Two Ladies in the Kingdom - Women and Muay Thai

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-11-Two_Ladies_in_the_Kingdom-Aug_2017.mp3

above, listen to our podcast

subscribe to us on itunes!

 

 above, full podcast on YouTube

Emma and I haven’t podcasted in a while, so there’s quite a bit to catch up on before we launch into some updates about recent female Muay Thai events. Some of the things we cover:

* After a year of searching, Emma has finally landed at a wonderful gym that she feels at home with (Attachai Muaythai Gym in Bangkok), and is back to fighting. She is about to have her second fight for the gym at the start of September.

* Emma also took a trip home to England for a few weeks, which I ask her about because I’ve never gone home and I imagine it’s quite an experience that changes over time (she’s been in Thailand over 6 years). This year Emma has found herself missing home a bit more, but we also talk about how who you surround yourself with shapes how you think or what you (think you) desire at any given time.

* We chat a bit about what makes a good gym for us, what we look for in training and how you find “home” in a gym. It’s a feeling, hard to describe, and I absolutely have it with Petchrungruang but I give some insight into the dissatisfaction and difficulties that might be included in a place you love and are happy with – same as a relationship. I do make my experience sound a little harsh in this segment, which isn’t intentional. I’m being honest about my struggles, including a recent incident with health issues at the gym due to a visiting group of westerners, so it is worth pointing out that I’m not encompassing all  of my feeling and experiences with the gym in the moment of launching this complaint. It’s a somewhat isolated incident with the health issues and non-isolated but absolutely worthwhile issues with the training difficulties.

* Emma is back to fighting and I’ve started fighting Kard Chuek (no gloves, just ropes), which I love.

* I’ve been sick for a few weeks due to progressive immune problems: cold – shingles – Staph, all of which are due to a group of westerners in the gym not knowing how to keep their own ailments in check. It’s not entirely their fault, they likely didn’t recognize what their infections were and came to training to make the most out of their time in Thailand, but it has resulted in a few of the kids from my gym having to be out from the gym to recover and I’ve had to take time away from training, cancelled a fight, and have been on a string of medications to recover. Not fun.

* I’m also taking part in a 12-week mental training group with Sports Motivation Podcast host and mental coach Niyi Sobo. (I was interviewed by him for his episode #177, which was awesome.) The program is intense and the work load is a lot, assuming you really dedicate yourself to learning and applying the skills he’s teaching. It’s caused me a great deal of stress – because I’m changing my life here – which was part of what led to my shingles, I think, but I’m super grateful and excited to be part of this group and think that the intensity of difficulty implies the amplitude of change.

* There were some big-name female fighters on a recent fight card for Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday (August 12th, the card was on the 11th) in Bangkok,

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/episode-10-E10_2ITK_Podcast_-_Emma_and_Sylvie_Updating_Female_Muay_Thai-compressed.mp3

subscribe on iTunes

There’s actually been quite a lot going on in Female Muay Thai, which Emma and I get to go over. We cover quite a lot and we’ve tried to be conscious of giving a bit of reference to names we mention, and I’m pretty excited by how much we were able to cover in this podcast. As a bit of a footnote, we do sound a bit disparaging when discussing the shit-show that is disorganized shows, bad matchups, poor media coverage and the meaninglessness of a lot of “world title belts” for women due to disorganization. It’s important to lay plain that Emma and I are female Muay Thai enthusiasts, as well as fighters and fans. Our frustration comes from a place of this not being good enough. Promoters and sanctioning bodies have to do better. Fighters deserve more.

above, the YouTube video of our Skype conversation, if you’d rather watch us talk instead of downloading our voices.

Just a quick list of what’s covered in this episode:

Thai Fight has just held a show in Samui, Thailand, in which 4 female fighters were on the card. Thai Fight has never had women on their card before and have, indeed, stated that they wouldn’t have women. So, while neither of us see this as a game-changer or incredible event for women in general, it is very meaningful for the women who were there to fight and hopefully it means the promotion is intending to be more inclusive. Unfortunately, the promotion did not mention the female bouts at all, either on their social media or on their posters or when announcing results. So… that sucks. The four women are: Phetnapa Kiatkitipan (TH) vs Juliana Rosa (BRA) at 58 kg; and Mongkonkaw Polamai-Plakad Gym (TH) vs. Joanna Walorska (POL) at 67 kg. Both Thai women won.

