Scott Hirano was on hand at Function 5 Fitness in Los Angeles, CA to snap pictures of Julie Kitchen training for her upcoming bout with Miriam Nakamoto at the WCK Muay Thai event in Pala, CA on August 18th. As always, great work by Scott Hirano. Make sure to follow him on twitter @ScottHirano and like his official facebook page.
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.
