Training Day 1

I’m definitely over my head.

It’s the first day and I’m just about broken down. I punched through the skin in my knuckles, kicked through the skin on my right shin and lost the skin on the bottoms of both of my big toes—and that happened during the morning workout.

The day here is simple. There are two main workout times: morning (7AM-11PM) and afternoon (3PM-7PM). The morning workout begins with yoga, running or technique. This morning I chose technique because I’m not in shape enough to participate in one of their morning runs and I’m not yet desperate enough for yoga. My morning technique instructor spent his time laughing at my forms but he was able to get me through a series of kicks, punches, elbows and knees.

After the technique, I began in the beginners’ class with about 15 other students. The class lasted for three hours and was everything one might expect: warm-up, stretch, shadowboxing, drills, wrap hands, forms, pad work, bag work, cardio, pushups, sit-ups, cool down and stretching.

While punching the heavy bag I lost the skin on my knuckles, despite having had my hands wrapped by an instructor and wearing 18oz gloves. This only could have happened for one of two reasons: I punch that hard or my skin is that weak. The jury is still out.

After the morning workout there is a four-hour break. Many of the fighters head straight to the camp concession stand and purchase protein shakes which staves their hunger until they can get to one of two restaurants about a kilometer down the road. I followed suit, had a protein shake and went to the wrong restaurant. I ended up at a resort spa and it was made very clear to me that I wasn’t the anticipated clientele—but the food was ok and they didn’t turn away my money.

I didn’t think I’d participate in the afternoon workout because of the tenderness of the skin on the bottoms of my feet and my shins and the open wounds on my knuckles. These are all minor injuries but I want to make sure I toughen up slowly and don’t irreparably damage myself so early in the training.

I caught a motorbike taxi for a brief tour of Phuket. The driver spoke to me excitedly the entire time and wildly gesticulated throughout tour. Unfortunately, he didn’t speak any English so instead of paying attention to the tour, I spent my energy trying to enthusiastically affirm every corner store, pharmacy and restaurant he was pointing out.

By the time I got back, I was a bit restless so I went to the weight canopy where I did chest and bicep exercises until I felt my tendons and ligaments get sore. By the end of the first day my arms hurt so much that the only way I can pick my nose is by lying down and arching my neck. And my knuckles are so raw that I have to tie a string to my wallet to keep from reaching into my pockets.

I fell asleep at 8PM. Like a rock.