World Muay Thai Angels – season 2. Angels is the biggest all-female promotion in Thailand and season one’s winner was Chommanee Taehiran, who walked away with a million baht and a car. That’s huge for a female fighter. That’s huge for a male fighter. We weren’t impressed with the first round of the tournament, mostly due to terrible matchups and some issues with how the whole thing and the fighters are presented and promoted. We talk about why.

IFMA – Thailand will be sending 3 women to the international pro-am competition in Belarus, starting May 5th. Sawsing (who we both love) is at 57 kg, Loma (my nemesis and best female at 48 and below in the world) is fighting at her walkaround weight of 48 kg this time (usually she’s 45 kg), and Lommanee was replaced by Nongpeng, who has a crazy record at 51 kg.

WMC/WPMF – Phetjee Jaa O. Meekhun, the favorite young fighter of many and for good reason, has recently acquired two world title belts at 100 lbs and 105 lbs. Unfortunately, female world titles are disorganized and, put plainly, full of shit. We talk about why.

Saya Ito – we talk about the Japanese “Muay Thai Genius”, who became 100 lbs WPMF world champ, ran into some political nonsense, has been recovering from an injurty, and in a Japanese promo spot talked about coming to train with me after I beat her at Queen’s Cup in 2014. Pretty awesome, all of it.

What’s up with us? Emma has finally found a gym that feels like “home” at Attachai Muay Thai Gym in Bangkok. It’s amazing for many reasons. I have a broken nose and am working on training ...

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-9-2ITK_-_e09_-_Two_Ladies_in_the_Kingdom.mp3

Hey Everyone, welcome to episode 9 of Two Ladies in the Kingdom. Emma and I have added a different format in which we do solo-podcasts as well as the conversational type, so we hope you’ve enjoyed those last solo casts. Here we get back together to catch up a bit with each other and what’s going on in female Muay Thai in Thailand. Our podcast is sponsored by Lobloo, which produces the only functional and comfortable female groin guard on the market, so check out their website and use our discount code for 10% off: SAVE2ITK

YouTube of our podcast via Skype below. Emma in Bangkok, me in Pattaya:

 

The Rundown

Finding a Gym in Bangkok

There’s a lot for Emma and I to cover since we last saw each other. We chat all the time on private messages but actually seeing each other and talking in real time allows us to cover a lot more. While Emma still looks for a gym where she can properly train on a regular basis, she’s been supplementing with half-marathons and Cross-Fit classes. She recently ran a half-marathon that commenced at sunrise, showered and napped before heading off to work, then had a nice weekend of training in the morning at Eminent Air, followed by yet another Cross-Fit session… and likely more work.

We talk a bit about why it’s hard to find a gym in Bangkok when you already live and work there – having to organize around an existing living situation and work schedule – versus moving to the city and orienting yourself around an already chosen gym. Due to her work, Emma can only train in the mornings, which is a lower-key session in most gyms. Lately she’s had some positive experiences at the newly opened Chawan Club Muay Thai near her apartment, and Eminent Air gym, which has been around for a long time.

Promoting Women in Muay Thai

There have been some big female fight cards recently and, in Thailand, the majority of female fight cards are organized by the same group of promoters – in different combinations. The biggest promoters and shows for female fighters are gaining momentum and the purses (fight earnings) and exposure through televised and all-female cards. That’s all great. On the other hand, the ways in which these cards and the female fighters on them are promoted can be pretty frustrating, as they focus a great deal on the fighters’ looks and the sponsored uniforms can be quite… small. We ruminate on how some of the fighters on these cards deserve far more exposure and credit than they get, as well as the “just have to laugh at it” tendency of marrying the strong Thai tradition of beauty pageants with the strong Thai tradition of Muay Thai. I recently fought in a full face of makeup, which I had to arrive 3 hours in advance to receive, so we had a good laugh about that.

Emma references a photo of a young boy in full makeup. I ask whether it was kathoey or lee-kay style, the difference between those two being that the former is a transgender depiction, where as the latter is very similar in how it looks but is a stage makeup for traditional “operas” of sort, in which the male characters were tons of powder, lipstick, eyeliner and blush. These men in lee-kay productions can have massive sex appeal and female fan following – like boy bands. I reckon from looking at the photo (bottom right) it’s lee-kay style, although the boy is so young it’s hard to know which angle he’s referencing; he didn’t do it himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-8-2ITK_-_Emma_Thomas_Solo_Podcast_-_Sexual_Assault_in_Thailand.mp3

This is Episode 8 of “Two Ladies in the Kingdom,” the podcast Emma and I usually do together.  We’re trying something a little different by also adding “solo casts” – episode 7 is just me solocasting livestream in the car back from Chiang Mai, fielding questions from readers – and this is Emma’s first in our new endeavor. We will still be podcasting together, but we’re looking into adding new things. This should allow us to podcast more frequently as well.

