Running up the hill, Patong /Thailand.

So we have settled down in the villa right in front of the Sing Patong Gym. Gym that we are training at.
This is our home till 25th of December.
I am loving it here.
All we got is bed for each person,aircon working in all the rooms, fridges full of water and one of the most important; wifi. Beautiful view of the local beach from the balcony,every time I look down I feel inspired, it is just like looking at some great piece of art.
I share this same feeling when I reach to the top of the hill at the beginning of our training  sessions run.
That hill is a killer.
Running up you are fighting with yourself,when you manage to get right up to the top and you know that you pushed yourself hard to do it at the best pace you could.
As a prize you will have a chance to see the local town and beach from the hight,through the gap in between the bushes.
That view lifts me up.
I feel fortunate that I am here training with my friends.
Doing something that I love in such a beautiful surroundings.
Each time I reach up to that top,without stopping or slowing down.
I look at the scenery with full feel,with believe that I have earned to be here (up on the top).
Nothing else brought me up here but my own hard work.
My constant development.
Against all of the impediments I am pushing myself and pushing the boundaries of my physical and mental fitness.
Many reasons are trying to disturb my performance.
But as long as I stay honest with myself and do not allow the weakness take over and stop me .
I can sleep well and enjoy advantages of this amazing trip.
www.GMMA.co.uk

First day of training in Thailand.

As our trip has finished pretty late last night and we didn't get much sleep Sir (our coach),has decided that we wouldn't  perform well at the morning  session.
So we postponed it.
However we did go to the gym to show our respect, say hello and have a look around.
We found it exactly as I would imagine it.
Big roof with some simple changing rooms and shower facilities.
Two rings at the back ,bags hanging around with some carpet under for better grip.
In the middle matted floor, right in front of  big mirrors used for shadow boxing.
Lots of pads , boxing gloves,hand wraps and other equipment lying around.
Little area for small weights in the corner.
Posters and pictures of local fighters and fighting events on the walls.
Sing Patong Gym based in Patong/Phuket.Gym full of people, Gym full of fighters,our home for next two weeks.
On the way back we checked few more places ,looking for a better deal closer to the gym.
And we have found, our own villa right opposite we hired couple of mopeds.
And finally settled down in one place before our afternoon training  session.

From Malaysia to Thailand.

Wednesday 10th of December.
After just over four hours of very much needed sleep.
We have left our hotel at 10 am.
Coaches drove us with their cars to the Malaysian /Thai border. On the way we have stopped for tasty and big breakfast at the Indian kitchen which belongs to one of their friends.
In about one hour drive we have reached to the border.
Checked in and packed in the minibus to Hatyai,another hour away.
In Hatyai we have spent about three hours waiting for another minibus which was going to take us directly to Patong City in Phuket .
We arrived to Patong before 1am,looked around for place to stay at reasonable price.
As most of the places in close distance were booked already we had bargain at the hotel that we got dropped of at.
Where we have stayed for first night.

Training in Malaysia /day two.

Second day of our training at GMMA Academy in Malaysia.
We started at 8 o'clock in the morning.
Bit of stretching and moved on straight to  10k run.
All three of us felt over training effects,from day before on our calve muscles.
Speaking for myself I have to say that it made me worried a bit as I really want to perform on the highest level that I can.
I wanna take as much away from this trip as possible. I knew there will be struggle and injuries in process of training.
But I would never expect it on such an early stage. I would never think that it can happen to me any more.
After all different types of training routine  at very high intensity level I do in general, I would like to think that any part of my body can hurt like that after one day of training. Especially not my legs.
Oh well,I happen to found out that I am not indestructible.
I suppose one more thing  would apply to this event ; it is not about how much you are training,it is more about how.
Anyway, no drama, I have been there before.
I have suffered and continued.
After 10k run, which I have completed a bit slower than day before we moved to skipping and shadow boxing (fast pace again).
Local park gardener,where we trained was kind enough to give us very refreshing shower with the water hose he was using to clean the walls.
That was best feeling ever.
Breakfast, shower,local waterfall trip and fantastic dinner cooked by our Coaches Mum served at their home, surrounded by their very welcoming Family.
Our Coaches shared some of their observations and gave us some directions before the evening session at the GMMA gym.
Session begun very usual, stretching, warm up, then we moved straight to sparring.
While sparring we tried to follow up tips given by our instructors.
We planning to follow up at the training in Thailand too.

