HOLLAND, Mich. — When you meet Kim Saechao, a 31-year-old West Michigan wife and mother of four small children—two girls and two boys, the youngest of whom are twins—you might not immediately realize you’re looking at an MMA boxer!

A friendly, outgoing young woman, Kim studied law enforcement at GRCC after being homeschooled from first through twelfth grade. She is a marine deputy for the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and she also manages Bazan Baldwin Oaks Family Campground (owned by her father) in Hudsonville. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Kim and learn more about her sport.

Q: What is MMA?
A: MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts. It’s a combination of wrestling, jiu-jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai, judo and karate.

Q: What do you love about your sport?
A: I love MMA because it’s both physically and mentally challenging. It’s so much more than just hitting someone. It’s all about reading people, timing shots and being meticulous with your movements in order to gain the upper hand. I love boxing because it has given me more confidence and made me tougher, physically and mentally—and I love it because it’s just downright fun!

Q: Where do you train?
A: I train with Eli Paquette at Eli J Boxing Club, which is part of Fitin24 on Douglas Avenue in Holland. We’ve got an area in the front with all of our punching bags for classes, and on the other side is our boxing ring, where we drill and spar. I initially met Eli when I was wrestling at Myrmidon Training Systems, and he was the boxing coach there. It was after my first MMA fight in 2018 that I sought him out for private lessons.

Q: What is your biggest challenge as a boxer and how do you manage it?
A: It may sound silly, but one of the biggest challenges in boxing is just hitting your friends in the face. It’s different to get used to—and it’s hard not to feel bad about it. But how I manage the challenge is by reminding myself that it’s making us all better! You can’t get better at boxing without getting punched, so it helps to think of it that way. We’re all just helping each other get better.

Q: Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
A: When I started my combat sport journey, I started with jiu-jitsu, which is a ground fighting martial art. From there, I competed in a few tournaments and then decided to do an MMA cage fight in late 2018. I counted on my ground skills to carry me through, but the fight never ended up on the ground. I got beat on my feet—which is when I decided I needed to be comfortable on my feet as well as on the ground. That’s when I sought out boxing…and Eli, my coach. Every fight starts standing, so it only makes sense, and now I’m so thankful I began boxing. It has made my life better.

Q: Tell me about what inspires you before a fight…do you have a prefight ritual?
A: I love the Rocky quote: “It’s not about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” That always inspires me! Also, I really like the song “Last Breath” from the movie Creed. I have a whole boxing playlist I listen to while I jump rope and shadow box to work up a sweat before competing. It pumps me up physically and mentally!

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received from your coach?
A: After I lost a boxing match once, Eli told me not to take the “L” as a “loss,” but rather as a “lesson.” You learn, you grow, you get better—and you come back stronger than before. I also love the quote: “Discipline beats motivation.” Motivation comes and goes, but discipline is a character trait that you have to possess in order to succeed. I believe this applies both to boxing and to life in general.

Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: Well, I have a husband and four kids, so I spend most of my free time with them! When I’m not with my family, boxing, or working, I enjoy playing volleyball, softball, pool, and disc golf. I also love to bowl and swim, as well as write and play music. I have a lot of hobbies, and I love to stay busy—I’m passionate about all that I do!

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