Kick Me As Hard As You Can – I Can Take It!

By Sandy Daley

As I attempt to get my “summer body” on, I am now a devoted student, and a very willing participant to the practice of Muay Thai. This combat sport from Thailand, involves stand-up striking moves, along with various clinching techniques. This very physical sport or the “Art of Eight Limbs” as it is referred to by many, uses eight points of contact to defend one’s self, while still attacking your opponent.

The grueling, almost 2 hour workouts, have chiseled down my thighs and hips, cinched in the ole girl’s waistline, and created a gluteus maximus so taut that you could perhaps bounce a quarter off of it. Short skirts, booty shorts and girly summer dresses here I come! However, as my strength increases, and my kicks and punches have now landed me in the level two classes, my physical ability is intimidating to others. This was demonstrated while being partnered up with a much younger, less agile woman in a recent class.

Her beautiful hazel eyes widened with fear each time my foot aimed for her pads, as I prepared to land one my famous kicks. Should I hold back and limit my force in order not to hurt her? Would she be able to push back with the force that she was supposed to, once my foot connected with her pads? The very first kicks that I landed were very reserved, as I cautiously kicked in order not to bruise, hurt or throw her off balance in any way.

Unfortunately for her, the instructor for the class noticed my lack of force and immediately asked me what was the issue, as he was aware of my strength. “Sandy, you are much stronger than that,” he said. “Why are you being so timid and not really kicking your partner?” he went on to add.

“I don’t wish to hurt her,” I said to him sheepishly, slowly putting my eyes to the ground as I stared at the floor beneath me.

“I really don’t want to kick her hard, as she looks as if she will fall back and perhaps cry if I kicked her how I really should,” I said.

“Kick her!” he shouted at me in front of everyone. “Better you than someone else,” he startled me by saying. “At least you are her friend and she will know to not only hold her pads correctly, but this will also prepare her for the jerk in the next class who is not going to care whether or not she gets hurt. Trust me, you are doing her a big favour,” he said to me with a boyish grin. This made so much sense to me! Boy, did I let it rip with my kicks after that pep talk, as the guilt was now totally erased from my brain.

It also dawned on me that I had just been taught another life lesson. Many a times after a break-up, we are unable to see the beauty and the ultimate gift we have just been handed. The glass is always half-full, as you are not only training for all the other heartbreaks to come in the future, but you are also being taught on how to treat that great love of your life. The trick is to allow yourself to go through the hurt and pain, and then use that as a lesson for any other intimate relationship to follow in the future.

With each kick to the stomach, feet or even to the heart, you will learn something on not only human nature and the opposite sex, but more importantly, you will learn something about yourself. In life, everything should be seen as a lesson, whether they be good or bad ones. Hopefully it will not be my toned thighs heading for your head in my Muay Thai class, as I will not hold back and will unleash the power that is Ms. Sandy Daley. Brace yourself my friends, as I am truly doing you a huge favor as my instructor said. You can thank me later!