Beginnings

Had my first training sessions at Sinbi today. Up at 6:30, slathered myself with sunblock and mozzie rep and hopped on the bike to get to the gym for 7:15. Arrived just in time to miss a massive downpour which was a bonus as it gave me an excuse not to do the morning run. I soon regretted it as after introducing myself and paying for my training, I was handed a heavy length of hosepipe and told to start skipping. Now, I'm fairly retarded when it comes to skipping but this wasn't too bad...until my arms got tired. My calves were still ok but my forearms and shoulders ached from swinging the heavy tube around and then my toes started to suffer. I have a lovely bruise on my foot from it and I hadn't even started training!
After the warm up and the obligatory stretching, Dean and I were taken aside by Pot (one of the trainers, he's fought Buakaw twice!) and taken through a bit of shadowboxing, showing him what we could do. Bear in mind that the temperature was already hitting 32 and high humidity and I was already feeling knackered. Pot spent about an hour adjusting our stances, attacks and defences to his liking and then I was called into the ring for five (!) rounds on the pads with another trainer, known only as 'X.'
Now, X seemed like a bit of a legend and he certainly recognised that I was pretty tired and took it quite easy on the pads. Not too many combos, just focusing more on technique while he made enthusiastic noises every time I landed. It was a bit unclear whether my strikes were good or bad as the noises were a big ambiguous but I just kept going and let him correct me when he wanted. I found out later that X routinely turns up hungover but thrashes a lot of people in the fitness aspects. Respect.
After the pads, it was time to hit the bags, with yet more trainer input. I really feel like I got a lot of attention and I think that my game should improve a lot in the 4 weeks I have here.
Finally, we were done...for the morning. A quick ride back to Stone Inn with Dean and our new friend Jackie (HK Chinese guy, living in Leeds) for some lunch (despite it only being about 1030!) and I hit the sack to try and get some sleep before afternoon training.
When 3 o'clock rolled around, I got up and headed back to the gym. No rain this time, so I paired up with a nice Saffa bloke called John and he showed me a nice little route down to the lake and back, about 8km. Thankfully, the skies were overcast so there was no direct sunlight but it was still bloody hot and I sweated gallons on the run. On arriving back at the gym, the afternoon session was in full swing - I wrapped my hands and jumped straight in on the heavy bag. Another 5 rounds on the pads came along and I was beginning to feel the pain. My kicks lacked power or snap, my punches slowed down and my hands slowly dropped. Thankfully, Det, the trainer, realised and let up a little, again focusing on my kicking technique. Its weird - my right kick has more power but my left kick has always had better technique. Maybe I just pivot better on my stronger right leg. Who knows?
After almost dying/vomiting/shitting myself in the ring, it was time for clinch wrestling. 'Ah,' I thought, 'my chance to do something familiar.' Well, it would have been OK, if I hadn't ended up partnered with Jackie who is a 90kg boxer. Oh well. Still, my technique was pretty good although my habits of clinching like a grappler (in tight, head lowered, hips free) apparently a not so good in Muay Thai. Still, this is why I came and I'm getting brilliant instruction!
Now back in my room, about to eat. Maybe I'll have an early night....tomorrow, I do it all again!