MEDIA CONTEST: Muay Thai - Airman breaks mold with combat sports

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  The small gym in an old warehouse thick with the smell of sweat. In the main room, several men are lifting weights, straining and grunting as they push out each set. Another group of men and women are training in mixed martial arts in a small area set off to the side. There's a boxing ring in a second, smaller room with the remnants of hard-learned lessons on the mat.

A thunderous clap echoes off the walls, catching the attention of several people. Someone is working on the heavy bag. For an impact that loud, it surely must have come from one of the larger men in the gym. Upon closer inspection however, it's revealed the author of those blows is a relatively petite woman -- at least in stature.

Elizabeth Nagy, a staff sergeant assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing Military Equal Opportunity Office, is anything but petite when it comes to combat sports.

"There's no comparing her to other female fighters I've worked with," said Trevor Reed, Ironwolf Gym Mixed Martial Arts instructor. "Most guys can't kick like her."

Nagy has trained and competed in the martial art Muay Thai for three years. The discipline is more than 6,000 years old and was founded in Thailand. It's known as the "science of eight limbs" (fists, elbows, knees and legs) and is most often recognized for its brutal nature in comparison to other martial arts. There are no belt ranks -- Muay Thai pupils are recognized as simply Kuhn (student), Kru (teacher), or Acharn or Ajarn (master).

The sport is particularly rough -- Nagy has suffered a broken rib, broken nose and countless bumps, scrapes and bruises.

"I wanted to get into martial arts forever, but I never could," Nagy said. "When I joined the Air Force, I had several friends who were very good at other disciplines. I wanted to do something different so I wasn't always comparing myself to them. After my first Muay Thai practice, I fell in love."

Although she's only been able to compete in two official matches due to deployments, temporary duty assignments and other Air Force obligations, Nagy takes the sport seriously. She works out six days a week, splitting time between the Ironwolf Gym and Dynamic Martial Arts, both located in Rapid City, and weightlifting and running on base. In all, she estimates she trains about 15 hours a week.

"She's got a great work ethic," said Reed, who's got 22 years of experience in judo and other martial arts. "Her attitude is great. She came in here with the basic Muay Thai skills, and she's even adapting to my style of San Scsho. She's the prime example of what a female fighter, any fighter, should aspire to be."

Nagy's next fight is scheduled for July, and Reed believes it's only the first step toward bigger things.

"I want her to go to Kickdown (a large MMA event held monthly in Denver)," he said. "She's going to be ready for it. In a couple more years, I wouldn't be surprised to see her on the national kickboxing circuit."

Her goals are on par with that prediction.

"I have no intention of going pro," Nagy said. "I don't know if that could be done with my Air Force responsibilities. I do want to fight more regularly though -- once every couple months or so -- and I want to win (amateur) nationals."

Aside from reaching her competitive goals, Nagy credits the sport for helping her personally and professionally.

"I've always been confident, but now I feel as if I can back up that confidence," she said. "Muay Thai also provides an outlet for me. If I get frustrated at work, I know I can push it all to the side and take it out later at the gym. That helps me to always maintain my professionalism at work. It also helps with deployments -- I already have that discipline, mentality and focus needed to press forward. Muay Thai teaches serious self-discipline. If something has to get done, I'm of the mentality to just do it."

Nagy also urged more women to become involved in martial arts.

"I believe if it was mandatory for women to take genuine self-defense courses, a lot of assaults and violence against women could be avoided," she said. "How many men would think twice about attacking a woman if he knew in the back of his mind that she has the tools to fight back? Fortunately, I've never been in a situation like that, but it's nice to know that I'm able to defend myself if I ever 15 hours have to."

Nagy kick hard while she practices with Dynamic Martial Arts in the weight room in rapid city, Nagy trains 15 hours per week to compete in the martial art Muay Thai