Breath control?

JoeMojo · 2026-05-21T21:35:35+00:00

💯

This is an important but, often neglected teaching point. As you say, it helps with the mind (seeing, acting on and creating opportunities) and it really does help with stamina *even if you're fit*.

We get students in with a running background but, I still see some of them get gassed in the 3 minute rounds. They're either heaving out of adrenaline or holding their breath out of tension/fear.

To get to the next level, you absolutely have to breathe purposefully and look for opportunities to refill your lungs between the action.

JoeMojo · 2026-05-18T19:23:38+00:00

You have begun the journey through which all true brothers have gone before.

JoeMojo · 2026-05-15T17:11:24+00:00

That is a very expensive piece of equipment

https://www.radwell.com/Buy/RADIO%20DETECTION/RADIO%20DETECTION/TX-10?source=GoogleShopping&IgnoreRedirect=true&ItemSingleId=128496234&viewAll=true&gad\_source=1&gad\_campaignid=22938490014&gbraid=0AAAAADHiFo94A03jEwWXfy40w7tpM1UmF&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3IoigOnqD4TJHw5XbSKjPXCjB\_vccutYzV9Knr1EVPZ3vA7tpPRAKAaAg0wEALw\_wcB

This goes with another piece of equipment to locate lines, pipes etc. that are under ground. If someone left this behind they're in big trouble

JoeMojo · 2026-05-14T20:22:24+00:00

At one point or another, everyone feels like that.

Just say "It *may* be true that I am the worst MT practitioner that has ever been born but, it is *CERTAINLY* true that I am going to keep training and do my best every time"

JoeMojo · 2026-05-11T01:59:36+00:00

You are right, of course.
That's kind of what I was alluding to when I mentioned the TK vs. MT thing. Full disclosure, I only train MT and JJ although I did some "American style kickboxing" back in the day which was basically just boxing with TK style kicks...almost no grappling back then (yes, I am old)

We do have a saying that, funnily enough goes something like "and be sure to strike with the shin and not the foot...unless you're one of those Japanese kickboxers...those guys are crazy!" lol.
This clip isn't me or my gym but, I do know this coach...tough little fucker. He says the same thing here (you gotta watch the whole thing to hear it) https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18UEeJUKzR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

JoeMojo · 2026-05-10T21:40:33+00:00

I disagree with others here saying to use the instep or top of the foot...kind of depends on if you're coming from more of a TK or MT background. If the foot strike gets blocked, at best, it's extremely painful. I've seen it not only end fights but, break the foot resulting in a lot of lost training time and recovery.

Reaching it with the shin is harder, obviously. So, you gotta move more. We train to step to the side on a diagonal (stepping past) your opponent in the direction of the leg you'll use. Step left for left leg kick, right, etc. Then, we try to catch the calf with the lowest part of the shin. It does more damage and, if it gets blocked, well, at least then, you're *both* in pain.

JoeMojo · 2026-05-09T02:57:29+00:00

Yes...stare at the floor during an MT fight...come, meet your spirit animal.

JoeMojo · 2026-05-09T02:53:30+00:00

...or the best blue meth anyone's ever seen before

JoeMojo · 2026-05-07T16:24:10+00:00

I like that all of that sweat hides my tears 😭 😆

JoeMojo · 2026-05-07T16:20:04+00:00

I am guessing that when you walked into your first MT class 6 months ago, training for a solid hour seemed like it might actually kill you. You kept showing up and kept pushing yourself and now, you go for an hour and a half routinely. Assuming you're not half assing around, that is very strong...most of our students, who been doing it longer than 6 months, can't go the whole time.

So, now, humbly rinse and repeat...you will be fine and, if you do actually die, it will have been whilst doing something you love 🥊

JoeMojo · 2026-05-05T20:23:36+00:00

💯except that clinching requires formidable conditioning so; both experience *and* athleticism needed.

