Gordon McAdam Thai Boxing seminar

Below is notes and a video as Gordon's experience and knowledge is galaxy away from mine. The notes are below to act as memory triggers for further practise and the like.

For me, this was my first formal Muay Thai lesson/seminar. I had plenty of nerves beforehand as I simply had no reference point to draw on. Gordon's style teaching instruction is direct, always highlighting the purpose and function of his material and fun. His power, technique and motion are staggering and testament to the many years of practise he has put in.

Now several hours removed from the seminar, I can still remember that his objective was for all of us to leave with at least 3 things. I left with all the stuff about the Thai stance, strong ankles to load knees and the up and over/through with the knee. And all for £40 which now feels like daylight robbery for the quality and detail that Gordon shared today.

Thai stance
• Hips over feet
• just out of range
• slow and relaxed
• see everything
• lots of motion represents an agitated mindset and burns energy
• slow and relaxed allows better technique, power and stamina
• high arms, keep them still
• strong eyes.

Clinch
• Palm over palm
• getting in with the forearm strike; not just sliding the hands around the neck.
• the twitch for big strong necks
• elbows close like a vice
• striking with the elbow in to the chest from the clinch
• 2 escapes - pushing the chin and passing under the elbow for 3/4 back control
• don't give them the neck as this teaches bad habits, make them work for it
• keeping the hips away.



Knees
• Strong ankles
• turn the foot out, high knee lift
• up and over the chair
• the rhythm to the motion
• keeping neck control and knee striking the pads from the front and head control
• how to hold the pads
• drilling, drilling, drilling.
Tip on how to hold the pads.


Teep
• Wall training
• aim for the waist line at the bladder, no one is strong there
• knee then teep
• difference between a push kick, front kick and teep
• teep is an extension of the knee - the motion of the hips to get in is the same
• teep drilling - knee then teep.