Defining Happy

Anyone that knows me is completely aware that boxing is my favorite sport. I’m not one of those chicks that goes over peoples house to watch the fight and drinks and socializes instead of watching. I’m the girl sitting ring side at the fight or purchasing the fight..inviting noone over and not answering my phone until the main event is finished. I’ve trained in western boxing for about 4 years on and off and I get this high when I train that I haven’t experienced with any other sport or exercise regime. Segwaying on to Muay Thai (Thai Boxing). Since I absolutely loved Thailand after my first visit to Koh Samui I was curious about training in the sport they’re most known for.  I found a gym close by in Dallas and trained for one month with a Thai trainer and a class full of wanna-be bad asses who had never set foot in a real ring. Between the ratio of student to trainer being way too high and the fact that I sucked I decided to quit bow out gracefully. 

My experience with all male boxing gyms is that when a female walks in they don’t really know what to do with you. You usually get the flirting and the “go punch the bag in the corner 100 times” which pisses me off 😐  One thing about me is that I’m extra focused in the gym. I don’t come to play or joke around, I try my best, and I work hard. Once the trainers and patrons understand that then you usually get some respect.

Since Thailand was the first stop on my journey I decided to give it another shot. First, I wanted to make sure I found a gym that could give me the attention I needed as a beginner.  I thought I had found that in the gym I chose but ummm…………

My first day of Muay Thai training started on Wednesday afternoon. I went through the same nonsense listed above. I was even put in a ring with an 8 year old to spar. I had already seen this cat training in the corner and wanted no parts of a fight with this little preschooler. One kick to my inner thigh with his ridiculously strong shin and I was done. “I’m a beginner!” I yelled.  “Can I get some fundamentals man?”

I’m assuming I’m some what of a side show there.  Brown girl with poofy hair.  A couple of the trainers have taken their time with me but the majority resort to flirting inappropriately, touching my hair, or pointing…talking in Thai..and laughing in unison.  Which brings me to today (Friday)…I’m going through normal drills.  Told to go punch the bag while other people do mit drills. etc.  Then I get in the ring to do mit drills with a trainer I hadn’t seen before.  He’s asking the same questions.  “How old you?” and “You have boyfriend?”  This would be me –> 😐  So this cat proceeds to “teach” me some things.  And instead of demonstrating lightly..he’s going hardcore with his foot in my stomach and pads to my dome.  Fast forward to the “sparring” where I’m hitting him lightly to make sure I understood correct form. And this dude is hitting me back like we’re in the MGM grand with 10 million people watching on HBO and he needs to win so he can feed his 6 kids.  A shin to my rib, two mits in my eye, and pointing and laughing by the other trainers and I was threw.  In between that I had asked for the cat to take it easy.  Apparently “take it easy” in English translated to “Please beat me like I stole your brand new bike…please!” in Thai.  Now back at home my instinct would be to beat the hell out of this dude.  But in Thailand where cats start training inside the uteris I used my brain and got out of the ring instead.  I grabbed my bag and I was done.  I don’t mind a hit in the face and some swollen ribs, however, I refuse to be a punching bag. I don’t need any special treatment because I’m a girl but this is ridiculous.

Ok…that’s enough complaing for one day.  Anything beyond that and I’ll start to get on my own nerves.

So what’s a girl to do? Give up again or stick it out and drop the 30lbs I came here to get rid of?

On one hand I’m thinking that after all I sacraficed to be here I should not do anything or be anywhere that doesn’t make me happy.  I know I won’t be pleased everywhere I go but this gym is not meeting my expectations.  I do require my legs and arms to make it through the next year of this journey not  to mention the rest of my life.  I’ve already found a Plan B gym down the street that offers western boxing.  The trainer is from the states and from my google/youtube research his training style seems pretty dope.  I’ll just pray on it and figure out what to do next.  Lord knows I hate wasting money but I-B-DAMNED if I get way to Thailand and be in a starring role in “What’s Love Got to Do with it” the sequel. 

When there is a goal you’re trying to achieve do you throw in the towel when you’ve reach the first obstacle? Heck no…you try as hard as you can to overcome it all the while knowing that you are getting even closer to victory.

I’m sore as heck…my knee, shin, hand, and eye are swollen but I have got to get in shape!  Lord why hasn’t someone made a pill that helps you shed 40 lbs in 2 days by eating one pizza?

I’m all for a plan B but at the end of the day…Quitting is NOT an option!