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Welcome to

Student Handbook Welcome to Double Dose ! Double Dose Muay Thai is one of the most elite academies in the country. It was founded in 1990 and over the past 25+ years we have grown into one of the largest most respected Muay Thai academies in the country. We have now expanded even further and have an Affiliate Gym in Gold Coast, Australia. We have trained dozens of champions in the ring and 1,000’s of champions in life.

Our Story… It all started in 1972 when our founder Bryan Dobler met Thai instructor Chai Sirisute. At just 6 years old he began his journey in the art of Muay Thai. In his early 20’s he was introduced to Muay Thai Instructor Kru Rex and began training for competition. Under Kru Rex’s guidance he won a Professional Muay Thai Championship. At age 40 he had his last fight in the prestigious King’s Cup in bringing home a Bronze Medal for Team USA. He has since had several fighters compete in Thailand and all brought home Medals. During his fighting career he became known as “Double Dose” because of his 100% commitment coupled with 100% Passion for Muay Thai. That is where our gym name comes from…Double Dose Muay Thai!

Let’s Get Started! We know that since you are here, you have made the decision to change your life in a powerful positive way. We’d like to congratulate you on taking that first step towards your new compelling future. Since you have decided you’d like to join our elite Martial Arts Academy, we’re going to assign you…your first task. Your first task is simple, read this handbook entirely, until you understand it completely. Set your first S.M.A.R.T. goal for your training. Then, take the short quiz at the end. That’s it! Once you are done give this to your coach and your journey will begin! Welcome to the DDMT family!

MEET YOUR COACHES… KRU BRYAN

​ ​ Kru Bryan is our founder and also known by his fight name "Double Dose", which our gym is named after. He began teaching more than 25 years ago starting with one student in his garage and eventually growing his gym size to the unrivaled facility we have today. He was a professional Muay Thai Champion and has fought in the USA and in Thailand. He has trained dozens of amateur and Professional Champions.

KRU REX

Kru Rex is our Head Trainer. He had an extensive fighting career in Thailand, Mexico and the USA totaling more than 150 fights, with 138 wins. His extensive ring experience coupled with training fighters for 40+ years makes him one of the most highly qualified and sought after trainers in the USA. He is loved for his kind-heartedness and sense of humor. He is a world class referee and judge for Muay Thai and MMA and has refereed Muay Thai fights and has been seen on TV all over the world.

Kru Shawn

Kru Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in physical education as a teacher for the Fontana school district. She is a USA Muay Thai Champion, and brought home the esteemed Silver Medal from the Queen's Cup Muay Thai Tournament in Thailand in 2004. She is Head of our Coaches Development Program at DDMT.

What is Muay Thai?

It is pronounced MOO-AY-TIE. Muay Thai is by far the most effective striking art in the world. It is a martial ​ art that was developed in Thailand. Muay Thai employs different parts of the human body as natural weapons such as fists, feet, elbows and knees. It can be used effectively in close or long-range situations. It is known as the art of eight limbs because it uses fists, feet, elbows and knees.

Whether you want to develop self-confidence, get incredibly fit, or compete in the ring, Muay Thai is a sport that is inclusive of multiple goals. There are a million reasons why you may want to train Muay Thai, and at the end of the day, there are no wrong reasons to train ​. Brief History of Muay Thai

Muay Thai dates back thousands of years to when the Thai ancestors trained the younger generation to help protect the nation against invaders. Muay Thai was born as a art used on the battlefield when soldiers weapons would fail they would use their entire body as weapons. Muay Thai uses the body to mimic the weapons of war that soldiers used in ancient times. The hands became the sword and dagger, the shins and forearms became the shields, the legs and knees became the axe and staff, and the elbows were used like a mace or hammer. It is the national sport of Thailand and has been used by the for many centuries to protect their country from invasion. Many of the nations Kings have been well known to practice Muay Thai. It is now recognized as the most effective stand-up fighting art on the planet and is practiced by countries all over the world for fitness, self-defense and competition. The discipline and respect that are an integral part of Muay Thai are also known to build excellent character.

What is a Kru? Kru (pronounce like crew) means teacher. It is a term given to teachers in Thailand. A Muay Thai teacher is a Kru Muay (Crew Moo-Ay). In Thailand teachers are revered because a good teacher will impact your life in positive ways for your future by teaching you valuable lessons to guide you.

What is a Nak Muay? A Nak Muay (Knock Moo-Ay) is a student of Muay Thai. Once you have decided to join our academy you will become a Nak Muay. Everyone who is a student of Muay Thai and not a teacher is considered a Nak Muay regardless of their skill level.

