Shin Kick Muay Thai..... “If you do not have authority, you can’t expect respect.”

Just off Walton Road in Woking there is a fabulous kick boxing gym which I discovered purely by chance. This friendly, family run, yet professional business is run by Jesse Saunders and his wife Liz. When I first went into Shin Kick to make enquires I met their 13 year old daughter who wowed me with her brilliant knowledge of the business and their little one who was clearly running the reception desk with a lovely big smile.

As well as being a former professional fighter, Jesse is a renowned referee and judge, a director at IBMTO (Independent Board of Muay Thai Officials), a BMTA Muay Thai instructor, a level 2 fitness instructor, a level 3 personal trainer and a qualified TRX instructor.

Liz Saunders is the lady running the entire business side of Shin Kick and she is also a massage therapist and a mummy too.

Jesse first got into Muay Thai through a Thai friend in Guildford when he was 14 and this sparked his love of the sport. He has been out to Thailand to train many times in the past.

Jesse Saunders

The gym has excellent facilities and runs classes for children and adults from beginners upwards. They also offer one–to-one private trainer sessions which can be tailored to your level of fitness.

Muay Thai is a combat sport which originates from Thailand, so essentially, Shin Kick is a fighting gym but you can learn self-discipline, self–defence, balance and co-ordination, get fit and learn a new sport. If you want to get in the ring you can, if you don’t want to you don’t have to.

Children attending the gym will be more self-confident and get fit; it is a much better option than sitting on the sofa watching TV and playing computer games. Also, belonging to a gym can make a child feel included and part of something good, which is especially necessary for a child who needs their self-esteem boosted. (Children can start from age 5)

Shin Kick is a gym where you can pay as you go and there are also membership options. Clearly membership will ensure you get off the sofa and go, always a good incentive. If you can’t commit to membership, then the pay per class is brilliant. If you are not sure whether Muay Thai is for you, you can ask for your first class for free.

• Personal training sessions are £40 a session but can be bought in blocks of 5 with the 6th session free.
• Adult classes are £12 per class or included free in membership from £70 a month.
• Children's classes are £7 per class or included free in membership from £35 a month.

Classes can consist of pad work, technique work, clinching techniques, light sparring, body conditioning, abdominal work, burpees, sit ups and more.

There are also Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes taught at Shin Kick and they are good for self defence, cardio workout and general fitness. These are also taught from total beginners to the advanced fighters.

Since the gym first opened in 2007, Jesse has produced many English, British and European champions and top ranking fighters so if this is a path you are interested in, then Shin Kick is definitely a brilliant place to train.

When you first go to Muay Thai there is spare equipment you can borrow, however they also sell a fabulous range of clothing and equipment so you can treat yourself. Let’s be honest, we all want the correct kit and to look the part. Your normal shorts and t-shirt will be great, but once you get into the classes you need the right gear and you will want to buy the MDK branded clothes and equipment.J

The enthusiasm and camaraderie is evident at Shin Kick and there is a good spirit of helping each other with things like pad work and bag work. This is a good place for adults and children alike and you shouldn’t be put off because Muay Thai is a combat sport, there is absolutely no atmosphere of aggression in Shin Kick and you will definitely feel more confident after a few sessions.

For information on this fabulous gym please go to their website:

www.Shinkick.uk or find them on Facebook at Shinkick Muay Thai

The gym address is: 86 Walton Road Woking, Surrey, GU21 5DW and their email contact is: info@shinkick.uk  

Thank you to Shin Kick for providing the photos and for answering my endless questions.😊

No Wasted Years for Waisted

Last weekend I got to see my totally favourite band back together and playing a fabulous rocking set at Herofest 2017 in Farnborough.

Waisted have got back together with two of the original members, Paul Morehead (AKA my dad) on guitar and backing vocals, Dick Walker on bass and vocals and Graham 'Topper' Clay joining them on drums.

The gazebos were almost uprooted with the sound of Waisted playing their set at Herofest, a mini pub festival in Farnborough. They were not the first group on stage but their fabulous, professional set were the first act to get the audience dancing. Despite the incessant rain, Waisted had the audience dancing and braving the deluge. The rocking beat the fantastic tunes and the amazing guitar playing woke the crowd up and brought the event to life.

Paul and Dick have played together in bands since the 1960s, including Shades of Green, Sweet Life, previous line ups of Waisted, and also separately in other bands. Topper is also a seasoned performer with various bands. I won’t tell you their collective age because they will kill me J

The trio all play their instruments as if they have been playing them since the last century........hang on, they have been..... and it really shows. Their individual and collective knowledge and expertise made their set a cut above the rest while still entertaining the crowd without swagger and pretension.

Waisted covered versions of songs by Steve Miller, Small Faces, The Clash, Tom Robinson, Jeff Beck, Tina Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis and Robert Johnson. My favourite of the set was Whole Lotta Shakin by Jerry Lee Lewis, a fabulous way to end a brilliant set.

Now I may be biased but my Dad’s guitar solos are amazing; for an old bloke he is doing pretty damn well.J In fact these three talented musicians create a relaxed, enthusiastic atmosphere that anyone can enjoy. As with all the best musicians, there is the odd joke, the occasional flippant comment thrown into the crowd and a definite sense that they are there to have fun and perform because they love it. They are first class but they don’t talk themselves up because they don’t need to, the music speaks for itself and it speaks a language we all understand.

If you want to book Waisted for a gig then email them at waisted@live.co.uk

To see more on Waisted, including a video, and to keep a look out for their next gig, you can go to their Facebook site Waisted. ( see below)

Coming soon on orangecoffee69:

 A review of the fabulous set by Waisted at Herofest.