by Flip English
Being Nathan Kitchen requires a steady set of nerves. When game time comes and he plays his role of coach there is extra strain on his mind. The fighters he corners are his wife and two daughters so the pressure to win is unique. In this scenario if his fighters lose a match then the defeat is the worst of wounds, cutting deeper into flesh and closer to the heart because he is more than just their coach. As father and husband a loss is an amplified pain. It can feel like a failure to protect, an obligation that comes with being the man of the house. It’s not a stress most trainers endure since they don’t go home with their work, but Nathan bears it well turning his worries into focus:“I train all three very hard and put in a lot of extra time so I don’t have to watch them get hurt in the ring.”
Because his fighters are his family it strengthens the incentive to care for kin, and probably the reason why the Kitchens thrive in the sport. But to be a serious trainer Nathan must commit to strict demands, one of which involving a separation of minds. Mentally he divides the roles of family man and coach, coldly detaching the two so that their camp doesn’t soften.
When Nathan trains for fights he is stringent about his business. Under Nathan’s watch there are no passes in his gym, no special shortcuts and nothing held back, regardless if all the fighters share his surname or not. Staying true to this belief he becomes the spoiler of fun, speaking the voice of criticism as a requisite for his role. Though it annoys to hear disapproval it’s an expression of his care, and an act of hard love that will benefit their game. For Nathan, it’s also helps cope with the stress of familial frets, because the devotion to his duties is his insurance against regret:
“It does prove very difficult, especially in the weeks leading up to a fight when they have over-trained, dieted and look to me as husband/daddy for a sympathetic ear, but as coach I have to encourage them to push harder. If Julie my daughters lose but have given their all, it doesn’t worry me as I am more concerned if they have injuries or are emotionally upset, but if they lose because they haven’t listened, it is very hard for me not to become agitated with them, which often results in arguments at home.”
Dealing with the complexity of emotions is a balance act in itself, figuring out when to be sensitive and when to play the opposite. Like a juggler who knows when to catch and when to toss, to manage home and gym needs the same adjusting hands. It’s the other demand that Nathan has to master, the switching of styles from stern to supportive. The callous hands that mold them in the gym are the same ones that embrace them at home, and having the dexterous skill to express a tender touch is what makes their chemistry work: “I love my wife, children, family and Muaythai above everything else in life and with all my heart.”
The affection Nathan has for family is the gravity that pulls them close, bonding their circle tight like the hub of a wheel. But as they roll through life it has become a gruelingly slow commute, impeded not by fighters but politicians of the game. Though they are driven and know the direction they want to go, the road getting there is congested with nonsense: “Politics have always been our number one obstacle in Julie’s career.” Especially common in athletics is the partiality in the genders, dawdling fair progression for females in all of sports, which for the Kitchens has been the speed bumps in the tracks of their careers:
“I totally understand and respect that men are stronger than women and have larger categories to compete against top Thai opponents etc, but to openly discredit or neglect a good natured, hard working fighter such as Julie makes me extremely upset, both as a coach who has grafted to produce a good fighter and also a husband who wants to shout from the roof tops how proud he is about his wife’s achievements.”
The Muay Thai market can be shady at times just like in any industry, but according to Nathan, particularly “there is no ‘united’ in the United Kingdom.” By Nathan’s admission, promoting a female fighter in a male-dominated game has been “the most difficult task of all,” wrestling with the pointless hassle that comes from sexism in sports. But luckily for his fighters the tension is absorbed by their trainer, Nathan being the cushion that bumpers negativity: “I think this is where myself and Julie as a team can always benefit as she doesn’t have to get involved with these idiots and is left to concentrate on her opponents.”
Sometimes it can be a grubby business, but in Muay Thai there is hardly a ring that is spotless of blood, for not all fights are easy and clean. But as their journey continues amid setbacks and heartaches, this family will trudge through all the dirt. Against the muddy drama of the British scene, its muck of sexism and grimy politics, the tenacity of the Kitchens remain sturdily intact. Though confronted with injustices they stay strong in their stance, true to their goals in spite of the odds that overwhelm, and rigid against reality even when it seems unfavorable to their cause: “I can honestly say that I have lost way too much now including our family home, job, car etc in pursuit of Julie’s career to think of turning back or quitting, despite having had numerous breakdowns and illness.”
But while it hasn’t been rainbows and roses the rays of optimism shine ahead, piercing through the clouds with the support of Julie’s fans: “her fan base is so surreal and it keeps me positive throughout the difficult times.” The positivity is pleasing and eases the weight on Nathan’s shoulders, helping to shift their gears to stay on an emotional high, like an extra boost of power when their moods just want to crash. Especially now when new opportunities are within reach, that kind of backing will keep them fresh for what’s ahead: “the Muaythai Premier League is huge for us, it has uplifted me so much that to catch me without a big smile on my face is virtually impossible at the moment.”
With its debut, the Premier League is a break in the storm, though this storm is full of fighters as hungry as them. It’s a do-or-die moment that will test Nathan even more, but after all he’s troubled through it’s more like a reward than a challenge: “with the introduction of the MPL, Julie has finally after 9 years got paid for every fight and has a goal of winning the $20,000. This is a year’s wages to both of us and is more than just prize money as we have both given up work to pursue Julie’s career.” If serendipity decides, after all the hate, all the wait, and all their faith, winning the league will validate all the work that they’ve put in. But best believe that Nathan is leaving nothing up to chance, because the belts that they have won were not built by idle hands.
