TMTG 018: Knocking Out Depression with Muay Thai

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 18

There are many reasons for why we train Muay Thai, and they may change throughout our journey. Some do it as a way to get in shape, some do it for the glory, some do it for the beauty of its movement, and some use it as a healthy dose of medicine.

On this episode of The Muay Thai Guys podcast, Paul (www.muaythaiathlete,com) and Sean talk with their guest, Michael Saavedra, about how he's been able to use Muay Thai as a tool to fight back against his depression.  They also talk about:

• How he originally found Muay Thai and how it differs from the other martial arts he's trained.
• The most common misunderstandings about depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
• What depression feels like and how it can become so overwhelming at times.
• How his mindset can shift from positive to negative on the snap of a finger.
• How intimidating situations like social engagements, exercises, dieting etc. are great ways to fight depression.
• Tips and advice to other people who are dealing with similar issues.
• And much more!

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode with Kevin Ross

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or reach out to Paul on Muay Thai Athlete or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 017: Kevin Ross Discusses The Ups and Downs Of The Muay Thai Life

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 17

When you think of American Muay Thai, one name always comes to mind... Kevin Ross.

For those of you who don't know, Kevin has been immersed the Muay Thai scene for quite some time now and has showcased his skills against top Nak Muay from around the world. With multiple championship belts, wins over top Thai fighters and always putting on entertaining fights, it's no wonder why the American fans love to watch Ross step into the ring and showcase his skills.

With all the success Kevin has had in the sport, he has also had his fair share of setbacks and challenges. Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) and Sean had a chance to chat with Kevin about the ups and downs of his career and much more including:

• What he was going through after 2 back-to-back losses to Yamato and Rungrat.
• How he's able to learn from the losses and stay motivated to get back into the ring.
• His thoughts on the two losses and what he felt went wrong.
• What it was like fighting down in Peru and winning another WBC belt alongside his training partner Gaston Bolanos.
• Why the fight in Peru reminded him why he started Muay Thai in the first place.
• How he initially got into Muay Thai and used it to keep away from bad influences in his life.
• The importance of his team, coaches and training partners at CSA and how they've helped him succeed.
• His thoughts on when young amateurs should turn pro and the factors to consider before doing so.
• A brief chat about his relationship with Gina Carano
• And much, much more!

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode with Kevin Ross

Follow Kevin on... Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or reach out to Paul on Muay Thai Athlete or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 016: The Champion Mindset: Building Champions with Rami Ibrahim

Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 16

If you don't know Rami Ibrahim, you probably should. He's a multiple time world champion and currently the longest active Muay Thai fighter hailing for the US. On top of that he's a seasoned coach who has developed a number of world class amateur and professional fighters who are some of the best in the world.

Paul and Sean got a chance to chat with Rami about his career, his fighters and a number of other topics including:

• What is was like fighting Muay Thai in the early 90's when no one really knew what it was.
• The development of Rami as a fighter and how he's trying to get back to the fight mentality he had earlier in his career.
• How he's able to develop fighters and what he looks for in champion caliber Nak Muay.
• Why being well known as a top "fighters gym" was actually detrimental to his business.
• The balance of running a gym, coaching 20+ fighters and training himself for fights.
• What his plans are for the future and who he plans on fighting in January.
• What the champion mindset consists of and how to develop and embody it.
• And much more!

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode.

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or reach out to Paul on Muay Thai Athlete or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 015: 6 Types Of Fighters Who Play Muay Thai Mind Tricks

Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 15

If you compete in a combat sport like Muay Thai, chances are you’ll run into your fair share of fighters who try to mess with your mind leading up to fight night.

Your future opponent might tease you, talk trash, and even get personal with his attacks. Or, maybe he’ll be the friendliest person you’ve ever met and you’ll have to learn how to fight someone who is nice and respectful. Whichever the case, you’ll need to be mentally prepared to deal with a range of personalities and characters if you plan on being successful in this sport.

