A Japanese Woman Who Became a Muay Thai Fighter

SHIMOSEKI Takako

Do you know what Muay Thai is? Muay Thai is Thai style boxing, and is said to be the origin of Japanese kick boxing. Kick-boxing and Muay Thai have different judging standards, although both have the same basic rules. Furthermore, the big difference is that people are allowed to make bets on Muay Thai matches. In kick-boxing matches boxers do their best to beat the opponent as quickly as possible. On the other hand, in Muay Thai matches the judgment is often left until the last round, that of the fifth, therefore the spectators can have lots of fun in expectation of who will win.

A Japanese woman had been attracted to Muay Thai and became a fighter. She is SHIMOSEKI Takako. She was working in a company that makes quizzes for TV programs. Encouraged by her friend, she started to go to a kick boxing gym due to her lack of exercise and poor diet. At first she was exercising combining the practice of kick-boxing and aerobics, but before long she was asked to compete in a match. She made her debut just for her good memories at Korakuen hall.

As a Thai trainer used to train her in the kickboxing gym, Takako naturally took an interest in Thailand. When she traveled to Thailand, she happened to encounter Muay Thai. She thought it “looked enjoyable!” At that time when she was nearly 30 years old, she was worried about whether she should continue working without a boyfriend who was marriage material.

In 2000 Takako quit her job and moved to Thailand, where she was active as a fighter for two years. She fought in matches mainly in rings made just for show including at beer gardens and on the roofs of department stores. She was often informed about her match opponents on the day. Sometimes she appeared in the ring 30 minutes after she was asked due to the lack of fighters.

In Japan there are few female fighters, therefore if you are a little more skilled, you will have a match with an advanced fighter right away. However, as for Thailand, seeing as there are more female fighters in comparison with Japan, it is possible for you to be matched with a fighter equivalent to your level. Takako says “In matches I enjoyed using various skills that I have learnt rather than beating the opponent.” It seems that in Muay Thai you can enjoy the process of the match more.

Of course Takako has not always enjoyed her matches. Small Thai fighters were hesitant to have a match with Takako who is 169cm tall. One day she had to have a match against a male fighter. However, while she was observing how strong he was, she received a swift punch to her body and a second straight punch in succession before she fell down. Since she was given a handicap, she could eventually make it a win.

Female Muay Thai fighters in Thailand pay attention to their makeup, so they come to the ring wearing lipstick. The fighters often get on well with each other after leaving the ring, even though they had been fighting each other hard only a short time before. Takako has created lots of happy memories with female Thai fighters through exchanging addresses and taking photos at purikura (instant photo booths to make tiny photo stickers) together.

Married to a Thai Trainer
Takako met Thianchai KORKING, who later became her husband, in a Muay Thai gym in Thailand. Her first impression of him was that “he looked fierce as he did not have any eyebrows,” – in Thailand there is a custom that people shave their eyebrows when they experience misfortune. Thianchai had just shaved his eyebrows as his grandmother had died. She said “I was honestly disappointed to hear that he was my trainer as I had expected some romance.”

On the other hand, Thianchai thought “I felt sympathy for her as she had to come to a foreign country alone.” However, seeing her hard work and that the more he taught, the stronger she became, he gradually became friendly with Takako. They built up a mutual and trusting trainer-fighter relationship.

Thianchai’s family welcomed Takako warmheartedly. “It is a kind of convenience that we can’t understand each other’s language, as they don’t imagine me as a bride because they say ‘she is a foreigner’” said Takako with a laugh. Takako’s father was perplexed at their relationship. He didn’t say anything when she informed him of their marriage and also about the birth of their child, but the moment he saw his grandchild for the first time when they came to Japan for the New Year celebrations, he instantly became a lenient grandfather.

In 2006 Takako and her family moved to Japan for the future of their children. At present she is working as a trainer for Muay Thai exercise in a culture class. “When people hear about combative sports, they have an image that it is painful and fearful, but I want more and more people to know the joy and fun of the sport,” said Takako.

“Bangkok Shower”
Written by SHIMOSEKI Takako, published by Heian Koubou.
1,260 yen
You will see the real Thailand that is difficult to experience just through guidebooks or by traveling in Thailand,
and read about her fighting days as a Muay Thai fighter and her funny conversations with Thianchai.

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