12pm Class Temporarily Cancelled for Monday Feb 29

Please note that the 12pm class for Monday Feb 29 is cancelled. We'll be back to our scheduled program in the evening. Sorry for any inconvenience!

 

Saturday Update Feb 27th

Congratulations to the latest batch of York Muay Thai intermediates that came through this morning! Remember, this is just a stepping stone. The hard work you put in is the base for something more.

We are proud of you all, and can't wait to see what you'll do next.
Left to Right: Chris, Michael, Praveen, Khaled, Rey, Fritz and Jack D.




Next a congratulations to Misha "Chewy" on his first exhibition bout in the ring. It was a very technical and respectful demonstration. Lots of potential to work with.

Thanks to Kru Jen, Derrick, Kru Cam, Ryslee, Sumo, Zhang, Costa and Terry for supporting our wookie!

Lastly, who wouldn't want this lil guy in your corner??

Beyond the Ring

The following was written by a student of York Muay Thai, who learned how the principles of training affect our lives beyond the ring: 

"It never ceases to amaze me how deeply Muay Thai affects my life. We are always told that the way we conduct ourselves in the ring can be translated into the way we conduct ourselves in life. Indeed, many real life situations are not unlike a boxing ring - a courtroom is no different. When I was training for my demo in the summer of 2015, I knew I was preparing myself for a test of my physical and mental abilities, but I could have never imagined how these two months of training would come to affect my life.

During training, I was constantly told to focus on my training, on my progress, on
sharpening my skills, and not on my opponent, his training, and his skill level. The only way my opponent was relevant during training was the fact I had to believe my opponent trained as hard as me, to then make myself train even harder. The training was much harder than the fight. It was riddled with self-doubt and blood. I questioned everything I did. My kicks weren’t fast enough, blanked out when I needed to follow up. I wasn’t confident when I was training. It was the confidence of my Krus and teammates that helped me push through training. On my last day of training, however, I felt confident - not in my skills per se, but in the fact I have trained as hard as I could, and that I was prepared.

I got my very first case in October of 2015, with a trial set in February. I had to prepare the case for trial, and then to go to court and represent the client. Much like fighter training, the trial preparation wasn’t easy: long hours, lost sleep, doubts as to my legal acumen… The last 4 weeks before the trial were the hardest - countless corrections from the supervising lawyer, unforeseen circumstances that forced me to scrap my prep work and draft it anew, up until 1am the night of the trial. 

I didn’t realize it back then, but I walked in that courtroom like I did to the ring at my demo: With confidence, and smile (naturally, thinking “oh my god, I’m doing it, I’m actually doing it”). The prosecutor was someone with over a decade of experience, but it didn’t matter to me. I knew the case inside out, and I knew the client’s life story better than my own - I was ready to run the trial. I spoke to the prosecutor numerous times that day, and he attempted to discourage me from proceeding to trial because it was a losing case. To be fair, it was - but that didn’t matter. He told me things like “I just don’t get what your defence here is” and “I have your client on video surveillance.” I realized that his attempts to discourage me are only due to the fact that unlike me, he really didn’t want to be there. I decided to try and negotiate once more to get my client’s charges withdrawn in exchange for fulfilling some conditions (such as community service) to avoid a trial. 

This was something I never planned on doing because there were two prior negotiations attempts that failed, but because I knew the case so well, because I knew my client so well, I was able to get that for my client - - and most importantly, because I was so well prepared, I had the confidence to try and negotiate once more despite the strength of the prosecution’s case. 

I realized in retrospect that it was my fight training mentality that carried me through the entire experience, on a completely subconscious level. Training for the demo guided me in preparing for my trial; my experience in the ring prepared me for my experience in the courtroom. I saw an “opening,” (his unwillingness to be there), and I took it because I was confident in my “training” (my preparation). 

This is one more example of how Muay Thai is not a hobby, but a way of life."

Kids Class Swagger

We are proud to say that our kids class is steadily growing. It's amazing to see some of the progress these kids have made in the past year. The growing levels of participation, focus and team work has impressed all of the instructors...and that's not to mention the strides made in technique.

To adapt to the larger numbers we have ensured several instructors on the floor, just as in our adult classes. Kru Cam and PC Eugenia are happy and grateful for the support staff  and all of their hard work :)

Give us a ring or an email (info@yorkmuaythai.com) to book a free trial for your child. Tuesday and Thursday at 530-630,  Saturdays at 10:15-11:15 (Bonus: parents can train during Saturday classes!).

Choice

During my time as an amateur fighter, there is one specific fight that has left the deepest mark on me… It was 2010, and the training camp was not a positive one. I'd done all of the physical preparation, but I wasn’t in a mentally sound place.  There were multiple contemplations of quitting, and even complete emotional breakdowns after training. I'd never felt such a lack of confidence in myself, and the truth is I'm not even 100% sure why this was the case. Yet I went through with the fight anyways, as my coaches believed in my potential.

However, what left an even deeper mark than the anxiety were the words from my corners (Kru Jen and PC Lindor), right before the first bell: 

"You CHOSE to be here".  

