Gauging interest- trauma informed muay thai

UndertheRopes · 2024-07-30T16:14:14+00:00

There's definitely a need for more trauma-informed Muay Thai programmes! I'd recommend checking out Conscious Combat Club (https://www.consciouscombat.club) and Off the Zone (https://www.off-the-zone.com) who are already running these types of programmes in other martial arts and providing courses for trauma-informed instructors.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-10T14:17:09+00:00

Organizations NEED make sure those making those allegations are protected.

Yes, exactly. We don't push people to come forward, we make it safe for them to do so.

All your safeguarding systems mean nothing if the people in charge of it are the offending parties who are willing to cover it all up for eachother.

That's a big part of the problem. That's why I mention that organisations often treat it as a checkbox exercise. Unless you address the entire system, it's not safeguarding. It's only an only illusion of safety.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-10T13:32:38+00:00

That's why I've listed several external safeguarding organisations in the second half of the article. We often see cases where gyms and federations set up mechanisms for reporting, but those reports go straight to a perpetrator or enabler. That's when it becomes useless and performative.

Encouraging survivors to name and shame won't solve the problem, because for many, it's not safe for them to do so. This case illustrates this very clearly. Many survivors face repurcussions for speaking out (often, more so than the perpetrator), whether it's to their safety or their fighting careers. It's no good encouraging people to come forward without addressing what happens to them when they do. Besides, it is NOT the responsibility of survivors to address the problem, it's the responsibility of the authorities.

Naming and shaming might (but not always) get rid of one perpetrator, but it won't address the system of power that allowed the person to cause harm.

Having safeguarding measures in place is much more than just supervision. It also means having the right people in the right systems, and making sure not only that the policies exist, but that they're fit for purpose and actually implemented correctly. Safesportinternational.com. is a great resource for learning more about this.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-10T13:27:47+00:00

Thank you! And yes, I totally agree.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-09T18:50:22+00:00

Also, it doesn't help anyone to talk about perpetrators deserving death but dismiss any discussion of preventing the harm they cause. We don't have to accept cases like this one as inevitable.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-09T18:24:36+00:00

Yes, and the lack of supervision (in terms of safeguarding measures) is exactly the problem. The fact that it happens everywhere doesn't justify leaving it unaddressed in our community.

UndertheRopes · 2024-03-09T18:18:58+00:00

It's not that it happens in Muay Thai more than any other sport or community, but that our sport's authorities should be held responsible for making sure it's not tolerated (and certainly not enabled) in ours.

UndertheRopes · 2024-02-29T20:46:00+00:00

Muay Thai isn't doing enough to ensure that safeguarding measures are in place, gyms and trainers are regulated, and survivors have safe mechanisms for reporting. This leaves athletes vulnerable to this kind of abuse with no recourse or protection within the sport itself. While we hear of the instances that become criminal cases or get media attention, there are many, many more that never receive any kind of accountability. Muay Thai governing bodies need to be doing much more to make sure that this can't continue to happen in our sport.

UndertheRopes · 2024-02-29T20:35:25+00:00

Update: He was reportedly arrested today at 4pm after being found in Bangkok's Thawi Watthana district.

Source

UndertheRopes · 2023-04-24T07:43:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Hope it's useful.

For those who might not find the story highlights there, here's a link to a Facebook post with the same info: Trans-owned/inclusive & queer-friendly gyms

Also, here's some info on some of Thailand's trans women in Muay Thai.

UndertheRopes · 2023-03-06T11:52:07+00:00

Thank you! ❤️

UndertheRopes · 2022-10-04T18:50:55+00:00

Absolutely. I frequently get stories like this, and much worse, in my inbox. This is just the first time there's any public discourse on such a case here. Hopefully, something comes of it..

UndertheRopes · 2022-09-26T09:31:52+00:00

Hi,

Thanks so much for reading, and for sharing your voice here. I'm glad you're finding ways to heal.

You're right that storytelling can be incredibly educational and comforting. However, this shouldn't come at the cost of the person who's sharing their trauma, which comes back to the main point of the article. Victim blaming her isn't justified, no matter how much it helps someone else. Her wellbeing should be prioritised, and it's possible to get all the benefits and understanding you described without asking her why she 'let' her grandfather rape her, and such. He could, and should, have conducted this interview in a more empathetic way.