In this episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) discuss the types of mind games and various types of fighters they’ve had to deal with leading up to a fight. Here’s a brief rundown of their chat:

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to TMTG 015: 6 Types of Muay Thai Mind Tricks

6 Types Of Fighters Who Play Muay Thai Mind Tricks

1. The Intimidator – Think Mike Tyson or Ronda Rousey. Both of these fighters are known for their scowls and intimidating demeanor. Fighting someone who has an aura of invincibility can be a bit quite frightening if you’re not prepared mentally. So, how do you deal with fighters like this? Remember that they are NOT immortal.
2. The Seed Planter – These passive aggressive fighters will say seemingly harmless comments that start off as small seeds, but once these thoughts are planted in your mind it’s easy to start second guessing yourself. They might say something to you like, “You look a little tired” or, “Looks like you had a rough training camp”, and although these comments aren’t direct attacks, they might be enough to plant a seed of doubt in the back of your mind.
3. The Trash Talker – We all know these types of fighters, don’t we? They are the Conor McGregor’s and Muhammad ALi’s of the fight world who are artists when it comes to playing mind games. They’re talk doesn’t only rile up and distract their opponent, but it also plays a second role in hyping themselves up.
4. The Quiet Assassin – These types of fighters are the ones with an extreme poker face. They’re silent during weigh-ins, silent during the rules meetings and chances are you never see their facial expression change at any point leading up to the fight. Fighting an opponent like this can get in some peoples heads because they seem more robot than human.
5. The Goof Ball – Ever fight someone who’s laughing and super friendly throughout weigh-ins? What about the guy who smiles during weigh-ins and is always clowning around with his teammates before fight night? There’s a variety of goof balls that you might encounter and knowing how to deal with their antics will be key to entering the ring with a clear, focused mind.
6. The Adaptive Chameleon – This fighter can adapt to any opponent that they face. Whether they’re fighting a trash talker or a quiet assassin, they are able to adapt based on the situation so they are 100% mentally ready to go into battle.

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode where Paul and Sean go into even more detail on mind games these fighters play.

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or reach out to Paul on Muay Thai Athlete or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 014: Keys To Being A Great Cornerman with Coach Jason Farrell

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 14

As a fighter, it is extremely important to have a trustworthy, experienced, prepared cornerman with you between rounds of your fight.

A quality corner should be able to provide you with technical advice between rounds AND they should also know how to get you zoned in and focused during your warm up before entering the ring. They'll also know the ins-and-outs of dealing with swelling, cuts and a number of other injuries you might have to fight through... because the LAST thing you want is the fight to stop because your cornerman didn't know how to patch up a cut fast enough between rounds.

Needless to say, a lot more goes into being a top quality cornerman than meets the eye, and that's why Paul and Sean of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast invited experienced coach Jason Farrell to share his knowledge on the subject. In this great podcast episode they cover everything you need to know in order to be a great cornerman including:

• How to get your fighter to remember the advice you give him between rounds.
• A few key phrases that can refocus your fighter.
• What cornerman tools and equipment you should pack for fight night.
• What goes into a quality warmup while waiting in the locker room.
• How the warmups and game planning can change dramatically depending on if you're cornering an amateur as opposed to a pro fighter.
• How to go about cornering fighters you've never trained before.
• And much, much more!

The guys also talk about Paul's recent victory at Madison Square Garden, Sean's tough unanimous decision loss at Lion Fight 26, Ronda Rousey's lackluster cornermen and much more!

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode where Paul, Sean and Jason go into even more detail on the importance of a quality cornerman.

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 013: The 10 Types of Muay Thai Sparring Partners

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 12

Chances are you'll run into a variety of sparring partners throughout your Muay Thai journey.

Some partners will be absolutely wonderful to work with because you'll be able to sharpen your striking skills and not have to worry about being injured or knocked out. On the other hand, you'll also run into a variety of sparring partners who will ENRAGE you to the point where your blood starts to boil and you have sick thoughts of knocking them unconscious... it happens!

In the most recent The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul discuss 10 types of sparring partners that you will most likely run into if you are in the sport long enough. The original post the guys got this idea from comes from their friend Steven Kong of MuayThaiPros.com - you can check out the entire article here - here's a brief rundown of what they discuss:

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to TMTG 013: 10 Types of Sparring Partners

