'Fighting is terrifying' says Cumbernauld muay thai world champion

Rhona Walker, 31, has been practising the martial art of muay thai since she was 17. On August 10, 14 years later, she reached the pinnacle of her sport by landing the World Kickboxing Association bantamweight title in front of a packed Braehead crowd.

Rhona, left, with friend and former world champ Hilary Mack (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

“It’s a bit surreal,” Rhona said. “I’ve been fighting for a long time, so it’s nice to be able to say ‘I’m a world champion.’

“When I talk to people about muay thai, they normally assume it’s just a hobby. But if you say you’re a world champion, people realise that you’re quite serious about it.”

Rhona faces up to her opponent during the world title fight (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

Rhona was introduced to martial arts through her parents, both of whom practised taekwondo. Her dad Cameron also coaches muay thai, and Rhona says he is her main inspiration in the sport.

“At first I just went along to watch my dad training,” she said.

“As I got a bit older, I thought I’d join in and start doing classes - really just because I liked going with my dad more than anything.

“I coach now as well as fighting, and seeing how involved my dad still is, and how much time he gives to people is something I really aspire to. He’s still there holding the pads for me every morning.”

A kiss on the head from a very proud father (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

Her dad Cameron said it was “an emotional moment” seeing Rhona clinch a world title - a “fitting reward for her years of hard work and dedication.”

“I’m so proud of her as her dad,” he added. “But as a coach too, she is the hardest working fighter I’ve ever seen.”

Rhona agreed that her dad was quite emotional after the fight - though he wasn’t all that pleased with it being captured on camera.

“There are a few pictures from the end of the fight of him in tears. I don’t think he was very happy about being outed as a crybaby.”

Rhona lines up a piercing blow (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

Despite going through 52 fights, Rhona says she is not at all a violent person.

“Other than in the ring, I’ve never been in a fight of any kind,” she said. “Believe it or not, I don’t like confrontation. If someone started shouting at me, I’d probably start crying.”

She says that the years of training have given her a steely perseverance which has helped in other walks of life.

“It’s taught me to be disciplined,” she said. “Before muay thai, there was nothing that I had to make sacrifices for. But now, I need to be strict. I need to make sure I’m running, that I’m staying fit, lifting weights, eating the right things.

“So it’s given me this self-discipline, which has helped in other difficult areas of life. Things where I think ‘this is going to be rubbish, I don’t want to do this,’ I know I can do it. It’s given me that extra willpower.”

Rhona, right, with M-MAG team mate Chloe (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

Rhona enjoys the team spirit at the M-MAG Fight Team gym where she’s based in Kirkintilloch, though she says the fights are “terrifying.”

“I really enjoy the camaraderie,” she said. “Everyone’s helping each other. There’s no ego in martial arts gyms, because someone will just punch your head in if you’ve got an attitude.

“The actual fighting bit is terrifying, and I get nervous each time. But there’s no feeling quite like winning a fight.

“By the time I’m in the ring, the nerves are gone. It’s hard to be nervous when someone’s trying to hit you in the face.”

Victory is confirmed (Image: Han Teh - GSixtySix)

Whilst some would be satisfied with one world title in their back pocket, that is not the mindset of champions like Rhona.

“I’m hoping to fight for a few more belts, now that I’ve got my first. It would be nice to have a few more.

“I’d love to unify the belts, become an undisputed world champion. That’s the goal - try and get as many world titles as I can.”