The Muay Thai Guys Podcast

Monday, April 4, 2016

TMTG 027: How to Avoid and Train Through Injuries

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 27

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game every Nak Muay has to deal with at some point in their career.

Whether you train to stay in shape or you train to compete, it's almost guaranteed that some type of injury (minor or major) is going to halt your progress and throw a wrench in your training regimen.

Although injuries suck, there are ways to deal with them and train around them. Heck, you can even make the injury a blessing in disguise if you have the right type of mindset!

: A sexy scar I got after my WKA title fight in 2013.

In this weeks podcast, Paul (muaythaiathlete.com) and I talk about our experiences dealing with both nagging and devastating injuries as well as:

How to avoid nagging injuries
The importance of choosing the correct sparring partners
Sparring and training with control
Ensuring you get enough sleep, hydration and recovery.
The mental side of training and fighting with an injury.
How I was able to fight a 5 round fight with a broken arm.
How Paul is able to fight on a consistent basis with nagging and more serious injuries.
When you should take a step back from training.
Other ways to deal with injuries and limited mobility.
Using the injury as a way to focus on other areas of your fight game/life.
And much, 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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!

Monday, March 21, 2016

TMTG 026: Current State of Muay Thai & Kickboxing | Plus Thoughts on Fighting with Headgear

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 26

: Photo from The Striking Corner (subscribe to their podcast too!)

A TON has been going on recently in the Muay Thai (and combat sports) world.

With drama going on behind the scenes of the largest Muay Thai organization in America (Lion Fight) and Olympic Boxing banning head gear, there was plenty to chat about in regards to the current events... and that's exactly what Paul and I did on the most recent podcast:

The controversy that started with Tiffany Van Soest's post about selling her title belt.
Our thoughts and experiences in regards to the whole situation.
Why we think something like this happened and what it could mean for the sport in the future.
Why Olympic Boxing decided to take head gear out of future events.
Our thoughts on head gear and whether or not we use it during sparring.
The pros and cons of wearing head gear.
Bellator kickboxing weight classes and rule sets
What this means for GLORY and other promotions.
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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!

Monday, March 14, 2016

TMTG 025: Top 6 Mistakes Amateur Fighters Make

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 25

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone gets knocked down. Everyone loses.

It doesn't matter whether you're a low level amateur or an elite level pro, chance are you've made hundreds of mistakes that have cost you in one way or another.

That being said, learning from your mistakes is all a part of the journey. Without making these mistakes you'd never know the holes in your game or learn the valuable lessons that come with them.

However, if you keep making the same mistakes over and over again, you will put yourself in much more danger than you have to be... so limiting your mistakes and creating good habits (especially early on) will be key to your success

In the most recent Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) and Sean discuss the common mistakes they and other fighters have made early on in their career including:

Not Listening To Your Trainer - It's common for beginners to think they know it all after training for a few months. Keep a humble, open mind and be ready to listen to and DO what your trainer is telling you to do.
Doing Too Much Of Everything - Muay Thai should be your main focus (especially early on when you're leaning proper technique). You don't need to do yoga, strength and conditioning, pilates, gymnastics and other supplemental training activities. Once you get to a point in your training career where your technique is solid, THEN it might be a good idea to add supplemental training.
Not Taking Risks - You're already considering being a fighter, so you should already have the right mindset when it comes to taking risks. Taking fights on short notice, fighting tough opponents, and traveling to Thailand are just some ideas for the risks you might want to consider taking.
"I'll Do It Tomorrow" - Procrastinating and making excuses is unacceptable if you want to succeed in Muay Thai (or with anything in life). Take action and follow through with your plans and it will pay off in the long run.
Quantity or Quality? - Finding a balance between quality and quantity training can be tough to do. The weeks where you have to work 60 hours are the weeks you should focus more on quality rather than quantity. The weeks where you have more free time and want to just put the repetitions in should be focused on getting quantity in (while not sacrificing too much quality).
Slow Down - When learning a new technique, combo or strategy, be patient and slow things down. You don't have to go 100% right away-and chances are if you do, you'll pick up some bad habits along the way.

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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!

Monday, March 7, 2016

TMTG 024: Nutrition for Muay Thai 101: Basics For Eating Healthy

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 23

Nutrition can be a major bitch.

The amount of different aspects and philosophies on nutrition makes it nearly impossible to decipher what will work best for you.

What should you eat? When should you eat it? What diets work? How do you lose weight? Gain weight?

As a serious Muay Thai practitioner, the type of food (fuel) you put into your body will have a major effect on your performance in and out of the gym. Learning the basics of nutrition for Muay Thai will be key to you unleashing your full potential by increasing your energy, recovery rate and overall mood.

