If you went to a dance studio the vision at the end of your training would be to perform a specific dance. Martial arts has kind of the same idea except  the end result takes longer. Your goal in any program at THE BLAST should be to achieve the highest level. Which in MTK is Level 10 Black Sash. So lets take a inside view on what would get you to your Black Sash. I will explain this in an overview as it is much more detailed while training. However this should give you a good vision for any program you train.

Phase One encompasses Levels 1,2,3 in a rotating curriculum, meaning you can achieve any of these levels in any order. A student must complete all the levels to graduate to Phase Two. Phase One can best be described as “Foundational”. In the foundational Phase of your training you will learn offensive, defensive, counters and sparring methods with the 8 limbs of Muay Thai Kickboxing: Punches, Kicks, Elbows and  Knees. The goal is to get a good base in how to train MTK. You will learn what techniques go with what distance Ex: Pot Shotting (Long Distance) Combinations (Medium Distance), In The Pocket (Close Distance) and Clinch (Tied Up).

Other things taught will include: sparring drills, sparring, footwork, timing, flexibility, conditioning, hard work ethic, personal growth, body limitations and Muay Thai Art concepts. A big part of the MTK is how to use equipment such as heavy bags, Thai pads, focus mitts, kick shields, jump rope and various other equipment to help your training.

With equipment training being so important it will come as no surprise that the workout will BLAST you into shape! Impact training gives you a workout that other fitness workouts cannot match.

Phase two encompasses levels 4, 5 and 6 in a rotating curriculum. Now that you have the foundation of Muay Thai accomplished it is time to step up the training a bit. We expand on your foundation by teaching you “Savior Techniques”. Savior techniques are spinning techniques to help you take advantage of an otherwise disadvantage situation. New advanced techniques are taught to challenge you to rise to a new level in your training: Other things taught in Phase Two would include: leg catches, cut kicking, cross body defense, multiple combinations taught at once, faking, precision, maximizing power and tighten up the foundation even more to make you solid in your training. By the end of Phase Two your dedication to Black Sash should rise to a new level as you are in a new level of training both physically and mentally.

Phase three encompasses levels 7, 8 and 9 in a rotating curriculum. With your foundation now getting stronger and stronger along with your knowledge of the art getting deeper Phase Three becomes just as cerebral as physical. There is no more excuses for not being in shape! Your physical fitness should now be a high level. Learning ”Jumping Techniques” on top of your foundational skills and spinning skills will be top priority. Phase three will finish with you having a wide variety of foundational skills backed up by spinning and jumping techniques. Your MTK tool box will be full and now it is time to “Functionalize”. Along the way of your MTK career different aspects of your training have been more difficult for you than others. In this Phase it is potent that you bring your weaknesses equal with your strengths and start learning more about yourself. I have said many times that Phase Three is the ”Process Levels”, meaning it is time to process what you have learned and functionalize it according to your thoughts and your body.

Black sash is a level by itself and is level 10 of the curriculum. The day has come, it is time for your Black Sash test! You are performing advanced techniques, thai pad drill, sparring, conditioning, physical fitness requirements, MTK essay and other little things. The test will be brutal with multiple instructors feeding you and sparring you to see if they can break you mentally. But you made it through congrats! Now where does your training go!

Here is where a Black Sash becomes a problem. Most people when they achieve the highest level think they have reached the end of their training. The fact is just the opposite should happen, your training has just begun. Now that you understand many of the techniques in the curriculum it is time to go back through the curriculum and dissect what works for you and what doesn’t. Your personal Muay Thai now develops. You now practice to stay in shape, learn how to use your techniques in different ways along with training as a personal self development tool.

Besides the self process that is taking place you are now considered a leader in the school. Your peers will look up to you for your dedication to the art, THE BLAST and mostly to yourself. You will now fall into the role model category and start helping other students achieve their goal of Black Sash. It is this philosophy that keeps the art alive along with everyone growing. Now that you are helping people you will start to learn how to practice what you preach and lower ranks will hold you accountable to be at your best all the time.

Being this level of a martial artist is so rewarding. The level that you are able to give back what you learned is an experience that is so fulfilling.

Although this is just a narrow inside view of our curriculums. I hope this helps you see your program with a bigger picture. No matter what program you train at THE BLAST they are all basically set up the same. Set your goal right now to be a Black Sash and become a high representative of the art you have chosen to participate in!

Until next time see you in class,

www.theblastma.com