Hello again Fighty Friends! HAPPY SUMMER!
Today I got to sit and chat with not only one of the best fighters from Canada, but someone I have a LOOOONG (and good!) history with - SANDRA BASTIAN!
right out of the gate we talk about retiring from the fight life and having to find life after fighting (youngins - we keep bringing this topic up on many podcasts - PAY ATTENTION!) which lead to Sandra leaving Alberta for BC and eventually opening up a gym - HEART & SOUL MUAY THAI - and into promoting events - INFANITE MUAY THAI SERIES - on Vancouver Island.
OF COURSE I get her to tells us all the titles and championships Sandra has won including best female fighter at IFMA (what?!?!), winning world titles, European titles and North American titles to name a few. It was awesome breaking down the timeline from first class visit to what's happening in Sandra's Muay Thai life now - it's really cool and a privilege to watch the journey come full circle for Sandra!
I get to ask Sandra some fan questions and questions I have always been curious about. ALSO, Sandra and myself started our Muay Thai journey at a similar time in the same gym - although different stages in life - so we talk about how and where we started, WHICH GOT ME A LITTLE EMOTIONAL! it just all hit me at once that we were different people than which was a lifetime ago, but yet feels like yesterday, mixed with everything we have done with Muay Thai since - PROUDLY! My martial arts history is important to me and the lessons I learned (and received lol) really have molded me and I hold those lessons close.
Sandra, didn't chase titles, fame, recognition or accolades. She did it because it fun and she enjoyed it, SIMPLE! and to be honest I found it a little refreshing.
What a great chat with a great fighter from the Great White North! it was special to go down memory lane and catch up what we have been doing after so many years. SHOUT OUT TO YOU SANDRA!