>>Read Emma’s Own Article on this Podcast: Sexual Assault In a Muay Thai Gym

When women from outside of the Southeast Asian culture come here to train in the gyms of Thailand, there are aspects of social and political culture which do need to be considered. This isn’t meant to scare anybody, this is a fact of traveling anywhere in the world; however, dissimilarities in culture can seem very small but have very large complications. For women who travel alone, knowing even a little bit about these dissimilarities and complications can help in navigating them a great deal – but keep in mind that there’s no fail-safe and there’s no fault. One of the great difficulties is the assumption that men will behave according to their own cultural limitations and manners, that what you witness is “normal” or “acceptable” behavior according to the local culture. Very often that’s true, but often it’s not – as you are an outsider and foreigner, men can feel more at liberty to behave outside of their cultural expectations because you aren’t part of the fabric of local culture that will hold him to those codes. Adding to this confusion, some of these behaviors which are transgressive to the local culture are actually quite common and familiar to western culture, so they may not be seen as red flags. Again, being aware of these things isn’t fail-safe and falling into a miscommunication isn’t your fault. But more awareness is always better.

This episode touches on some broader topics on the cultural attitudes about sexual assault in Thailand, which Emma has covered in her blog and Under the Ropes page. Some of those larger scope issues have helped Emma to recognize and dissect aspects of her own experience, which she discusses in this podcast. But mostly this episode is about Emma’s personal experience with sexual assault, something that she’s hesitated to talk about publicly for years since the events took place. Emma and I talk a lot about these things, woman to woman and as friends, but I’ve actually never heard the details until listening to this podcast, which was recorded when she could be alone in her apartment – sitting in solitude to speak into the world is no easy thing. And it wasn’t easy for me to listen to, honestly. Not because I worry for Emma and quite frankly she’s one of the most composed and “can watch out for my damn self” individuals I know, but rather because rape and sexual assault are horrid experiences that are horrid to listen to because they’re real. Because they happen to a large number of us, including those of us who are informed and cautious and can watch out for ourselves, and when it happens to us we don’t talk about it. Emma does an incredible job of exploring why we don’t talk...

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-7-Two_Ladies_in_the_Kingdom_on_the_Road_-_Sylvie_Solo.mp3

It’s been a few months, but we are back! For loyal “Two Ladies in the Kingdom” podcast listeners, Emma and I are expanding our format. Previously our podcasts were with Emma Thomas and myself Skyping together to discuss the latest in what’s happening with ourselves, and what’s happening in Female Muay Thai in Thailand. We are still going to be doing this kind of cast together, but we are also adding solo podcasts too; so you can get to know each of us better. This is my first solo cast, and it happens to have been a Facebook Live Stream from the road. Emma will be uploading her own cast soon as well! We are just experimenting with this, but it will allow us to cover a wider range of topics, or to get into more detail in the things that interest us. I’m excited to see what Emma will talk about, as we lead very different lives here in Thailand and Emma can cover more of her experience as a full time teacher and an ex-pat in Bangkok.

Subscribe to our 2ITK podcasts on iTunes

Because mine was a Live Stream there is a YouTube copy of the video, above.

Things covered in my solocast:

Podcast notes

Getting caught up with me.

* 4 fights in 2 weeks.

* Happy with my performance, beat the WPMF World Champion two weight classes above me (WPMF 108 lb), a belt she’s held for more or less 4 years.

* My history with Thanonchanok, my 3rd fight against her.

* Corrected my mistakes against Thanonchanok from our 2nd fight.

* In this fight why I didn’t clinch in the 1st two rounds against Thanonchanok.

* I’m working on being more relaxed under pressure.

* The Thanonchanok fight was a “proof of progress” fight.

* I also fought and beat a 54 kg opponent, who I had beat the week before. This meant that I was forced to make adjustments, because they adjusted me.

Staying out of the range of danger (middle range) when coming coming into clinch against crisp strikers.

The young phenom Phetlilaa Pettonpung, how I go to their gym to train with them and help her in clinch. What it’s like to have a relationship with the gym you face.

Mental training, and my brother who is a Sports Psychologist – overcoming the sense of ring rust and a switch of opponents, fighting with lasting injuries.

How have you learned to deal with pain in all your fights and training?

