Muay Thai for girls!

[Sapphire]

Hi,

I'm a girl and I've a few questions that need answering. I'd really appreciate any help!

I've done a bit of Muay Thai before with my brother. Nothing much though, just the basics.

1) I'll be in Bangkok for 2 months during school's summer break (August to September). I wonder if you know any good Muay Thai gym in Bangkok which are girl-friendly? I'm not looking for a proper gym where you train for the whole day though. I want more sort of a 'recreational' gym where I can just pop in for a lesson when I'm free. My goal is for self defense rather than to compete. It doesn't matter if the instructors can't speak English because I can speak Thai!

2) Erm... this will make me sound like the biggest wimp ever but I don't particularly enjoy pain, being hit or having a bloody nose. Is it possible to do Muay Thai without sparring? Will I learn anything then?

Thanks!
Sapphire

[white devil]

Erm... this will make me sound like the biggest wimp ever but I don't particularly enjoy pain, being hit or having a bloody nose. Is it possible to do Muay Thai without sparring? Will I learn anything then?

Sure it's possible,unless you're looking forward to competition, sparring is optional...Of course you will still learn alot about the art,even without sparring.
By the way i don't think any women enjoys what you just mentionned,or anybody for that matter..It's just that when it's concerning women,we don't really ever consider them as wimps...Women need to be treated softly and taken care of.No offense but i've never ever enjoyed watching any women competing in extreme sports or martial arts...I just don't like seeing them getting hurt.Unless they're very very ugly (man that was just so mean,sorry)

[eXcessiveForce]

that is total crap.

we have a woman who earned her instructorship under ajarn Chai in our area as well as inosanto.

Take it easy on her and she will knock your ass out.


that being said, part of MT is teaching you defense so you don't get your nose busted.

I cannot say what training overseas is like though, perhaps someone over there will be able to tell you what to expect from training.

condition and pad work i know are generally used in the US. I even know a few MT places that don't spar at all.

[Dr. Cobra]

....By the way i don't think any women enjoys what you just mentionned,or anybody for that matter..It's just that when it's concerning women,we don't really ever consider them as wimps...Women need to be treated softly and taken care of

careful homes...come to our gym and find out if that's true. Im guessing that our girls will help you understand that's not true, not even close.

Some of our women that do Muay Thai do not sparr, they learn technique and skills through pad work. There's no rule that says you HAVE to spar, but with light, timing sparring you can see how the techniques you practice work a lot better than against a bag.

Personal preferrence. Talk to your instructor back home or in your case your bro, about it, he'll help you out.

[white devil]

how pretty is that..getting in touch with ur masculine side

[white devil]

haha i know some women kick some serious ass...Shannon Lee for example or Leyla Ali, i have alot of other examples as well..i was just giving personal opinion...I don't disrepect women martial artists in any way,i just dont enjoy watching them busting each other's face.i guess i'm just old school

[chalambok]

Sapphire

Try the Banglampoo (spelling?) area in downtown Bangkok. Lots of youth hostels and backpackers, but also a lot of 'drop-in', foreign-friendly gyms. You should easily be able to find one that is affordable, for you, and where you can comfortably train. Expect to pay a little more than a traditional gym, and be careful of the places where they offer you a 'fight' if you sign up for a week or more. Make sure you see other female students and ask them how they like it. Most importantly, have fun. If you have some extra time, take a dragon-boat up the Chao Phraya to Ayuthaya and look up the Buddhai Swan. It is a traditional school that has had only 1 foreign female over the years (Paula Inosanto) so if you want weapon training and 'old style' muay Thai they might be willing to cut you a good deal. An added benefit is they have several female instructors, and have no negative superstitions about women. Their muay Thai is very street oriented, so if you do not want to fight in the ring it may be more to your liking.

[treelizard]

Yeah, like the guy on the street is going to treat you softly and take care of you.

[Sapphire]

Thanks for all your answers (and squabbles)!

Try the Banglampoo (spelling?) area in downtown Bangkok. Lots of youth hostels and backpackers, but also a lot of 'drop-in', foreign-friendly gyms. You should easily be able to find one that is affordable, for you, and where you can comfortably train.

Thanks! I'll definitely check Banglampoo out. (Erm... does your user name mean either a land shark or an attacking shark in Thai by any chance?) Do you know a gym called SMAC Boxing Club www.smacboxingclub.com ? It's on Sukhumwit 55 (Soi Thonglor). I came across their website when I was googling. I think it looks quite good but when I tried to call them, no one picked up the phone even though it was during there 'opening hours'. I also sent them am email which hasn't been replied... It all seems a little dubious.

I'm going a bit off topic here... but anyway, there're loads of martial art clubs I can join at uni e.g. Jitsu, Judo, TKD, karate, sulkido, aikido, kick boxing etc. etc. I'm really interested in 3 of them, Jitsu, Judo and kick boxing (there isn't an MT club ). What do you think I should do between joining all 3 and train once a week in each of the discipline or just joining 1 club and train there 3 times a week? Again, my goal is to be able to defend myself and I want to make the most out of what little free time I have. I'd love to spend all my waking hours training but unfortunately studying has got to come first .

Thanks!

[white devil]

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Yeah, like the guy on the street is going to treat you softly and take care of you.

youre right, he wont..although I was only refering to competitive hardcore style of muay thai and boxing for women...not the self-defense aspect..I find women who study martial arts to be very hot.

[treelizard]

youre right, he wont..although I was only refering to competitive hardcore style of muay thai and boxing for women...not the self-defense aspect..I find women who study martial arts to be very hot.

Women should be treated softly because you're old school, and you don't like watching women get hit in competitions so they shouldn't compete, but they should train in martial arts, because you find it to be hot. Too funny. Is it always all about you, or is it just martial arts where you think your opinion should dictate why and how other people train?

[white devil]

Women should be treated softly because you're old school, and you don't like watching women get hit in competitions so they shouldn't compete, but they should train in martial arts, because you find it to be hot. Too funny. Is it always all about you, or is it just martial arts where you think your opinion should dictate why and how other people train?

yeah youre right lizard im sorry about that..i got carried away with my selfishness..i wont share any personal opinions about women martial artist with you anymore, promise

[white devil]

.....double post.....

[Sabin]

He doesn't like seeing women hurt. That's a bad thing?

[treelizard]

No, but implying that women shouldn't compete because he doesn't like seeing them get hurt, oh, unless they're ugly, but they should train in MA because he finds it hot... Anyway, he already apologized so I don't want to beat a dead horse, but if you don't like seeing women compete, then don't watch!