On the Mat : the enthralling Minxy Li

I love long, detailed interviews but they don't always happen. You can prepare a list of questions and sometimes the reponses are short, vague or non-existent. However, this time I got what I was looking for : long, detailed and personal.

So for those of us who enjoy some detail and insight, below are Minxy's answers to the questions I put to her.

So Minxy. How has your year been?

Minxy: I have had a busy year indeed. Over the last 11 months or so, I have travelled extensively (Geneva, Paris, Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, NYC, North Carolina, and Chicago). On top of this I have been wrestling in London, I have participated in a number of events at the London Wrestling Studio (where I am based), Dee’s Wrestling Den (for MWW), FEMWIN in NYC, and a last minute stand in at Monica’s.

Whilst doing these things. I have been continuously building and maintaining my social network presence, training several times a week in the gym and fight club, somewhere between all of this I have tried to get my necessary uni work completed too. Even more recently I have also set up my clips store, so I have also begun to record, edit, and sell these clips.

I was a newbie last year, so I was not as busy as I am now.


Any highlights from the past 12 months?

So many. This year has been mind blowing to the point that normal life at home seems like time is standing still. Everything has been a highlight, but a few would be.....

 · Touring Europe with my Safa Warda from Chicago

· Riding the downtown train and hitting the NYC streets with Venom in NYC

· Filming some fun Clips with Tia in the Summer. The MWU promo clip was one day of fun and it is legendary.

-All three wrestlers named above have become the most amazing friends and business partnerships.

· Meeting the awesome Doom Maidens team who are fantastic people in the business, and fantastic people in life.

· Being taken to Buffalo Wild Wings by DJ of MWU. I dream of those nachos and wings each time I am raging hungry!

· My last minute stand in and victory at Monica’s summer event against Ionna from Bulgaria. No one was more surprised than I was! (Anyone who knows me, knows my phobia for anyone from a country with a name ending in the letters ‘aria’).

· Wrestling the powerhouse Anna Konda in Berlin and surviving. I even actually got a tap out too!!!! She has also become a wonderful friend and adviser.

· Teaming up with Tia to make our own video store and planning future video clips.

Are you someone who likes being busy and likes to keep her diary full ?

I do like to be busy and have a full diary. It provides a peace of mind to know that there is a line-up of work and opportunities. I also have an active mind, so I like to be active or I become restless.

When I am not working, I will spend my time in the gym (indulging in some steam and sauna after my work out, because I have the time) or in my fight club. If I have more spare time, I will catch up with my friends, or just have a duvet day and watch lots of box sets.

Tell me how you got involved in wrestling ?

I got involved in wrestling just over a year ago (late summer/autumn 2012). I was fed up with working in environments where politics is a more important factor than skill and productivity. I also needed flexible hours to work around my university classes, and assignments. I sat and talked with my friend Samantha, a wrestler (unknown to me at the time). She suggested why don’t you become a wrestler? I told her it was ridiculous, I did not know how to wrestle. She told me that I can be trained, then introduced me to Honey. I talked Honey to death. She trained me I loved it. Samantha TOLD me that my name had to be Minxy, because I am minxy. -And the rest is history!

 

You do modelling too. Is it fetish modelling ? Were you involved in that before wrestling or.......

I do some modelling. I have not done, or been asked to do any fetish work. I wouldn’t mind doing some rubber/PVC type stuff (every woman loves a bit of shiny material clinging to her body), but I do have my boundaries. I have modelled in the past, but never made it an occupation.


So at the moment do you see yourself as more of a model or a wrestler, or something else entirely ?
I am Minxy Li! Lol.


At the moment there seem to be 2 sides : females who practice martial arts and have also started wrestling, and those females who are models and have then started wrestling. Is that how you see it ?
Yes, I agree with this. There are many females who fit these two catagories, but there are also the everyday ladies who stumbled upon the industry and became wrestlers. This is where I would put myself on the list. There are also many fitness people, ie personal trainers, and body building competitors, who have branched out into wrestling.


There seem to be a lot females wrestling these days. How competitive is it ?
There are many in London, that is for sure. The scene is saturated, some people are very competitive and would rather there are not so many other choices. However I believe if you work on yourself, what you do, and bring your own individuality to the table; it won’t matter how many others are out there doing it. There can only ever be one you!

I make my own opportunities, and if it is a bit quiet on the home front, I travel. If you can’t bring the mountain to you, take yourself to the mountain.


