Muay Thai
In Thailand, our first kickboxing training session at Tiger Muay Thai was a group private: The Elite instructors and three Thai trainers. Of the trainers, one stood out from the others. This isn’t a criticism of the other trainers; they were fantastic, but in the “Land of Smiles,” Kru Nai’s smile was infectious. He laughed often and was quick with encouragement and just had a joyful quality to him that was immediately apparent. And when I heard his story later that day, it made sense. I’m passing it on because it involves several of the ideas that we talk about when we discuss what it means to be a martial artist.
Several years ago, Kru Nai’s seven month old daughter had less than a month to live. Tuptim desperately needed a liver transplant but the family couldn’t afford the $50,000 surgery (most families in Thailand make less than $4,000 a year). Students and trainers at the camp appealed to Dana White, the president of the UFC, to pay for the surgery. Long story short, he did, and Tuptim is alive and thriving today. Most of us will (thankfully) never know the depths of anguish and helplessness the loss or imminent loss of a child brings. Kru Nai experienced that despair and unexpected salvation from a stranger. No wonder his smile is so wide and his attitude so remarkable…every day his little girl is in the world is a gift.
It was such a pleasure to be around Kru Nai and to train with him, and it started me thinking: Does it take the unexpected rescue from one of the worst things a person can experience to produce a positive outlook on the world and life? I hope not, although I’m sure such an event would give any one of us reason to be grateful every day of our lives. How can we achieve a fraction of that joy, that attitude that makes each day a miracle and affects everyone around us in a positive way? I don’t pretend to have the answers…I think the way is different for everyone. All I know is that it’s worth trying to find your particular way…there’s a peace that accompanies true appreciation and joy. I saw it in him and hope to achieve it more often for myself.
The other thing that I take from Kru Nai’s story is the potential impact of giving. Not many people can give huge sums like Dana White (whatever your feelings for Dana White as a businessman, you can’t deny that he saved a little girl’s life and changed a family’s future), but we can all do something. If donating money to charities or groups that help people in need isn’t an option for you, consider donating time. Anything you can give will make a difference and will help someone smile a little brighter. You never truly know how your efforts affect others, but they absolutely do.
The instructors’ blog posts talk a lot about what it means to be a martial artist. It’s easy to be cynical in this day and age. We all get wrapped up in the aspects of our lives where we’re struggling and get hyper focused on ourselves and our little world. This is human, but it’s not an excuse to stop trying to improve. Affecting the world and the people around you in a positive way, through your attitude and compassion, is a crucial part of martial arts. I’m so glad I met Kru Nai…his story reminded me of this in such a powerful way…
~Katie
Elite Training Center
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net
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