Roll with it

2/21/2026

I began learning Muy Thai at my local gym. I have about a decade of experience doing karate and martial arts, so I thought I would find this easy peasy. Boy was I wrong! Here are some observations I’ve been making:

Wearing gloves feels so different. In karate, which is a mix of Chinese and and Ryukyuan (indigenous people of Okinawa) martial arts, everything is pretty much bare handed. When we sparred we wore hand covers to soften the punches and shin guards for similar reasons.

Sparring is a different beast than kata. In karate, we learn forms called kata. Kata involves learning a specific sequence of movement that represents moves that can be used to fight. I quickly found how useless that is in sparring with Muy Thai.

Comradery is a must. Perhaps because of the people who make up the class, I feel seen and safe in this space. This is a specific space for trans, nonbinary, and female-identifying persons, and that may contribute to the feeling of safety. We are all in this together, and we make sure no one gets hurt or goes too hard. We make sure we communicate if something feels off or hurts.

Overall I think I’ve found a solid community of people that I did not expect to meet. In this day and age I’ve come to truly appreciate being in relation with people who have similar values. I love being in community here, and I look forward to learning more!