So it’s that time of year, where we American’s rack up massive amounts of credit card debt in the spirit of the holidays giving.

I realize this list is getting out a little late this year, my apologies. Since I officially stopped working I’ve been way to busy watching judge judy and lounging around the house in my underwear.

Hopefully you’ll get some things that you’ll appreciate and enjoy. If not have no fear… I’ve compiled a list of goodies that any Nak Muay would be psyched to get. So if you got another lame scarf and glove set… bust out your credit card (if you haven’t maxed it yet) it’s time to go shopping.

Training Gifts

Giant Blue Ball

If you’re going to keep up with Mark’s Workouts you’re going to need the right gear. First on our list is the enormous blue ball. (Don’t even think about it Tong Po) If you’re going to be working the Jack-Knife or the Back Extensions using the right gear will maximize the effectiveness of your routine. The Ball’s are sized according to height, so be sure you get the right one.

Round Timer

Every now and then I want to work on my own. I find that I get so much more out of my solo workout if I’m using a round timer. I don’t know about you guys, but I tend to lose focus when I’m left alone on a bag. I find that if I set intervals, (work the bag hard for 20 sec. then lower the tempo for 10 sec, etc.) I tend to stay more focused and motivated.

Also if you’re doing pad work with a training partner, its works out way better then trying to use a stop watch. I say this is a must have if you enjoy training on your own.

If you think lugging around a timer is so last year… and you would rather use your mp3 player as a timer, Martial Concepts has some downloadable round timers.

Adidas Bag Gloves

What are so special about these gloves? Nothing I bet, they just look really bad ass. It’s no secret I’m a bit of a gear whore. I’ve never used them and can’t really vouch for the quality per se… but you’ll be pimping hard core.

Raja Shin Guard

If you’re tired of banging knees while sparring (Chris) look no further. I’ve used similar shin guards while training at Ingram. These shin guards are cut slightly longer and offer a little more protection. You can order them through our partner’s site.

Gear

Antarai Lions

If you haven’t bought one of our shirts yet then your just lame. Do you think I need to work on my sales pitch? We rolled out these new shirts a couple of months ago. This one is my personal favorite; we’ve also got them in Black and Blue. This time around we even made some for the ladies… This particular shirt is “The Antarai Lion” the design incorporates Indo Asian Lions into the design. The pictures too small but the shirt says “Muay Thai Culture”.

Custom Muay Thai Shorts

Our other partner has gone all high tech on us and has built a fairly intuitive Short customization interface. You can choose between Muay Thai, Boxing and K-1 style shorts. You can click and customize to your hearts desire. I’ve made quite a stunning pair… I should quite my jobbie job and design shorts for a living.

Media

Muay Thai Uncovered

This book is really sort of a no brainer for anyone who wants to train in Thailand. The book is close to being complete. I’m sure if you go to their site and send them an email they’ll let you reserve a copy. As I previously posted this book is going to be a travel book dedicated to cataloging and indexing most of the Muay Thai camps in Thailand. The authors are taking particular pains to show you how to get to the camps, with instructions written in Thai (cab drivers) and maps.

Fight or Flight

I haven’t had the opportunity to watch this yet, but it’s getting pretty good reviews on the forums.

“Synopsis: Director Peter McCarthy is the victim of a merciless attack. Fight or Flight is the real life story of one Irishman’s journey that takes audiences from the streets of Dublin to the underbelly of ring fighting scenes in Thailand. He escapes to Thailand to deal with a tumult of emotions; anger, fear and revenge.Whilst Peter’s initial encounters in the boxing ring bring him a sense of euphoric release, his experiences lead him to question even more the upsurge of violence in modern society. Peter begins to explore sport within Thai culture - from a brutal cock fight to a typical ring fighting event in which one of the more bizarre draw cards include two mentally handicapped men.

Told with great dramatic effect and filmed with truckloads of cinematic style, Peter’s journey into the East takes him to the edge of his own reality.”

A Fighters Heart

A just got this book as a going away gift from my friend Vanessa (Thank You!). It’s written by Sam Sheridan, you might remember him from the documentary “Muay Thai: A Fighting Chance”. I haven’t read it yet as I’m saving it for my flight to London.

“In 1999, after a series of wildly adventurous jobs around the world, Sam Sheridan found himself in Australia, loaded with cash and intent on not working until he’d spent it all. It occurred to him that, without distractions, he could finally indulge a long-dormant obsession: fighting. Within a year, he was in Bangkok training with the greatest fighter in muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) history and stepping through the ropes for a professional bout. That one fight wasn’t enough. Sheridan set out to test himself on an epic journey into how and why we fight, facing Olympic boxers, Brazilian jiu-jitsu stars, and Ultimate Fighting champions. Along the way, Sheridan delivers an insightful look at violence as a career and a spectator sport, a behind-the-pageantry glimpse of athletes at the top of their terrifying game. An extraordinary combination of gonzo journalism and participatory sports writing, A Fighter’s Heart is a dizzying first-hand account of what it’s like to reach the peak of finely disciplined personal aggression, to hit-and be hit.”