1: First Impressions
Intense workout during first session
During your first Muay Thai session, you immediately experience the intensity of the workout. The warm-up alone challenges your endurance, and you struggle to jump rope for the required four minutes. The physical demands of Muay Thai become apparent right from the start.
Struggling with jump rope
Jump rope proves to be a difficult exercise for you during your first session. You quickly realize that you lack the coordination and stamina to jump rope continuously for four minutes. This struggle highlights the need for improvement in both your physical fitness and technique.
Feeling sloppy in form
Throughout your first session, you can’t help but feel sloppy in your form. As a beginner, it’s normal to feel uncoordinated and unrefined. However, this realization motivates you to work on your technique and strive for better form in future sessions.
Session 2: Small Improvements
Feeling sore but motivated
After your second Muay Thai session, you wake up the next day feeling incredibly sore. Despite the discomfort, you feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation. The soreness serves as a reminder of the work you put in, making you eager to continue training and improving.
Noticing small progress
Although you don’t see significant progress yet, you start to notice small improvements in your skills. Whether it’s a slightly better kick or a more fluid movement, these small victories encourage you to keep pushing forward and working on your technique.
Lack of confidence in form
Despite the small improvements, you still struggle with confidence in your form. Doubts about your technique and movements linger, causing you to question yourself. However, this lack of confidence only fuels your determination to practice and refine your form.
Session 3: The Work in Progress
Endurance issues
Even after a few sessions, you still face challenges with your endurance. You find yourself constantly out of breath and sweaty during the workouts. However, you understand that building endurance takes time and consistent effort, so you continue to push through and improve.
Constantly out of breath
Along with endurance challenges, your breathing remains a point of struggle. The intensity of the workouts keeps you constantly out of breath, serving as a reminder of the physical demands of Muay Thai. However, you take it as a sign that you’re pushing yourself to new limits.
Improving form slowly
Despite the endurance and breathing issues, you start to see slow improvements in your form. Through consistent practice and guidance from your trainers, you begin to refine your technique and feel more comfortable executing the movements. This progress motivates you to continue working towards better form.
Session 4: Setbacks
Feeling sick on the fourth session
Unfortunate circumstances arise as you wake up feeling sick on the morning of your fourth session. Dealing with illness poses an unexpected setback to your training progress. However, you remain determined to overcome this obstacle and get back on track as soon as possible.
Struggling with illness
The sickness you experience takes a toll on your physical well-being. Sore throat and swollen glands make it difficult to train and perform at your best. However, you prioritize your health and take the time to rest and recover, knowing that your dedication to Muay Thai will resume once you’re better.
Challenges with getting back on track
After recovering from your illness, getting back into the rhythm of training proves to be a challenge. The time away from the gym has affected your stamina and technique. However, you remain committed to getting back on track and regaining the progress you had made prior to falling ill.
Session 5: Recovery and Breakthrough
Fully recovering from illness
After a week of rest and recovery, you finally feel back to your normal self. Your sickness is behind you, and you’re ready to jump back into your Muay Thai training with renewed energy and determination.
Positive breakthrough in training
During your fifth session, you experience a significant breakthrough in your training. The improvements you’ve been working towards start to become more evident. You feel more confident and capable as you see the results of your consistent effort.
Brainstorming scene ideas
While training, you can’t help but let your creative mind wander. As you focus on your physical movements, your imagination starts to explore ideas for scenes in your book trilogy. This intersection of real-life experience and storytelling ignites your passion even further.
Session 6: Challenges and Rewards
Struggling with jump push footwork
Certain movements in Muay Thai continue to challenge you, and one of them is the jump push footwork. Despite your efforts, you find it challenging to execute this technique correctly. However, you persevere, knowing that overcoming challenges is an essential part of the learning process.
Feeling rewarded by Muay Thai challenges
Although the challenges are present, you can’t deny the sense of reward that comes with overcoming them. The difficulty of Muay Thai training not only tests your physical abilities but also strengthens your resilience and determination. The rewards of personal growth and accomplishment are worth every struggle.
Positive impact on daily life
Muay Thai training goes beyond the gym and starts to positively impact your daily life. You find yourself feeling more confident, resilient, and focused outside of training sessions. The discipline and mental fortitude developed through Muay Thai spill over into various aspects of your life.
Session 7: Training Progress
Joining for first session with friend
In your seventh session, you have the opportunity to share your Muay Thai journey with a friend. Joining them for their first session creates a sense of camaraderie and support as you both navigate the challenges and rewards of the training together.
Intense workout experience
The training session with your friend proves to be intense and demanding. The energy and determination of both you and your friend drive each other to push harder and strive for improvement. The shared experience strengthens your bond and motivates you to continue training together.
Feeling motivated to improve
The presence of your friend in the training session reignites your motivation to improve. Seeing their dedication and progress inspires you to push beyond your limits and work even harder towards your goals. The motivation and camaraderie create a positive and encouraging training environment.
Session 8: Editing and Brainstorming
Struggles with editing the video
Outside of the gym, you face challenges with editing the video documenting your Muay Thai journey. It becomes a test of patience and technical skills as you navigate the editing process. However, you’re determined to create a compelling video that accurately portrays your experiences.
Brainstorming new scene ideas
In the midst of editing, your creative mind keeps wandering to your book trilogy. You find yourself brainstorming new scene ideas that can benefit from the real-life experience you’ve gained through Muay Thai training. The integration of these scenes adds depth and authenticity to your storytelling.
Identifying pacing issues in book trilogy
As you reflect on your trilogy, you realize that there are pacing issues that need attention. Some parts of the story feel rushed, while others lack the development they deserve. This realization inspires you to make adjustments and ensure that the pacing aligns with the characters’ growth and the plot’s development.
Session 9: New Scene Planning
Refreshing muscle memory at gym
Before diving back into writing, you decide to refresh your muscle memory by returning to the Muay Thai gym. This session serves as a reminder of the physical sensations and movements you want to translate into your new scene. By being physically present in the gym, you can recapture the essence of your training.
Excitement to write a new scene
After your return to the gym, you feel a renewed excitement to write a new scene based on your experiences. The sensory memories and emotions you experienced during training fuel your passion for storytelling. The anticipation of bringing a training class scene to life in your book fuels your motivation to write.
Planning a training class scene for book
With the inspiration gained from your training and the experiences within the gym, you start planning a training class scene for your book. Taking inspiration from the Wildcat Muay Thai Gym, you aim to convey the authenticity and intensity of a Muay Thai training class through your writing. This scene will add depth and realism to your book trilogy.
Conclusion
Overall experience and growth
Your month-long journey in Muay Thai training has been a transformative experience. From struggling with jump ropes and feeling sloppy in form to making small improvements and experiencing setbacks, you’ve faced numerous challenges. However, through perseverance and dedication, you’ve grown both physically and mentally.
Importance of real-life experience for writing
The real-life experience of Muay Thai training has proven to be invaluable in your writing journey. It has allowed you to authentically portray martial arts in your trilogy and immerse readers in the world you’ve created. The deep understanding gained through firsthand experience adds depth and realism to your storytelling.
Continued interest and dedication to Muay Thai
The month of Muay Thai training may have come to an end, but your interest and dedication continue. The positive impact it has had on your physical fitness, mental resilience, and daily life motivates you to pursue further training. Muay Thai has become an integral part of your life and will serve as an ongoing source of inspiration for your writing.