Especially now, with all the pressure that comes with coaching the Kitchen clan, playing Nathan’s role can be the hardest one to hold. He is no second fiddle as outsiders may seem to think, but conductor of a band full of fighters finely tuned. And with his musicians primed to rock and the stage already set, look for Nathan Kitchen to play his best number yet.
Because his fighters are his family it strengthens the incentive to care for kin, and probably the reason why the Kitchens thrive in the sport. But to be a serious trainer Nathan must commit to strict demands, one of which involving a separation of minds. Mentally he divides the roles of family man and coach, coldly detaching the two so that their camp doesn’t soften.
When Nathan trains for fights he is stringent about his business. Under Nathan’s watch there are no passes in his gym, no special shortcuts and nothing held back, regardless if all the fighters share his surname or not. Staying true to this belief he becomes the spoiler of fun, speaking the voice of criticism as a requisite for his role. Though it annoys to hear disapproval it’s an expression of his care, and an act of hard love that will benefit their game. For Nathan, it’s also helps cope with the stress of familial frets, because the devotion to his duties is his insurance against regret:
“It does prove very difficult, especially in the weeks leading up to a fight when they have over-trained, dieted and look to me as husband/daddy for a sympathetic ear, but as coach I have to encourage them to push harder. If Julie my daughters lose but have given their all, it doesn’t worry me as I am more concerned if they have injuries or are emotionally upset, but if they lose because they haven’t listened, it is very hard for me not to become agitated with them, which often results in arguments at home.”
Dealing with the complexity of emotions is a balance act in itself, figuring out when to be sensitive and when to play the opposite. Like a juggler who knows when to catch and when to toss, to manage home and gym needs the same adjusting hands. It’s the other demand that Nathan has to master, the switching of styles from stern to supportive. The callous hands that mold them in the gym are the same ones that embrace them at home, and having the dexterous skill to express a tender touch is what makes their chemistry work: “I love my wife, children, family and Muaythai above everything else in life and with all my heart.”
The affection Nathan has for family is the gravity that pulls them close, bonding their circle tight like the hub of a wheel. But as they roll through life it has become a gruelingly slow commute, impeded not by fighters but politicians of the game. Though they are driven and know the direction they want to go, the road getting there is congested with nonsense: “Politics have always been our number one obstacle in Julie’s career.” Especially common in athletics is the partiality in the genders, dawdling fair progression for females in all of sports, which for the Kitchens has been the speed bumps in the tracks of their careers:
“I totally understand and respect that men are stronger than women and have larger categories to compete against top Thai opponents etc, but to openly discredit or neglect a good natured, hard working fighter such as Julie makes me extremely upset, both as a coach who has grafted to produce a good fighter and also a husband who wants to shout from the roof tops how proud he is about his wife’s achievements.”
The Muay Thai market can be shady at times just like in any industry, but according to Nathan, particularly “there is no ‘united’ in the United Kingdom.” By Nathan’s admission, promoting a female fighter in a male-dominated game has been “the most difficult task of all,” wrestling with the pointless hassle that comes from sexism in sports. But luckily for his fighters the tension is absorbed by their trainer, Nathan being the cushion that bumpers negativity: “I think this is where myself and Julie as a team can always benefit as she doesn’t have to get involved with these idiots and is left to concentrate on her opponents.”
Sometimes it can be a grubby business, but in Muay Thai there is hardly a ring that is spotless of blood, for not all fights are easy and clean. But as their journey continues amid setbacks and heartaches, this family will trudge through all the dirt. Against the muddy drama of the British scene, its muck of sexism and grimy politics, the tenacity of the Kitchens remain sturdily intact. Though confronted with injustices they stay strong in their stance, true to their goals in spite of the odds that overwhelm, and rigid against reality even when it seems unfavorable to their cause: “I can honestly say that I have lost way too much now including our family home, job, car etc in pursuit of Julie’s career to think of turning back or quitting, despite having had numerous breakdowns and illness.”
But while it hasn’t been rainbows and roses the rays of optimism shine ahead, piercing through the clouds with the support of Julie’s fans: “her fan base is so surreal and it keeps me positive throughout the difficult times.” The positivity is pleasing and eases the weight on Nathan’s shoulders, helping to shift their gears to stay on an emotional high, like an extra boost of power when their moods just want to crash. Especially now when new opportunities are within reach, that kind of backing will keep them fresh for what’s ahead: “the Muaythai Premier League is huge for us, it has uplifted me so much that to catch me without a big smile on my face is virtually impossible at the moment.”
With its debut, the Premier League is a break in the storm, though this storm is full of fighters as hungry as them. It’s a do-or-die moment that will test Nathan even more, but after all he’s troubled through it’s more like a reward than a challenge: “with the introduction of the MPL, Julie has finally after 9 years got paid for every fight and has a goal of winning the $20,000. This is a year’s wages to both of us and is more than just prize money as we have both given up work to pursue Julie’s career.” If serendipity decides, after all the hate, all the wait, and all their faith, winning the league will validate all the work that they’ve put in. But best believe that Nathan is leaving nothing up to chance, because the belts that they have won were not built by idle hands.
Especially now, with all the pressure that comes with coaching the Kitchen clan, playing Nathan’s role can be the hardest one to hold. He is no second fiddle as outsiders may seem to think, but conductor of a band full of fighters finely tuned. And with his musicians primed to rock and the stage already set, look for Nathan Kitchen to play his best number yet.
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