Since I started at UC Santa Cruz back in September 2017, Muay Thai has become an important part of my life. In this blog post, I am going to talk about How Muay Thai has made a Positive Difference in My Life.
I will cover how I got into it, the benefits I have experienced from it, and much, much more.
Let’s get started.
How I Learned About It in the First Place
My first experience with Muay Thai was when I traveled with my Mom and Dad to Thailand for a vacation. It was a lot of fun. I went to one practice at the hotel. It was great. It was not much, but it planted a seed in my head. We did some pad work and I learned how to knee.
Then I went home and I forgot about it. I focused on wrestling, but it was something I kept in the back of my mind. I thought ‘that was really cool. I might want to get into that in the future.’ It was not something I thought about to pass the time.
UCSC was where I Really Started to Blossom
After graduating from De Anza Community College, I transferred to UC Santa Cruz.
I remember it clearly now. It was OPERS fest on the East Field house lawn. The weather was gorgeous. It was a Fall day, not too hot and plenty of sunshine. I saw guys performing kicks on some Thai pads. I was hooked. My memory kicked in. I want to learn this. I joined the Muay Thai Club.
I learned basic striking and different combinations. I gained a basic understanding of the sport. It was incredible. I grew so much I eventually became the club’s financial officer.
It was rewarding to grow from the sport in the two years’ time I was at UC Santa Cruz. My striking improved a lot and I learned strong fundamentals I carry with me to this day. It was a fun process.
The 5 Big Benefits
When you practice martial arts, you get a lot of benefits. These are just some of the benefits I have experienced since starting the sport. You will experience these too if you stick with it.
1. My Energy Levels have Gone Up.
Exercise makes you more energetic. It is as simple as that. It makes you more aggressive to get things done. You feel more alive. Work does not seem so hard in comparison. It is an energizing feeling.
2. It has increased my Discipline.
Life seems a lot easier by comparison when someone is trying to punch you in the face. If I can maintain my focus for two hours at a gym, all the other things going on my life seem easier. I can get things done at work. I can crank homework for classes.
When I spar with my partner, I take my time and think things through. I plan out what I am going to do in my head. My life problems do not seem as bad by comparison. I can work through my problems by putting in the work at the gym.
3. Everyone Needs to Nurture their Fighting Spirit.
You have a fighter inside of you, your will, your urge to carry on and move forward. If you practice Muay Thai like I do or something similar, it will make you stronger. When you see the improvement and the progress you have made, you are encouraged to stand up for yourself and act more assertively in your interests.
Life is a fight. It is not easy by any stretch of the imagination.
Everyone experiences pain one way or another. Suffering is optional. A fighter embraces the pain and pushes through it to new heights. You are going to have to work one way or another. You might as well do it with enthusiasm and vitality.
4. I have made a Lot of Great Friends through Muay Thai.
Everyone needs friends in all areas of your life.
Your whole life cannot be all friends through work. You will get restless and your life will become unbalanced.
Everyone needs to be grounded by a social network. You need to have fun. I have made a lot of friends through martial arts. When I visit Santa Cruz, I still visit the friends I made through Muay Thai. It feels good to bond over something enjoyable.
5. It has taught me to Give Other People a Greater Amount of Respect.
Before every practice at the gym, we bow to the instructor and to the man who brought Muay Thai to America.
A fight is about respect, not just for your opponent, but yourself. You need to respect and stand up for yourself and take the initiative. It is not going to be easy, but I work hard because I respect myself. It makes me feel good at the end of the day knowing I put in my all to make my goals happen.
River City Warriors and My Current Journey
At the moment, I train at River City Warriors in Tigard. It is a great gym. Coach Joe knows his stuff and demonstrates a high level of striking from multiple styles. He is Hawaiian and is one of the most low key people I have ever met in my life. I feel calmer just being in his presence.
If you want to learn martial arts in a positive environment, River City Warriors is an excellent gym.
I train two to three times a week for two hours learning Muay Thai and BJJ. It is a lot of fun. It can be difficult at times, but it makes me feel alive. I feel more accomplished after attending a practice. The practices do not always go perfectly, but I am getting better each and every day I attend.
Coach Joe is low key and forthright. He has always been nice to me. I sparred with him and he is terrifying, to say the least. If you live in Portland and want to get better, go to his gym.
My Final Thoughts on Muay Thai
Nothing wakes you up quite like a fight. Your blood rushes to your hands and your focus narrows. Instincts kick in. Time slows down. You absorb more information and intuition protects you and forces you to act. When you practice Muay Thai, that fire kicks into gear impacting all other areas of your life.
Where there once was a slug, vitality takes root. Practice Muay Thai. It is cool.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or think I missed anything, do not hesitate to comment below, and please share the blog post. Thank you for your time and I hope you have an excellent day.
