aggressive confidence - muay thai kickboxing...

Aggressive Confidence:

Discovering Your Inner Strength Through Muay Thai

By Anthony Yuan – Instructor at Mastermind Muay Thai Academy

Copyright 2016 by Anthony Yuan

All rights reserved internationally. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any

form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the

publisher and copyright owner.

Published by Mastermind Muay Thai LLC, 112 S Union Street Suite 200, Kennett Square, PA 19348

This book is not a substitute for professional instruction and supervision, and no one should attempt any techniques without proper

personal instruction from trained instructors.

Contents

Chapter 1 Muay Thai for Self-Defense 1

Chapter 2 How Muay Thai Can Transform Your Body and Mind 3

Chapter 3 Start with the Body 8

Chapter 4 Master the Body, Motivate the Mind 11

Aggressive Confidence

1

Chapter 1 – Muay Thai for Self-Defense

Watching a school bully pick on the weakest kid in school……watching violence take place at a

political rally….standing next to a belligerent guy at the bar who’s had a little too much to drink

Every Animal, Every Human has an Instinct for Survival

When our lives and well-being are physically threatened, our instincts turn on…a fear that causes

that ‘fight or flight’feeling… it’s unlike fear that most of us experience day to day….’Did our boss like

the work we did?’…’Will that attractive guy or gal over there like me?’ ‘Will I get hit with another

overtime shift again?’.No…it’s a deep rooted instinct that every animal and every human has to

keep us alive.

Faced with someone that threatens to hurt you or someone you love…all other concerns…. about

the stock market…global warming…relationship drama…. all worries about anything else just

disappear. All your mind can think about is getting to safety.

People…Like Animals….Can Smell Fear

To the untrained person….in such a situation…the chest tightens..the heart pounds…palms

sweaty…and the mind locked in indecision of what to do….

Predators, both human and animal…smell fear. They can see that indecision in the eyes. And so

learning to defend yourself is as much about physical skills as it is about understanding what your

capable of in the situation…and then being decisive in your action to either fight or finding a

strategic way to escape. It’s about learning to control the emotion of fear in these situations...and

this starts with educating the mind in basic combat.

Muay Thai as a Way of Keeping Your ‘Weapons’ Sharp

Muay Thai is a vicious style of self-defense…one that matches the viciousness of real

combat..either in the ring or on the street. If you’re unfamiliar with Muay Thai, I’d recommend you

take a few minutes to search it on Youtube and see how vicious and effective it is in combat.

The power of the techniques comes from their design….Unlike most martial arts, Muay Thai

techniques are delivered utilizing the weight of the entire body to generate force…So a 100 lbs.

person can learn to throw all 100 lbs. behind any punch, kick, knee or elbow strike…making them a

deadly weapon.


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Yet beyond that…there’s a more important benefit that training Muay Thai delivers… By developing

the body into a weapon, the confidence of the mind inevitably develops alongside it.

The art of Muay Thai is an art of self-defense…Thai soldiers used it to defend their nation from

attack on the battlefield in hand to hand combat.** And so the art was refined and honed through

what worked.

Training was intense to transform a fighters body and mind to match the viciousness of combat.

And while you may never have to engage in full-on hand to hand combat, training yourself at this

level of intensity is a way to make you strong….both physically and mentally for the challenges of

daily life. Whether that’s taking on greater challenges at your work place…or having to defend

yourself or someone you love.

** Muay Boran was the original form of the art which was used on the battlefields for unarmed combat. In the 1930’s, after an

international fight where a fighter from Cambodia died, new rules were instilled to protect fighters in ring combat, called Muay Thai**


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Chapter 2 – Self-Defense of the Mind and the Body

Deeper Reasons for Training Muay Thai

Most people who have seen Muay Thai…think of it as one of the most brutal, vicious, and intense

martial arts.

I remember stepping into a Muay Thai gym for the first time…after watching a documentary on

Muay Thai. With that image in my head, it was pretty intimidating….but I was too intrigued by it to

walk away.

And so I always ask new students…”Why are you interested in learning Muay Thai?”

I usually get some form of a generic answer….”I’m trying to get back in shape and I’m not motivated

to go to the gym” “I’ve always wanted to learn self-defense skills” “It just looked like a cool thing to

do”

After training for a while, they’ll share their deeper reasons for getting started.

…Men and women that have recently gets divorced and feel shaken in their confidence…teenagers

who have low self-esteem from being picked on at school.…or the 9-5er that is needing a change

and a challenge….

Most people don’t start training Muay Thai without some deeper reasons.

Rarely do I ever get students who come in and from day one can seriously tell me they have the

intention of actually fighting..

The truth is…you can start to feel more confident with your physical abilities and your ability to

defend yourself in general just by taking up some explosive physical activities…CrossFit is one

example…Yoga is another…

Even just taking to the field and sprinting 40 yards will give your body that rush of blood and create

that sense of power in your body.

