Diary / Training Notes

What better way to finish my client's 10-hour course in Muay Thai and this year's personal training than with a throwing of the die game. If you are a regular reader of my blog lesson reports, you will be aware that my most experienced client has used this method over several lessons. This was also part of my recent Kickboxing workshop. The concept is to roll a die or dice through a phone app in secret and then match up the number you have thrown with the corresponding number

Tonight’s lesson introduced Freestyle Wrestling to our MMA Shoot Boxing course. Rounds pitted boxing techniques against shooting for the legs with both participants wearing MMA gloves. This form of asymmetrical shoot-boxing is excellent preparation for negotiating these two ranges in Mixed Martial Arts.

Meeting a new client eager to start a fresh martial arts journey always brings energy to my day. Recently, I had a trial martial arts personal training lesson with someone who had earned a black belt in Taekwondo two decades ago.

As I previously discussed in this particular kickboxing personal training course, these lessons can be used as a bridge between Boxing and Muay Thai. My new client, now on his fourth lesson with me, came from several months of Boxing personal training and was keen to explore kickboxing. He may choose to stick with this particular combat sport. However, the way I developed this course was as a means for training the out-boxing side of Muay Thai...

Teaching boxing remotely presents unique challenges, especially when introducing complex techniques like the hook. Recently, I continued my online remote martial arts teacher training with the leaders of Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub in Denmark, focusing on integrating the hook into their boxing skills. This post shares the step-by-step approach I used, combining revision, sparring games, and focused drills to help students discover and master the hook effectively.

During my recent online martial arts teaching consultancy with Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Ireland, we explored fresh approaches to address these challenges. Their updated strategy focuses on categorizing training types and using gamification and context to help students learn more effectively. I want to share insights from our discussion that can help martial arts instructors and online clients improve their teaching methods.

Tonight my client of over 11 years went back to some more constraints-led sparring to enhance his Muay Thai. Our previous lessons have mainly been holistic in nature with the emphasis being more on strategies and tactics. Now it was time to see how he had improved in when isolating the various ranges and weapons in Muay Thai.

Two men practising kickboxing, one in black kicking, other in orange blocking. "Kickboxing in MMA" text, logo, and "Latest Blog" banner visible.

Muay Thai fighters clinching in a training session with blurred black and red background. Text: Latest Blog, Countering After the Clinch.

When training for MMA, one of the most challenging ranges to master is the stand-up and clinch area, often called shoot-boxing. This range demands a unique blend of striking and grappling skills. Recently, I worked with a couple of clients in their MMA personal training sessions, focusing on this exact skill set. We combined the punching precision of boxing with the control and grip fighting of Greco-Roman wrestling. This approach not only improved their technique but also he

Round kicks are a powerful weapon in kickboxing, offering reach, speed, and impact. Yet, many beginners struggle to use them smoothly and effectively during sparring or self-defense situations. This post breaks down a practical approach to integrating round kicks into your kickboxing personal training sessions. The drills and sparring rounds described here focus on building flow, timing, defense, and creativity with round kicks, helping you develop a more complete striking ga

Teaching martial arts requires constant adaptation and learning. Recently, I had the opportunity to provide a martial arts teacher training private lesson to a long-time client from the Cotswold School of Karate. After completing a course focused on knee strikes, we shifted our attention to elbow strikes, using an exclusively Muay Thai approach. This post shares insights from that session, highlighting how karate instructors can integrate Muay Thai clinching and elbow techniq

In the last hour and a half of my client's Ground 'n Pound MMA Personal Training course, we revisited techniques like side control, scarf-hold, and guard work. We addressed some technical points before moving on to live training. This method, which identifies weaknesses and reveals new tactics, is key to my training philosophy and promotes skill development.

he Thai clinch is a powerful and versatile aspect of Muay Thai that often separates skilled fighters from beginners. On Tuesday night, during the eighth hour of my client’s personal Thai Boxing training, we focused intensely on refining clinch techniques and exploring the various weapons available within this close-range combat style. This session built directly on lessons from a recent exclusive Kickboxing workshop, where we emphasised foot sweeps in stand-up fighting. Since

The final lesson of the evening was my couple clients' MMA personal training lesson. We are into their second hour of shoot-boxing. Shoot-boxing is the name I give to all the stand-up MMA fighting. Our current focus is on blending above the waist or Greco-Roman Wrestling with Boxing.

Boxing personal training offers more than just physical exercise. It builds confidence, sharpens reflexes, and improves mobility, especially for seniors. Recently, I had the privilege of guiding a senior private client through the final lesson of his boxing course. His journey highlights how tailored training can unlock potential at any age.

Friday night, 28th November 2025, brought an exciting energy to my private client kickboxing workshop. These invitation-only events happen roughly every two months and create a unique club atmosphere where my clients can train together, learn from each other, and focus deeply on one specific discipline. This time, we revisited my newly reinstated kickboxing course, designed as a bridge between Boxing and Muay Thai. It offers unique techniques that work well within kickboxing

When it comes to MMA, the ground game often decides the outcome of a fight. After training my client for seven years through various MMA Personal Training sessions, we recently focused on the ninth lesson of his course, which zeroes in on ground fighting. This lesson was crucial because it covered fighting from the guard position—a fundamental skill that every MMA fighter must master to control the fight and create opportunities to win.

Boxing is a sport that sharpens the mind and body, no matter your age. When I work with my senior clients, especially those in their 60s and beyond, I see firsthand how focused sparring rounds can build skills, confidence, and fitness. One of my senior boxing personal training clients recently completed a course where we structured sparring into 10 specific rounds, each targeting a key aspect of boxing technique. These rounds not only improve physical ability but also teach s

Teaching boxing remotely presents unique challenges, especially when introducing complex techniques like the hook. In the second part of my remote online teaching consultation and teacher training with Hinnerup Karate in Denmark, we focused on developing their Boxing programme.