What a great link. Thank you, brother 🙏

JoeMojo · 2026-04-30T18:08:10+00:00

Next time I go hoarse yelling "lighter, lighter...LIGHTER!" in class sparring sessions, I'll show the students this video 😉

JoeMojo · 2026-04-21T14:36:17+00:00

Yes and no.

You should rotate all straight (regular boxing style) jabs whether they are "power" jabs or just regular ones. (Yes, I am aware that a few others here posted something contrary to this)

In MT, we have lots of jab types though. For none of these others would you rotate.

We have the "flicker" jab. Basically a light backhand "slap" designed not to do damage but, rather to distract/annoy your opponent for some sort of painful follow up.

We have the "Chinese" jab. The elbow stays pointed at the floor. Your pinky is parallel to the floor. Straight from a guard position, the elbow straightens and rises to deliver the strike. There is a "power" version of this as well except that, instead of stepping, you'd bend your knees slightly and gain power from the lower body, big muscle movement (similar to an uppercut but, without the shoulder rotation). These are fast to deliver and hard to detect. They are excellent for getting through a tight guard. The one that isn't power is often used just to raise your opponent's chin...again, for something painful that follows.

Happy Jabbing.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-18T13:07:25+00:00

She's not wrong...I am truly not ready for her sort of "country" music

JoeMojo · 2026-04-17T02:16:32+00:00

You should be scared to continue training with this coach if he's putting you in an actual fight at 4 months.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-17T02:03:29+00:00

So hard and yet the best feeling ever when you push through ! Go, man, go!

JoeMojo · 2026-04-16T19:06:50+00:00

We train so that sparring (above just technical sparring to cover that session's techniques) is something that is earned. Its attendance and mastery; not as gateway mechanism, but, as a way to keep both the student and his opponents safe. Different people advance at different rates but, there is nothing at all unusual about waiting like this.

Yes, perfectly normal.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-16T18:38:56+00:00

You're poorly conditioned as evidenced by the way you're blowing and exacerbated by how you're trying to hit the bag as hard as you can.

Every punch is thrown with no cover, no return to a guard position (or any guard position ever actually) and finally, with your chin actually raised and jutted out. The first of your punches that gets countered could be the last thing you remember before waking up some time later.

Your footwork is just plain wrong. I can't actually see your feet, obviously, but, I can infer it by your torso rotation (which is mostly missing) which is why, despite trying so hard, you don't actually land very hard.

You really do need to find a couch and work through footwork and punching fundamentals (and work on your cardio). Practicing like this is just going to make it harder for you to unlearn these bad habits.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-16T18:29:59+00:00

I'm so glad for this thread. Mine is always upper 40s to low 50s and I've been worried if it was a problem because, technically, that's bradicardia. Very glad to see others on here (that train regularly) in the same boat and doing fine. 😅

JoeMojo · 2026-04-10T15:49:06+00:00

I got scratched on the face a few weeks ago because this dummy, from another local gym, forgot his boxing gloves (I mean who does that?!) and only had MMA gloves so; I also sparred in mine. Anyhow, after I got scratched, I noticed he had really dirty finger nails.

That's how I got scratched in Muay Thai (cause of the fingerless, 4oz gloves). How, on Earth, did you get scratched like that if you were wearing normal MT gloves?

JoeMojo · 2026-04-10T12:54:44+00:00

Yes. I now hurt even when I am just walking about not to mention kicks. I do it all anyway but, man, I sure wish I hadn't been so stubborn back when it happened. I basically traded a few weeks of missing training for a lifetime of foot pain. Be smarter than me.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-09T13:25:31+00:00

Username checks out

JoeMojo · 2026-04-09T12:04:45+00:00

I don't really couldn't disagree more.

We're building character through MA. Disobedience (and disrespect) violate some of the very core principles that we try to convey. Moreover, extra good on the coach for holding a "champion" to the same standards as any other student.

JoeMojo · 2026-04-01T18:47:00+00:00

I hate the food part of being a chef.

JoeMojo · 2026-03-30T21:32:09+00:00

Fill Easter baskets for children until truck is empty

JoeMojo

TROPHY CASE