I love taking part in mixed wrestling. For you, what are main differences between wrestling males and wrestling females, and which do you prefer?
This is such a frequently asked question. Men are more fun, usually far taller and heavier, but usually do cap their fighting spirit. By comparison, females usually smell better, but they can be mad crazy to win. Sometimes I can’t even let myself blink, because if I do, it’s game over for me! That is an intense way to pass 15 minutes of your life.
 

 

When we wrestle, we all like to win, but how important is it for you to have some kind of competition, rather than an easy match?
To me winning is a good thing, but the most important factor for me is to feel that I put my best efforts into a match. I hate it when I think I may have made myself vulnerable to attack, or I missed an opportunity. I try to use as much technique as I can, and overcome the opponent’s offence. Most important I do not want to be afflicted with any injuries. If I can meet this tick list, then I have already won, whether I tapped, or lost. A good effort without injuries is a victory for me, winning the match is the cherry on the cake.

As for an easy match, if you ask any female wrestler, we would all like those now and again. Sometimes we are tired, or we want to get it over with. If anyone says different, I would not believe them.


Do you wrestle at any particular locations ? Would you travel to different parts of the U.K. ?

I wrestle at my wrestling home, which is LWS. Honey gives me the freedom to move around and wrestle in other places. So if I am invited to another venue in London or the UK, I will inform Honey, and she gives me her blessing. This is a standard etiquette that I display for my management. I would never do anything which she is not happy with. I have wrestled at other studios in the local London area, I would like to travel to Manchester in the future. Venom and I have also discussed some future plans to travel across the UK. I just need to get my university course completed, then the world is my oyster!

Away from what your day job, what do you do to switch off and unwind ?
As mentioned earlier, I like a duvet day. That is my real ‘stop the world, I want to get off’ pastime. I will not tweet or FB, I do not open the curtains, and I will not cook. I love this indulgence, but I cannot do it for more than one day at a time, unless I’m sulking. Hehe.

If I am feeling a bit livelier, I am partial to a plethora of cocktails and dancing the night away with a friend in one of my favourite Soho night spots.


Christmas is around the corner. How will you be spending it ?
I am not yet sure. I do not have a family to spend Christmas with. Each year one of my friend’s will invite me over to spend with their family. It has been this way for years. It is nice to know that I have a great circle of friends. But every now and again, I just stay in bed and have a duvet day.

What would Minxy Li like for Christmas ?

My two front teeth!? -Oh I don’t know. I love handbags, shoes, and gadgets. Perfume, bikinis, and wrestling outfits are handy too. In reality though, I don’t really receive pressies, and I am not a materialistic person (but I always enjoy and appreciate receiving, and giving). There are people all over the world who do not even have clean water or food, or their physical abilities. I always keep this in mind. The best gifts I have are my wonderful friends, my mind, and my ability to make my opportunities work. (Now you can all go and be sick!)

 

 

Thanks a lot for speaking to me. Have a great Christmas.......(and I'd love to take you on sometime).

 

 Want to find out more ?  http://minxyli.wordpress.com/

 

   Watch her :                http://clips4sale.com/72611

 

 

 

 

 

On the Mat : Pippa L'Vinn

For the uninitiated, Pippa is the boss of The Wrestling Factory in Manchester  (www.thewrestlingfactory.com)   which has some of the best facilities in the U.K. (maybe the best ?) : mat rooms, a messy room and a full wrestling ring can be be found under one roof. Pippa has been involved in the wrestling scene for a while and her fearsome skills led her to being the P.G.W.A.Champion 2002 - 2005 and the N.P.W.A. Ladies Champion : so basically she knows her stuff (and more).

I've been to The Wrestling Factory several times and have taken on different girls each time, and I have wrestled Pippa a few times too - quick, skillful and can give you a match as difficult as you want, because basically she is always going to win. So if you want a real test of hold, moves and speed then Pippa will match you all the way and more.

Also, this Saturday is the annual Jingle Belles show which is a real treat for all fans of fem-fem wrestling ! You can also wrestle some of the girls there as well - always good ! I won't be able to go (bad planning on my part), but you lucky lot could ? So what are you doing this Saturday ????

 

So on a chilly November, I started by asking the boss about her year.......

