There are those who dream of moving to another country to chase their dreams and there are others who actually do it. Siham, a 24 year old woman from Belgium, has done just that. She has moved to Thailand to pursue her dream of becoming a good fighter. After four years of training kickboxing in her home country, she decided to make the bold decision to come to Thailand – the birthplace of Muay Thai. For 8 months she is ready to dedicate herself to her craft, training relentlessly, and stepping into the ring as many times as she can. Her journey is one of perseverance, discipline, and growth, and she hopes to inspire others who are also chasing their dreams in combat sports.
Why did you choose to train at Rawai Muay Thai?
For Siham, training kickboxing in Belgium has been rewarding, but she always knew there was more to learn. From her first visit to Rawai Muay Thai she fell in love with the people, the place. In Thailand, she has access to some of the best trainers, facilities, and a community of fighters who are just as passionate about the art as she is.
“It’s my third time at Rawai Muay Thai. I fell in love with the place from my first visit. The people are very sweet and very kind. They teach you with all their heart and passion. That’s why I love this place. In Belgium I trained kickboxing for 4 years. Then I tried Muay Thai for the first time here, in Thailand and now I don’t like kickboxing anymore,” she says with a shy grin.
What are the challenges of living so far from home?
Moving to a foreign country and fully immersing yourself in the world of Muay Thai comes with its own set of challenges. Siham quickly learned that the intensity of training in Thailand is unlike anything she had experienced before. The fighters here are tough, and the pace is relentless. “My body was sore all the time.”
The language barrier made it harder to communicate during training. But I knew I had to push through. Along with the training, she had to adapt to the local customs, food, and living in a completely different environment. The homesickness crept in, but her passion for Muay Thai kept her focused on her goal. “Sometimes I get homesick and I miss my Mom,” Siham admits. But I call her often and my friends and family are very supportive. So it’s now or never. This was my big dream, I am living the dream now.
What is your typical day like?
Describe a typical day for her in Thailand—her routine, training schedule, and what it’s like to live in a Muay Thai camp. Does she train twice a day? What time does she wake up? Does she have any unique practices or rituals?
Every day in Thailand starts early for Siham. Her alarm rings at 5:00 AM, she has a small breakfast and coffee and by 6:00 AM, she’s already running with the other fighters. They run about 10 KM every morning. Back in the gym the class starts at 8:00 AM: skipping rope, hitting the bags, kicking the pads and a lot of sparring and clinching. After class she showers and eats lunch and then she takes a long nap to recover.
At 3:30 PM they run again, this time only 5 KM but in the hot afternoon sun so it’s very tiring. Back in the gym by 4 o’clock for more bag work, pads and sparring. The classes end with situps and pushups. Some days they focus on strength and conditioning circuit training, other days they do sprints.
Dinner with friends and go to sleep early at around 9:00 PM. Sleep is so important for fighters, who need to recover quickly to be able to train again the next day.
What do you do in your free time?
Sunday is her favorite day because she gets to rest. “I sometimes go to the beach or go to town to have coffee with friends. Anything to get my mind off the training or my upcoming fight for a bit. I also work online to support myself so I spend a few hours on my laptop answering emails.” And let’s not forget the most relaxing way to rest, the famous Thai massage. She gets a massage often to relieve the soreness in her muscles.
What’s your fight record?
Photo by Josef Hlavka.
I have 9 fights total. 8 wins and 1 loss My only loss was due to doctor stoppage. I had a cut above my eye from an elbow strike and got four stitches at the stadium.
Each fight is an opportunity to learn something new, whether it’s improving her technique, managing her nerves, or adapting to different opponents. Every fight is a challenge both mentally and physically. “Every fight teaches me something important, even when I don’t win,” she explains. ‘It’s all part of the journey. My goal is to become a good fighter.
As she faces more experienced opponents, she will be required to weigh-in for fights. Cutting weight is one of the hardest parts of this sport. “I look forward to the challenge,” she admits. “It’s the next step, the next level.”
What is fight day like?
I am very calm during the day but when I walk into the stadium I get nervous. I sit down and my coach starts to wrap my hands. It’s a very silent moment when my head goes crazy. Many thoughts run through my mind all at once: what’s going to happen, what am I going to eat after that fight. My thoughts bounce from left to right to left again.”
When it’s time to enter the ring I take a deep breath and step inside. I bow and when the music starts I perform the Wai Kru. That’s when I calm down. I focus on each movement of the sacred dance that symbolizes respect to your teacher. When the bell rings and the fight starts I just focus on my opponent and I listen to my corner and showtime! It’s why we train so hard.”
What do you do the day after a fight?
“I sleep for a long time. I go to the gym and stay with the kids, relax. I eat a lot of candies, chocolates.” Siham also drinks the infamous Yah Radompon, a traditional Chinese medicine that most Thai fighters take after their bouts. It helps with flushing out hematomas that build up after a fight.
What is your goal?
For Siham it’s simple. She wants to improve as much as she can in the time she has. “My goal is to be a good fighter. I want to put all the work into it. That’s what I really want”.
What has this experience taught you about yourself?
I learned that life just works out when you go for 100% for your dream. You have to dare and put the work into it. I had the bad habit of saying ‘I can’t do that.’ If you really want it you can do it. I can do more than I think and that encourages me to dream bigger.
Have you matured as a person? Are you more responsible now since you are living alone abroad?
I have matured as a person. I no longer take things or people for granted. Living far from home in a different country with a different culture I have had to learn to take care of myself. Back home when I would get sick my Mom would take care of me. Now I live alone and have to take care of myself, going to buy medicine and food. It sounds like nothing but it’s a small first step to becoming an adult.
I can take care of myself now. I have a good work-train-life balance. Of course it goes with ups and downs but I love all the steps I take.
I hope people dare to do the same: your life is your drawing and you color it the way you want.
Conclusion
Siham’s story is a reminder that pursuing your passion often means stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s about embracing challenges, pushing through difficulties, and never losing sight of your goals. Whether you’re a fighter or simply someone chasing a dream, the journey is just as important as the destination. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll find yourself in Thailand, training hard and stepping into the ring, just like her.
If you are interested in travelling to Thailand and training send us an email: rawaimuaythai@gmail.com
