Eileen Miyoko Olszewski
We Dare You!
Stay Safe
You may not be defending yourself, like Miyoko, for titles and championships, but it’s just as important to know how to protect yourself in everyday situations. These tips will help you stay safe on the street.
Take a safety course.
Consider enrolling in a self-defense class or workshop. Check with your township—free or low-cost programs are often available at local police departments or other community organizations.
Learn a challenging sport.
Try your hand at kick-boxing, karate, tai-chi, or even rock-climbing. Many gyms offer classes that can help you get started. Challenging activities like these are an excellent way to build character and increase confidence, which helps you carry yourself with assurance. The dedication and skill needed for these sports also teaches you to be more focused and aware of your surroundings.
Use common sense.
It may seem obvious, but is always worth repeating—don’t walk alone after dark in secluded areas, travel with a friend or two at night, and try to stick to well-lit walkways and populated areas. Use good judgment and steer clear of any potentially dangerous situations that make you uncomfortable.
Always keep your phone on you.
Some smart phones even have applications that can help protect you like flashlights and loud alarms or sirens which can drive away an assailant. And don’t forget to ICE: program your In Case of Emergency contacts (i.e.: your husband, sister, or friend) into your cell and label them ICE1, ICE2—rescue workers and police know to look for this number on phones.
From Underdog to Champion
June 2010
While other women her age were starting families, Eileen Miyoko Olszewski was getting into a ring to make her amateur boxing debut at the Women’s National Golden Gloves Tournament in Atlanta. “This girl came at me like a firecracker and just started hitting me. It was terrifying," says Miyoko as she recalls the first few moments of her very first fight. “I still remember the mat being this turquoise blue as my mind wandered. I was thinking: Why I am in this ring? What am I doing here? Other girls I know are having babies!” After regaining her focus, the 112-pound newcomer shocked the crowd and quickly overcame her opponent in the second round.
Since her debut, Miyoko’s career has grown rapidly, and after three years of undefeated U.S. amateur experience, she made her professional premiere. She has captured one Pan-American title, three U.S. National Titles, and three U.S. Women’s Golden Gloves titles. In February, 2008 she took home the World Championship Belt from the W.I.B.A., further padding her impressive resume. But despite such successes, the Manhattan-based boxer says she still gets nervous. “Every fighter will tell you all they want to hear is the first bell. Once that bell rings and you can just get in there and start, all the nervousness goes away. Then, it’s about living in the moment.”
Olszewski may have come to the sport later than most, but her fierce determination has fueled her mastery of the ‘sweet science’. “I was always the underdog. I was always the fighter that was twice as old as my opponent with half the amount of training time and I faced a lot of critics," she recounts. “But everybody has a different story, and you just have to believe in yourself.” She also credits her success to her previous experience as a ballerina, a New York Knicks dancer, and a stuntwoman on the Mortal Kombat Live stage tour, all which helped her hone the finely-tuned skill it takes to compete.
Training six days a week under the watchful eye of her coach/husband, a retired mixed martial artist, Miyoko has come a long way from her days watching televised boxing matches with her dad. Growing up in a sometimes rough area in Honolulu, she learned to defend herself early on. When she wasn’t wrestling around with her older siblings, the athlete attended hand-me-down lessons her friend gave her by reenacting what she learned in karate classes.
Miyoko’s athletic ability has continued to evolve alongside boxing. As the sport begins to carve out a place for female fighters, she reflects upon this renaissance. “Women’s boxing has been around since the 1800s, but it has always been more of an entertainment. Now it’s starting to transition into a real, legitimate sport. We are the pioneers right now and anytime I have a chance to step into the ring I feel it’s another opportunity to showcase how exciting women’s boxing can really be.”