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Training with the Thai's

Page 2 - Training Routines

Routines vary from camp to camp. Much of the training takes place outdoors and weather is a factor. Thailand is semi-tropical and the rains last for a long time. During the long wet months no one runs. "They never run in the rain because they are concerned about getting sick. They do lots of extra rope jumping during the rainy season," Villalobos explains.

After the run, the fighters settle in to their morning training ritual. There is no breakfast. "Sometimes a little coffee, but no food," Villalobos says. A typical morning includes 20 minutes of skipping rope on a concrete floor, followed by shadow-boxing for another 20 minutes. Fighters wrap their hands and wear bag gloves. A long round of punching and kicking the heavy bag is followed by intense Thai pad training. "Everything is done in rounds, usually about three minutes each," he explains. "They don't do much sparring. Since they fight one or two times a month they must take care of their shins, arms, and body. It is critical that they have no injuries. They must be 100 percent when they fight."

In accordance with culture and tradition, Thai boxers eat only two times per day. "You must shower before you sit down to the table," Villalobos notes. "The Thai people are very, very clean. I took five or six showers a day when I was there. Man, they are the cleanest people I have ever seen." After the morning meal the boxers are free to rest or play around. Some go back to their rooms to watch TV or rest. Others go out walking on the street. After this five-hour break the serious stuff begins.

At about 3 p.m. or so the fighters assemble at the training ground. Typically they go for a second 30-to-40 minute run through the streets. When they return, they wrap their hands and go back to work on the heavy bags. "Everybody goes to a bag to train for 15-to-20, three-minute rounds," Villalobos says. During this time, the trainers work inside the ring with one fighter at a time.

The trainers pad up with shin-guards, belly pads, and Thai pads. The trainers work the ring with each fighter for two-to-five rounds lasting about three minutes each. "The trainers work very hard, in some camps there are 30 people and only two trainers," Villalobos recalls. This training is spontaneous in nature. It is not done in routines or by count or call. The fighters attack the trainer at will, and with any and all body weapons. The skill of the trainers is so high that they can catch every blow on the pad.

"Here in America," Villalobos comments, "they call for the strike. In Thailand they don't say anything. The trainer must be at the level that he can catch any punch, any kick any elbow, anything, the moment the person throws it. So the fighter will be able to throw any combination, and the trainer will catch it and absorb it with the pads. At this level, we are talking about fighters, not beginners."

"At this level, we are talking about fighters, not beginners."

The trainer does this because he knows each of his fighters, Villalobos explains. "The trainer typically has many fighters," he adds. "He knows everyone very well. He knows how they fight, what they throw. He knows exactly how each one moves."With a new fighter, the trainer will be uncomfortable and take it slow for about three days until he gets used to the way the guy fights and moves. After that, the fighter can go full power and the trainer will catch everything. The trainer must have very high skills and know what he is doing, otherwise he is going to get hurt.

"If you miss one of those powerful kicks, it can take your head off," he adds. "One punch can put you on the floor. It's quick and dangerous. The trainer must have very good skills or the process will get sloppy." Thus, the ring training in the Thai camps is full contact and full speed. It closely simulates real combat without risk to the fighter. When all the fighters have completed their rounds with the Thai trainer, everyone stops and the bag gloves and hands wraps come off. "Now is time for the plam," Villalobos with a smile. Plam training lasts for about 30 minutes. The fighters don't wear gloves. They use their knees to strike but not with power. It is a competition of considerable intensity. Plam is neck wrestling. "It is not really sparring," Villalobos relates. "It exercises the posture, balance, and timing." In plam wrestling, fighters hold each other around the neck and try to throw each other to the floor, to knock each other off balance. By 7 p.m., the day's training is concluded and everyone heads for the showers. Dinner is ready by 7:30 and then the fighters are free for a short while.