Description of Thaiboxing Thai-boxing, the national sport of
Thailand, is perhaps the most brutal sport in existence. Participants
batter each other with punches, kicks, knees and elbows. There are few
rules in Thai-boxing and boils down to survival of the fittest. A match
consists of five, three minute rounds. Punching, knee and elbow strikes
and kicking techniques are allowed to any part of the body, except the
groin.
Because of the hard, fast paced action, it is very important for
the fighters to be highly conditioned, both physically and mentally. A
fighter entering the ring in anything but top condition can expect, at
the very least, to be knocked unconscious. There is also a chance of
death if not properly prepared. In Thailand, there are many deaths each
year as a result of the beating taken in the ring.
Much
of the Thai-boxers conditioning is done on the Thai-pads. Thai-pads are
solid, heavy pads strapped to the arms of a holder. This method of
training is advantageous to the heavy bag in that it allows the fighter
to respond to a "live" opponent. The holders job varies, depending on
the desired results of the training session. For some drills, the holder
attacks with kicks to the legs, body or head, and punches to the body
and head. While defending himself, the fighter throws his own kicks,
knees and elbows. Using another method, the holder remains relatively
stationary and allows the fighter to attack with a pre-designated
combination or a free flow barrage of kicks, knees, and elbows.
Physical
Training Proper structure to the training session is an important
pre-requisite to obtaining desirable results. When designing a workout,
it is necessary to identify which energy systems are used in the
activity. Based on the systems used, training time can be devoted to
improvement of that system. It is also important to identify the initial
fitness level of the participant, the intensity of the activity,
frequency, duration, and the method of training to be used.
Energy Systems
Based
on duration and intensity of the activity, four predominant energy
pathways have been identified in Thaiboxing and any sport. The systems
identified are the ATP, ATP-CP, Lactic Acid and the Aerobic-oxidative
system. A basic understanding of these systems is helpful in
understanding the design of the workouts.
ATP System
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) is the immediate source of energy for muscular
contraction. There are two pathways through which it is formed: the
aerobic pathway and the anaerobic pathway. The aerobic pathway requires
oxygen to be present and utilizes fat, protein and carbohydrates
(glucose, glycogen) to resynthesize ATP. When movement is very quick and
explosive, there is not enough time for oxygen to be delivered to the
contracting muscles. This is where the anaerobic pathway is called into
action. The anaerobic pathway does not require oxygen and uses only
carbohydrates to produce ATP. There is enough ATP stored in muscle to
last for only three seconds of contraction.
ATP-CP System
When
ATP is broken down and the energy is released, ADP (adenosine
diphosphate) and P (phosphate) are formed. Another important source of
energy is CP (creatine phosphate). CP cannot be used directly by the
muscle, so it interacts with ADP and CP to re-form ATP. There is not a
lot of CP available to the muscle so it too must be continually
resynthesized. The ATP-CP system can supply enough energy to last for
eight seconds of intense exercise.
Lactic Acid System
When
intense activity is continued for about ninety seconds, glycogen is used
as an energy source. When the glycogen is broken down, more ATP is
produced. However, if the activity is intense (anaerobic), there will
not be enough oxygen supplied to the muscles. When glycogen is burned in
the absence of oxygen, lactic acid is produced. Once lactic acid is
formed, it diffuses into the blood and is transported to different areas
of the body. This allows the working muscle to continue. Eventually,
the lactic acid level will accumulate to a level that will slow down
thebiochemical reactions that lead to the production of ATP.
Accumulation of lactic acid causes pain and burning sensations in the
stressed muscles. Shortly thereafter, contraction will not be able to
take place.
Aerobic-Oxidative System
If this intense
activity is to continue, the body will shift into the aerobic-oxidative
system. The body will need an increased oxygen supply. This extra oxygen
will be available only if the intensity of the activity is decreased.
This higher oxygen consumption converts the lactic acid to pyruvate,
which converts to carbon dioxide and water and is dispelled from the
lungs. Pyruvate is a product of burned glycogen. If pyruvate is formed
in the absence of oxygen, lactic acid formation will be the result. The
system will then shift back into the anaerobic systems.
Recovery of the Anaerobic Systems
(Rest)
