05: Wake Up Call

I have been working out about two times a day. Today, I ran three miles for time, then lifted weights. I was gonna roll with one of our coaches, but last night's protein shake was - shall we say - not agreeing with me. So I decided to spare him the experience. I was disappointed though, because I've been looking forward to getting more mat time in.

After that, I went home and made a late lunch. Later on, I'll talk about some of the quick, healthy meals I cook to save time while still getting in a balanced set of nutrients.

Anyway, I rested for a bit, then headed back to the gym for Muay Thai class. It started off o.k., but the three-miler took a bit out of me today and I was feeling it during warm-ups. We practiced several striking combinations then did some sparring.

This is where the wake up call comes in. I was sparring a middleweight MMA fighter, whose boxing and Muay Thai was clearly superior to mine. I never thought of myself as a poor striker, but this guy was picking me apart, and I landed very few shots - none of them decent.

He caught me with a good right hook to the jaw, and I was dazed. It only took a second to shake it off, but I knew that whatever I was doing was not working. My head instructor noticed as well, and he reminded me, "Tuck your chin!"

I was sure to keep my chin tucked for the remainder of the sparring session. Getting caught with a good punch is a great reminder.

However, I knew I was only going to continue to get beat on if I kept striking from his range. So, I decided to fight in close. I was able to secure a clinch position and land some decent knees just a few seconds before the round ended.

The lesson learned here is if I am competing against someone with longer reach or superior striking skills, then I need to get in close to fight.

After watching an episode of Fight Quest (Thailand) two nights ago, I learned a great exercise to help strengthen my jaw and neck simultaneously, which will improve my Muay Thai clinch. Yes, I know they say, "Don't try this at home," but I consulted a professional before doing the exercise.

Strengthening my jaw will help me to avoid getting dazed or knocked out as easily if - I mean when - I take another shot to the chin. Strengthening my neck will help the same thing in its own way, but it will also enable me to keep my head erect if someone tries to knee me in the head from the clinch position.

Anyway, I bought a length of 1/4-inch plastic tubing from the plumbing store. I cut off a piece about four feet long, and tied it through the hole of a 35-lb weight, securing the knot with duct tape to keep it from sliding apart.

I stood on top of a tractor tire that we have in the gym, allowing the weight to dangle through the hole in the center of the tire, while holding on to the tube with clenched teeth. Starting in a squat position, with my elbows on my knees and with my head down (looking at the floor), I raised my head to look at the ceiling for each repetition. I was only able to complete two sets of five repetitions my first time doing this, but I'll keep at it regularly.

This exercise is no joke. My instructor says I need to work my way up to a 45-lb plate, but I'll need thicker tubing to hold the weight (and a thicker neck). Also, I think if I moved up to 1/2-inch or bigger tubing, it will be more comfortable for my mouth, because it will give me more surface area to bite down on.

Considering that I have a skinny neck and a narrow jaw, this is an exercise I will need to do pretty consistently.

Well folks, that's it for now - time for some much-needed rest!