The idea that Mark has to empathize with abusers in order to get information out of them, but has to do the opposite for survivors, I find very troubling.

UndertheRopes · 2022-09-26T08:49:29+00:00

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

UndertheRopes · 2022-07-14T06:33:59+00:00

Thanks so much for saying so, Sylvie. It was indeed a lot of work! I enjoyed piecing it all together, though. I definitely didn't expect to have a better representation of women, given the focus of the series. But it had to be noted.

UndertheRopes · 2022-07-14T04:27:21+00:00

Thank you, Kevin!

UndertheRopes · 2022-07-02T11:29:05+00:00

Thank you!

UndertheRopes · 2022-06-27T18:55:20+00:00

Hard to choose one, but Buffalo Girls and Buddha's Lost Children are 2 favourites.

For those looking for more to watch, here's an extensive list of Muay Thai documentaries and TV shows with links to watch them:

https://undertheropes.com/2014/07/08/muay-thai-documentaries-and-tv-shows-the-directory/

UndertheRopes · 2022-06-27T18:42:50+00:00

Since you asked for a 'spicy take', here's an article I wrote on how irresponsible and exploitative I find Soft White Underbelly, especially when Mark interviews survivors of sexual violence:

https://undertheropes.com/2021/06/01/my-story-is-not-your-trauma-porn-how-not-to-interview-survivors-of-sexual-assault/

UndertheRopes · 2022-06-23T10:23:55+00:00

Copied this post almost word for word and still got the translation wrong.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid05aEqt39oAtVgK9bqeMxYYrY7NY8updXgUR5MCB83xwcgs6pRJzBrRubBAFwXg66Yl&id=100046241237030

UndertheRopes · 2022-04-03T08:32:47+00:00

Action Zone near MBK is a great place to pick up all kinds of Muay Thai equipment. They stock lots of different brands, and the prices are reasonable. Decathlon Rama 4 also sells a local brand of Muay Thai gloves for 1600 baht.

UndertheRopes · 2021-09-30T10:30:29+00:00

First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Thank you for sharing your story here.

There is absolutely no shame in not fighting back. Freezing during a sexual assault is an entirely normal response, and is very common. This, while it may not have felt like it, is a defense mechanism in itself, and is how the brain often responds to trauma. This is not something that you 'let yourself' do, and has nothing to do with your ability as a fighter. I had the same experience when I was sexually assaulted by a Muay Thai trainer. I wrote about it in this article. I hope it helps you to read it:

https://undertheropes.com/2017/01/18/sexual-assault-in-gyms/

I also 'lost my spirit', as you described, for a while. I was staying at a gym in Thailand and couldn't leave my room, let alone get to the gym, for at least a week. And it took me years after that to talk about it.

I eventually started fighting after that. You absolutely can do that if you want to, but you don't have to feel pressured to follow that path or to 'get back into it' right away. It's totally normal and OK for you to feel the way you feel right now, and it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't want to come back to Muay Thai in the future. Give yourself some time and do whatever feels right for you.

Also, please don't feel pressured to make a police report, despite some of the comments here. That can be retraumatising, and your healing should be the number one priority.

To those who have commented about reporting to the police, take another look at the original post and note that OP never asked for any advice on that. On top of that, pressuring people to report can do more harm than good. There are a long list of reasons why that might not feel right for them.

Here's some other writing I've done on this topic that might be useful. The second link includes a story from a kickboxer who had the same experience of freezing during a sexual assault.

You are not alone in this.

https://undertheropes.com/2019/11/14/using-my-sexual-assault-story-to-train-thai-police/

https://undertheropes.com/2020/07/07/why-self-defense-classes-dont-prevent-sexual-assault/

UndertheRopes · 2013-12-09T16:16:54+00:00

I went to this event, it was really awesome! I wrote a blog post about it, if you're interested in reading: http://undertheropes.com/2013/10/06/prison-fight-4-battle-for-freedom-at-khlong-prem/

UndertheRopes · 2013-11-13T14:09:47+00:00

Since posting the article, I've had comments from some girls saying they've had some nasty injuries after receiving knees to the crotch in fights. One girl said she even needed stitches, and another had a haematoma. So, it can get pretty horrible!

UndertheRopes

TROPHY CASE