Traveling to have my mongkol be reblessed by Arjan Bangkating. Talking about my custom made mongkol, made from my mother’s shirt.

Working on Tiger Energy.

Smiling in the ring, part of a new fight energy for me.

Talking about Namkabuan, and my private session with him for my patreon supporters, the most complete fighters I’ve seen.

The hop-in and the low-kick counters I’ve faced, an issue with my back foot.

Recommendations for female fighters to watch for inspiration. Chommannee, Loma, Iman Barlow,

if viewing in email click through to the post to listen to the podcast

subscribe to our podcast on on itunes

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/episode-6-2ITK_-_ep6_-_Why_It_is_Difficult_to_Fight_Female_Thai_Fighters-comprressed.mp3

Things We Covered In our Podcast

Emma is still looking for a gym and that’s awarded her the opportunity to try out a few different places, most recently the Yokkao gym in Bangkok. She really enjoyed her pads with Manop, the padman of Saenchai for a million years, but the price tag of the gym is limiting and rules out any kind of regular training for her there. But she talks a bit about what was good for her about the gym and the training. With some of her free time she’s been able to visit some attractions that, coincidentally, are near my neck of the woods. She talks shit about a water park (hilarious) and we both talk a bit about a strange “Hell” theme park that depicts the various punishments for sins in the Buddhist version of Hell. She has photos on her Under the Ropes page and will write a blog post; they’re pretty creepy.

I’m happy to report that I’ve gotten myself into a sponsorship for my gym, not in the traditional sense of being a sponsored fighter but it pays for my training and that makes me happy. Pi Nu’s uncle owns a residence and I’m helping with the website for Royal Thai Residence and also for Petchrungruang Gym; in lieu of monetary compensation for that work, Pi Nu’s uncle is sponsoring my training. I love it. Also, I’m preparing for a big fight in Bangkok on the Queen’s Birthday, which is “Mother’s Day” in Thailand, August 12th. My opponent is Loma Lookboonmee, who is the best in the world at my weight and she’s just… incredible.

We talk a bit about preparing for that fight, as well as Loma’s recent fight against Kim Townsend in Australia and a bit of a profile of why I love Loma’s style… and what makes her so goddamn hard to fight. Her ring IQ is amazing. And we talk about all the fights that are going on leading up to the Queen’s Birthday, which is the biggest day of the year for female Muay Thai. On the 30th was a huge fight card, all-female, which was partially televised and pretty much all the fighters we know are fighting either on the 30th or later on the 12th.

The downloadable podcast is above, here is the full podcast in YouTube video:

That fight card on the 30th had an all-star line up, including Loma’s girlfriend Chommanee (who fought Farida Okiko); Lommanee vs. Fani; Phetjee Jaa fighting an opponent I’m not familiar with for a 100 lbs WMC title (she won, of course); Phetdapee defended her WMC title against Miriam Sabot; Marcela Soto, who we’ve talked about in previous episodes, faced a former opponent of mine Rungnapa… lots of exciting fights, which Emma got to see live and I’m hoping will go up on Youtube and I’ll add them here as I can.

I present some anecdotal evidence of what a nightmare match-ups in Thailand can be, even though this is the best place in the world for fighting. Women in the west are very familiar with a shortage of opponents and having matched fights be cancelled by someone pulling out last-minute – it happens here,

The video above is the full podcast on YouTube

Emma is from England, living and working in Bangkok for the past 5+ years; she’s a teacher, blogger at Under the Ropes, and a fighter who is currently looking for a new home gym.

Sylvie (me) is from the US, living and training in Pattaya for the past 2 years (in Chiang Mai for 2 years prior to that); I’m a fighter, blogger and content creator at 8limbs.us, as well as a content creator for the Private Session for Nak Muay Nation.

Our monthly podcast covering the female Muay Thai scene in Thailand is sponsored by Lobloo, a Swedish company that has designed the only practical, effective and comfortable female groin-guard that either of us have ever found (and we’ve seen some seriously bizarre stuff, designed by someone who has zero understanding of female anatomy). They also have male cups, if that’s your business. For our listeners Lobloo offers a 10% discount on any of their guards when ordered through Amazon.uk and Amazon.us (they ship anywhere in the world) with the discount code: save2itk

See Lobloo on Amazon here

 

Listen To or Download Our Podcast Here:

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/episode-5-2ITK_ep05_-_Aggression-compressed.mp3

 

Subscribe to Our Podcast on iTunes here

Listen to and Read About All our Episodes Here

 

The Catch Up

We start out by catching up a bit, Emma’s been on her annual vacation, which she decided to spend in Thailand this year rather than going home (as she usually does). She dropped down to Pattaya to train with me one of those days (and watch her partner Tu have a fantastic fight at Max) and then they headed off to Koh Chang for some island bungalow relaxation. I’m working on a guard that I learned from a former trainer of mine when I visited Lanna last month for a fight, survived a car accident without more than a tiny scratch, and am heading back up to the north for a slew of fights just as Emma is heading back to work.

