I study Shaolin-Do.

Well thank you. I would be happy to talk to you :)

I'm Joshua, feel free to message me if you want to chat :)

A typical week?
"Work monday until evening, then piano, tuesday work until evening, then muay thai..."
You seem like you have so much going on that I do not understand how you manage it all.

I see. You have a lot going on, with the instruments and your work, as well. What does the schedual look like, I wonder? ^^'

Yes, that all sounds reasonable. Much of it however I think are benefits that you'd get from a long experience in training, almost no matter what kind of training.
From what I know of Russians you take training very seriously, so I imagine boxing would suit your mindset well, since it in my experience is easier to train seriously than aikido, simply on account of the fact that you do not need a partner to practice almost anything in boxing, and because it's more physical, in terms of muscular exhaustion.

One thing I am *not* very well informed about are national competative records. How good is Russia on the international muai thai-scene? I know Bulgaria is way up there, and from what I've gathered, Thailand still earns its name as well.
The Japanese are built for it, but I don't know of any good, Japanese muay thai-fighters, for some reason. I suppose the ones that have an interest in it practice Kyukoshin instead.

Do you aim to compete in muay thai, as well?

I see.
Yes, mapping your opponent is valuable in all forms of boxing, since the system is so limited, but requires so much instinct, which makes it possible to accurately predict an opponent's behaviour, if you've studied them properly.
It's good that you begin to do this early, I would say. :)

Interesting. I have heard the same from some of my friends, who are high-level practitioners of aikido and regularly sparr with students with other backgrounds, that their aikido has helped them.

I myself have rarely had, or been able to make, much use of the aiki-principles in that sort of sparring, even though it is very useful in no-rules fighting and in the close-combat sparring system of our school, so I wonder:

*How* do you feel that aikido helps you with muay thai? :)

Mhm. Aikido-practitioners are often the most fun to talk to, for three reasons:

I. They have a significant amount of technical knowledge, since the art they practice has a high focus on technicality and biomechanical theory.
II. Since they often are criticised by others to practice a useless art, they are as often well researched on violence from a more wholistic perspective, to be able to argue for what they practice.
III. For the same reason as above, they have often some experience with other arts.

1 kyu in Aikikai aikido... I'm guessing you've practiced for around 4-5 years?
Might I ask why you choose to practice aikido as your main art?

Haha, "I am not imposing", as in "I'd prefer you didn't strike up a conversation"? ^^
Very well, I thank you for your input, and wish you a nice day, as well. :D

Hello from Oslo! :)