By Lauren Gunsel
It sounds a little extreme to wrap your hands, put on boxing gloves, shin guards and a mouthpiece in the name of fitness. But for some, getting in the ring is part of their daily routine, and the art of Muay Thai seems to be gaining more and more eager participants. I decided to see what all the fuss was about and take a class at Thaisport Training Camp. My instructor, or “Kru,” was David Martucci, founder of Thaisport. Thaisport is a family-owned and operated training center that has been open for the past year and a half and just moved to a new location in New Hyde Park. The training facility offers classes in Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing.
Muay Thai is an ancient sport with a rich history rooted in Thailand dating back to the 16th Century. It began as a close combat battlefield fighting skill and later evolved into a sport that has spread all over the world.
“Sawa-dee-ka,” Kru said, as people walked through the door. This is a Thai greeting the students use to say hello or goodbye at the beginning and end of class.
The standard uniform is black boxing shorts that come down to the kneecap and a red, black and white T-shirt with the Thaisport emblem on the chest. A beginner is required to have standard equipment like hand wraps, 16-ounce boxing gloves, shin guards and a mouthpiece. Advanced students or boxers must have additional equipment such as headgear, lace-up gloves, anklets and bag gloves.
“Sawa-dee-ka,” students repeat the greeting to Kru.
He shows me where I can change into my uniform and gear up. I can’t help but feel a little tough as I wrap my hands up like a boxer with the long white wraps. Wrapping the hands correctly is important so you do not hurt your wrists.
After I have my hands wrapped and the uniform on, I go out to the gym area. It holds a large ring, a mixed martial arts octagon with a cage around it, and a matted area with many punching bags. Five other students are chatting and getting ready for class. A very eclectic, yet friendly bunch of people are ready to get fit and beat on each other a little bit in the process. The clock strikes six and Kru sends us running in a line around the perimeter of the facility. A Thai melody that is the length of one round plays over the sound system. Each round ends with a three-minute break.
We run around the gym once clockwise and once counter-clockwise. We jog during the break plus another round and then line up in front of the punching bags facing a wall with mirrors.
I see myself in the mirror. My face looks flushed and perspiration is collecting across my brow. This has me a little worried considering we have only just begun.
Kru stands before us and bows, “1-2-3…”
We all bow in unison, “Sawa-dee-ka.”
He beckons to a fellow classmate, “Steve, you lead the warm-up for us today.” Then he disappears into the office as we continue with class.
Together, we go through a “standard” warm-up that is a series of exercises including jumping jacks, knee-lifts, squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, crunches and various stretches for the arms, neck, back and legs. Today we do reps of 30, some days they do more, but I guess he had mercy since it was my first class. I’m not sure how I made it through the warm-up! I haven’t used muscles like that for a long time.
After we conclude the warm-up we go through two rounds of shadow-boxing. During this phase of the workout we practice moves (kicks, punches, elbows, knees) into the mirror, essentially visualizing and examining form. This was a little awkward for me considering I didn’t know too many moves to begin with, but the other students looked very focused, going through their arsenal of motions.
After shadow-boxing, Kru demonstrated a skill we will be learning today.
“I follow a schedule of different skills we work on throughout the course of a month,” Kru said. “The lessons include knee or elbow moves, blocks, punches or bag work and actual sparring.”
There is a fight team for advanced students that meets twice a week to hold actual matches in the ring.
Today we are working in pairs on a punch and block combination. He demonstrated a punch that was to be returned with a punch from the opposing partner. Everything is carefully explained and mapped out. No one is supposed to intentionally hurt someone else.
“We are a team, here to help one another,” said Kru. “I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. Now one of you put on mitts and the other put on gloves and let’s go.”
The students started pulling equipment from under the ring. I slid on my boxing gloves for the first time with the help of Kru, and I felt ready for action. He went over the move with me once more, the music started and we got down to business.
After the first round my arms already started aching. But we went three more!
“You can do it! Keep it up…harder!” Kru yelled as I whaled away.
I have to admit that it felt really good to get some aggression out and burn some calories simultaneously. After the music ended the last time, I sighed in relief, glancing at the clock…almost 7 p.m., thankfully.
“Oh no, not just yet!” said Kru. “Everyone take a turn on the bag, 60 punches- GO!”
He held the long black bag for me as I unloaded, using whatever energy I had left.
“C’mon,” he said, “10 more!”
I finished in a huff, but smiled at him for his encouraging words and then held the bag for him. It was really interesting to say the least watching the punches fly and smack into the leather punching bag. It’s not everyday I get a close-up view of such physical force.
“Okay, line up,” he yelled. “Thirty sit-ups and 60 push-ups.”
I looked at him like he was joking but followed the other students as they hit the floor. I did “girlie” push-ups, the one when you bend your knees underneath your body to make it easier. There was no way I was capable of 60 regular pushups especially after the workout I just endured. The sit-ups burned but I just grunted and pictured how shredded my abs would be if I came to Muay Thai regularly. We stood up in unison. Most of the students were sweaty and tired. Kru stretched out our legs, neck and back with us and then concluded the workout with a final, “Sawa-dee-ka.”
Class had ended and I survived, I even learned a new move.
I told Kru, “I will be back for more.” He laughed and gave me a high five.
Everyone else in the class took turns slapping each other high five and walked off the mats, moving much more slowly than when they originally walked onto them.
This workout is not for the weak, and students must have some physical ability or endurance to begin with. It will push students’ physical ability to the limit. Mentally, it teaches them a form of martial arts, essentially self-defense. The group atmosphere makes it easier to push students harder and makes the time fly by. Overall, Muay Thai is recommended to anyone who has a desire to train in the type of atmosphere that was described, plus possesses an ounce or two of aggression.