I’ve recently updated my personal ranking of female fighters 48 kg and under, so we talk a bit about that and why it’s hard to rank female fighters, including by those institutions who sanction the titles that are intended to honor such rankings.  You can hear more about that on the podcast, but two of the fighters on my list are discussed as fighter who Emma and I really like following and, in my case, I kind of fan-girl out about Thanonchanok R.R. Gilalampang (above), even though I aim to fight her again, and Emma has been excited by Marcela Soto’s frequent fighting. As both those fighters are on the list and you can hear more about what we’re keen on in the podcast.

Our Theme This Month: Training Aggression

The theme of this podcast is Aggression, as it’s been a discussed topic recently since our last podcast. Emma and I are moderators on the Muay Thai Roundtable Forum and the issue of struggling with aggression in training (mostly sparring) and fighting has come up a...

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-4-2ITK_e04_-_Overtraining.mp3

You can download or listen to our 4th episode above, watch it on Youtube below, or subscribe to the Two Ladies in the Kingdom podcast on iTunes. – if in email, click through to the post.

See All My Podcast posts: Two Ladies in the Kingdom

Emma is a 51 kg female fighter from the UK, living in Thailand for 5+ years. She also teaches English full time. She authors the undertheropes.com blog.

I’m a 46 kg fighter out of the United States, living in Thailand for 4+ years. training and fighting full time.

Our Podcasts are Broken Down in Segments:

What’s Happening With Us – both Emma and I are active female fighters in Thailand and we talk about what’s recently the case

Female Fighter Spotlights – we present a little background on two top names in female Muay Thai, one western fighter, one Thai

Theme of the Podcast – this is where we take on a topic of the month

Other Things in Our Lives – Emma and I are good friends, and we talk all the time about things other than Muay Thai. In this segment we share other podcasts or interests which may be of interest.

We’re doing something a little different this time around in the podcast. In previous episodes we’ve attempted to cover fight events that have been going on in Thailand, but quite often we’re listing names and results of women that people aren’t familiar with – and additionally this past month has been pretty quiet on the female Muay Thai front. But three Thai women are included in the Thai National Team for the IFMA World Championships in Sweden, Sawsing Sor Sopit (57 kg), Lommanee Sitchayanee (48 kg), and Loma Lookboonmee (45 kg). At the time of the podcast not a lot of results were in, but of the three only Loma medaled, taking Silver.

Emma and I, instead spending so much time on the fights individually we’ve decided to try out highlighting fighters as kind of a profile of sorts. So we selected Sawsing Sor Sopit of Thailand and Dakota Ditcheva of the UK, who was also fighting at the IFMA’s, in the Junior division and several weight classes above her own because there was nobody registered at 51-54 kg, so she actually took Gold at the 57 kg division. Dakota is 17 years old and the daughter of renowned former champion Lisa Howarth, and Dakota is undefeated as a professional fighter. We try to contrast and compare between these two fighters a little to illustrate differences between Thai and western fighting arcs:

Judging Youth – Young Great Male and Female Fighters

Sawsing has been fighting since she was 9 years old, is now 20, and just has just launched her “comeback” to fighting after getting married and giving birth to her first child, a son named Winner. At 20 years old, she’s already at the end of her fight arc by Thai standards, especially for women, but she’s one of the most famous and well-regarded female fighters in Thailand during her career – I had the incredible opportunity to clinch with her – video here. Dakota is on the rise, having trained in Muay Thai and kickboxing for most of her life and just now ge...

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/episode-3-Two_Ladies_in_the_Kingdom_Podcast_-_episode_3_-_Thai_Food_Rape_Culture_Awareness_and_Fights-compressed.mp3

You can download the podcast above, or subscribe to Two Ladies in the Kingdom on itunes.

