Page 30 - San Diego Woman Anna Adams

Women of Distinction

teaching a handful of women gyms, and I’m really grateful to
how to fight. everyone I’ve been able to train
“It was the absolute best with.”
decision I ever made,” said Erica With the advent of wom-
Zimmer, who started taking en-only gyms and inclusivity
Selina’s classes 18 months ago. within the fighting community
“There’s an empowerment to becoming more prevalent, classes
her and the class, and the pride like these can be a steppingstone
that you get just being with a lot for women to train in more
of women, where you can feel male-dominated spaces.
free to make mistakes, not feel “I started in her classes, and
silly, not feel embarrassed about after about four months, I was
anything.” itching for more,” said Zimmer.
The class has a variety, from Zimmer moved on to some of
beginners to competitive fighters the coed classes that the gym
Courtesy of Selina Flores who compete in competitions provides, saying that Selina’s
Muay Thai World worldwide. class was the thing she needed

to get going. “I would have only
“I think there’s a weird dual-
Champion Teaches ity to it,” said Emily Romabiles, a started in her class because of the
student who trains competitively.
comfort level.”
Looking back, Flores said,
“We’re doing a combat sport, but
Women-Only this is…the most wholesome and “It was a nightmare for me, and
it turned into the best thing that
accepting group that I have ever
ever happened to me. And now,
trained with. I’ve been fortu-
Kickboxing Class nate to train in a few different this is my career. This is my life
countries and in a few different
now. I love what I do.”

By Jasmine Kirstein

The only reason 15-year-old women were not able to touch a
Selina Flores from Spring Valley Muay Thai fighting ring, let alone
put up with self-defense classes compete. But in 2020, the BWC
was that she lost a bet with her fa- Muay Thai launched its first-ever
ther. Fighting was not appealing. women’s ranking.
It was too masculine, and Flores Although this is the most
was too close to a sweaty strang- prestigious title in Muay Thai,
er. But a bet was a bet. She only Flores said, “There’s still more
had to last three months before I can do. I don’t think that the
she could go back to gymnastics mentality would change when
and cheer. I did reach my goals. I think it
However, almost ten years would never be enough. Wanting
after making that bet, Selina to be the best, and me wanting to
“Teep Queen” Flores faced off prove it and just beating as many Photo Credit: Christian Oranges from E&G Photos
with Bryony Soden in Australia girls as I can, that idea just keeps
for the World Boxing Council me going.”
(WBC) World Championship On top of training, Flores
Muay Thai competition. After also coaches at Premier Fight
five grueling bouts Flores won, and Fitness of Spring Valley.
making her the super-bantam- For the past two years, Flores
weight world champion. had grown her all-women’s class
Muay Thai is traditional at Premier Fight and Fitness
Thai boxing, also called the “art from the ground up. With the
of 8 limbs” because it incorpo- encouragement of her boyfriend,
rates fists, elbows, knees, and Jeremy Shepard, whose family
feet. Due to traditional beliefs, owns the gym, Flores started

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Courtesy of Selina Flores