Academy Rules & Etiquette

➢ All dues must be paid before training. No exceptions ➢ As a customary sign of respect, refer to the instructor as Kru or Coach. ➢ Wai to classmates and instructors first when you see them. ➢ Never Wai with something in your hands. This can result in pushups as it is seen as disrespectful. ➢ When you Wai make sure your hands are at the center of your face, any lower is disrespectful. ➢ Wai towards the mat before entering or leaving the mat area. ➢ Be on time for class, being late will result in you having to do the warm-up by yourself before starting class. ➢ Attend class in proper uniform: school shirt, Muay Thai shorts, hand wraps, and armband. shirts are required. ➢ Have your Student Handbook and a pen ready so you can track drills and goals etc. ➢ If you are late or out of uniform; notify the instructor before entering class. ​ ​ ➢ Never step on the mat with shoes on. Cleanliness and sanitation are extremely important to us. ➢ No jewelry, sharp objects, food or drinks (other than water) are allowed on the mat. ​ ​ ➢ Keep your shoes, gym bags, personal belongings in the locker room stored neatly in a cubby or shelf. ​ ​ ➢ To train in any class you must do the warm up. It is designed to prepare you and keep you from injury. ➢ After using any DDMT equipment, you must put it back neatly, exactly how you found it.. ​ ​ ➢ Write your name on all your equipment and shirt tags. This way you know it’s yours if lost or found. ➢ If you have lost or found something tell the front desk about it. We discard items weekly. ➢ When an instructor is teaching or talking you must be in attention and not talking. No talk. ➢ If you must leave the training area early for any reason (water, bathroom etc.) you must ask the instructor first. ➢ Absolutely no inappropriate language allowed in class. This will result in 100 pushups or more! ➢ No inappropriate outbursts in class- even if injured. Calmly let someone know what’s going on. ➢ Turn off your cell phone during class or set it to vibrate. ➢ If you are in the guest area during class, keep quiet, if the instructor can hear you, you are too loud. ➢ If you are not part of an ongoing class- do not train or warm up in the same area that class is going on in. ➢ requires proper safety equipment. You must wear the required equipment to spar.

Cleanliness-

➢ Pick up anything left in the guest seating area. ➢ Put all trash in a trashcan. Recycle bottles should be emptied of liquid and put in the cans downstairs. ➢ If you spill anything on the mat clean it right away so it does not leave a permanent stain. ➢ Always walk into the bathroom with shoes on. Otherwise, you will spread germs from the bathroom to the mat. ➢ Leave the bathroom clean- If you spill on the floor or seat, please wipe it. Only flush toilet paper, not paper towels. ➢ Lock the bathroom door for your own privacy. ➢ Do not spit in the sink. If you must spit do it in the trash can. ➢ If you are bleeding, stop training and clean the spilt blood with peroxide, then cover the cut before continuing to train. ➢ Maintain good hygiene (clipped nails, clean uniform,clean equipment, deodorant, etc.) ➢ Do not walk from outside and into the gym barefoot. This defeats the purpose of taking off our shoes before stepping on the mat.

Our Rank System ​ Traditional Muay Thai does not have a ranking system. The only rank is in the ring. That’s because every student in a traditional Muay Thai Gym in Thailand fights. Only a small percentage of people who join a Muay Thai gym in the USA will ever go on to compete. That’s why we use a rank system to provide our students with a way to set goals and measure their growth in learning the art of Muay Thai. Plus, it’s always nice to have something to show for your hard work, dedication and effort.

History of the Armband ​ The armband or Prajiet (Pra-Jet) dates back many centuries and has it’s history in ancient Siam tied to warriors going into battle. When a warrior was called to battle they would go to their mother or monk and ask for a good luck charm to help bring them back safely from battle. They would tear a strip of cloth from their robe or dress, bless it and tie it around the arm of the warrior. This would remind them to overcome obstacles and come back safely. We still use it that same way today. Though many of you will never have to go into combat, it serves to remind you that you must fight for the future you desire and that you have overcome many obstacles along the way to each rank. Each armband is hand woven with love and care by Kru Bryan and his wife Yolanda. It is out of respect for this as well as the history behind it that we ask you to treat it with respect and dignity. Never it around or leave it on the floor. Take care of it and always wear it in class, it is part of your uniform.