What drew me toward Muay Thai was how comprehensive it was…how it shaped the body as well

as the mind. It was a way of sharpening my physical strength, speed, balance…my eyes to get

used to seeing strikes coming at me…and calmed my emotions to act under pressure.


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The increased skills in Muay Thai was something I could FEEL in my body…not a trinket or belt that

someone gave me. And through that FEELING of Confidence, I learned self-defense but also

expanded my thoughts of what I was capable of in ALL areas of my life.

And so…Muay Thai is a way of honing the body into a weapon…and through that…strengthening

the mind and emotions of the person who practices it.It became a way for me to defend myself both

physically and mentally. I call these areas the 4 layers of defense.

4 Layers of Defense.

1. Physical

2. Emotional

3. Mental

4. Spiritual

1st Layers – Physical Defense –

On the most superficial level, Muay Thai is about developing self-defense skills to protect yourself

and those you love from physical assault. Even in a completely non-threatening situation…an

untrained person has subconscious anxiety about being vulnerable.

What a lot of untrained people fail to realize is that developing self-defense skills through training

something such as Muay Thai develops not just the skills to defend yourself…but an aura of

confidence that others can sense…not just predators and criminals…but everyone.

Going for a job interview….asking an attractive stranger for their number…asking your boss for a

job promotion

The Human Body is Fragile.

The Human body is filled with vulnerable spots, many areas which if struck, can leave a person

completely unconscious. . The human body is also capable of generating tremendous amounts of

powerthrough using the weight of their body correctly. In Muay Thai we learn to exploit

weaknesses of the human body and transform our arms and legs into fast moving weapons.

The techniques of Muay Thai follow the same principle for all of the techniques…it’s like learning to

ride a bike, then learning to do tricks with that bike.


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Many of my students are surprised at the amount of power they can generate with their body using

Muay Thai techniques even after the 1st day of training. ..and instantly, they believe that they are

physically capable of more than they once thought.

2nd Layer- Emotional Defense –

Muay Thai as an Outlet for Aggression

Emotional pain is just as painful and at times even more painful than physical pain. Unresolved

hurts from the past can leave us feeling powerless and inconfident about ourselves our entire life.

Muay Thai is a place for us to step outside of ourselves…outside of our daily life…where we learn

to smash through limiting beliefs about ourselves and through negative events in the past. The act

of letting that aggression out on the pads or the heavy bag is therapeutic…dare I

say…CATHARTIC!

Muay Thai develops your ability to Act inspite of Negative Emotions

From my experiences in Muay Thai…in training…sparring…and in competition…I’ve experienced a

ton of pain both physical and emotional….and learned to act in spite of it…

Facing a trained opponent, trapped inside the four corners of a ring…with hundreds of spectators

looking to see blood for their weekend entertainment…It taught me how to act in the face of my own

fear.

You don’t need to go to the level of competition to develop this sort of emotional strength…it can

come from placing yourself in challenging situation outside of your daily life and acting in spite of

it..because you know you’ll come out stronger on the other side.

The Muay Thai Community is About Self-Respect and Respect for Others

And unlike the stigma of most MMA gyms, the culture of Muay Thai emphasizes respect…self-

respect…and respect for others. Everyone in the community is looking to grow and develop their

mind and body and through this a camaraderie for those along that journey with them.

Muay Thai fighters in Thailand treat these techniques with a respect for their power and their

potential to do serious damage to another person.


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I’ve travelled all across Thailand to various gyms…and this culture of respect and camaraderie

among fighters runs throughout the community.

In my own gym, I’ve done my best to pass on this respect and camaraderie among all of my

students…many of whom become friends through helping one another develop in more ways than

just Muay Thai….and this support group…is a catalyst for the personal transformation of all of my

students.

3rd Layer- Mental Defense –

With the time we have left outside of our normal day job, school….in our spare time…most are so

overwhelmed….with so much on their mind…they hardly have enough mental capacity to do

something which would develop themselves…physically…mentally. The stress of daily life is literally

killing us.According to health professionals has a direct link many of the chronic diseases we face in

this country. And so, we all desparately need a way to destress that’s sustainable and renews our

sense of purpose and focus.

Our Number 1 Weapon in Muay Thai and Life..is our ability to Focus the

Mind

Our focus….our mind’s ability to focus on one thing at a time….is our greatest weapon…as

humans…Through our busy lives….we lose that ability….not being able to turn off thinking about

work when we have a few minutes to unwind with our lover or children…

I can remember my time as a corporate worker….working a high paying job…pumping out results

for the company in return for my salary. I would carry stress from my job home to my wife…the last

thing I wanted to do was converse and be that person she loved to be around…full of energy and

passion.

