(Part 3) Top products from r/MuayThai

This is called plantar fasciitis, and I got rid of it in 4 days in the following way:

Training Muay Thai 6x/week, I developed it on my left foot and suffered from the pain for 3 weeks until I realized the problem and began treating it. I was getting irritated from not being able to train and the stabbing pain when I decided to tough it out and train anyway.

It comes about due to tight calf muscles and the plantar fascia ligament that runs accross the bottom of your foot compensating for the lack of mobility.

It's relatively easy to fix with the right therapy. Use this 3x a day to get an amazing stretch on your calves:
North American Healthcare Foot Rocker
http://amzn.com/B002PT52WK
Use a timer and alternate stretching each calf for 30sec until they have been stretched 3x each.

If you can get ahold of one of these, it'll speed up the process a lot:
Porcupine Massage Ball
http://amzn.com/B000KS9Z8K

What you do is sit on a chair and place your bare foot on top of it and roll it around until you feel a tender spot. Once you find it, press down real hard on it. It hurts, but in a good way. What this is doing is dispersing scar tissue that has built up around the inflamed ligament and it'll speed up healing like a motherfucker.

You might wanna get some sole inserts for your shoes with good arch support, and avoid wearing older shoes.

Before training, stretch your calves with the foot rocker. If you have liniment oil or any type of muscle rub, give your calves a really fast-speed rubdown to warm them up.

I also like to use bandage wrap on my feet for arch support, especially on my main pivot foot. I find that the slip on ones commonly used have little to no arch support.
I use the following method:
http://youtu.be/dGD0JChXM78
Not to mention the fact that I totally get a psychological boost because they make me feel like Sagat from Street Fighter. "Tiger!"

Stay strong, man. I hope this helps!

For point 2, it had to do with the fact that alot of TMA schools have more of a children emphasis. Not all of them, YMMV but alot of places do seem more built for kiddie classes.


As for your thoughts on number 3, I'm mixed. Punches do carry a risk, and a palm strike is something to have but punches are used for a reason. Though I would say that it would be best to use them if you are a dedicated martial artist who conditions them regularly(knuckle pushups, bare bag work)


I have seen active self protection and I agree that if Muay Thai is to be effective as a self defense method, the techniques must be taught within that context. And elbows, knees, and low kicks are moves tailor made for street combat.


Anyway, I do understand where you are coming from. I don't think Muay Thai is a completely encompassing martial art, but I do feel it provides a solid basis for self defense. I practice Judo on the side, which I feel works naturally well with Muay Thai what with the clinch and throws. I'm actually trying to take my CC's self defense class next semester as well.


Also about weapons, it's definitely a valid concern but in some situations it may be different. For example, almost 9 out of 10 times a rapist will not use a weapon of any sort.


Also, here's a good book on Muay Thai/kickboxing and self defense.

Protein shakes, avocados (with Tajin seasoning), roma tomatoes (with lemon juice), bananas, sliced green peppers with peanut butter (great nighttime snack), cucumbers, cheese (Havarti is delicious), Chobani greek yogurt, glazed walnuts, Lara bars, Clif builder bars, FruitChia bars, steak (with corn and squash), chicken breasts and wings, ranch style beans, raspberries, eggs, and bacon.

I love the bars man because they're about the same price as a candy bar, and they taste like a candy bar, but they give me amazing clean energy.

This is probably the best book for learning Thai. I’m able to read and write the alphabet thanks to this book and I know enough vocabulary so that I can speak enough Thai to get by.


There’s an audio CD for this book as well which I highly recommend. Thai is a tonal language like Chinese so you need to learn how to pronounce a word correctly

Ever since I've started following Kelly Starrett at mobilitywod my muay thai has improved leaps and bounds (while I've decreased skill training). Proper posture and mechanics is key to unlocking your potential. My power and stamina has increased from posture corrections alone. This stuff transfers over to all athletic endeavours and helps me feel looser and more relaxed in training and just day-to-day living. I can't recommend it enough.

