I’ve been doing a little more sparring these days, usually a couple times a month. As always, it’s incredibly frustrating to see myself on video. I look so slow, so inflexible, so flustered.

Mark says I’m getting better, though. I looked back at the last sparring video I posted and the differences are subtle. My core seems more stable. I’m less perturbed when I get hit. Also, some of my strikes are getting longer. Good form means my attacking side opens way up, while the other side stays tight in a guard. I see some of that.

But gah, what a mess…

Here’s another, of boxing. We do this first to warm up, usually. This is a longish video, but there are a couple moments for me to refer to as I try to improve my responsiveness and speed. Annotations are in the video itself.

Here’s some video of a few rounds of sparring I did today. This is my second attempt (last one was a long time ago; maybe a year?) Mark put on the baby gloves for me and taught me some basics. It’s frustrating, how slow and uncoordinated everything I do is, but I can only get better.

Mark sent me two boxing vids. Here is one fast, cocky mofo (Roy Jones: check out the move at 2:10 in particular):

And here Jones is up against Vinny Pazienza, a boxer who slips and dodges even better than Jones does:

This looks like a hilarious B-movie. I don’t speak Thai, obviously, but I got the gist:

Found via My Muay Thai

Two more months of training, since the last time I recorded myself. I seem a little faster and a little more responsive. It’s depressing to watch myself, though. The bit of extra range I’m developing seems like to be at the expense of crispness. Patience…

UPDATE: Mark (my trainer) commented below. I figured I’d put in a video of him working out with Neungsiam (his trainer, a pro fighter and former Lumpini champion) so people have some idea of how this is supposed to go. I should find one of Neungsiam training, for a view of the next level up.

I just started learning Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) last summer. Most of these months have been with Mark and Alexis Mian’s Alter Center (Mark is the one training me in this video.) Watching myself is very humbling, since I’m used to watching much more experienced (and fit) fighters training; I look nothing like them. I get tired very quickly. So much of my coordination, balance, and technique go out the window a minute or two into each round.

That being said, I love this training. It feels right to my body, and the movements come to me steadily, week by week.

Holy crap this little one is a tight boxer:

[via MyMuayThai]