After hearing these words, the bell rang and I went on to fight harder than I'd ever fought in my life. It wasn't a pretty sight and far from technical, but I'd never felt stronger or grittier. I stood toe to toe with a heavier and stronger opponent, trading shots with bad intentions. It might not have been the smartest course of action (my face certainly felt it afterward) or the most technical performance, but I didn't care. I wanted to fight...fight past the nerves, fight past the all of the negativity from the training camp, fight the urge to give up. And fight I did. Ultimately, I unleashed a side of me that I believed was, up until that point, completely untapped. The power of self determination helped me rise to the occasion instead of succumb to fear.

Those words still echo in my heart every time I take on a challenge at work, the gym, home etc. I still feel nervous, and don't always get past the anxiety, but my ability to deal with stress has grown significantly (granted, my life isn't a very difficult one and full of privileges, although that has presented different kinds of challenges as time has gone on). Knowing that I have the power to choose my course of action makes it clearer for me: I must overcome.

I believe that we are always given a choice, no matter what the situation is. In tough times, we can choose to stand and fight, or turn tail and run. Even times where we aren't challenged, we can choose to coast lazily or embrace and make the most of the experience. They aren't always easy choices, but they are ours to make.

Every day there are people who choose to flee. Heck, I still do often, though I am more aware of it and willing to learn from it now. A lack of commitment, abusing a position of power, and ignoring a cry for help are just a few of the ways these negative choices manifest themselves. The power of self determination is knowing that you are choosing to overcome the challenge, and that it is the right choice. You may believe that it is fate or chance that puts you through struggle, but in the end it it is you who chooses to endure. It's a daunting, but also empowering thought. It sets a bar for us to reach and exceed everyday, both inside and outside of the ring.

- K. Cam

Values

Go deeper...

A reminder that your Muay Thai technique is meant to damage, not simply hit. Often times we throw as hard as we can at the target, rather than through the target. There is an important difference.

Throwing at the target is an inefficient use of energy that, while still painful, won't get you maximum results. You may be throwing hard, but not deeply. When you consider the how adrenaline affects pain tolerance in a fight, it's important to do as much damage as possible.

Throwing a technique through the target means striking the smallest surface area possible and penetrating it. It is being specific and accurate. It is sending your weight into the opponent rather than towards their surface. It is what makes a knock out possible, when combined with timing. Always visualize the target, and cut through it like a blade.

Family Day Closure

Hey YMT!

We will be closed on Monday February 15th 2016 for Family Day.
Poo Choi's and Kru's will be in training the fighters so check the YMT facebook group for available times to drop in and get a quick workout in!

Please spend some time relaxing with your friends and family.

Just for fun

We are always having fun...but sometimes, thing are done JUST for fun...here's the squat wave:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBl0VbgPTyg/?taken-by=yorkmuaythai






But for real, as classes get bigger, and new faces come into play, remember to mix it up. Meet someone new and expand your comfort zone. The more we work together, the better we become.

There will always be more than one, if not several instructors per mixed class to supervise and help you out...so find a new pad holder or sparring partner and see how far you can both grow.

Gear Up!

Gloves are IN!
Don't wait, these Thailand made real leather bag gloves will go quickly!
Red, Black, Blue!

Student of the Month (January 2016): Francesco

York Muay Thai at Fight Factory 101

On Feb 6, we were honoured to attend and participate in the rally against sexual assault and violence with the Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club! We had the opportunity to teach traditional Muay Thai to the crowd at City Hall, and hear from some inspiring guest speakers who have taken a ton of initiative for the cause. 

Check it out in the Metro:

http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/02/06/toronto-women-box-at-rally-against-violence-roosh-v.html

Photos by Liz Beddall:

Tomorrow's Heroes

Always take the time to discuss your thoughts and feelings on what you learned with your partners. What felt good? What worked? What didn't? What do you feel they could improve on for their own benefit?

This is not only a part of our regular sparring routine for the fighters every Friday night, but also becoming a staple of our kids class. Students are encouraged to volunteer and show what they know, as well as make suggestions for each other.

York Muay Thai in Snapd Magazine North York

Check out Snapd North York's page for some great shots of our Friends and Family Day. Lots of new students came to learn Muay Thai and Kali, as well as lively kids class. An intense work out coupled with detailed technical drills made for an excellent Saturday, topped off by post training treats!

Check out all of the pics and write up here:  https://northyork.snapd.com/event/913750#/

Here are just a couple pics by Ian Hanecak:

Unity

As we take on swing kicks as our focus, let's remind ourselves of the power of unity... The power of alignment... The power of the human body. 

They say the human spine can support an incredible amount of weight when in the neutral position. Coach Grant has gotten us to really develop and improve our form/ posture on our squats and other exercises for this very reason. Having the proper posture is not only the safest way to lift, but also the strongest. 

When we practice the basic swing kick, the most ideal position is for our posture to be aligned or posted on our support leg. It's the difference between sending all of our weight into the target, rather than just whipping our leg as hard as possible. 

It doesn't happen all of the time, but fights can provide some great snapshots for technical use. This picture of Buakaw beautifully encapsulates the unity of the body and transfer of weight into one direction--> through his opponent. 

Samkor Left Kick Assassin

One of the most explosive kickers in Muay Thai history.