For the third night in a row, Seok Han’s mother comes to our gym in tears. She is helpless and frustrated. Outside, the desolate darkness of the winter night seems to echo her maternal sorrow. We calm her down and listen to her grievances.   A couple of months earlier, Seok Han had come to register at our gym, his anxious mother in tow. Burly and tall for his age, Seok Han is a sophomore at a high school nearby. We find out that he has little interest in his studies, but has developed a keen interest and passion for Muay Thai after watching K-1 on TV. Luckily for Seok Han, his mother is understanding enough to allow him to pursue his passions, instead of … [Read more...]

    Running a Muay Thai gym is no mean feat. Depending on where you are located in the world, you will be confronted with your own unique set of issues and challenges. Here are some of the most common difficulties faced by gym owners in South Korea.   General Public’s Perception Of Muay Thai   Apart from those who have come across Muay Thai-specific TV programmes like K-1, most Koreans have never heard of Muay Thai before. The sport’s entry into Korea is relatively recent, compared to Western boxing, or the national sport Taekwondo.   People enquire not because they are actively searching for a gym; they are truly curious and have no idea … [Read more...]

    Female Body Image and Gender Stereotypes in South Korea    "I want to fight."   Those were C's first words to us as she stepped into our gym for the first time sometime last summer. Her words were uttered with an assured certainty and fierce determination. Yet, there was a touch of raw edginess about her, something which I later discovered to be a profound dissatisfaction about her predicament then. She told us that she had quit her relatively well-paying job at a software firm just so that she could train Muay Thai full-time, an eyebrow-raising move in conservative South Korea.   C is urgent and desperate about fighting. "I am 27 years … [Read more...]

    Part 1   Muay Thai Grading in Korea Explained     “They are ready for their first grading test,” my fiancé, owner and Head Trainer of K Club, Okbae Moon says in a decisive low voice, cocking his head towards the group of teenage boys trading playful punches at one another in the gym.   Standing next to Okbae outside the training area, where he is observing his protégés carefully, I am temporarily befuddled. My confusion must have been written on my face, because Okbae proceeds to explain what grading entails.   “It’s a test of Muay Thai ability. You demonstrate to the judges a set of prescribed moves. If you pass, you get promoted to … [Read more...]