celebrating a year of fitness and muay thai <3

i cannot believe time and moments just passed like that, i didn’t even notice it’s already been a year. if it wasn’t for my team mate that asked me earlier on how long have i been doing muay thai, i wouldn’t be reminded that it’s been a year since my first day! i definitely feel like it was just yesterday when i was struggling to carry weights, do consecutive punches and kicks and receive them like punishments from your parents.

muay thai has definitely changed me a whole lot and i know i’m a better person now than i was back then. everyone who’s been with me in this journey has been my inspiration and hopefully this post inspires a lot out there as well.

september 14, 2015.

i was such at a loss in my life. i wanted to become alive again; to spark that life in me that i lost because of stresses and pressures of having graduated from college and doing nothing after. every time i see that muay thai poster on our way to church every weekend, i always wonder what it feels like to know some martial arts that not everyone does. good thing i got the push i needed, and started training and enrolling at kuya coachy’s muay thai class.

wala pang tao nun masyado, i’d always train alone at hirap na hirap ako kasi tutok na tutok sakin si kuya ray. (wow kuya ray HAHAHA) yung pawis ko lagi abot panty at bra at yung pasa at sakit ng katawan ko, laging sagad sa buto. pero araw araw bumabalik ako. hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit. sadista siguro ako. thinking pain made me feel more alive than doing nothing at home.

i still remember this first post i wrote about during my first week at training. luma pa yung gym, and kasama ko lagi si kuya chuchin turned coach chuchin sa training. sobrang wala pa ako masyadong kinakausap and medyo nahihiya hiya pa ako. sobrang sakit ng abs ko nung first week, i couldn’t cough, laugh nor get out of bed normally. nagrereklamo ako kay kuya coachy nun na masakit lahat lahat and ang sabi lang niya sakin, normal yan, okay lang yan, mawawala din yan.

i didn’t feel anything new with myself, days passed and i would check my weight and be disappointed it’ll still be the same old 68kg but i kept coming back. then i met more friends, i met idol ate niki na sobrang mamaw, it was just inspirational to see a strong woman. si ate cel na grabe ang ganda pero pag sumipa wow solido grabe. and to have gym buddies like sunny and of course kasangga sa sakit, ate theia and ate lynette – it was enough to keep me going back for more pains.

gym buddies – ellen and solenn!

i also got closer to the men in the gym, shempre sa mga pogi coaches, kuya coachy ray and papa coachy leo. dahil sa bond, nagugulpi na nila ako ng walang awa awa but that indeed made me stronger, wala na atang mas makakasakit pa sakin.

the people i always look forward to with big smiles on their faces kahit sobrang mahirap ang training, ate julie, baby padme, ate rio, kina ate princess at j to the osh. shempre kay mamaw kuya ton, kuya ayan, kay kuya amboy and kay brian na hindi na nagpakita and kay kuya eldon. kay cherry na silent killer at kay master nate. si master bordz, kay kuya richard na hindi na nagpakita haha sa mga bago na nakasabay ko na din, si sarah and vet med people. kina angel, dref, sa kambal. and to the entire team pugilist!

kahit hindi teammates pero todo support na si machong macho fafa alvin, kuya bernard at si dong and kay ate nagzuzumba na laging nasa counter.

they have been my family outside home. i would always look forward to going to gym because of them. all of them are so supportive and walang nega nega. they made me feel so strong and welcome. i never saw my progress but they told me encouraging words that made me feel better about myself. aminin ko na, whenever i get compliments, it’s such a booster – who wouldn’t want praises right?

and then i slowly learned to do more combinations, more exercises, even did my first “spar” session (check it out here) and did 500 kicks and punches. little kitty steps but definite growth.

i also got my own pink handwraps, my own muay shorts and even our team pugilist shirt.

ngayon, level up na ang gym, may damo na din kami. may functional training na din kami. i started to meet kettlebells, TRX, barbells and plates and many more stuff. yung dating ayaw kong magbuhat at yung mga exercises na nakikita ko lang sa artista, battle ropes, thera balls, planks – i’ve tried all of them.

from hardships to bonds and friendships, i started to feel stronger and better about myself and it led to many more achievements in my life like conquering summits and distances. definitely, if it wasn’t for my training in muay thai, i wouldn’t have finished in one piece.

and updates? a year and a month after, here i am back to square one thanks to school lol i’m re learning the right forms and building my endurance back. i know i’ve grown weaker but i only hear compliments and good words from kuya coachy and that kept me going back.

may mouthguards na ako and loving sparring contrary to what i felt about it when i was still starting.

and absolutely appreciating kuya coachy’s trust – feelingera weekend coach na din ako. coach pritzy sounds so good to the ears, it melts my heart and i know i don’t deserve this recognition.

in a whole year, i turned from a depressed and lifeless couch potato to a strong independent woman who always looks for trouble. it’s all thanks to the people behind it. words definitely move people. i have never believed in myself as i always see the wrongs but if people around you see the rights, you know you’re on the right path. “ang lakas mo na, ang payat mo na, mamaw grabe” – it gives me a sense of relief that all my hardwork has paid off even though i don’t see it myself.

and i would like to especially thank kuya coachy. he’s such an inspiration and a motivator. not only a gym coach, personal trainer but your own kuya. hindi niya talaga ako pinabayaan at kahit nagrereklamo ako at ang ingay ingay ko, he was very patient with me. and i’d like to give back all his kindness and also inspire and change other people the way he did to me.

so to the one reading this, shyness will get you nowhere. if you want change, you need to step it up and push yourself. bangon, labas, laban. hindi lahat ng nag gym, malakas agad pagpasok. malakas ang loob oo, and you definitely have that.

lahat tayo malalakas, hindi lang naipapakita. at hindi lahat ng sakit nakakamatay. if you feel may kulang sa buhay mo, i guess you need to level up and go out there and do something. i’m not saying magenroll kayo sa muay thai HAHAHA though pwede, pero go out there and run, hike, play. it will definitely change you and make you feel better about yourself. you’ll be meeting people who will also be an essential part of your life and it will be more meaningful. and ako mismo, support kita. :)

mahirap sa una, at siguradong masakit, but the harder and the more painful it is, the stronger and the better you become. with all the pain and suffering you’ll go through, i’ll be behind you, we’ll all be behind your back. when you start something, you already did a great job!

cheers to a year and a month of fitness and being strong! abangan niyo na lang si pink streetcatdays soon, on the road, on the trail or on the mats. go lang ng go!