In the most recent The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) discuss their tips and advice when it comes to eating properly for Muay Thai training. They go over a bunch of topics including:

How the diet other people use might not be the best for you.
Why your metabolism and learning how your body reacts to certain foods is crucial to creating healthy eating habits.
The importance of nutrient dense food.
Why you should consider keeping a nutrition journal for a short (or long) period of time.
What the best energy sources are and some examples (carbs, proteins, fats etc.)
The misconception about fats and why they should be an important part of your diet.
Why preparing food (especially if you have a busy schedule) is a great way to make sure you're eating the right meals for your life schedule.
Food shopping tips and what to consider when going to the grocery store (Tip: don't go when your high).
And much, much more!

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

For more nutrition tips, check out this page.

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 future podcast 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!

Saturday, February 20, 2016

TMTG 023: Your Muay Thai Environment: How It Can Make or Break You

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 23

“We are all products of our environment; every person we meet, every new experience or adventure, every book we read, touches and changes us, making us the unique being we are.”

- C.J. Heck

As a Muay Thai addict it can be hard to find the right type of environment to immerse yourself in.

Not everyone will understand why you train or why you would want to fight, and not everyone (even family and friends) will support you when you're pursuing your passion.

This is a constant battle that many of us face when pursuing a career that is out of the social norm. So how do we avoid falling into the plans that others have for us and stay on the path towards our true dreams?

In the latest Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) and Sean discuss in details 5 key environmental factors that play a major role in the direction of your life:

Your Gym - This will be your second family so making sure that your training partners and coaches are on the same wave length as you will be crucial to your success.
Your Friends - Some friends can push you to become a better version or yourself while others can distract you from your goals.
Your Family - In a perfect world your parents and siblings will understand why you train Muay Thai, but chances are they won't. Having a supportive family that believes in your craziness is hard to come by.
Your Relationships - Are you lucky enough to have a significant other who pushes you and is there for you through the ups and downs of your fight career?
Media, Distractions etc. - It's extremely easy to get lost in the wormhole of social media and outside distractions. Learn how to become more aware of your mindless habits so you can change them into more productive ones.

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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!

Sunday, February 14, 2016

TMTG 022: Muay Thai Motivation: 10 Steps to Keeping Focused

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 22

paul banasiak the muay thai guys podcast

One day you're insanely motivated... the next day, you question why you're pursuing the goals you originally set out to do.

Why does this happen and how do you avoid losing the drive to accomplish your dreams?

There's a number of reasons why this happens, so Sean and Paul decided to discuss their Muay This motivation tips and methods for staying focused on their goals in this weeks podcast!

Here's a quick breakdown of the 10 steps they discuss.

Make sure to listen to the entire episode for a more in-depth discussion and tips on how to follow through with these steps.

10 Steps to Keeping Focused and Endless Motivation

Find your WHY and eliminate any doubt.
Create a positive environment by surrounding yourself with motivated people with good energy.
The importance of holding yourself accountable by setting goals.
Preparing for success by regimenting your life and daily routine.
Staying consistent and dedicating yourself to your main goal.
Surround yourself with motivational aids (i.e. posters, quotes, mantras, images etc.)
Take time for both physical AND mental recovery to come back stronger!
Change it up and stay stimulated by taking a break from your normal activities.
Reflect, refocus and remind yourself of your goals (and change accordingly)
Have fun mother fuckers!

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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

TMTG 021: "Gym Hopping" - The Pros and Cons Of Training At Different Gyms

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast - Episode 21

: If I didn't train at different gyms, I would've never been able to train with Duane Ludwig, TJ Dillashaw, Joseph Benevidez and other killers!

One of the most controversial topics in the Muay Thai and MMA community is that of "gym hopping".

More often times than not, gym hopping is used as derogatory term that people associate with someone who goes from gym to gym without any real home gym... this is NOT the way to go about training at different gyms.

In order to successfully and respectfully train at different gyms, Paul and I discuss the right and wrong way to go about doing so. In our discussion, we dive deep into the advantages and disadvantages of so called "gym hopping" including:

Why you should train at a variety of gyms.
How it can be limiting if you don't step out of your comfort zone to spar/train with other fighters and coaches.
The benefits of training at multiple gyms and how to bring up the idea to your coach and teammates.
Why some coaches might not want you to go "gym hopping" and how to respectfully discuss with them why you should.
How sparring with different styles is a MUST if you want to go far as a fighter.
How important and fun it is to network and meet other people who share the same passion as you.
The importance of having a home gym and a trainer/team you can count on.
The disadvantages of training at other gyms
How you could spar future opponents and how to deal with it.
The right and wrong way to train at other gyms.
And much, 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

Follow Muay Thai Athlete and Muay Thai Guy on Facebook

Have any questions or suggestions for future podcast 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!