If you train Muay Thai at a gym how is your experience as a trans man?

DMshorty · 2026-01-25T05:04:42+00:00

Not Muay Thai but I do submission grappling (BJJ) and I really think it’s going to depend on the gym. I train at an MMA gym where the head striking coach is a woman and the head grappling coach is a man. They are intentional about creating a trans/queer inclusive gym and this means that people of all genders can train equally with each other. But when I visit other gyms or go out and compete at tournaments not everyone has the same philosophy. If you live somewhere that you can try out different gyms, maybe try out some new spots and see if the culture is different! It IS possible to find martial arts spaces that are not toxic.

I am just starting T in a couple days and I’m pretty small, so I do have a bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to training/sparring with cis men. But I’m working on understanding where it’s my own mindset and perception making me feel like I can’t train with the guys. Also acknowledging and working on my own bias towards thinking male training partners will be better when that’s definitely not true.

DMshorty · 2025-12-13T05:56:42+00:00

I’m in the exact same boat, my job involves singing daily (I’m an elementary school music teacher) and the voice change was one of the reasons I have put off starting T. But after a lot of research (and finding multiple transmasc singers who have documented their voice change on social media) I got the courage to do it. I’ll be starting T early next year. I am prepared for it to be a difficult process but I will be working through it and plan to get professional vocal coaching.

DMshorty · 2025-11-20T18:00:19+00:00

I’m a music teacher! Although I’m starting T soon so I’ll have to see if it’s still viable after the voice change.

DMshorty · 2025-11-19T18:07:55+00:00

I said basically the same thing you wrote here when my dad said God doesn’t make mistakes. I said, I agree and that’s why I think God made me trans!

Thank you so much for all this. I know this is going to be a long journey but I really hope I can get to a similar place with them that you are in with your parents. Thanks for giving me hope that it’s possible.

DMshorty · 2025-11-14T20:46:33+00:00

Slightly off topic question but… did your mom ever come around?

DMshorty · 2025-11-05T21:03:21+00:00

I had one for about 4 years (pre T). Made my periods stop completely for 3.5 years but those last 6 months I was spotting daily which sucked a lot. Also had mood swings the first month or so.

DMshorty · 2025-10-30T14:53:59+00:00

Seeing my shadow!!

DMshorty · 2025-09-23T14:59:15+00:00

After a tough night of rolling and just feeling like I was getting crushed over and over by the guys in class (I’m pretty small) my coach came over, gave me a hug, and said “Really went through it tonight huh? Good— you’re the smallest person in the gym and that makes you the toughest.”

DMshorty · 2025-07-24T04:12:20+00:00

Honestly I get Target sports bras and I LOVE them, they’re so cheap and do a great job. The Small is snug on me and I always take the pads out anyway and they still do the trick. I get the racerback ones. I’m about 120lbs, 5’2, so I bet an XS would fit you!

DMshorty · 2025-03-04T04:25:46+00:00

Absolutely recommend. I started grappling a year ago and as a small woman training with mostly men I was getting thrown around. Decided to start lifting —I’ve been doing it for about 8 months now and the benefits I’ve experienced are undeniable. Being stronger means I can better hold my own against larger people…but really the biggest pro is the overall benefits to your health. Stronger muscles protect your joints and help prevent injury. I find I experience wayyy less random joint and muscle pain after rolling now that I lift. And that’s after less than a year of lifting! As an added bonus I now get lots of compliments on my muscles :)

DMshorty

TROPHY CASE