First day of training in Malaysia.

Today is Tuesday 9/12/2014.
We have started second day of training at GMMA Academy / Malaysian arm of GMMA concept.
I have to honestly say that it is general much harder that I have thought it would be. I thought I am training extremely hard in UK and nothing can break me.
Yesterday when we started we did still feel a bit of jet lag, weather and intensity of training  wasn't helping it at all.
We started of 8km fast run,followed by the sprints,intense shadow boxing mixed up with some legs exercises.
Then we moved on to skipping rope 3min rounds and finished off with a 5 x 1min sprints on the rope.
If you told me that schedule when I was back in London,I would say bring it on (and lets do this or that after).
But it feels 50 times harder for boys from Europe in the Asian heat.
After morning session we had light breakfast, shower,walk about around the local narkets;lunch and bit of fun at the bowling.
Then there was a time for second session 6 30pm -10pm.
Thinking that outside was hot?!
Inside was even worst.
We have been warned that we will feel like training in the sauna conditions but I think we all kind of ignored it.
We begun with good stretching and moved straight into shadow, skipping  (in very high pace),and conditioning and speed groundwork.
That have killed all of us enough:-)
We understood by now what training in the sauna conditions meant.
Coaches gave us little break to recover.
We did some short stretching and pad work session for about twenty kids who are training in that gym and came to watch us performing.
Next step was few rounds of bag work mixed up with Thai pads then we moved to a sparring.
All that has took a lot of energy of us we have sweat buckets.
It was great test for our bodies and our will power.
I wouldn't say we have failed it but because of our own opinions about our abilities I believe we all did not feel like we have pushed hard enough.
"Do or die", that's  the favourite saying of our Coaches.
We died once,raised up and kept on saving a bit so we wouldn't die second.
When we should die again.
That's  the only way.
So tonight, at the second session I am hoping to die few times.
It will take me where I wanna be.

Training in Malaysia.

So here we go!
As I have mentioned in previous post, (back to the roots ) we are in Malaysia,  motherland of GMMA Academy.
I am currently sitting on the coach from Kuala Lumpur,to the  city called Sungai  Petani where our training is going to begin tomorrow morning.
I've got to say as much I can't wait for it to start,that day and half of rest and sightseeing  after long flight was very much needed.
I did feel exhausted,even this morning after about 8 hours of sleep.
I did feel jet lag.
Now sitting on the coach,looking through the window at beautiful landscapes about what I have already experienced, what I am going to experience and what do I want to experience.
All that brings me to conclusion that I am expecting next three days to be most interesting out of all our training trip.
We are going to have great pleasure to train with two of GMMA Academy inventors. As well as two of the living legends on the kick boxing, Muay Thai, boxing , boxing and Taekwondo  scene.
They have been everywhere and fought everyone.
Moving around the Britain,wearing name and logo of our club we have brought back memories to many people who are in the fighting business for a while.
Many people would talk to us and mention about how good the brothers were and showing us respect as a members of the club.
All this trip has been exciting and I am sure is all going to be great experience.
But I believe that next three days spent with our Coaches are going to be the greatest out of all. 

Back to the roots.

I am very excited as today  Friday the fifth of December 2014.
Myself and my three GMMA  team colleagues are travelling to motherland of our Academy- Malaysia.
Where we are going to have great pleasure in meeting the other two founders and highest ranked Gukwoone,GuruMuayThai and GMMA Academy masters.
It is going to be a great honor to meet and train with them.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that our journey and training will begin in Malaysia which is the homeland of GMMA academy at the GMMA gym based in the local town outside the Kuala Lumpur.
After few days of training at GMMA gym in malaysia we are planning to move on to the mountains of Phuket in Thailand.
Where we are going to continue our training camp with 30 local fighters.
I am expecting tough and interesting journey full of beautiful sightseeing and time for reflections.
It is going to be great lesson for us as well as another test.
My plan for next few weeks in Malaysia and Thailand is very simple.
It is something that I always wanted to experience.
Always wanted to train like them,eat like them,sleep like them,fight like them.
Bring it on! :-)
P'S.
Bit of rush and lack of  Internet connection wouldn't allow me to post on the day.