Training Muay Thai is an outlet for Stress and Aggression…to Channel that

Energy to Produce Positive Physical and Mental Strength

Through Muay Thai, I found an outlet for that stress…it became a form of active meditation…a way

to focus the mind on one thing…my own training. I let that pent up stress and aggression I bottled

up from my corporate day job…Through my daily training, my body felt relaxed…my mind cleared

of the worries of the day after intense singular focus...and from that…a clarity of mind.


7

Our mind’s focus is like can be like a laser beam....or a light bulb…a light bulb can shine light in

every direction…not enough to make much of an impact….focus a laser beam on one thing….and

you can cut through diamonds.

4th Layer – Spiritual Defense –

Among the most powerful forces of us as humans…is our ability to envision and create…to envision

a future we want…and to work towards that. Most of us are just trying to get through the day, just

trying to get by.

Muay Thai is about taking control over the Person You Become

We give to others….not connected to our deeper reasons why.

Beyond that, as we look back upon our lives and where we envisioned for ourselves…does it bring

a sense of joy and excitement? Or boredom?

Muay Thai is both an art and a science…the science is the techniques and the skills of self-

defense…The art is how we apply it to ourselves…a way of personal transformation…physically

and mentally. Through challenge and the physical training of Muay Thai, we develop…we transform

and become a better, stronger version of ourself…and with that a feeling of control over our destiny.

Hopefully by now, I hope you start to see that training Muay Thai is not all about getting ready to get

in the ring for a fight. You don’t have to want to be the next champion to gain the tremendous

personal benefits from training. (although if you do want to compete, as my student, I’ll be on your

side all the way)


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Chapter 3 – Personal Transformation Happens in the Body, Not the Mind

The fastest way to change how we feel is through our body. If we want to feel powerful and

confident…we need to DO powerful and confident…The techniques learned in Muay Thai are

POWERFUL movements meant to shake us out of our daily routine of moving passively.

Think about it…you can read all of the books you want about health and nutrition…or read about

training and Muay Thai…but we all know the POWER comes from getting off our butts and doing

the damn thing!….and we do it with our body….whatever it is.from learning a language…to public

speaking….to learning Muay Thai.

There are three areas which directly affect how we feel and the actions we take.

1. Our State

2. Our Beliefs

3. Our Identity.

Our state is how We Feel in the Moment

. And it’s directly affected through our body. Positive states of mind include passion, drive,

determination…and negative states of mind include fearfulness, depression, and boredom.

When we move our bodies explosively….blood pumping into the muscles and away from our head,

that rush of endorphins, our body’s natural pain killers…we feel our bodies…we feel connected to

our…we feel alive and confident…

Most People Spend their Day all in their Head…and Can’t Snap Out of It

Through our habitual states…how we feel day to day in our body….we literally train ourselves how

to feel. Boredom, lack of passion are states of mind. Stuck in our heads all day, we lose touch with

our body....and tiredness, boredom ensue. This can become the standard for how we experience

life.


9

For me…Muay Thai was a temple to allow a side of me that was unexpressed…An aggressive,

confident side of myself which had no outlet in my daily life.

Through using our body explosively… …we feel powerful…sometimes even invincible….and it’s

these positive states of mind that start to shape our mind and challenge our limiting beliefs about

how life is supposed to be.

And so, by developing positive states of mind, we can start to change beliefs (what we feel certain

about). In particular, beliefs about who we are and what we’re capable of.

Through Experiencing the Power in Your Body…Your Mind Shatters Limiting

Beliefs about What You’re Capable of

I can remember seeing the Muay Thai kick for the firs time and being in awe of how a human body

could be trained to generate so much power and speed.

After being taught the Muay Thai kick myself and feeling the crack of the pads as I hit it…I can

remember looking down at my hands and feet…pausing in shock of what I had just done…My mind

was in disbelief….and it was in that instant I realized that I was capable of more than I thought.

MUAY THAI is a way of discovering the power that exists inside of You

Through time…the feelings I got from training Muay Thai became a metaphor for who I was…the

powerful states of mind after each session, the power I felt in my body….forced me to change

beliefs about what I was capable of.

One of the first things I show students of mine is how to deliver Muay Thai techniques with power.

Why?

Because most people come in with so many limiting beliefs about themselves…what they’re

capable of…that my first job as their teacher is to snap thoselimiting belief by showing them the

power that exists inside of them.

IDENTITY – Who We Are In the World

Our Identity, the image we have of ourself, controls our Actions, Thoughts,

and Feelings

Identity The image you have of yourself…when you’re by yourself and when you’re with others


10

Through time…as we consistently experience these powerful states of mind…old limiting beliefs are

replaced with ones of power and possibilities.

And it’s from there…this cumulative effect of smashing through old beliefs and replacing them with

new ones… when changes in identity happen…

With a New Identity, what was once difficult, becomes a Standard for Life

As this new person…we have stronger boundaries for what we will and will not accept from

ourselves and from others.

