Training with a bad shoulder

Tell the kru on day one: ไหล่ขวาเคยบาดเจ็บ, and touch the shoulder. Thai trainers adapt sessions all the time, and would rather plan around a shoulder than lose you for a week. In an orthodox stance the right shoulder throws the rear cross, so heavy right hands on the bag are the first thing to dial down; expect fewer push-ups, a looser grip in the clinch, and more kicks, teeps, knees and footwork, which is where Muay Thai lives anyway. Warm the shoulder up properly before pads, and learn the difference that matters in Thai: เมื่อย is the ache of hard work, เจ็บ is sharp pain that means stop. Pride is the real risk at a new camp, so say เจ็บไหล่ขวา the moment it is sharp. Ice afterwards, have the shoulder checked by a doctor or physio before a long stay, and tell any massage therapist ระวังไหล่ขวาหน่อย.