Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 35

HEALTH & well-being now serving as General Secretary of the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur and the VicePresident of the World Muaythai Council. I looked around the room at posters on the wall, noticing mainly depictions of male fighters. I knew that Stephan was involved with many charity projects and social campaigns, including collaboration with UN Women to end violence against women. I asked, “Are there many female fighters?” His answer surprised me. Female Muay Thai has been part of the world championship program since 1999. He estimated a current 40:60 ratio between female and male Muay Thai boxers. Stunned, I asked more about female fighters. Stephan’s personal mission is not only to elevate Muay Thai to a fully recognized Olympic sport but also to ensure it is balanced in terms of gender. He explained that Muay Thai is gaining traction with women as a competitive sport: “Female boxers are common in liberalized countries such as Sweden, Finland, Australia, and Canada; and they are now starting to gain momentum in Asian countries such as Thailand and China.” Most impressively, Stephan said he has recently worked with the government of Iran to set up the first female team of Muay Thai boxers in the Middle Eastern nation. “What about Muay Thai as a form of fitness for women?” I prompted. Stephan believes Muay Thai is the ideal choice for women because it is so efficient—just one hour of training can burn over 1,400 calories! Considering the packed schedules of modern women, this makes it a highly attractive option. Thoroughly intrigued by the sport, I told Stephan I wanted to try it myself. As we parted ways, I agreed to meet up for a workout in two days. ed us with jump ropes. The next time you see boxers skipping rope, making it look so easy, trust me—it’s not. The jump rope turned out to be the most challenging part of the entire workout! The rest of the routine involved pushups, sit-ups, throwing air punches, kicking punching bags, and working on a basic stance. Once we were warmed up, we climbed into the ring and took turns sparing with Stephan. He was entertaining and funny, and he pushed each girl to her limit. There was not a single dull moment. Afterwards, I was tired and bruises were forming on my shins, but I knew I had a great workout. I could see why pe ople might get hooked on Muay Thai. It’s a workout that really packs a punch. After the class, I chatted with Stephan and asked a few more questions. He told me that Muay Thai really is for everybody. He glanced at my notes and said, “Write that as two words. Every. Body.” He meant that it is for every type of body— men and women; young and old. Now that I’d experienced it for myself, I understood what he meant. It seemed like a sport you could pick up at any age. While it certainly helps to be in good shape to begin with, Muay Thai training would get you up to speed quickly due to its intensity and thoroughness. Gender was a non-issue. MUAY THAI LIVE By this point, I had a much better understanding of Muay Thai in terms of sport and fitness. The cultural part was a missing piece of the puzzle, though. For a crash course in Muay Thai history—and for a fun night out—Stephan suggested seeing a Muay Thai Live show at Asiatique. A few weeks later, I went for a date with my husband and we did just that. Muay Thai Live was not simply a fight; it was an entire production. Best described as a play involving choreographed fights, the performance takes the audience through the history of Muay Thai, from ancient times to modern day. The show clarified how Muay Thai has helped Thai people defend their country through the centuries. During times of peace, Muay Thai training continued in part for fitness and for heritage. More than a way to fight, more than a form of fitness, Muay Thai is a tradition. Intrigued? Go and see the show; try a session of Muay Thai training; and you’ll come to have a much better understanding of what Muay Thai means to Thailand. You might even decide to get involved yourself! Muay Thai Live website: www.muaythailive.net Elite Fight Club website: www.elitefightclub.com WORKING OUT A couple days later, I went with a friend to the boxing ring at the Elite Fight Club for a session with Stephan. We linked up with a group of girls, and Stephan start- www.wanderlustmag.comWANDERLUST  33