Muay Thai boxing card to raise funds for women's shelter

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A group of local women have found a perfect way to get their kicks while also helping out a worthy cause.

Chicks That Kick (CTK), an all-female Muay Thai kickboxing collective, is holding its second fundraising event, with a card full of bouts at the Eglinton Grand Theatre on Sept. 30.

Money raised through ticket sales will go toward Yellow Brick House, a women's shelter north of Toronto. The group hopes to build strongly on the $15,000 that their first event, which took place at the York Event Theatre in 2005, raised for Sick Kids Hospital.

"When we first started Chicks That Kick, we saw the need for more women participating in sport," said group co-founder Sarah Thompson. "Muay Thai kickboxing is probably the strongest in terms of conditioning. You're always working on your body and increasing your strength."

Thompson said the sport helps women not only condition their bodies, it also teaches valuable self-defense skills and helps boost confidence.

The ancient martial art traditionally involves kicks, punches, knees and elbows, though CTK members use stricter kickboxing regulations that make the use of elbows illegal.

CTK's 2007 fundraiser, hosted by Gemini-nominated actor Carlos Diaz (Rent-a-Goalie), will include eight bouts, with newer members of the group joining some of the founders in action. Thompson said she hopes the collective's upcoming event creates as much interest for the sport as their previous fundraiser.

"Back after the first event, we got about 200 e-mails from women wanting to know where to take Muay Thai (kickboxing)," she said. "The sport was only westernized in the '70s, but it's growing in popularity."

Thompson added the choice of Yellow Brick House was a natural fit for the event, as Muay Thai kickboxing promotes positive values to women, promoting both physical and inner strength.

Lucy O'Neill, a founding member of CTK and one of the athletes on the card for the event, said she was drawn to the sport when she first saw it in Thailand five years ago. She said the sport challenged her in ways she did not expect.

"It's not just physically challenging, it's mentally challenging as well," she said. "It pushes you way past your own comfort level in terms of the work you do. It's not like going to the gym and doing a basic workout; it's a constant workout."

O'Neill added, however, the payoff has been more than worth the pain. She has lost 20 pounds and become far more toned through Muay Thai workouts.

"It also helps you learn more about yourself and your own weaknesses, and as a woman, it helps you become more assertive," she said.

The collective has a definitive following. Ringside VIP tickets have already sold out for Chicks That Kick 2007, and regular tickets are also selling fast.

The event takes place at the Eglinton Grand Theatre, 400 Eglinton Ave. W., at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.ticketbreak.com. For more information on the group, visit www.chicksthatkick.com.