IMDB - Updated

In case you doubted the film side of my story, here is a link to my IMDB profile:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2448851/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Feel free to ask for film recommendations. Some of them are just brilliant and flying very below the radar.

Muay Thai Guy - Thailand Training Guide

Sean publishes the guide tomorrow July first... be sure to check to it out:

 http://www.muay-thai-guy.com/travel-train-fight-muay-thai-in-thailand.html

Recent runs. Lower back problems again.

Fortunately today I have another randomly scheduled appointment with the NHS physio at lunch time. 

The last week I have found it really uncomfortable to get out and road run.

The classes have been OK so it doesnt feel like an inury. It's just when I start to run after about 1km i start to feel tension build in my lower back. I can feel it building slowly but consistantly until about the 3km mark where I just can't run anymore. 

The whole lower lumbar region across both sides feels so tense and stiff. I stop and stretch and try and shake it off but the moment i start running again each footstep impact on the ground seems to stiffen it back up in exactly the same way. 

Don't think its the shoes. Maybe its my running technique. Maybe I'm just too heavy. 

When I get home I foam roller the hell out of my back and legs so I dont think its residual mucsle tightness or fatigue.

I will discuss with the physio today and post her advice. I suspect she is going to say it's a lack of core strength that is putting too much stress on my back. Time to get planking again. Biomechanics is such an interesting topic.

Merchandise shop goes online.

The rolling banner across the top is now a preview window for the BruisedShin.Blogspot online merchandise store. 

The window previews a limited number of the designs so please do click on it and check the webstore. 

All t-shirts, hoodies etc can be customised so please take a look. 

More designs to come soon.

If anyone wants to volunteer any design work please let me know. I would say "Be part of the BruisedShin team".... But it's only me so not much of a team. But yeah, if you want to create a t-shirt design for me to add to the catalogue please do! 

Visa Application - Multiple entry Tourist - £75

After all the back an forth via email with the embassy and contacting the gym to get all relevant paperwork... They still denied the non-immigrant visa they said I needed.

Waste of time.

The company/gym your joining needs to send you an invite for training and show proof of citizenship. Which I did. Turns out the gym also has to have a government registration ID number. Turns out only Master Toddy's in Bangkok has this status. The status of an educational body not just gym. 

Would seem Toddy's has a Monopoly on it.

So tourist visa it is. But at least it's almost done and paid for. Had to leave my passport with them and they need 24 hours to process. Good job I took the passport with me as the documentation does not say it is required. Instead the passport number is simply a section you write out.

My organisational paranoia paid off a little bit.

Red tape, bureaucracy... It's the same the world over.

Frustrating. 

Sunday run.... About 14km... I think...

Running app crashed out. So looks like I teleported home. 

But it was a nice sunny day so I did a lap around the river, up through Holborn and over to Regents park. Fell asleep in the park so got minor sun burn. Pretty standard stuff for an Englishman.

Ran past the Tower of London, tower bridge, HMS Belfast (tonnes of guns) and found a very Game of Thrones 3D map of the area. Reminds me of the title sequence.

Post sparring Run - 18km

Sorry no sparring video this week. Worried they are all a little same same anyway.

But you'll all be pleased to know I was able to incorporate the foot work practiced on Thursday and it all felt good. Still struggling with clinch grips and removing my opponents base. Need to practice this. But knees felt good.

Post sparring run.... 18km.... With a little food and snooze at 14km in the Hyde Park sunshine. Felt like I had earnt it.

Striking PT session - Paul Clark - 07796157937

Spent thursday morning with Paul Clark at the Third Space gym in Piccadily doing an hour one on one. 

Paul is our Kickboxing coach who also supervises our Saturday sparring class (doubling as our cameraman!). Having sparred with him for the last several weeks Paul had noticed some big holes in my movement and head position that he wanted to address. 

 Main Problems: 

1. Leaning forward and dropping my head. Resulting in looking down and eating upper cuts for days. Especially susceptible in clinch. 

2. Reaching for clinch from too far out resulting in a zombie walk approach that leaves me hooked to shit by guys with good footwork. 

 We spent the first 20mins warming up hands on focus mitts working combinations and some offbeat timing. Trying to increase hand speed as opposed to focusing on power. 

 Next 20mins spent on knee techniques and ending combinations with knees. I still have a lot of work to do on my post knee base/balance. I have a tendancy to overcommit and then admire my work as opposed to re-setting and returning to a fighting stance. 

 Last 20mins were spent on footwork to close the distance and earn the clinch for knee strikes and basic trips. These are damn hard to do wearing 160z gloves but it is great to now feel like i have some weapons in the clinch as opposed to just knees and release. 

Really looking forward to Saturdays sparring session to try and work these new tools. The fake knee and step to close the distance is going to be my main focus. Jab to hide the step in clinch, remove their base and trip. Fake the knees and walk in with that threat, clinch, remove the base, hook over the guard and either trip or trap and standing arm bar. Really hope i remember it all once in the melee. 

