IFMA World MuayThai/Kickboxing Championships Nov. 27-Dec. 5th
School teacher Kristina Alvarez is one of the fighters representing the U.S. Muay Thai Kickboxing team that will compete in Thailand in the World Muay Thai Championships November 27th to December 5, 2010.
The Muaythai/kickboxing event of the year has 100 countries participating. Opening ceremonies feature Thailand’s National Cultural Show followed by over 100 Muaythai fights per day in the seven-day expo. Finals will be at Sanam Luang in Thailand to honor the King’s Birthday.
Representing the U.S. in this event will be 20 year-old Kristina “The Phoenix” Alvarez, a substitute school teacher at Creekside Elementary School in Poway, CA.
After receiving only four months of instruction in 2009, her coach, the highly regarded Alex Palma of the Nogueira Brother’s Black House Gym along Miramar Road in San Diego, decided to enter Alvarez in the USMTA Battle of Champions held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on November 20, 2009. Even though she was defeated in that first match, she learned a lot from Roya Fardi of American Boxing in Pacific Beach who had been training for three years. Palma was so gratified by her quick maturation, he decided to work even harder with her.Nine months later Alvarez was in San Mateo, CA. to compete in a qualifying match for a spot on the U.S. Muaythai team to represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Thailand. Since Alvarez was an out-of-towner, her coach intimated she’d have to win convincingly and she did. Alvarez not only defeated Katy Telio, she came very close to knocking her out.
Next up was the Regionals in Santa Clara on September 18th and again Alvarez went the distance against Jade Hayes, another hometown heroin. Fortunately, her tenacity and punching skills paid off and she was awarded the split-decision victory.
When asked why she loves the sport, she answered, “Muaythai is like an intense fun game of tag. I just have to make sure I tag my opponent more often and last.”
Kristina, who is single, loves her early morning runs and her complete involvement in the development of the youngsters she teachers. She enjoys comic relief and her favorite TV show is: It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. Since she has Mexican/German lineage, her fellow gym rats began calling her, “Beaner-snitchel.” She also enjoys Bikrams yoga; a comprehensive 90-minute exercise consisting of a series of 26 Asanas (postures) and 2 breathing exercises, that was developed by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury in the 1960‘s. Each posture is done twice with a Savasana (rest pose) between each, holding to the three primary principles of Hatha Yoga.
Note well: Funding for our U.S. national team has all but disappeared. Past teams were fortunate enough to pick up some major sponsorships, but due to the poor economy this year’s team will have to raise much of its’ own capital to fund this trip.
