Man, training at Team Toro Janjira felt like climbing a mountain backwards at first. Let me break down how I survived their Muay Thai bootcamp step by step.
The Warm-Up From Hell
First thing coach made us do? Skip rope for 20 minutes straight. Not that light hopping stuff – serious ankle-breaking tempo. My shins screamed bloody murder after 5 minutes. Dropped the rope twice before finding rhythm.
Padwork That Kicked My Ass
Thought holding pads was easy? Think again. Coach yelled “POWER!” while feeding me combos:
- Teep kick to the gut that knocked wind outta me
- Triple left hooks rattling my bones
- Roundhouse kicks I felt through my teeth
Sweat poured into my eyes so bad I could barely see. By round 8, my arms felt like overcooked noodles.
Clinch Work = Human Pretzel Class
Never felt so awkward in my life. Coach paired me with this 220-pound Thai beast who twisted me like taffy:
- He locked my neck so tight I saw stars
- My knees buckled during sweeps
- Almost faceplanted during hip toss drills
Took three sessions before I stopped tripping over my own feet.
Bag Rounds That Tested My Soul
They put 10 seconds between rounds – just enough to gasp for air before the bell. I did:
- Non-stop kicks till my shins bruised purple
- Elbow combos that shook the whole bag stand
- 300 knees till my hips screamed “STOP!”
Nearly puked after round 6. The Thai fighters? Barely sweating.
Sparring – The Gut Check
First time with headgear felt like fighting underwater. Got tagged clean by a 16-year-old girl with lightning kicks. Learned fast to keep my damn hands up. Coach kept saying “BREATHE!” like a broken record. Tapped out twice from leg kicks.
Truth? This camp broke me down then rebuilt me tougher. Could barely walk to my car after first week. But today? I ate three kicks without flinching. Best worst experience of my training life.
