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-
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