Pippa : Well the year has been okay, I mean it has its usual mix of ups and downs like any year ! This time of year can be more difficult as it gets more difficult to heat the Factory as it gets a bit chilly, so we have to warm it up in other ways (laughs).


You've been a feature of female U.K. wrestling for a while. How did you first become interested in it ?
Well like many things in life, it was a happy accident. I had been looking to get into some sort of fitness and sports work and I had done judo for a while........so I kind of fell into it...........I got the opportunity and never looked back. The rest is history !

At that time, were there many women doing it ?
No not really, just a handful. Certainly not as many as today !

When did you start seeing it as a career and not just a hobby?
Well the work started to come in thick and fast, which was great of course, and there was also tours of Ireland, so it just took over without noticing it ! To do it professionally travelling is a big part of the job and it took up lots of my time - but I was prepared to do it as I loved it so much.

How has the whole wrestling scene changed over the years ?
Well there are certainly more females and it has diversified into different types - more fantasy stuff. There are also lots of independent companies around, which gives you a lot of choice, and the internet has obviously made a big difference to accessing it.

You must have wrestled in many different locations. What exotic places have you wrestled in ?
Oh yeah loads ! Loads of travelling to different places. For example, Ireland, France, Belgium, South Africa, the U.S., Manchester (laughs)!

Do you find you prefer to wrestle men or women ?
I really don't mind. I'll take on anyone. I don't mind who I wrestle, as long as I win !!

Was it always your intention to have your own wrestling venue?
No, it just evolved. I wanted to get into training other wrestlers and help them, especially the new ones, but I never thought I end up setting this up ! It's worked out really well though.

It must be hard to go from being just a wrestler, to being a wrestler that hires other wrestlers too. What would you say the most difficult part of hiring people is ?
I love working with other ladies and I'm a friendly, sociable person (usually !) and a good talker, so it's all good ! The hours can be a pain sometimes as they are very unsociable and a lot of weekend work, but apart from that I have no concerns.

When I first came to The Wrestling Factory, I was really impressed that you had a full size wrestling ring there too. There can't be many places in the U.K. that have one ! 
I hope everybody loves my place, i am really proud of it. Not sure there is anything just like mine !!!

There seem to be loads of female wrestlers around nowadays - so is the wrestling scene more competitive now ?
Yes ! It is more competitive now but that is a really good thing. It makes people work harder and better you see, which can only be a good thing in my book.

You look great. Do you have a favourite wrestling outfit ?
(Laughs) Well I have all sorts, as you can imagine from someone who has been doing this for ages ! So you name it I've probably got it. I don't have a favourite but I do like the colour black !

Away from the mat, how do you like to switch off and unwind ?
Working out in the gym takes my mind off things, I love going running with my friend, seeing my family, walking my dog...........

Christmas is nearly here. Are you a Christmas person or do you prefer to be working ?
I like a few days off visiting my sister and family, but otherwise I prefer to work and go to the gym as I get bored easily (laughs). So a few days is enough for me and then back into it !

What is on your Christmas list ?
For my Christmas wish......well...... a nice big Christmas Dinner which my sister cooks is always great, she is an awesome cook. Also, there was a song years ago I think, "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth", so I'd like them back !

You can find more at www.wrestlingfactory.com or www.pippalvinn.co.uk



The exercise regime

I'm keeping on top of the whole exercise thing, combining a mix of YAYOG - check out www. marklauren.com to find the only fitness/workout book I have ever followed from the start and I am still using it over a year later - hot yoga and Pilates. And also a lack of pizza (although I have just ordered 2 - doh !).


The whole lose weight but lose size conundrum is very much in effect, as in the weight goes from wherever it wants and my trousers are coming loose and the belt needs more notches, yet I don't want to go too far to go skinny. My shoulders don't look as big as they used to be (I don't mean they were ever huge etc). I told me friends last night it was part of a new "lean" look, which they kind of didn't believe. So am I too thin now ? I keep changing my mind and it often depends on when I choose to look in the mirror. My stomach is flatter definitely, which is good, but has the muscle mass suffered ? I think so.

Anyway, I haven't done a regular program like this for years, so this has to be a good thing. The thing is, when do you decide to buy new clothes - I mean, when do you accept or believe that this is going to be your weight so you buy 32 inch trousers instead of the usual 34 (why the hell can't you buy more 33 inch ??). I'm going to hang fire on this, as I do like being 34, but can't sustain being 34 without increasing belly size. Anyway, we will see...........

