Muay Thai
So on most days when Sumet and Earm drive me home from school we stop at the market. Lately some very interesting foods have been added to the stock of produce and meats sold. We have ant eggs, crickets, frogs, lizards, and water buffalo skin. When I asked Sumet what the lizards were called - not caring if I got a Thai word or English, he responds (while hysterically laughing) "baby dinosaur!" - thanks - a lot. Also, his new favorite thing to do is pick up or point to one of these nasty foods, ask me if I eat it in America, and then tell me its good to eat while you drink beers - hint much, Sumet?!
Last Tuesday life was as per usual until we pulled onto the campus where I live. Recently some high school girls have moved into a house on campus to begin training for Muay Thai (Thai Boxing). I've seen them practicing, obviously interested in what they were doing and wanting to join in but really didn't think much of it. But on this day, Sumet sees them and asks if I want to learn "Thai Boxing", my obvious response is, "Yes, of course!" - He slams on the breaks, jumps out of the car all while saying he will go talk to the teacher who trains the girls who happens to live in the house on campus we were in front of! Sumet then brings the Ajan (word which means teacher) (whose name I cannot remember to save my life) over to the car to introduce me and I get formally invited (through my open car door, while still in my seatbelt) to the man who says I can practice with them any time I want, starting today! hahaha ok - wow. I wasn't really feeling it that day so after my run on Wednesday I walked over to where they were practicing, had a very confusing conversation with the Ajan, in which all I understood was, 'next time' and walked home to stretch and cool down. As i'm about to get into the shower two girls come running up to our door screaming AJJJAAAAANNNNN!!!!! Apparently 'next time' meant in a little while - so I grabbed my sneakers and headed over to start learning Thai Boxing. Now this experience is very monkey see monkey do since the people I'm working with know next to no English and well my Thai skills are improving but not in this context. All that really gets said is numbers, left, right, kick, and the teacher surprisingly knew the names 'uppercut' and 'hook'. My first lesson was only about 20 minutes long and consisted of the teacher demonstrating different combinations of punches and me copying him. He then had to go to the market with his wife so I was told to practice. I did for a short while then threw in the towel for the night.
Thursday as I was coming back from my bike ride the girls saw me and beckoned me over to the practice area. On this particular day there was a teacher meeting so I soon learned that much like the US practice is not as strenuous on the days the coach is absent. Through much giggling on both my part and the 5 muay thai girls, I was handed a jump rope, taught to properly 'jump rope' and taught some new 'practice routines'. There was a guy practicing with them on this day and the teacher in charge of Muay Thai had to go to a meeting so this guy ended up teaching me - which was HILARIOUS! He was like a legit muay thai boxer and he would demonstrate a punch punch kick or knee routine and I would have to repeat. And well if you know me it is even more clear how hilarious it is that I am boxing in the first place!
Overall, it was an awesome experience and I hope that next semester I can spend more time with them and learning Muay Thai!
Last Tuesday life was as per usual until we pulled onto the campus where I live. Recently some high school girls have moved into a house on campus to begin training for Muay Thai (Thai Boxing). I've seen them practicing, obviously interested in what they were doing and wanting to join in but really didn't think much of it. But on this day, Sumet sees them and asks if I want to learn "Thai Boxing", my obvious response is, "Yes, of course!" - He slams on the breaks, jumps out of the car all while saying he will go talk to the teacher who trains the girls who happens to live in the house on campus we were in front of! Sumet then brings the Ajan (word which means teacher) (whose name I cannot remember to save my life) over to the car to introduce me and I get formally invited (through my open car door, while still in my seatbelt) to the man who says I can practice with them any time I want, starting today! hahaha ok - wow. I wasn't really feeling it that day so after my run on Wednesday I walked over to where they were practicing, had a very confusing conversation with the Ajan, in which all I understood was, 'next time' and walked home to stretch and cool down. As i'm about to get into the shower two girls come running up to our door screaming AJJJAAAAANNNNN!!!!! Apparently 'next time' meant in a little while - so I grabbed my sneakers and headed over to start learning Thai Boxing. Now this experience is very monkey see monkey do since the people I'm working with know next to no English and well my Thai skills are improving but not in this context. All that really gets said is numbers, left, right, kick, and the teacher surprisingly knew the names 'uppercut' and 'hook'. My first lesson was only about 20 minutes long and consisted of the teacher demonstrating different combinations of punches and me copying him. He then had to go to the market with his wife so I was told to practice. I did for a short while then threw in the towel for the night.
Thursday as I was coming back from my bike ride the girls saw me and beckoned me over to the practice area. On this particular day there was a teacher meeting so I soon learned that much like the US practice is not as strenuous on the days the coach is absent. Through much giggling on both my part and the 5 muay thai girls, I was handed a jump rope, taught to properly 'jump rope' and taught some new 'practice routines'. There was a guy practicing with them on this day and the teacher in charge of Muay Thai had to go to a meeting so this guy ended up teaching me - which was HILARIOUS! He was like a legit muay thai boxer and he would demonstrate a punch punch kick or knee routine and I would have to repeat. And well if you know me it is even more clear how hilarious it is that I am boxing in the first place!
Overall, it was an awesome experience and I hope that next semester I can spend more time with them and learning Muay Thai!
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