We both train BJJ today. My rib is not well enough to do any rolls. Neither forward not backwards, but I do a lot of the warm ups before practicing the techniques with Katja. The worlds greatest partner. This way at least I got a partner that takes my injury seriously and that I can communicate with.

We do a series of moves out from butterfly guard to triangle, omoplata and more. A very cool class given by Maccachero.

I stay of sparring to spare the rib, but Katja roll around. As I sit with two others, a Norwegian and an Englishman, they tell me they’re impressed by Katja. The Englishman express it:”Sparring with you is fun, Arne, but I feel all your muscles. With Katja I only feel technique.” This is followed up by praise from the Norwegian guy as well. For those who’s been training with the both of us it’s no surprise that Katja is the more technical of us. In every aspect of our training Katja is ahead of me in that department.

As we talked about this we saw a girl from Hong Kong sparring with a larger guy. The man struggled to keep up with her. As the three of us talked it was apparent to all of us that some men have an ego problem with tapping out for a woman. Luckily I don’t have that problem. It’s been filed down and smoothed over by all my training with Katja. I benefit a lot of her flow and skills when we train and when we spend time together discussing alternatives and how to perform techniques. I have no number for the amount of time one of us suddenly ask for a “punch to the face” or “an arm”, because we want to check something out. I just love it and her. Both as my favorite training partner and my beloved wife. I’m the luckiest guy alive.

We do take away lunch and head back. We still have the motorbike from yesterday and drive to and from Tiger today. We extend the rental and are now mobile through the weekend.

I have a private with Moo at 14:30 so wet make ready and head over. Katja is coming along to take pictures and because I value her opinions.

I talk to Moo before we start and explain that I want more feedback than I’ve gotten so far and he replied:”OK, tell you when you do fail.” Good enough for me.

I spend the most fun hour of Muay Thai with Moo. We do defensive techniques, double kicks and correct (or at least we try to correct) my many flaws. I’ve mentioned it before, the differences in both stands, kicks and movements in comparison to where we come from. It’s hard to turn off twenty years of training to do it the correct way here, but I try. And to a certain degree I succeed, but there are a lot of practice hours until I can separate, or compartmentalize if you will, well enough between the different styles. Still, it feels good when you feel the power and the impact of a well timed and correctly delivered kick. Then again, the pain in the shin bone when you twists to much and hit the edge of the pad is equally strong. In have the bruise to show for just that. But I’m super happy with Moo and am booked for another session tomorrow already.

We drove back to the hotel and spent an hour by the pool. Katja is doing her private at 18:15 and we’ll get  dinner before that.

I drive to Tiger and get some take away that a eat while preparing for Katja’s private. We move to Tiger and she gets on the bike and warm up, as the foot don’t allow for running.

She do a good hour of pad work and light sparring with Sek, her trainer. I film and take some pictures so we can study moves and find places to enhance technique and finesse back home.

We both have a new session with our trainers tomorrow and we’re both looking forward to it.

We get home, clean Katja’s equipment, wash the clothes in the sink (we use them twice before delivering them to laundry) and go for a frozen yogurt. Life is good. It can be recorded as simple as that.