As this new person, we may start to make more empowering diet habits because of our new found

self-respect…we may speak out more courageously at work…we may make it an absolute must to

exercise consistently… because we view ourselves as a weapon that needs sharpening…instead of

the average Joe who lives according to the status quo.

I can see it in all of my students…walking into a Muay Thai gym the first day….nervous…fearful…

And through training these explosive movements in Muay Thai…Over time, I’ll see when that shift in

identity happens…they’re walking in with a strut of humble yet aggressive confidence. An

aggressive confidence they take with them inside the gym and through their lives.

And it all started from Day 1…when they started changing the way they used their body in training.

The beauty of it? They didn’t even have to think about it…It just happened through the training.

Embody the change you want first…and the Result will follow

So many people struggle to make change in their lives…with their diets…with trying to be more

confident at work…with trying to be more cheerful and likeable to the opposite sex…because they

start with the mind…

Embody the change you want first…and the action will follow. Use will power to force yourself to

change…and that will power runs out….

Muay Thai has taught me on a visceral level…that all change we want for our life starts through

changing the way we use our body….we use it to affect our mind and emotions….and through that

change we can shape the life and people around us for the better.


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Chapter 4 – Master your Body, Motivate Your Mind

I’ve had encountered many students through my time as an instructor….and do you know how

many of them come to me from day one telling me they are here to find a fight? Zero.

In fact…most people that show up are people who know next to nothing about Muay Thai…but

have some challenge in their life they’re trying to overcome…whether it’s getting back to being in

shape and feeling healthy….gaining confidence after a painful breakup…the death of a

spouse…something has shaken their confidence and their happiness about the conditions of their

life.

After a few months of training….that’s usually when I start to hear questions like… “When do you

think I’ll be ready to compete?” Yes fighting is one option that some of my students decide to move

towards.

Some other changes I’ve seen from training are

1. A father who teaches his son to defend himself with Muay Thai

2. A overweight person who lost 40 lbs. and starts promoting the healthy lifestyle to others

3. A teenager who learns to stand up for himself and no longer gets bullied

Imagine that…people making powerful changes all from sharpening their body and mind through

Muay Thai… …this is not just the development of physical skills to defend oneself…but a complete

change in limiting beliefs in the mind and an identity transformation.

For me…before finding Muay Thai…I was young man..trying to find my masculinity as a 23 year old

boy…sure I was legally an ‘adult man’…had a degree in biomedical engineering…with a well paying

job that allowed me to take care of myself…but that sense of

insecurity…physically…mentally..emotionally..had guided me to discover my development and

personal transformation through Muay Thai.

What drew me to Muay Thai was the raw intensity, the power, and challenge it took to become

good at it. I could read all the books on training, but Muay Thai delivered progress I could feel in my

body, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Through training, I developed motivation to eat healthier…training became my method of physical

fitness and mental sharpness…these were no longer things I had to push myself to do..but I was

pulled to take care of these areas of my life….because of the self-respect and self-image of myself

as a human weapon that needed to be sharpened.


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After training students and seeing the profound effect I’ve seen this journey have on students of

mine…from the very first day….to months in…what keeps me going as an instructor…beyond

anything….the words of praise and thanks from my students for a great class…watching them

develop and seeing them experiencing the emotions of passion and determination as they train…

More than that….is the light in their eyes after they discover what they’re capable of. I know that

when I look into their eyes…and I see that glow of aliveness…I know they’ve transformed…

….I know that their life will never be the same again…and they’ll leave here…. Having forever

become physically…mentally …and emotionally.


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About the Author: Anthony Yuan is a professional Muay Thai Instructor. He operates his Muay Thai Academy,

MASTERMIND MUAY THAI, in Kennett Square PA 19348.

Final Note: For those of you who took value from this book, my deepest gratitude is from having been able to

add value to your life. It’s my life’s mission to benefit as many people’s lives physically, mentally, emotionally,

and spiritually through teaching them the beautiful art of Muay Thai.

If you’re in the Kennett Square, PA area and would love to get started:

I offer an 1 hour FREE 1-on-1 Lesson for people interested in the art. Sign up for your free lesson today at

www.mastermindmuaythai.com.

For those of you outside of Kennett Square, PA

I offer additional resources all related to Muay Thai at my blog and Youtube channel, including tutorials and

technique breakdowns and all things related to Muay Thai!

Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpU8bD3Ro4lVlvdW7YwMLkQ

Blog: http://mastermindmuaythai.com/MuayThaiKickboxing/blog/

http://www.mastermindmuaythai.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpU8bD3Ro4lVlvdW7YwMLkQ

http://mastermindmuaythai.com/MuayThaiKickboxing/blog/

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