Iris Dam - Koh Phangan's Female Godzilla!

Phanganist watched Iris in Muay Thai at S.suksom stadium on the 17th of June where she showed us all her now famous ‘knock out kick’!

This girl is showing a new female side to the sport on Phangan and wants to share it with other females.

She is fighting on the 14th of July in Krabi where the fight will be shown live on channel 5, this will be her first big professional fight so we caught up with Iris to find out more...

Welcome Iris so what is your Koh Phangan story?
I was travelling for five weeks and then I wanted to do a muay thai camp so came here and already changed my flight to June in January.

Then I started training at Kobra and that’s where I met Koert, he was looking for staff so offered me a job.

I switched to Chinnarach gym and Chin got me in for a fight for the 14th of July and that's gonna be a big fight in Krabi in the stadium on live tv!

Last week on Friday Chin said that maybe I should fight before the big one as it’s my first proper muay thai fight, so on the Monday we decided, there was a girl to fight with and we did the fight on Friday.

How long have you been training for and what’s the process?
I was practising kickboxing in Holland for eight years and instructing and the difference between kickboxing and muay thai is kickboxing is more strong punching and muay thai is more a little like dance, more relaxed and graceful. Also when you see dutch fighters like myself you can see the way we stand is different where’s here the fighters are more graceful.

My parents wanted me to learn self protection so this is why I got into kickboxing but I liked it a bit too much!

What are the differences in Muay Thai?
In Holland we train for one hour where as here it is for two or three hours. Because I work in fitness I train in the morning for one or two hours and then two hours in the evening at the actual  muay thai gym so it’s up to five hours training a day, six days a week.

For a girl I’m really strong and in fitness I can get a good balance between strength and power and use it in the muay thai.

We see some Thai traditions in Muay Thai, what are these about?
The Wai kroo which is a dance before the fight, firstly a prayer to buddha and then a sign of respect to our trainers.

It also gets you more relaxed before the fight as you are already in front of everybody and you get to know the ring more and also stretch.

One bad point in muay thai is the losing weight, you’re always trying to get the lowest weight for practising, it’s because the less you weigh the less the other person weighs so you always try to be as light as possible.

How was the fight on the 17th of June?
I started training at Chinnarach for three weeks with Chin and he already had so much confidence in me so offered me to fight. He said it’s not important to win or lose, more to get the feeling of being in the ring especially ready for July. So we practiced my balance and the reach I had to be in and it was nice that even in this short time they got so much confidence in me and gave me this fight.

Chin is a really good trainer, he really cares about his students and knows what you need to work on and helps you individually.

And how do you find being a woman in a mostly men’s industry?
First of all, I’m dutch so I like being around guys, I like their vibe and I can take the jokes.

I work around men in the gym also and their jokes are not for everyone, standing in the ring is not for anyone but when I am in the ring I get emotionless, I listen to the trainer and do what’s got to be done.

Girls can be whiny and difficult and some will not say what they want, I like that to say what I think and if something’s bothering me I don’t deny it, if I’m happy I’m happy and if I’m sad I don’t cover it.

Does muay thai help people mentally?
As a trainer I see this in students after couple of months, they get the boost to conquer the world and then realise ‘oh I’m not even half way’ but it’s definitely nice to know that if something happens then you know how to protect yourself.

It gives you the confidence to know you’re strong and people don't expect it of me to be a muay thai fighter. If they attacked me they would never see it coming, but as an athlete I would never take it outside of the ring and would never fight in a bar because I know I’m stronger and apparently I have got this ‘knock out kick’ in me!

I don’t abuse the sport, I really see it as a sport and the people who practice should not use it outside of the ring.

Girls can kick arse too! Don’t let them intimidate you, you see lots of guys all shirtless in the gym but most of them are soft hearted and most of the time I can kick their ass.

So get you respect from them.

My nickname is ‘godzilla’ as I kick quite strong, my friend came up with it as he’s a UFC fighter and said ‘you’re so strong, you're like godzilla!’.

What do you do in the run up to a fight?
Right now I’m working on my speed and coordination, I also have to lose weight so I will be on a diet and doing cardio.

I love the sport but I hate the dieting as I love food too much!

So how do you find balance with this?
Once a week I have my cheat meal and can look forward to this all week, I am a chef so know how to make things healthier and have been on and off diets for so long I know how to add this or that to make things more interesting.

What do you think is good about doing Muay Thai on Koh Phangan?
The thing I love is to practise the sport I love on the island, Phangan is the best place in the world as you can be having training in the morning then resting at the beach watching sunset.

It is the combination of training and the lifestyle, sometimes it can be hard when friends are partying but I have to get up early for training but I’m really happy with Chin and it is a good gym and you have the combination of beauty on this island.

I love taking hikes to Eden or bottle beach and it is nice to have your work out on this beautiful island.

What do you enjoy in your free time?
I love going to the beach with friends or to relax, have dinner and go to nice places with nice hikes.

I really do love taking hikes, it is so beautiful here. Also partying, I love Eden but they have to wait till after the 14th of July until they will see me again there!

The food on the island is amazing, there are great restaurants and the people are really nice.

I get the feeling of home here, in Samui I can stay for two days but I have to get back to Phangan.

What would you say to people, especially girls, thinking of trying Muay Thai?
I would say just do it, don’t think about the rest. Even if you are overweight or people wouldn’t expect you to do muay thai, it’s a great workout and also really fun!

It is good for getting you confidence and good to know how to protect yourself, in Thailand it is important that girls know how to protect themselves and are not always dependant on someone else.
 

What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I have this fight in Krabi on the 14th of July and hopefully if all goes well it will give a kickstart for me to go professional in muay thai.

I am also working at Body Fitness gym in Thong Sala and teach private training and classes so people can come and ask questions to do with diets and training.

I will stay in Koh Phangan and keep practising and I would like to have more and better fights and definately go professional with the fighting.