My first time on film

I was filmed for the first time last week - wrestling ! It wasn't something I had really thought about and the whole anonymity thing did go through my head (for example, there is no photo of me on my profile etc) but I did enjoy the experience. 3 semi-competitve matches, including one where it was me against 2 ! Would I do it again ? Sure. The thing is, it has given me a taste for doing mixed matches where the only cost is travel. Hmmm..............Also, I think the demand to see the same guy isnt the same as demand to see the same girls !

Music Censorship.....

There was an interesting article on The Quietus website a couple of weeks ago about re-writing history. Basically it related to a glam rock compilation that had come out but didn't have Gary Glitter on it opened a debate on whether this was right or wrong to do, and the implications thereof. It is also relevant this week as Roy Harper is being charged with sex offences too.

So it begs the question - we can't rewrite history. So do we pretend it never happened ? Just don't speak about it ? Separate the person from the art ? I think that this is something that has to be faced head on. I mean, why was Glitter not on the compilation ? To protect possible victims ? The record company didnt want the possible negative publicity ? Royalty payments ? If it was the latter then surely royalties could be diverted or stopped or whatever. Can we separate the person as a musician from the person who committed the crimes - I think yes we can and we have to. Gary Glitter made some great singles, so to forget this and only focus on what he has become infamous for is like some kind of moral thought police telling us that it has been decided that we cannot listen to him anymore. What will happen if Roy Harper is convicted ? Such a serious and immensely well-respected musician (his latest album was Uncut's Album of the Month recently). Will he be painted over ?

On another level (btw remember Another Level ? Crimes against music I think), it leads to considering what crimes are acceptable and what are not, and why some people seem to get away with it.  Wasn't R Kelly convicted of a sex-related crime ? I think his records are still played. Why ? Did he have a great lawyer ? Is he more profitable to the record company ? If someone is convicted of assault or a violent attack, do we still hear the records ? Yes. Why ? Some crimes are okay ? There is some kind of scale of acceptability ? Yes. Don't misunderstand me, I know that not all crimes are equal. But who decides this ?? The media ? God help us ! Will the history of Radio 1 be re-written too ? I expect so and it shouldn't be. Life is not black and white. People are not black and white (you know what I mean), we are way more complicated than that, and this is a complicated issue. It won't go away. But it seems "they" (whoever "they" are) would want to forget anything good ever happened.

The cost of............

Well the cost of wrestling. I've been exchanging a few Twitter messages recently about the price of a session and my feeling that it is already expensive enough. I think £150 for one hour is already a substantial amout for anyone to pay, so attempting to increase it is ridiculous. Of course, this isn't like a supermarket or energy company which forces its prices on customers (I never think of myself as a wrestling customer !), so I suppose individuals or groups will increase (or not) as they see fit, so really the customers will vote with their money and choose accordingly. I don't really buy (pun kind of intentional) the argument about venues needing x amount of money to make sessions viable or whatever and that if you pay £150 then the wrestler gets £50 (or however much) so therefore we should pay them more - to get paid £50 to wrestle is fine : it is something I would gladly do. Infact to be paid £50 an hour to do anything would be great !

Putting up prices would also put people off from doing sessions at all. I usually do 2 hours when I wrestle so to make an hour more expensive, will make me think twice about doing 2 hours and so I won't spend as much. It is counterproductive ! Also, there is money involved for travelling to any venue as well, so it is a bit of an expensive hobby anyway - we don't need any price hike !

Wrestling

Wrestling.........my attitude towards mixed wrestling is becoming a bit more serious at the moment. I say "serious" as I'm starting to appreciate it more. When I first did it, it was more for the thrill of doing it, and sure I love any that involves things such as facesitting, body worship etc/ , but after my last wrestling session I was getting tired of not being able to do much. Basically, I'm now interested in learning moves and holds that I can use during a session to develop some kind of skill. I love the competition but now it's time to think about what I'm doing and how to do it well, rather than just relying on my strength. So maybe it is becoming a hobby ?

With this in mind, I'm going over to Manchester next month to have some training and then put it into practice - so maybe November was the time when I saw wrestling in a new light !  A light that I been shying away from, when really it was staring me in the face.......

Well thoughts.............

I don't know if anyone will read this, but if you do then firstly "thanks" and secondly feel free to post comments if you wish - nice ones preferably !