We have many amazing people with interesting stories that walk into all our gyms! This member spotlight turns to Mary Panjari, a regular face in our Muay Thai classes and dedicated attendee of our Strength and Conditioning sessions at Absolute MMA Collingwood! As one of the Collingwood originals, Mary is incredibly loyal and supportive, and can be found cheering on our fighters at all local promotions. Safe to say, we all want to be Mary when we grow up. Read on to find out more about this absolute boss lady!
Occupation: Failed academic.
Martial Arts/Sports: Recreational Muay Thai / picking up heavy things.
How did you get into the sport?
I wanted to hit and kick stuff and dissipate excess energy.
What are your immediate training goals?
Lift heavier, master clean and jerk (Nat Stiles will laugh) just have fun with Muay Thai.
What are your goals for the next five years?
To keep going until I can not.
Why do you love training at Absolute MMA?
Excellent facilities, including top notch staff and glorious clientele. No dickheads!
What is your favourite move?
Opening a bottle of Chardonnay, but I quite love a well deployed right cross.
Favourite workout/walkout song?
Angel of Death by Slayer.
Nicknames & Fight Names?
Toohey calls me Spring Chicken because clearly I am not one!
What do you like to do to relax besides training?
I love reading hard science fiction, and obviously listening to metal/heavy music. Love punk and some old school hip hop. I love looking at pictures of beautiful clothes and shoes, this how I relax or zone out while doing cardio. It’s my happy place!
Can you tell us about where you’re from and any interesting stories growing up? If you’re not originally from Melbourne, how’d you end up living in Melbourne, Australia?
Melbourne. Born and bred Northside. I was that little Macedonian girl dressed to the nines in some sort of frou frou confection, climbing trees, falling out of said trees and punching boys if they came near me.
Who are the kind of people that you look up to and why?
Funny, smart tall people.
What’s your favourite place to eat in Melbourne and your #1 dish recommendation?
I love Streat in Cromwell St. Excellent coffee and my most favourite is the Streat breakfast. I yum that up!
If you could go back in time to your first martial art class, what would be the advice you give to your past self?
Please don’t wait until you are ancient to start Muay Thai.
“Mary will always be the first person to say hello to you in the gym. She will also be the first person to tell you to pull your head in. She is ‘what you see is what you get’ but is incredibly supportive and always has the right advice. Mary is a gun at everything! She is either kicking arse in Muay Thai, lifting weights or swimming, sometimes twice a day. She is intelligent, witty, strong and just a general bad ass in life, on the mats and out there listening to metal bands. There’s something about Mary.”- Kylie Baldwin
“First of all, JESUS WEPT! Secondly, Mary is one crazy lady and I can’t imagine having her any other way. She trains harder than anyone, complains harder than anyone and quite frankly I want to be her when I grow up. She has become a great friend and we are so lucky to have this sweet angel of death as part of our team. Yeah the Panj!”- Marisa Amaya
“JESUS WEPT it’s the doctor! Kicking massive blokes to a slayer soundtrack while shouting obscenities is the name of the game here. Lunch time punch ons are Mary’s bread and butter, be careful crossing Hoddle street at approx 12.15pm, that’s all I’m saying.”- Joe Boobyer
“A larger than life character around the Collingwood Gym. When not smashing pads in the gym, you’ll see Mary supporting her teammates at the local fight shows.” – David Lescai
“The original Spring Chicken! Mary is dedicated to her fitness, loves kickboxing, loves her fitness, and is a lot of fun to be around! She is a rare student, not many are as dedicated as she is, and she is always supportive of the fighters in the gym.”- Laos Toohey
“Mary has the same amount of energy when she’s at the gym at both 6:30am and 6:30pm. It’s not right. It’s just not right. It does make me laugh though.” – Oliver Smith
“The example to give your Mum about how it’s ridiculous she thinks she’s too old for Muay Thai. One badass woman.”- Georgia Verry
“Mary is one of the toughest chicks I know. She puts in the hard work, shows great support to her friends and team mates, and takes no BS from anyone. By the way, have you seen those push-ups and pull-ups she smashes?”- Carmen He
“Although most of what Mary says isn’t PG enough for an internet post, Mary is one of the most determined committed clients I have had the pleasure of training I’ve the years. Horns up.”- Nat Stiles
“Mary is one of the toughest SOB’s walking around the gym. She’s in shape that many people in their 30’s wished they’d be and she’s the perfect example of what happens when you keep your heart young and martial arts in your life! Always great fun training with the Iron Lady!”- Taru Siipola