Building a Solid Foundation A Story for building your foundation- An elderly carpenter was about to retire. He told his boss he wanted to retire and spend more time with his family. His boss was sad to see his best carpenter leave him but understood. He asked the carpenter to build just one more house before he retired. The carpenter agreed. Once the carpenter began building the house it was clear his heart just wasn’t in it and he wanted to get it done quicker so he began shortcutting here and there. When he had to wait for better quality materials he resorted to using inferior quality materials to get it done faster. When he finished the house his boss came to inspect it and was surprised by the shoddy workmanship. Nevertheless, he handed the carpenter the keys…as his retirement gift. -Build wisely

​Your First Classes This is where everyone begins their journey as a Nak Muay (Knock-Moo-Ay) or student of Muay Thai. Your first classes you will help teach you the basics of Muay Thai: proper , , , how to ,, , , and to properly hold the mitts and pads. These first classes will teach you our system and help you develop proper technique. After you have completed an introductory lesson you are welcome to join in class with the other students and you will be well acclimated to our system. Curriculum Unlike many Muay Thai schools we do not guess what to teach you each day. We are guided by a well-written curriculum. This allows us to make sure you are learning everything you need to succeed in your goals whether that is fitness, self-defense or competition. Promotion Fee We do not charge for testing. We do however charge a nominal fee for promotion, which averages about 5 months. Our promotion fee covers staffing for the testing and your new beautiful hand-woven armband. The promotion fee is only $45. Our Teaching Method As you probably noticed from your introductory lesson, we are very detailed. That’s because we use the Legacy Model of Teaching. Which simply means that we hold nothing back. We teach you everything we know. Because we believe that any student could become one of our best future coaches and carry on the DDMT legacy of excellence. We have had students go on to become award-winning coaches and some even open their own reputable schools like DDMT Australia. Anyone can achieve success with the right training and support. How Do I Join The Advanced Program? All beginner students who wish to advance must show dedication and coachability. Their is no way to buy your way in, you must earn it through hard work and discipline. Once you have shown good conduct, discipline, teamwork and adequate skill level you may ask one of the coaches about becoming and advanced member. All advanced members must be personally approved by Kru Bryan . You may be asked to improve in certain areas first, but will never be told no. If the coaches agree you are good fit you will be eligible for that program, if not, they will clearly explain what needs improvement before being eligible.Once you have been accepted you will do a private lesson with one of our coaches to prepare you for the new level of classes and techniques.

. ​Opening Class… We open every class with the Wai (the greeting of respect you’ll learn in your introductory classes), accompanied by the verbal greeting of Sawat Dee Krub/Ka (Sawat Dee Cup/Kah) Krub for males and Ka for females. We then follow up by starting class with our school creed.

Our Creed Our school creed is kind of like an oath or promise to live your life with good character both in and out of the gym. We feel that these qualities are deeply embedded in the learning of Muay Thai and without them it is not true Muay Thai. We ask that you memorize it and know it from your heart. It goes like this…

Muay Thai Consists of The Qualities of.. Obedience Genuine Knowledge Courage Endurance Patience Compassion Gratitude and… Honesty I will live my life by these principles of a champion, to bring honor to myself, my family, my school and the art of Muay Thai. *Modified from the “Book of Muay Thai” by Panya Kraitus

How Do I Wrap My Hands? A common question we get from new students is how do I wrap my hands? There is an easy step by step guide on our website http://gokickit.com/what-is-muay-thai/ . The real question is ​ ​ ​ who should wrap their hands and why? Anyone who is old enough to learn to wrap their hands themselves should learn how to do it and do it every time they come to class. Why? Because it not only protects your hands but also they absorb sweat and help keep your gloves from smelling bad. You can wash hand wraps but not the inside of your gloves. As a Nak Muay this is something you should make a habit out of.

​S.M.A.R.T. Goals Setting goals is one of the most significant methods for achieving success. It is not taught in schools but can help you stay on track and let you know when to make adjustments. Setting your first goal for your training will help your coach know specifically how they can best support you.

S=Specific. Be specific in what you want. Saying that you want to rank up is not specific. Saying ​ exactly what rank you want to earn and by what date you will achieve it by, is specific and shows you know what you want..

M=Measurable. Writing out how you’ll know when you get it will let you know what evidence is ​ necessary to know you have achieved your desired outcome and signal you to begin writing out your next goal.

A=As if. Write it as if you have already achieved it. Example: It is ______date and I have ​ earned my orange armband.

R=Reasonable. Making your goal reasonable is important. We want you to think big yet be realistic. If ​ you said I want to be a Muay Thai Champion by tomorrow, is that reasonable? Right. So, stretch yourself from your comfort zone but be reasonable at the same time.

T=Towards. Make sure it is towards what you want. State it in the positive and towards what you want. ​ Never state what you don’t want or say something like I don’t want to be a white armband anymore. State it as a towards-statement and make sure it moves you towards your biggest goal of earning your Black Armband, losing weight, competition or self defense.

