Ashley

My name is Ashley and I’m in the military, stationed at Ft. Meade MD. Before I joined Crazy 88, I had played soccer and taken ballet for a long time but I had no martial arts background whatsoever, unless you count watching the movie “Sidekicks” about a thousand times when I was little and goofing off out back.

The reason I got into the Muay Thai program at Crazy 88 is that I was looking for something that would be good stress release and give me a head to toe workout… and I realized I’m at that point in my life where I can’t just eat whatever I want and not gain a pound anymore. (I have a thing for chili cheese fries.) I remember being shocked the first week of class when the coach had us focusing on kicks and my abs hurt the next morning and later when I learned to throw a punch and could feel it in my calves. I was really worried the first class I showed up to, that being the new kid, noone would be willing to work with me or take things slower so I could keep up but it was just the opposite; the women in my class were eager to show me the technique and break it down for me til I understood and the instructor has a way of teaching class that is very beginner-friendly but leaves room to build combinations and focus on technique as you get more comfortable and confident with the sport. I’ve been taking the same Muay Thai classes with the same teacher, Jason, three times a week for six months now and in every class I learn at least one new thing, which is awesome, and makes me feel like I’m building a solid foundation for the sport piece by piece.

Sometime, when I’m ready, I’d like to try competing in an amateur Muay Thai fight and see how it goes from there. I have a lot more to learn before then but then again I’m surprised and proud of where I am now already so I think it’s a definite personal goal. Some of the people I train with at the gym are very inspiring, sharing the details of their own wins and losses, what they’ve learned, and pretty much everybody at Crazy 88 is really supportive but genuine and constructive with their criticism too. The girls I train with are quick to point out any areas I need to improve on and push me to work harder and sweat more every class. Sounds like torture, but it’s a good thing.

I think the Muay Thai program at Crazy 88 is fantastic and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good workout (and later, a good night’s sleep) or a way to make new friends. If you’re at all interested in watching or appreciating MMA or kickboxing, I think it’d benefit you to take a deeper interest in the sport and try the whole experience.

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