Double Whammy

Finally managed to do 2 sessions in one day again!  Morning session was a long drag without any padwork but I got a lot of nice technique work done with the inimitable 'X' (who, as it turn out, is a WMC champion!)  Lots of footwork and counters - sidesteps to knees, spinning elbows, kick catches and follow-ups.  Some of the stuff was pretty brutal - one combo was: kick catch, drag, top knee, uppercut elbow, top elbow, sweep.  All very nice - this is the stuff I really came for.  Some nice technical Thai destruction.
After the partner work was done I saw Jackie in the ring with his gloves on so I offered to do a bit of boxing sparring.  Now, anyone who has seen me box will know that I'm a bit of a spaz (but an enthusiastic spaz) defensively as I tend to rely on my legs for counters.  Jackie is a good amateur boxer with a 30kg weight advantage over me.  To say I got lit up is a bit of an understatement.  I got him with a good right hook when I switched stances but that was pretty much it.  I got a lovely black eye in return!  Still, it was good fun and I think I was technically sound just pretty badly outmatched!
However, Jackie has been pestering me to do some grappling training so I took him up on it once the session was over.  Touched gloves, bit of feeling out then a bit of a crap double-leg (I was tired!) that I finished by hooking the ankle.  Straight into side control, mount, arm-triangle, back take, RNC.  Over in about 45 seconds...the spectators seemed to agree that the score was settled!  We went through some escapes (guard to standing, side control, mount escapes) and armbar defence.  I really enjoyed a bit of grappling after my long hiatus!
This afternoon I had Bao (Sing the gym owner's brother) on the pads.  In keeping with the morning session, I had a lot of technique rather than a thrashing...I think as the week goes on, the training gets less physical and more technical, which is pretty good.  Plenty of defensive stuff (sure he was watching me get beaten up this morning) and some nice counters as well as more fine-tuning of my left kick.  Again, a tiny adjustment (this time to the amount of pivot on my right foot) made a massive difference in power and speed!  Basic, basic stuff but these tiny adjustments are making a world of difference.