Cal women's basketball head coach Charmin Smith is preparing for something few coaches have done – a Muay Thai fight. Smith is set to compete in her second-ever match this Saturday at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in San Francisco as part of the International Kickboxing Federation's Point Muay Thai event, which starts at 10 a.m. PT.

Smith picked up the sport seven years ago when she first started working out with longtime Oakland-based trainer Jason Joseph. She now trains with Joseph out of his gym, Jay's Training Grounds.

"I stumbled into a kickboxing gym one day in 2016 just looking to get a workout in," Smith said. "I just wanted to sweat and get in shape. My form and technique were terrible and I had never heard of Muay Thai. Jay came up to me and kept making corrections. I met some amazing people at the gym and kept coming back. Jay helped me grow confidence and discipline surrounding the art of Muay Thai. I found community with my teammates and it stuck."

For Smith, practicing Muay Thai offers a lot of lessons that translate with her players and that she can pass on to them.

"I love Muay Thai for me as a coach because it allows me to have a constant reminder of what it's like to be the athlete," Smith said.  "I always tell my players I will never ask them to do something that I am not willing to do myself. I'm still feeling what it's like to push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of physically, mentally and more. When I tell my players to get outside their comfort zone, to challenge themselves, I actually know exactly how they feel. On the days when I ask them to do more than they think they can, I know exactly where their mind is going and I remember the things that Jay tells me to keep me motivated. He's a great coach and I've learned a lot from him. And ultimately I'm a much better coach for my players because of my commitment to Muay Thai."

Her first fight came in 2021 after she had been practicing the sport for about five years. While she didn't win the fight, she managed to go the distance with her opponent, which was an accomplishment in itself. Coach Joseph appreciates the drive Smith continues to have with the sport.

"Charmin and I have been training since 2016 when she was just trying to get a sweat," Joseph said. "She then saw the beauty in the art of Muay Thai which sparked the competitive fire that was in her to get better and maybe compete. And so, the journey began. With her busy schedule of being a coach, it was challenging at times, but that didn't stop her from getting better. Not satisfied with her first fight, she's right back at it training hard and giving it her all for the fight on June 17."

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