Our podcast is sponsored by Lobloo, the makers of the best female groin protection on the market. Save 10% on any Lobloo protector, male or female, with our very own podcast promo code on Amazon: SAVE2ITK

Topics: The Latest Female Fights in Thailand, Food in Thailand, Rape Culture Awareness

Emma and I had a lot to cover in this podcast, catching up from our last session, which was a little more than a month ago. A lot of fights, a lot of fighters to talk about, what’s going on with us and our topic for today: eating in Thailand. When we left off last time we were both preparing to fight that same night. We fought on opposite sides of the Gulf of Thailand. And then there was all this catching up to do! We talk a bit about our fights and what we’ve been up to. I had some great fights and got cut, which kept me out of the ring for about 30 days, then I had a fighting spree and was brought over to Singapore to visit my 8limbs.us sponsors, Onyx MMA.

We talk about a number of fighters and some huge events that are a little bit out of order, but here’s the Cliff’s Notes: On the 1st Emma fought Krataitong Por. Promin, who I’ve also fought. And I faced Faa Chiangrai Sor. Sakuntong, then fought her again and won her 105 lbs Muay Siam Northern Title, for which was subsequently declared ineligible in a somewhat dubious fashion – I still consider myself the de facto holder of the title as I won it outright. Fani Peloumpi  is a Greek fighter out of Sasiprapa Gym and fought at the Wai Nai Khanomtom Day in Ayutthaya and did great, then fought three days later at the second official “One Round Knockout,” where she first fought Marcela Soto (Costa Rica, fighting out of Sutai on Phuket), and then going on to win the final against Thailand’s Zaza Sor Aree, a former WPMF champion. Also on that card were Janice Lyn (Canada out of Kaewsamrit in Bangkok) against Namtan Por. Muangpet for a 126 lbs WPMF title. It was their 3rd fight in 7 months and a rubbermatch, ending with Namtan taking the title (you can watch that video). Ashley Nichols (Canada out of Kaewsamrit) defeated Kwanjai Sor. Tawanrung for a 122 lbs WPMF Title. And I fought Duangdaonoi Looklongtan, who was WMPF World Champion at 105 lbs last year. On the first day of Songkran was a big event in Bangk...

Videocast Above, Podcast Below

http://8limbs.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/episode-2-Two_Ladies_in_the_Kingdom_-_Podcast_2_-_audio.mp3

Here is our 2nd episode of the Two Ladies in the Kingdom podcast. We had our first episode on the subject of “gym hopping” last month and today our theme is what to do if you get stuck with a trainer you don’t work well with at a Thai gym. You can listen or download the podcast above, watch the video of it at top, or download/subscribe two our podcast on itunes. Our podcast covers the female Muay Thai scene in Thailand, a little about what’s happening with us in training and fighting, and a topic of the month.

Thank you to our Podcast’s First Sponsor Lobloo Groin Protection, Lobloo is helping us cover the costs of hosting and producing the 2ITK podcast and we are very grateful for the support. You can read my review of their female groin protector here. Listeners can use this promo code SAVE2ITK for a 10% discount on any Lobloo Amazon product.

What’s in Podcast Number 2?

We’re still trying to find our footing, as podcasting is new to both of us, but I think we did a better job of putting names and events into context this time around. And, we’re still learning, so any suggestions are welcome; additionally, suggested themes, topics and questions are appreciated as well.

It happens that Emma and I were both fighting in a few hours after the recording, at different events and in different areas of Thailand, so we talk a bit about that. She’ll be facing a good opponent in Krataitong Por. Promin at an annual Muay Thai event held at a university south of Bangkok (this is Emma’s third year fighting at this event), and I’m rematching Faa Chiang Rai Sor. Sakunthong for our fifth match together, here in Pattaya and then in three days I’ll be facing her again for a Northern Title Belt up in her hometown of Chiang Rai, about 13 hours drive to the North. Weird, eh? Not sure why she at the last minute decided to challenge me here at home a few days before our title match, but I’m rolling with it. The morning after the fight I’ll be getting in the car for the long drive North.

Next we go over some of what’s been going on in female Muay Thai here in Thailand:

Jasmine Whybird (AUS) faced Saifaa T. Teerasawad (TH) at an IFMA event for Muaythai Day on February 6th, 2016. Jasmine took home the UN Trophy in the campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls. In the podcast I totally forgot that I’d seen highlights from this fight (it’s been a busy month, my mind is gone), which I posted to my page and you can see in this highlight reel of WMC Muaythai Day

We also mention the Santai Festival up in the north of Thailand in San Kamphaeng, as well as Santai’s Canadian fighter Sophia “Cocopuff” Torkos fighting 3 times in 6 days. Unfortunately, they don’t give any information about who she fought in that middle fight, but here’s a photo of her victory and you can see the female referee we mention later, Harneen Ibraheem,