Website

http://www.mobilitywod.com/

Books

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supple-Leopard-Preventing-Performance/dp/1936608588/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426507402&sr=8-3&keywords=kelly+starrett

http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Run-Unlocking-Potential-Naturally/dp/1628600098/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426507402&sr=8-1&keywords=kelly+starrett

Equipment

http://www.roguefitness.com/mobility-rehab

Make sure that you purchase wraps that are 180 inches in length. Don't trust anything that doesn't list a length. Also, 100% cotton wraps are not what you want. You will want elastic cotton wraps (they will stretch a bit, giving a tighter fit and allowing more flexibility while maintaining good support), also called mexican style wraps. These are the wraps I use, and I wouldn't get anything else.

If you're truly interested in Sak Yant i'd recommend getting a couple of books on the subject over the next year to help you plan. I have this one and also this

Both cover the beliefs and traditions of Sak Yant and feature a wide range of designs and profiles of various Ajahns (masters).

My instructor has a set of videos that are pretty favorably reviewed:

http://www.amazon.com/Muay-Thai-Master-Saekson-DVD/dp/B00066N9Y2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330887968&sr=8-1

It's worth noting before I trained with him I tried teaching myself from Duke Roufus videos and they ended up having to correct a lot of my technique. Everyone has different styles...I imagine Saeksons is more authentic Thai style.

Personally I use the "stretch out strap" I got from amazon. 15 bucks, does the job. It doesn't expand at all like an elastic band. There's loops every few inches to help really get the angle you need. https://www.amazon.com/Original-Stretch-Strap-Exercise-OPTP/dp/B00065X222/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521411824&sr=8-3&keywords=stretch+out+strap

His book is interesting:

http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Strategies-Muay-Thai-Thailands/dp/1581603584/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398284607&sr=8-1&keywords=fighting+strategies+of+muay+thai

I've checked out the Muay Sangha website and it looks like we went very deep into spirituality and tried to combine it with Muay Thai and Muay Boran.

https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-Medicine-Company-Zheng-Relief/dp/B0002BDP3G is what I've used, but TBH, the massaging part is what is effective.

You can't get them at pharmacies.

Usana is MLM/direct selling and throne is not mainstream.

Yeah been taking good multi for 2 years now. My pinky toe nails were retarded as well, now they are fine. There's more science to it but the gestalt is the body is a smart organism.

Check out the nutrisearch comparative guide to nutritional supplements for more details. It will also update your knowledge on where nutritional science is these days and it will tell you that nothing compares to USANA supplements (which is true) and outline exactly why.

https://www.amazon.com/NutriSearch-Comparative-Nutritional-Supplements-Americas/dp/1987961013/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=J5094PA7ZKTESSAWV0NE

https://www.amazon.com/Muay-Thai-Basics-Introductory-Techniques/dp/1583941401

The technical information contained in this book is very good.

I have been using a Diadora Team Bag (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AUQG4Y) and like it:

- Roomy enough for shinguards, gloves, wraps, mouthguard, jump-rope, and all clothing/cup/etc for Muay Thai, as well as a change of clothes for after Muay Thai.

- Separate shoe compartment is where I put my sweaty clothes/wraps afterwards.

- Another compartment for athletic tape/extra wraps if I forget to pack a pair/etc

I use a mesh ball bag it holds everything I have two pairs of gloves. Shin pads Thai pads punch mits

Rudmox Pro-Traveller Heavy Duty Mesh Ball Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M7CBVPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kkxJDb3MF3VBD
I got the black xla one and it’s huge

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Muay-Submissions-Breaks-Locks-Boran/dp/1326149857/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468530685&sr=8-3&keywords=muay

Reading these ones at the moment. A lot of the Boran techniques have stories related to the story of king Rama, Hanuman and erawan. Wai kru's as well as techniques.

Let us never forget:

https://www.amazon.com/Sapp-Time-Bob/dp/B0000844GT

we have a bunch of these at my gym, they work pretty good but the lack of swinging makes you really have to concentrate on moving your feet and not standing stagnant

Anh Fairtex has a book, Explosive Muay Thai from a few years back.

I haven't read the book so I can't speak to it specifically, but Anh is the head trainer at our gym and he's incredibly knowledgeable and experienced so it's worth a look.

The only one I know if is Sheridan's Fighter's Heart which has some of that. And some blogs.