Diary / Training Notes

Starting a new martial arts discipline can be both exciting and challenging, especially when moving from a familiar sport like boxing to kickboxing. My senior client recently made this transition after a year focused solely on boxing. This change aims to build a solid foundation for an upcoming Muay Thai course. In our latest session, we concentrated on mastering the teep, a fundamental kickboxing technique, using constraints-led games to sharpen precision and timing. This po

Muay Thai Personal Training The fifth hour of my teacher client’s Muay Thai personal training course at Cotswold Karate took a deep dive into the art of elbow striking. This session built on previous lessons, pushing the boundaries of technique and application. Today, we also tested elbow strikes against round kicks in a live environment, adding a dynamic challenge that sharpened timing, distance, and decision-making. As a martial arts teacher, I found this phase of training

Here’s how I approach a 1.5-hour Muay Thai personal training session focused on sparring, moving through 12 rounds of 3 minutes each. I’ll share practical tips on how to get the most from your sparring, whether you’re new to Muay Thai or looking to refine your skills.

Training in mixed martial arts requires a blend of skills from various fighting styles, and mastering these techniques demands a well-rounded approach. In my recent 1.5-hour session with an advanced client, we revisited a comprehensive MMA cross-training routine that covers all ranges of combat. This lesson reinforced the fundamentals while building endurance, strength, and technical precision.

Scarf-hold side control is a powerful position in submission grappling that offers control and multiple submission opportunities. In lesson three of my client’s first Submission Grappling Personal Training course, we focused on refining this position, transitioning between scarf-hold and back control, and exploring defenses. We also introduced no-hands sparring drills to emphasize hip movement and mobility, which are crucial for effective ground fighting. This post breaks dow

When my couple clients chose to focus their martial arts cross-training personal training course on Submission Grappling for their latest session, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to return to the basics. Submission grappling is a complex and technical discipline, but mastering its fundamentals is essential for any serious martial artist. This session was all about refining their movement, correcting errors in real time, and building a deeper understanding of hip positio

Boxing is a sport of strategy as much as strength. When training remotely, it can be challenging to convey the nuances of different fighting styles and tactics. In my fourth Remote Online Boxing Personal Training session with my client from Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Ireland, we focused on mastering southpaw tactics and refining jab techniques. This session highlighted how remote training can effectively develop skills that are often thought to require in-person coachin

Distance management is one of the most critical aspects of Muay Thai. It dictates when and how you can effectively land strikes or defend against your opponent’s attacks. Kicks and elbows operate at different ranges, so mastering the transition between these distances is key.

Before diving into the lean back, the training session began with a warm-up focused on dynamic muscle engagement. This included exercises that promote blood flow, increase mobility and activate the nervous system. Incorporating actual footwork patterns and shadow boxing helped the clients transition smoothly into the technical drills.

In this post, I want to share how we worked on transitioning between submissions, specifically around necktie attacks, and how this can improve your grappling game while deepening your partnership.

Man with red boxing gloves focuses on laptop screen. Text: "Online Boxing Session Breakdown," techniques listed. Dark gym setting.

Muay Thai Personal Training When a karate teacher from Cotswold Karate School approached me to continue training elbow strikes in Muay Thai, I saw a unique opportunity. He wanted to use Muay Thai techniques as attribute training to improve his karate skills. We are now in the third hour of this focused course, and the progress is clear. This blog post shares insights from our sessions and explains how Muay Thai personal training can enhance karate performance, especially thro

Tonight, I switched things up with my veteran private client during his usual Muay Thai personal training session. Instead of our typical sparring-focused workout, we dedicated the entire 1.5-hour class to pad work. This change allowed us to concentrate on technique, precision and conditioning through a structured series of rounds using focus mitts and Thai pads.

Training in mixed martial arts (MMA) demands more than just mastering one fighting style. It requires fluidity across multiple ranges and techniques. Tonight, I worked with a client who has been training with me since 2019. His progress has reached a point where he can confidently switch between different martial arts systems within my 10-lesson courses. Our 1.5-hour session focused on moving through all the ranges of MMA using specific sparring rounds designed to sharpen his

Martial arts training room with equipment and two men grappling on red mats. Text: Side Control to Scarf-Hold blog post info.

When my couple clients recently completed their seventh and eighth hours of Submission Grappling Personal Training, we dedicated a special double lesson to two crucial positions: the turtle position and the seatbelt hold. These positions form the backbone of many effective submissions and escapes in grappling. By focusing on these areas through constraint-led games and guided sparring, we were able to deepen their understanding and sharpen their skills with several key submis

Elbows are natural weapons in close combat. Their short range and bone structure make them ideal for quick, powerful strikes that can break through an opponent’s guard. Traditional Karate bunkai often includes elbow movements, but these are usually practiced in solo kata or pre-arranged drills without resistance. This leaves practitioners unprepared for real sparring or self-defense scenarios where timing, angles, and counters matter.

When a client has trained consistently for over seven years, their lessons naturally evolve. Instead of focusing on one combat sport or technique, the sessions become a blend of universal themes and cross-disciplinary skills. This shift allows for deeper exploration of complex moves and variations that challenge both the mind and body.

Starting a new grappling course can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory, especially when transitioning from wrestling to submission grappling. My client recently finished his wrestling course and began a Submission Grappling Personal Training program focused on mastering side control. This position is a cornerstone in grappling, offering control and opportunities for submissions or transitions.

Tonight, my couple clients reached the sixth hour of their Mixed Martial Arts personal training course. We have progressed to ground 'n pound techniques and then moved into attacking the turtle position. This session focused on the seatbelt position, from which I introduced several submission set-ups leading to necktie submissions. These techniques build on what we covered last week, where we transitioned from an arm-bar attack from the back to the scorpion necktie. This time