Trainee's Log- 04th Jul 09 (Sat) Pattaya time

1700hrs

GOSH!! It's closing to the end of the week & I'm beginning to miss this place. Today's lesson plan was to get ready for tomorrow's assessment. Yup! Each of us has to learnt & experience the fulfillment in conducting a TKM class.

Planning, planning & more planning. That's the secret to a successful class. Organising on the lesson plan, making sue all equipments are ready for use & are at good condition. First aid kit must be stocked, making checks around the training floor for hazards & running the lesson dryly. Spent couple of hours recognising all techniques learnt so far.
Before ending the training, Carl gave each of us specific tasks that we need to do as apart of the assessment. I think it's time for me to plan my lesson plan now... Wish me LUCK!!

Trainee's Log- 03rd Jul 09 (Fri) Pattaya time

2300hrs

Today's drill lasted for 4 hours but it felt shorter than that. Maybe when you're too focused on training, you're not aware of the time.
Carl made us go through head takedowns, breakfalls, chokes & recap of inside/outside defenses. He never fails to emphasize the importance of getting your basics right from the start. The initial defense is your TOP priority in stopping any attacks. Disarming is secondary..

Weather is always hot & stuffy especially when you're training indoors. What kept me going each time after training is to a nice, hot cup of cappuccino.... AHHHH!!

Trainee's Log- 02nd Jul 09 (Thurs) Pattaya time

2300hrs

Training starts early as usual at 8am. Body was still sored by yesterday's high-octane training. Sore or no sore, this is the sacrifice me & my course mates are willing to endure to obtain our TKM certification for the benefit of our students.

Carl walked us through the basic strikings working on all directions (360deg strikes). After an hr of warm-up, we went into the octagonal cage to work more on ground strikes than striking the kick shields. Learnt how to stop an aggressor's attack by creating 'chained' strikes. It's important to create chained attacks 'cos in real street fights, one punch or kick is not enough to stop an assailant especially multiple ones. That's why we use tactics, pre-emptive strikes & space management to escape.

1 minute is all we got before we gas-out. Street fighting is not sparring but a battle for survival. Carl made us attack the shield hard & continuously for 1 minute. 1 minute of that sounds like an eternity. Felt like passing out after that!! Everything comes in play: weather, environment, tactics, anaerobic etc.

Use whatever means necessary to stay alive!! It's your life... It's your fight!!

Trainee's Log- 01st Jul 09 (Wed) Pattaya time

2330hrs

What a day!!! Just came back from a nice 1 hr foot massage! Feel like I'm on cloud 9! hahaha..

Pheww!! Today's training was FREAKIN' awesome! My adrenaline level has never been pumped this high. I learnt that adrenalin & instinct will guide you in 'real-time' pressure situation. Did inside & outside defense against gun threats (rifle & pistol)! Did dry run drills 1st @ Pattaya shooting range. Had difficulty focusing on the techniques at the beginning 'cos never did gun defense before. Dealing with dummy guns, I tend to overlooked at the techniques.

Real test of courage began when we shifted to the BB gun range!! That's right! We used the 'Airsoft' rifles & pistols (filled with plastic pellets!) to disarm. This is as Real As It Gets! Carl gave the instructors a taste of how painful it is to get capped by these pellets... (we ran around the range whilst being hunted down), let me tell you IT hurts! 3 shots at the back & 1 execution style right at the butt!

Imagine to have that gun pointed at you at point blank. All thoughts racing- focus at only one thing.. not to get shot!!

Glad I didn't get shot during the gun disarming. Carl said our reaction time increased tremendously as we performed the drill to near perfection, knowing how dangerous it is to be held at gun point. That's crazy & real! That's TKM- reality based situations. Have a deeper respect & awareness for guns now. Eventhough its guns-free & safe here in Singapore, I will not take my chances!

Be safe.. Practice Practice Practice guys. Basics is the key to survival.

Trainee's Log- 30th Jun 09 (Tues) Pattaya time

1300hrs
A nice cooling bath sure makes your aches & pains go away. Stretching my muscles as I pen down my thoughts the same time. Training kicks off @ 8am sharp as usual. Did shadow fighting as a warm-up. Putting all the basics we learnt yesterday into play. It's all about muscle memory. Went into the cage & run thru' inside & outside defense against kicks. Few rounds of dry drills & had a go at it with Stefan!

Then tried attacking the kick shield as the 'attacker' walks to you. I hold the shield 1st & next thing I knew.. I was on the mat!!! Damn! Stefan loaded a nasty push kick dead centre. Great kick bro! Thank you.. hahaha

End the training with a hot cappuccino.. AHHHHHH! Oh look.. lunch time!

Trainee's Log- 29th Jun 09 (Mon) Pattaya time

0710hrs

Woke up at 5.30am to the crowing of the neighbour's roosters. Sure do bring back fond memories of my childhood 'kampong' days. 7.30am is breakfast at the Pattaya Kombat gym, so as I'm writing this blog, I'm waiting on Carl.

1st day of training will be covering on basics such as strikings & blockings (360deg defense). Will also look at the new prototype blue 'jacket' which Carl personally custom-made from Indonesia. Defenitely good replacements for the old chest guards we have at fightworks.

1500hrs

The weather is really taking a toll on me. Had to rehydrate constantly especially during the morning training. Started training at 8am sharp inside the 'octagon' cage with a 2mins stretching followed by 3 rnds of 3mins shadow fight. Carl wanted to assess my fundamentals. Learnt that as a defender, I had to deliver 'chained' strikes (punches, elbows, kicks) in any directions WITH 'bursting'. Strikes must be fast & hard creating waves of pressured attacks 'til threat is neutralised.

3 rnds of that & I was panting like a mad dog. The air is so dense & humid, it affects my breathing. Carl said to give time to get climatised. 15mins later, a huge French bloke named Stefan (his karate trained) joined us. Nice chap but boy..... does he has huge forearms! Carl made us go thru' basic defense & strike drills against straight/circular punches & knife attacks. Covered also on movement & space management.

Before the end of the training, we had partner drills. Bth of us went hard & enjoyed hitting each other 'til bruised up! Literally enjoyed! hahaha..

Drowned our tiredness with a hot cup of cappuccino. Washed up, lunched & now here I am in my room blogging & revising thru' the lessons. I need my 'power' nap!! Come here pillow!!

Trainee's Log- 28th Jun 09 (Sun) 1130hrs Pattaya time

Guess what!!? The weather here is friggin' hot! All I can think of is gulping down a nice cold can of Coca-Cola..

Met Carl Halley (Director of TKM) at last. A real nice & friendly Aussie chap. Was also introduce to Jerry. I think he's Irish. A very intellectual guy in fact. Talked about 'EPL' (not English Premier League) but somthing with linguistic programme.

Carl took me to the crib that I'll be staying for the next 8 days. I must say it's a nice/modern apartment (Dok-Bua Apartments). Situated at the end of a narrow alley facing the Pattaya Kombat gym. Such convenience!!!

It's rest day today, so will use this opportunity to get acquainted with my course mates. Keep you folks updated.