A Fighter’s Focus

One of my favorite things about martial arts is that there is always more to learn. It is both humbling and exciting to be a lifelong student of Muay Thai. As a fighter, there is always something new to focus on or develop. Usually, the first place I start is my last fight performance. I’ll analyze what went well and what didn't. What went wrong, especially after a fight, is some of the most valuable information available to a fighter. Even if I have not had a competition recently, I can apply the same practice to my sparring.

However, without sparring or competition available to me, my focus has shifted enormously. I have found myself finally able to study the legends of Muay Thai’s ‘Golden Era’, studying the biggest and best fighters the sport has ever seen. It’s been a pleasure to watch Muay Thai at its peak and see how vast the talent pool was during that time. As a professional fighter, there is so much focus on the training, but now under quarantine, I have been able to slow down and learn much more about the history of Thai boxing, as well as the legacy of its greatest performers. It’s something I always intended to do, but never got around to until now.

I have also been able to experiment with my training more. I have been developing my Southpaw stance and striking as well as building up better strength and endurance in my legs. As an atomweight (110lbs/50kg), I cannot rely on the power of my arms alone, so it is very important that when I strike, I use the whole force of my body. Strong legs make for a strong foundation and even stronger punches. Additionally, I have begun filming my shadowboxing. It’s so much easier to spot mistakes when they’re on film, it really provides an in-depth view of body mechanics.

Ultimately, a fighter's focus will always change, but sometimes the biggest results can come from the smallest of changes.

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