Tom Yum

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...66&q=muay+thai

Somchai Jaidee (58kg) vs. Lucia Rijker (59kg).

Awesome! Rijker hangs with Jaidee for a round and does decently. She gets KO'd in the 2nd. Still, she's got major skills and heart to fight a man especially a Thai!

Garland

Mrs. Rijker is an inspiration to EVERYONE in combat sports, not just women. The fact that she comes from a boxing background, and competes in a variety of combat sports SUCCESSFULLY to the extent that she has outshadows many of the pro men that dedicate themselves to just one aspect of sportive fighting.

Go get "Shadow Boxers"
it's Mrs. Rijker's documentary...she also played the bad-girl in "Million Dollar Baby".


Women in combat sports have been, very unfortunately, portrayed as almost a novelty, or as an obscurity that either gets little attention, or is belittled. I know several women who train, put their hours in, and compete with the same if not much more fortitude and perseverance than many of the men. (of course, because of how women's fights are viewed, and are not as easily accepted, they have to dedicate much more of themselves mentally, psychologically, and something not as often talked about amongst fighters or MAists...socially, than men.)

My best wishes, prayers, heart, and respect go out to everyone in that position, including women, and anyone else who faces pressures outside of the ring that may prevent them from slipping between those ropes...but do it anyway. That is dedication and spirit, and it is to be honoured and reveared, not scorned, or taken lightly...it is not to be mocked.

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Tom Yum

Nice tribute, Garland.

You got it in reverse. She started in a muay thai background then switched to boxing for the bigger payday. She was a top name in muay thai and is now a top name in boxing. I remember seeing her in Million Dollar Baby; she had some freakin' thunderthigs and ripped arms (I mistook her for Laila Ali).

Rijker's a mult-talented woman!

Bjjexpertise@be

Is she the chick that the main character goes against in the movie? I would've never reckognized her.

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