Quick Review – 10 Types Of Muay Thai Sparring Partners

1. The "Take It Easy" or "Please Go Soft" Guy - These partners are easy to work with because you've got nothing to worry about. The best way to work with these types of sparring partners is to focus on various techniques you normally wouldn't try out in a more dangerous situation. You can also slow things down and really try to focus on improving your timing, accuracy and combinations.
2. The "Tense As Hell" Guy - Chances are at some point YOU were this guy... chances are we ALL were! It's easy to get super tense when you first start sparring because it's something you are not used to doing. When dealing with these types of people, just be aware that they will most likely have NO control of their power or technique... so watch out
3. The Technical Sparring Guy - We all love working with this type of fighter because you can really focus on improving your technique and timing. If you find a good technical sparring partner your skills can constantly be refined without damaging your body or having to worry about getting injured.
4. The Punches Followed By Low Kicks Guy - These sparring partners love their Dutch style of fighting: hand combinations followed by low kicks. It's good to deal with these types of fighters on occasion because you can really perfect your low kick defense... but it can get very frustrating and painful if you're not able to check or evade their low kick combos!
5. The "Muay Thai Douchebag" Guy - We've all met this guy. He's relatively new to the sport and has a HUGE ego that he needs to pump up by beating on the smaller, lesser experienced students in the gym. If you're more advanced and can handle yourself sparring, this is a great time to put his ego in place and give him a lesson or two.
6. The "This Is Not Muay Thai" Guy - You won't always be dealing with the traditional Thai stylist when sparring, so getting used to other types of fighters (i.e. Taekwondo, MMA, Boxing etc.) will be crucial if you truly want to take your Muay Thai skills to the next level. This is especially important if you plan on fighting because you will most likely have to deal with a variety of styles while climbing the rankings!
7. The "I'm Twice Your Size" Guy - This guy is either a roided out bodybuilder or a sky scraping giant that lurks over you during your sparring session. Both of these guys can be extremely dangerous to work with if you're not careful, so make sure to be wary before moving around with someone who can eat you for breakfast.
8. The Advanced Guy - These types of partners are basically an upgraded version of the Technical Sparring guys, except that they are another tier up because of how fluid they are with their techniques and movements. If you're lucky enough to have advanced guys to spar with in your gym, take full advantage!
9. The "I'm Going 100% Guy" - The name speaks for itself. This is the guy that feels the need to go all out and prove himself in the gym. There's a few ways to deal with this type of sparring partner that we discuss in the podcast.
10. The "Next Level" Guy - This guy is a top level pro that has so much fun sparring because he/she knows that they can't be touched. Guys like Saenchai, Buakaw and Yodsanklai come to mind as well as westerners like Kevin Ross, Liam Harrison and others.

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode where Paul and Sean go into even more detail on the variety of sparring partners you're bound to see throughout your Muay Thai training.

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 012: The 10 Best Muay Thai Sparring Tips, Techniques & Training Methods

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 12

Wayne Barrett and Sean Fagan sparring at Evolution Muay Thai in NYC.

Thinking about having your first Muay Thai sparring session?

Or maybe you’ve hit a plateau or have been getting picked apart by your training partners on a regular basis?

Whether it’s your 1st or 100th sparring session, there is ALWAYS something that you can be improving on.

In the most recent Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul share their 10 best Muay Thai sparring tips that can help anyNak Muay improve their technique and overall fighting skills.

During their chat they go into insane detail about each specific training tip, but for a brief rundown for what they cover, check out this post from the archives ===> Your First Spar Checklist (Sparring Tips for Beginners)

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to TMTG 012: The 10 Best Muay Thai Sparring Tips

Quick Review – Top 10 Best Muay Thai Sparring Tips

1. Get approval from your Kru/Instructor before throwing yourself into sparring sessions.
2. Buy and invest in top quality sparring equipment (ie. shin guards, gloves, mouth guard, cup etc.)
3. Remember that you don’t need to “win” at sparring–they key is about improving your skills, not “winning”.
4. Know what to look for when choosing the right sparring partner for your skill level.
5. Test out and get a feel for your sparring partner… don’t start off by throwing bombs at 100%!
6. Diversify your strikes and try to get used to using your weaker techniques.
7. Throw combinations to test out your opponents reactions/defense so you can capitalize on openings.
8. Practice countering! You won’t always be the aggressor so knowing how to fight while backing up is crucial.
9. Learn how to be relax, breathe and be aware of everything that’s going on during your Muay Thai sparring session.
10. Have fun! This is by far the most important sparring tip for Muay Thai that we can give you.

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to the entire episode where Paul and Sean go into extreme detail on how to get the most out of your sparring sessions for Muay Thai!

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 011: Lessons for Young Nak Muay (Turning Pro)

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 11

When is the right time to turn pro?

This is a question almost every young Nak Muay ponders at some point throughout their amateur career.

