I received this communication some time ago and I was moved by the excitement and passion this woman gets from and puts into her Muay Thai. I asked her to write a bit more about how Muay Thai has affected her life and this is her beautiful response. (This writer has asked to remain anonymous and I think she speaks from a place a lot of us can appreciate):
Dear Sylvie, I just wanted to mention I went to the TBA Nationals last year and took second in my division. I came down from 211 lbs to fight at 165 and was so, so grateful for the experience. I have been battling depression through a failing marriage but Muay Thai has helped me so much. Helped me be better person, more compassionate towards myself, less tyrannical towards others, given me an avenue for all that aggressive energy that this western society doesn’t seem to understand (especially from females) or accept. I try to love the women that come to our gym and help them train no matter what, or who they are, or where they come from. The only drama is the stuff I create in my own head that I have yet to learn to let go and let be 🙂 So happy you are carrying on with your experience and grateful to be able to watch 😀 Have a wonderful Day! —
And here is the expansion of her what she’s experiencing, when I asked her to write a little more for a blog post:
Grateful you asked me to write more on this. I have been struggling what to do with this whole experience. My coach recently turned to me and said I should have been on that Glory 16 card but that would mean I would have to turn pro, and well… my mind immediately plugged with questions about this exciting possibility. I can see myself fighting, winning and training, but I don’t see my kids in that future, when would I have time for them? Who provides for medical? How do I get sponsors?
I’m a homeschooling, soon-to-be-single-parent-of-four, with ambition and dreams that can no longer stay locked in my head. Muay Thai so far has been an avenue for much needed physical change and stress relief. I understand the grace that this kill-yourself-to-better-yourself sport has to offer.
I struggle with the closemindedness and ignorance of others in my life who see my attempts at wanting to forge myself something special as no more than a violent hobby. In fact I struggle with everything all the time, and that is part of my experience.
Some of the most redeeming things about what I do is the personal communications I receive from women from around the world, both in private message on Facebook and in email (sylvie@8limbs.us). I’m always glad to hear the stories of women in Muay Thai, and if needed, offer any perspective that I can.
