Thailand trip just for kicks

Roxburgh’s Mykayla Robert is heading to kick boxing championships in Thailand. Photo: Stephen...
Roxburgh’s Mykayla Robert is heading to kick boxing championships in Thailand. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery.
When Roxburgh girl Mykayla Robert (16) is dancing around the Muay Thai ring, she isn’t thinking about pain.

"When you’re fighting there’s too much adrenaline. You do come out with bruises, though."

After two years in the Thai combat sport, she is to heading its spiritual home in Bangkok in August as the South Island’s sole representative at the international Amateur Muay Thai Championships. She will be joined by 25 other New Zealanders.

Mykayla said she was attracted to the sport because "it was different".

"No-one else was doing it. It teaches discipline and it’s really great exercise. You need to be fit."

The town is behind the young fighter and has helped to raise the $3500 required for the trip.

"There have been a few cake stalls and raffles. It’s really cool."

She has been  training six days a week to prepare for a fight this weekend in Napier to raise funds for another entrant.‘‘In training you do a lot of imagery and relaxation.

"Before a fight the training is about 90% mental and 10% physical."

She was nervous about the competition, she said.

"There will be people there with a lot more experience than me, but I’m going to go there trying to win."

Her coach is a legend of the sport, former world champion Sue Glassy.

As well as the championships, she will attend three training camps, including one in Thailand.

Mother Vicky Whyte said "what parent wouldn’t be proud?".

However, she sometimes "cringed" at the bruises Mykayla came home with.

"Especially as someone who works for St John’s.

"I’m more worried about her going to Thailand on her own, although someone will be there to get her at the end."

Her daughter’s training schedule was "intense", she said.

"We work around a Mykayla calendar at the moment, but that’s the way it should be."

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

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