It is ______(Date) and I, ______(Name)

Have achieved ______(Goal)

I know this because ______(Evidence)

Now write down how this makes you feel…right now.

That’s it. Simple, yet effective. Refer to this often and write out new S.M.A.R.T. Goals every time you achieve one.

Training Tips

It is important to lose your ego when you walk into the door. If you have an ego and think you know everything already, you will limit yourself from learning. Be willing to learn and listen to the advice given to you by your instructor. You will learn much faster this way.

Take your time. It’s tempting to want to learn everything as fast as you can, but it’s also easy to develop bad habits that way. Develop your foundation first. When it’s time you’ll be ready and have an excellent foundation to build upon.

Practice your stance! Everything comes from stance…speed, power and beautiful technique can be traced back to a solid stance.

Practice your guard! Simply put, keep your hands up (answer the phone). Your guard will keep you safe from incoming attack and give you a solid advantage later on in your development.

Practice your footwork and rhythm. The beautiful footwork and rhythm of an experienced Muay Thai fighter is undeniably a trademark of Muay Thai. Footwork and rhythm are not a minor part of Muay Thai they are a major component. Make it a priority to practice this.

Since your goal should be to eventually develop beautiful Muay Thai techniques, you want to start from a blank slate. If you come from a different martial arts background it’s your choice to begin anew or carry your other techniques into this new art. Just bear in mind you will never be able to appreciate what Muay Thai truly has to offer if you don’t adapt the proper Muay Thai style.

When you walk into DDMT make sure to leave your outside …outside. This should be a place for you that all the cares and stress of the outside world are left behind. It is difficult to learn well when carrying stuff from your day into your class . Allow yourself the possibility of learning to your full potential, okay?

When you are starting your Muay Thai journey, it is important that you focus on Muay Thai basics. In the early stages of your development, things may move slower than you’d like. There are 3 speeds of Muay Thai. The first is learning speed. It is slow and steady and allows you to develop proper form. Think about it, if you got into a car for the first time and put the pedal all the way down what would happen? That’s right. So take your time at first. The next speed is training speed, which allows you to push the boundaries add power see how much faster you can go and still keep proper technique. The final stage is combat speed. This is the speed you would use in a real life situation. At this stage you will only use this once the other speeds are perfected and usually only on the heavy bags or Thai pads not training partners.

I have read, understand and agree to follow all of the rules in this manual ______(Initials) ​

QUIZ

Turn this in to your coach to begin your journey in Muay Thai

NAME: ______​ In order to better help you, write WHY you want to be part of our elite martial arts school and what your main GOAL is while training here:

______

1. The Wai is a sign of respect that is used when? ​ ​ A. Upon entering/leaving the gym C. At the start of class

B. When greeting seniors/coaches D. All of the above

2. Muay Thai consists of which of these strikes?

A. Punches and C. Knees

B. Elbows D. All of the above

4. What is the proper way to greet your coaches/instructors?

5. List the 8 qualities of Thai Boxing from the Creed.

A.______E.______B.______F.______C.______G.______D.______H.______6. From the Double Dose student handbook, list at least five rules below.

A. B. C. D. E. 7. You must attend class in the proper uniform. What does the Muay Thai uniform consist of?

A.______C.______B.______D.______

8. What rank comes after White armband at DDMT? ______

9. Which Double Dose instructor has over 150 fights? ______

10. Which Double Dose instructor won the Silver medal in a 2004 tournament in Thailand? ______11. Which Double Dose Instructor is the founder of DDMT?______

12. When was Double Dose Muay Thai founded? ______

13. What are the consequences of using inappropriate language at DDMT? ______

14. According to the student notebook, what are the three speeds of Muay Thai?

1. ______2. ______3. ______

15. Which Double Dose instructors have trained and fought in Thailand?

A.______C.______B.______16. What does S.M.A.R.T. goals stand for? S= ______M= ______A= ______R= ______T= ______17. Which is a good reason for learning Muay Thai? A. Get incredibly fit C. Competition B. Self-Confidence D. Self-Defense E. All of the above and it’s a lot of fun 18. Which of the following is not a Double Dose rule? A. Always walk to the bathroom with shoes on C. Remove all jewelry before training B. Attend Class in proper uniform D. Sparring does not require safety equipment 19. You must WAI towards the mat whenever you step on or off the mat, true or false?______​ ​ 20. According to the student handbook, what are some of the best tips for a new Nak Muay or Muay Thai student?

A. Leave your ego at the door C. Practice the basics

B. Take your time D. All of the above

21. What model of teaching is used at Double Dose Muay Thai? ______