Internalised misogyny affects women, especially in patriarchal societies, causing them to project sexist ideals onto themselves and others. In combat sports like Muay Thai, women often view each other as competition and struggle to connect, perpetuating harmful behaviors. Overcoming this requires awareness, solidarity, and a commitment to shared success rather than rivalry.
The story of a former Muay Thai fighter’s complicated relationship with food and body image, influenced by fight culture. It describes cycles of disordered eating, weight obsession, and the struggle for balance between training and lifestyle. These struggles have persisted post-retirement, highlighting ongoing mental health challenges that extend beyond training and competition.
I was recently interviewed for the second episode of the Rise to Thrive Podcast, in which Laurien Zurhake talks to martial arts athletes and coaches about dismantling toxic industry norms and creating healthier training environments. We discussed toxic gym culture, grooming, and other issues I’ve been addressing in the Muay Thai community. I recommended the Muay Thai Roundtable forum for those who aren’t sure if they’re in a healthy training environment, and shared a quote Read more
On December 24th, Wanchalong P.K Saenchai Gym (Thaworn Sudchanham) posted a video in which he sexually harassed and groped women at a party. He looked into the camera as he reached out to grab the buttocks of a female server behind him. He then touched her arm to get her attention, and as she smiled awkwardly into the camera, he put his hand down her top and touched her breasts. When she covered her chest Read more
Toxic gym culture, especially in martial arts, can trap fighters in unhealthy environments due to strong emotional bonds, identity connections, and manipulation from trainers. Threats for leaving, fear of losing progress, and social isolation complicate exit attempts. Healing requires time and establishing firm boundaries outside the gym, essential for recovery and self-worth.
An in-depth piece on toxic gym cultures and the signs to look out for.
This week, Thai fighter Daraek (Pichairat Srisuk พิชัยรัต ศรีสุข) was ousted from Revolution Muay Thai gym in Phuket for allegedly sexually harassing and blackmailing women. Gym owner and manager Tim Fisher issued a statement to the Muay Thai media requesting that they publish the story and ban him from fighting. “Daraek’s shameful behaviour is completely unacceptable and no one in the Revolution camp was aware of it. As a family man and [sic] responsible for Read more
Today is International Safe Abortion Day. Ahead of the occassion, Bangkok Abortion 2022 took place over the weekend, founded by Thai NGO TamTang. The Thai word for abortion is ‘tam taeng’. TamTang plays on this word, and translates to ‘make the way’. For the past 10 years or more, that’s what they’ve been doing for reproductive rights in Thailand. They push for policies to facilitate safe abortion services, create spaces for people who’ve had abortions, Read more
Earlier this year, I was interviewed by Women Who Fight, which was created by London-based BJJ practitioners Shanti Gorton and Marina Mavrou. The podcast episode has now been released. Women Who Fight was created to share stories of women in combat sports, to raise awareness of the issues affecting them, and to tackle inequality. The website bio reads “We empower female fighters to take agency over their training. Our goal is to celebrate and inspire Read more
Hurts Like Hell is a Thai four-part series based on corruption in the Muay Thai industry, released today on Netflix. The series is a drama based on real scandals in Muay Thai, and those stories are woven into the storyline, along with commentary from real people who were involved. This includes referees, promoters, gamblers, fighters and ring doctors. In that sense, parts are filmed in the style of a docuseries. Hurts Like Hell promises to Read more
