THAILAND: IRISH WOMAN NIAMH GRIFFIN SETS HER SIGHTS ON THE MARTIAL ART OF KICKBOXING

Record ID: 505126

  • Title: THAILAND: IRISH WOMAN NIAMH GRIFFIN SETS HER SIGHTS ON THE MARTIAL ART OF KICKBOXING
  • Date: 23rd December 1999
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT) (REUTERS) NIAMH GRIFFIN WARMING UP BEFORE TRAINING SESSION GRIFFIN WARMING UP VARIOUS OF GRIFFIN TRAINING PEOPLE WATCHING GRIFFIN DOING PRESS-UPS GRIFFIN TRAINING SOUNDBITE (English) JITTI JUTHAKIT, GRIFFIN'S TRAINER, SAYING: "She got everything about fighting, it's just like (a) computer. I think she will be champion and very great fight
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Education,General,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEVSXSJHC8QKXVALXUMSE7AMOP
  • Story Text: Although kickboxing is Thailand's most popular sport, it's always been a traditional male bastion.
    But now, one 22-year-old English teacher from Ireland is hoping to buck the trend - and is setting her sights on becoming a champion kickboxer.
    A visit two years ago to a Thai kickboxing stadium in the capital Bangkok started a love affair between Irish woman Niamh (pronounced 'Neeve') Griffin and the traditional martial art.
    The 22-year-old teacher from Cork had come to Thailand to teach English full-time but found herself addicted to the sport that allows boxers to use their feet, knees and elbows while fighting.
    She found a local gym that trained foreigners and women, and is now working towards the women's Muay Thai World Council bantamweight title later this month in Bangkok.
    Although kickboxing is Thailand's most popular sport, it is dominated by some 30,000 male professionals who fight in Muay Thai competitions nationwide, and only a few women take part.
    Under the watchful eyes of her Thai kickboxing trainer and mentor, Griffin has successfully participated in many tournaments and has plans for a career in the sport.
    "She is like a computer, I think she will be champion and great fighter in the future," trainer Jitti Juthakit said.
    Griffin has since reduced her teaching hours to concentrate on training.
    "Once you start fighting, it becomes your life.You do it, it's so much fun.Sometimes it really hurts but after a while it's just part of it and you don't worry about it so much."
    Seeing her train and trade punches with Bangkok's best kickboxers, it's hard to believe the same person could be a teacher to a class of adolescent girls.
    But, Griffin's students in a Bangkok high school say she is the perfect teacher.
    "She is a very good teacher, she is very clear.When I don't understand difficult words, I can ask her and her answer is very clear," student Darnee Sripabou said.
    Another student, Sirirat Anantharunssan, said she felt lucky to have a kickboxing teacher.
    "Some students never have teacher and boxing, I have.
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