 Paul seems to be more from an MMA background than purely Muay Thai. As a result we didnt talk much about elbow work but the improvement in my footwork was massive and I now have an understanding of the required posture for a strong clinch and subsequent hip manipulation.

 Lessons learnt: 

 Stay light on the feet, use my energy more effectively. Only throw something that can land and use my footwork to hide my distance. Dont reach for a clinch, work to the inside then take it, relax, keep my neck up, spine C shaped and weight low in my stance. Movement and base control is more important than brute strength and earns the trip through hip positioning rather than force. 

 Paul Clark - 07796157937 - Call him and book some PT time. It's hugely beneficial.

Aistair Overeem - The Reem in Pattaya

These short documentaries following Alistair's career are really interesting. He is such a great fighter and character and someone I have always been a huge fan of. As I watch more of his interviews he just seems to personify the dutch laid back attitude with the fighters competative edge. http://www.alistairovereem.com/

Sparring - 30% speed/power to close off the hour.

Sparring injuries - R.I.C.E. - it works

Rest

Ice

Compression

Elevation

I'm always spraining toes, ankles and bruising the tops of my feet. Not turning the hip over properly cause my cardio isn't there.

What to pack for 6 months in Thailand.

Really useful video. I wouldn't have thought to take protein cause of it's weight and size in my luggage so glad I saw this.

I don't take a fish oil supplement but considering my knees are already a bit sore from the London running I think I'm going to add them to my pre flight shopping list.

Plus the idea of bulk buying ibuprofen and anti septic healing cream for small wounds is a great idea. 

Not gonna bother with nuts etc. Too much weight to carry. Plus can't be arsed with airport hassle for carrying food goods.

Seemingly most gyms provide gloves, shin guards etc. But think I'll take mine anyway. I'm used to them and I struggle to find gloves big enough. 

Definitely after there is no need to take clothes. So cheap out there. Wear them till they rot off then replace. Only exception being the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. 13 hours and supposedly the air con stays on full cold all night. So gotta prep for that. Don't want to arrive frozen and sick. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUEh3Fm5_2U

 

Conor McGregor - Bloody Love this guy

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET-QQ4YxBo8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7iXuz2E6QQ

 

“Supporters get you to the gym, doubters keep you there”

2 MMA heroes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLOse0eKPYU

Leicester Square - premiere land

Finished work late and went for a run around the river. Long day so ended up running around sun set.

As I made my way I swung through Leicester square. 'Edge of Tomorrow' is on at the Empire. Feels good to run through here and see films I've worked on up in lights in 'Premiere' land. 

Took a couple photos to remember the moment cause in true movie style, these will be gone and the next film up there in a week or two. Grab the mementos while I can! 

Superpro Samui

Rob Lynch (KO Gym) highly recomends this gym. Problem is, it is in Koh Samui and I just worry there are too many distractions. 

This is a modern gym very much focused on the Western tourist training market. Not really sure its for me. But guys I have met here in London that have been on Robs recomendation absolutely loved it. Maybe if i have the money i'll end my time in Thailand with a week down there enjoying the beaches and maintaining my training. If anything its just a bit too nice for my budget. We'll see though, i can imagine after a while some Western luxuries may be very well recieved.

http://www.ko-muaythai.com/news/affiliated-gyms/ko-central.html

 

 

http://superprosamui.com/

Prince Harry goes to my gym....

Just snuck out of work for cheeky 1 hour lunch time Muay Thai class. Surprisingly busy with people. So jealous of their working schedules! 

 Upon leaving who do I pass on the stairs just arriving at the gym. Prince Bloody Harry. No entourage and no one paying him any mind. You kinda get used to bumping into celebrities and film stars around soho but I gotta say that was a new one for me. Actual Royalty. Was a good session though. Worked on boxing counters with elbow strikes.

 Got paired with a tall guy called Ross. So nice to be able to end a combination with knees and not worry you're going to drive a pad or the back of someones hand into their face. Meant for a good work out even though it was only an hour. Gonna try and go for a run after work to beat up the legs a bit more. I can tell they are my weakest link. My foot work and stance is poor because of a lack of leg strength and as a result everything is on dodgey foundations.

http://www.thethirdspace.com/home/soho.aspx

 

Managed a 9km run after work. Slow pace as I kept getting work calls an having to stop but glad I did it.

Motivation

Suspend your cynicism. It's cheesey but it has value.

Visa Application

Been in contact with friends in Bangkok and they have suggested I sort out a multiple entry visa in adavnce of travelling. 

Been through the relevant embassy websites and thought i'd share here as a shorter link: 

Http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk

  Pretty basic questions but you'll need your passport to hand and 2 passport photos before applying. I plan on just visiting the embassy once I have all documents sorted and talking trhough which visa is appropriate. Multiple entry Tourist Visa or Non-Immigrant Visa.