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The jab and cross are the backbone of many boxing combinations. The jab is a quick, straight punch with the lead hand, used to gauge distance and set up attacks. The cross follows as a powerful straight punch from the rear hand, often delivering the knockout blow. Getting these punches right means more than just throwing fast punches. It requires proper stance, rotation, and muscle engagement.

When my advanced teenage taekwondo competitor came back for more martial arts cross training, I knew we had a great opportunity to sharpen her skills beyond traditional taekwondo drills. Cross-training in martial arts offers a fresh perspective and new challenges that can elevate performance in unexpected ways. Our session focused on contrasting in-fighting and outside fighting through sparring games, followed by drills to improve footwork and transition smoothly back into ta

When working with a returning 50-year-old professional businessman in his Boxing Personal Training course, I quickly realized that raw strength and power are only part of the equation. The real challenge lies in refining the structure of punches to maximize effectiveness while maintaining balance. This session focused on improving the mechanics behind his straight rights and crosses, ensuring that his punches are not only powerful but also controlled and well-balanced.

This post delves into the multifaceted benefits of targeted sparring as a method to bolster your Muay Thai defence. It will also explore the significance of punch structure in boxing training, emphasizing how this foundational aspect can translate into improved striking capabilities. Furthermore, we will discuss the advantages of cross-training in other martial arts, such as taekwondo, and how these practices can enhance overall performance and versatility in Muay Thai.

The rules are simple but clever. Each round, both sparring partners roll a die or dice in secret. The number rolled corresponds to a specific technique or strategy from a numbered list. Only the techniques linked to the rolled number count for scoring during that round. All other techniques are allowed but do not score points.

I do not teach taekwondo or any Korean martial art formally, despite starting my own martial arts journey in them during the early 1990s. Instead, I offer bespoke martial arts personal training that adapts to each client’s needs, drawing from a broad range of disciplines and experience. This outside perspective has proven valuable.

When I started working with my new client during our third hour of Triple C Fitness, I saw firsthand how this approach transforms fitness routines into engaging, effective workouts. Triple C Fitness is designed for people who want to learn martial arts for fitness benefits but prefer to avoid partner sparring or complex drills. Instead, we focus on solo exercises that build strength, agility, and technique.

When couples come to me for submission grappling personal training, they often aim to enhance their control and movement on the mat without overly depending on their hands. Hands can become fatigued, or sometimes you want to refine your body mechanics and utilize your hips more effectively. Recently, I conducted a two-hour session dedicated entirely to hip control, where we practiced sparring drills that required students to refrain from using their hands. This method enabled

Kickboxing and Muay Thai are dynamic martial arts that rely heavily on precise striking techniques. One of the most effective strikes in these disciplines is the low round kick. In my recent remote online martial arts personal training session with a client from Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Galway, we focused on breaking down this technique to its essentials. This post shares insights from that lesson, explaining how to master the low round kick and how remote training ca

Returning to boxing after a long break can feel like stepping into a different world. For me, at 50 years old, getting back into boxing personal training was both a challenge and a rediscovery. The third hour of my client's training course focused on refining the basics and strengthening my defense. Revisiting jabs and crosses, while layering on defensive techniques, reminded me how much boxing is about precision, timing, and resilience.

Red boxing glove hits a heavy bag in a warm gym, with bold text: MAXIMISE YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH and Transform your body.

When my Muay Thai client asked to focus on attacking during our 1.5-hour session, I knew this would shape the entire training. We dedicated 12 rounds of 3 minutes each to specific sparring drills that sharpened his offensive skills. I took on a mostly defensive role, starting with a passive approach and gradually moving to active counterattacks. This method helped him develop a deeper understanding of timing, distance, and weapon combinations.

Tonight’s personal training session with my advanced client focused entirely on stand-up martial arts. We dedicated the full 1.5 hours to exploring the traditional conventions of boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, rather than blending them as separate ranges in MMA. This approach allowed us to dive deep into the unique techniques and strategies each art offers in its purest form.

Submission grappling demands more than just knowing individual techniques. Success often depends on smooth transitions and the ability to chain attacks fluidly. One drill that highlights this approach is the "heat-seeking kimura," a sequence that links multiple arm locks through positional changes. This post explores how this drill fits into training from the north south position, its practical applications, and how it builds a stronger grappling game.

There is an overly simplistic adage that one should master one discipline before moving on to another. Well, it's not really much of a wise proverb outside of the often tribalistic and insular subculture of martial arts. Go to a regular school, and students are expected to not only study a wide range of subjects but often several similar subjects. Yet, when it comes to martial arts, there appears to be this pervading idea that you need to get to a certain level before you sho

When my couple clients asked to focus more on hip control during our submission grappling personal training sessions, I knew this would be a game changer. Hip control is a fundamental skill that often determines the success of transitions, chokes, and necktie techniques. By drilling deeper into this area, we can uncover weaknesses and build stronger, more effective grappling strategies. In this post, I’ll share how we approached this focus, the benefits of hip control, and pr

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

When my new client first came to me, he wanted to learn boxing. After discussing his goals and preferences, we decided that the Triple C Fitness course would suit him best. This programme uses martial arts techniques focused primarily on fitness rather than sparring or competition. Many clients like him want the benefits of boxing for fitness without the pressure or risk of sparring.

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.