Women's Muay Thai Programme Recap - August 2024

The launch of our women-only Muay Thai programme on August 3rd marked an exciting beginning. This first session brought together women eager to learn and engage in the art of Muay Thai. The class, led by Joana and Molly, provided a supportive and energetic environment, ensuring everyone left feeling motivated and eager for more.

Week 1: A Strong Start - Introduction to Basics

Our inaugural women’s Muay Thai programme kicked off with great enthusiasm and energy. We began with Joana's killer dynamic warm-up session, incorporating skipping, running on the spot, burpees, and push-ups. The warm-up lasted for 10 minutes, with everyone pushing through despite the challenges.

The group then moved on to guided shadow boxing, where we focused on teaching the basics of guard, stance, and movement, emphasising the importance of maintaining a strong defensive posture. Molly and Joana demonstrated techniques, and the participants were highly engaged, showing a great willingness to learn and correct their form.

The session finished with pad work, giving the women a chance to practice their techniques with gloves. We offered individualised feedback, and the group responded positively, eager to improve. The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how much they enjoyed the session despite the intensity of the workout. It was clear that the group left feeling motivated and excited for the next class.

Week 2: Building Confidence - Mastering Defence

The second session saw the women returning with even more enthusiasm. We began with a 5-minute skipping warm-up, interspersed with sprint intervals. Despite showing signs of fatigue, the group remained determined and happy. Molly led an engaging ice-breaker activity, where participants mirrored each other’s movements, fostering a sense of camaraderie among the group.

We continued with guided shadow boxing, focusing on defensive techniques, including catching, leaning back, and push kicks. Molly took charge of explaining the drills, and the participants were highly motivated to master the new skills. However, some needed reminders to keep their hands up and to practice with more force during partner drills. Overall, the session was successful, with the women making significant progress in their technique and confidence.

Week 3: Pushing Through - Overcoming Challenges

In our third week, the warm-up was a bit more challenging, but the group’s resilience was evident as they pushed through. One of the ladies stood out for her determination, despite struggling with the combinations and getting frustrated at times. We reassured her that learning takes time and encouraged her to keep practising. Another, who missed the previous session, impressed us with her natural ability to adjust and correct herself.

The class dynamics between Molly and Joana were seamless, as we alternated in leading the guided shadow boxing and explaining combinations. Although the participants still needed occasional reminders about their stance, they were very receptive to our corrections and appreciated the guidance.

Week 4: A Bittersweet Farewell - Final Techniques and Reflections

The final session of the month was bittersweet, as the women’s eagerness to participate was palpable. We switched up the warm-up by introducing four exercise stations, each with a different set of activities, which kept the energy levels high. Although one participant faced challenges juggling her workout with caring for her toddler, we supported her by holding pads while she joined in.

After the warm-up, we took a group photo, and it was heartwarming to see everyone’s willingness to participate. The session focused on knees and elbows, with an emphasis on the pivot after the elbow strike. Demonstrations were key to helping the group understand the movements, and they embraced the new techniques with enthusiasm.

As the session ended, there was a sense of the blues as we said our goodbyes. The group expressed their gratitude, and it was clear that a strong bond had formed over the past four weeks.

Reflecting on the month, working with such a dedicated and positive group of women has been a privilege. We are eagerly looking forward to continuing this journey in September.

Feedback from our lovely group

"It was a great first session. The warm-up killed me, but by the end, I felt energised and could have kept going. I'm looking forward to next week."	"Thank you for organising this programme. The warm-up was tough, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt so much energy! Joana and Molly were patient and attentive. I can't wait for the next session!"	"Another great session! The coaches are really mixing up the activities and helping us develop new skills. Each week we are being pushed and also learning. Thank you to the coaches and the team for organising the 4 weeks of summer classes. Sad that it has come to an end but excited about September."	"It was a really fun session! Joana was upbeat and motivating, and Molly was helpful and reassuring. This helped me engage more, even though I was worried beforehand since I hadn’t done this in years. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one."