This introductory Muay Thai workshop will guide you through the fundamental movements of the art of 8 limbs, including punches, elbows, knees, kicks, blocks and basic footwork. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to execute these movements and put them together in shadowboxing.
No equipment or prior experience are required for this session. All techniques are optional, and we encourage you to stop or take a break at any time if you feel the need to do so. You are encouraged to go at your own pace and engage at the level you’re most comfortable with, even if that’s just observing.
The workshop will end with a short discussion on our experiences as women in Muay Thai, where we share what we love about the sport and how we engage with it in ways that work for us, particularly from a lens of queerness and survivorship.
The goal is not to acquire skills for self-defence, competition or even formal training, but purely to enjoy the beauty of Muay Thai techniques and the empowerment, release and enjoyment that can be found in executing them.
This workshop is accompanied by a PDF resource including links to queer-led Muay Thai gyms in various countries, as well as organisations providing guidance, support and funding to survivors in sport. Our intention is to provide a friendly and accessible entry point into the sport and remove potential barriers to participation.
For
This workshop is open to all, but particularly designed with survivors and queer people in mind to provide an accessible and inclusive introduction to a sport which has historically been fraught with gendered barriers.
With Emma Thomas (she/her) & Iony Lawrence (she/her)
I’m a former Muay Thai fighter, survivor advocate and safe sport consultant specialising in safeguarding against sexual violence in Muay Thai. I’m passionate about creating safer and more inclusive spaces in sport, and my lived experience of violence puts survivor-centred and trauma-informed principles at the heart of my work.
I recently completed a master’s degree in Sports Ethics & Integrity, through which I conducted research on survivors’ experiences in Muay Thai through a feminist lens, and have since become a qualified sport safeguarding officer. My goal is to make the joys of Muay Thai accessible to all by challenging the power dynamics and social norms of gym cultures.
@under_the_ropes
www.undertheropes.com
My name is Iony and I am a professional Muay Thai fighter and have been competing since I was very young. I’ve always appreciated what Muay Thai has done for me and I’ve always wanted to be able to share it with others, especially those who it might greatly benefit.
I lived in Thailand for almost three years and fought there often, and that’s where I met Emma. We bonded over toxic gym culture and how it can affect you as a fighter or even as a beginner. Hopefully this workshop can show that Muay Thai is open for everyone, and that it can simply be a fun way to move your body and exercise.
@ionylawrence
