Muay Thai may, on the surface, appear to have nothing in common with endurance sports, but you might be surprised…
I was certainly was when I spoke with Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu for this week’s episode of Sparta Chicks Radio.
Sylvie is an American born woman living in Thailand who currently holds the record for the most number of Muay Thai fights by any Westerner - male or female - which (at the time of writing) stands at 242.
And, much to my surprise, she’s been a long-time listener of Sparta Chicks Radio too!
Since taking up what she describes as a “beautiful sport” in New York, Sylvie and Kevin have since moved to Thailand so Sylvie can pursue the sport on a full-time basis, and chase her next goal; the World Record for the most number of professional fights. This record of 471 fights has stood since the 1920s!
In the conversation, we discuss:
- what she gains from listening to the podcast (given she doesn't participate in any of the sports we traditionally cover),
- why she thinks Muay Thai and endurance sports have more in common than you might think,
- how she discovered Muay Thai and why she describes it as a 'beautiful sport’,
- why she (as a woman and feminist) struggles with some of the traditions of the sport (eg, men may enter the ring by climbing over the top rope, but women must go under the bottom rope),
- why it's important to "reduce the space" you give your self-doubt and focus instead on the process,
- how to reframe competition (even in the context of sport) as a collaboration that brings out the best in everyone and an opportunity to practice in gratitude, and
- the biggest life lesson she's learnt from her sport.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Follow Sylvie on Instagram: instagram.com/sylviemuay