Is it after a certain amount of tough amateur fights?
Is it when you've run out of amateur opponents in your weight class?
Is it when your coach and training partners say you're ready?
How do you even know when you're ready to make the leap to the pro rankings?

The answer is going to be different for every Muay Thai fighter, but it basically all comes down to how serious you are about your fight career.

In the most recent episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul discuss their thoughts on turning pro and the top factors that should be considered by every athlete deciding whether or not they should make the leap. The cover the benefits and down points of fighting professionally and the mindset/work ethic you need to develop in order to be successful as both an amateur AND a professional.

Click here or the podcast player at the top to listen to TMTG 011: A Lesson For Young Nak Muay (Turning Pro)

To give you a brief background, Sean is a recently new pro who had 24 amateur fighters and 2 amateur titles before making his pro debut, which he lost after being stopped in the first round (you can read his thoughts on his tough defeat here). He will be fighting on the next Lion Fight 26 card against a tough opponent in Pedro Gonzalez. Paul is a seasoned amateur with 15 fights and on the fence about when he should start fighting professionally. He'll be representing the US in Spain and then shortly after he'll be headlining the fight card at Madison Square Garden.

Also don’t forget to “The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time” where Sean and Paul will go into detail and cover topics like:

• Figuring out your motivation and why you want to fight.
• Showing your worth and putting in the time at the gym.
• Training like the fighter you want to become.
• Planning out your entire training camp
• Meal planning and nutritional advice.
• Recovery methods and injury prevention.
• Strength and conditioning.
• Muay Thai specific training.
• Making sacrifices and focusing on your goals.
• Building a relationship with your coach and training partners.
• Preparing mentally in the locker room before a fight.
• And much more!

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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TMTG 010: Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 2)

At some point almost everyone who trains Muay Thai considers stepping in the ring to test their skills and heart.

In last week’s podcast, fighters Sean (19-6) and Paul (12-2-1) broke down the first part of the complete guide to fighting for the first time… and in this episode they go in even further detail talking about things like…

• Food Prep and Dieting – Many fighters (especially early on in their career) neglect to educate themselves on the proper way to fuel their bodies and minds for a fight. Knowing what to eat and when to eat will play a huge role in your energy levels, weight maintenance, training output and much more.
• Rest and Recovery – Another neglected area of training is the rest and recovery portion. Without taking the time to mentally and physically recharge you won’t be able to train as hard as you’d like during the training camp for your fight. Make sure to listen to episode #6 where the guys talk about specific ways that will aid in your recovery between sessions.
• Strength and Conditioning – Balancing your Muay Thai specific training with your strength and conditioning can be a challenge. Sean and Paul go over some key concept and tips that will help you maximize your training sessions so you’re in the best shaper possible when you step into the ring.
• Muay Thai Specific Training – How often should you be training? What type of Muay Thai training should you be focusing on? Figure out how much sparring, pad work and other forms of training you should be doing leading up to fight night.
• Cutting Off Negativity – Whether it’s friends, family or other people in your life, it’s important to cut yourself off from the people who bring you down and make you doubt yourself. Chances are people are going to think you’re crazy for wanting to fight (and that’s perfectly normal) but it’s the people who distract you from your goals and get you into bad habits that aren’t going to be beneficial to your Muay Thai career.
• Student/Coach Relationship – Having a close relationship with your trainer and training partners will be crucial to your success in and out of the ring. Without a good support system behind you and without a team of people helping you improve day in and day out, it’s going to be A LOT more difficult to win fights.
• Preparation in the Locker Room – The locker room can make or break a fighter. Do you know what your warm up is going to consist of? Do you know how to deal with the emotions and nerves that are bound to spring up right before you fight? The Muay Thai Guys share their tips that get them zoned in before the fight.
• And much more!

Click here (or the podcast player at the top of the page) to listen to TMTG 010: The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time (Part 2)

Also don’t forget to check out part 1 of “The Complete Guide To Fighting For The First Time” where Sean and Paul will go into detail and cover topics like:

• Figuring out your motivation and why you want to fight.
• Showing your worth and putting in the time at the gym.
• Training like the fighter you want to become.
• Planning out your entire training camp
• And much more!

The Muay Thai Guys come out with NEW episodes almost every week! Make sure you don’t miss one by subscribing via one of the options below:

Click here to subscribe on iTunes

Click here to subscribe on Stitcher

Have any questions or suggestions for topics? Contact Sean or comment below with your ideas and maybe your topic will be covered in the next episode!

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