Image courtesy of USAbudo.com |
Kat poses from a promotional shot. |
From double axels to spinning back fists,
Kat Thomas is driven to prove “hitting like a girl” should be considered the
highest compliment.
A former high-level figure skater, Kat
isn’t just used to competition, she’s fueled by it. Sitting down to chat with
TFC, Kat looked back at the transition from Ice Princess to Head Kick
Specialist.
It doesn’t take more than a quick glance
around Kat’s room to see how important competition is to her. Her walls are
draped in medals and ribbons, none showing a number higher than 3rd.
Trophies are stacked on a giant display case in the corner of the room. Figure
skating had consumed Kat’s life from age 8 until 18, the age she finally got
fed up hearing “you hit like a girl” as an insult.
“I
knew I had more strength in my legs than most of the guys yelling this “insult”
at me. I was a high level athlete, but since I was also a girl, these guys
looked down on me. I decided then and there to step away from the ice and learn
about fighting.”
Kat after a training session. |
Now 22 years old, Kat has earned the
nickname “Kryptonite” and is considered one of the better fighters at her club.
The transition from figure-skating to kickboxing seems like a strange one, but Kat
explained how useful her skating background was.
“I
already had great balance, core strength and flexibility. Those are all skills
that take quite a while to build up, which slows the development of some
fighters. Fortunately, I had a solid base when I started training, so I could
focus more of my time and energy on learning technique.
Kat didn’t just learn the technique
quickly; she applied it in the ring almost as fast. After only 6 months of
training, Kat had her first fight; an experience she said was more daunting
than any figure skating competition.
“As
someone who had competed from a young age, I figured my nerves were like steel,
that I wouldn’t get nervous before a big event anymore. I was so very wrong.
Walking into the ring for my first fight was more nerve-wracking than my
biggest figure skating competition ever was. Knowing you are about to get hit –
many times – takes a special type of mental preparation that you can’t understand
until you experience it.”
“Kryptonite” walked out of her first fight victorious,
and has continued that streak for many fights since. Kat hopes that one day the
ribbons on her wall will be replaced by Championship Belts.
Until then,
Kryptonite is proud to walk into the ring, bow to her opponent, and Hit Like a
Girl.