September 12 , 2006

SPANISH FEMALE FIGHTER TAKES THE RING
DURING WORLD COMBAT LEAGUE’S WEST COAST PLAYOFFS AT THE ERWIN CENTER

Austin, Texas –One groundbreaking aspect of the World Combat League (WCL) is that each six-member team features one woman competitor. This was not part of the initial plan. “I have to admit that, when I started taking applications for fighters, I saw this as an all male league,” says martial arts legend and league founder Chuck Norris. “But I was overwhelmed by e-mails from women martial artists who were saying ‘Hey, what about us?’  So I rethought it.  So far, some of our most exciting matches have been between our female competitors.”

Among the outstanding women fighters supplying this full throttle action is Maria “Marily” Louisa Martin of the Texas Dragons.
 
“I never thought I’d be fighting professionally,” says Martin.  “Maybe I saw it in my dreams.  I guess dreams can come true because now I’m doing it.”
 
With French Canadian roots on her mother’s side, and Spanish on her father’s, Marily’s childhood was spent moving from country to country. The one constant in her life was martial arts training, which she began at 14 and continues to this day. With more than 100 Tae Kwon Do tournaments under her belt, as well as several professional Thai boxing bouts, Marily was ready to display her well-rounded skills when the opportunity came to join the Dragons.
 
“I don’t fight because it’s a business thing,” say Martin. “I fight because it is my passion. That’s why I love teaching so much. I want to pass that passion to fight on to others.”
 
Along with her new career as a WCL Combat Martial Artist, Martin is a full-time mother (she has a four-year-old daughter) and a kickboxing instructor.
 
Among her other talents, the bilingual Martin can spell “full throttle” in three different languages. She is eagerly awaiting her match up on September 22 to further prove she can compete at the highest level.
 
Marily Martin
Texas Dragons
Height: 5’7
Weight: 128 lb division
Tae Kwon Do Specialist
Birthplace: Quebec, Canada
Hometown: Dallas, Texas


Tickets for Chuck Norris Presents World Combat League at the Frank Erwin Center, Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m. are $20, $35, $50, $75 and $100 (limited number of floor seats available) and are ON SALE NOW at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes Central Market and H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos, Taylor and Temple; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512-477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or order online at TexasBoxOffice.com. THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE $20 AND $35 TICKET PRICES ONLY: $5 discount with coupon available at all 24 Hour Fitness locations; $5 discount with coupon available at Signature stores, courtesy of Full Throttle; 25% off for college and university students; faculty and staff with valid I.D.; military with valid I.D. and groups of 20 or more. Groups should call the Group Sales Department at 512-232-4343. Convenience charges may apply. All information is subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and University lots. For more information, call 512-471-7744 or visit uterwincenter.com.
                         


Media Contact: Codey Allen @ 512-471-3678
codey.allen@athletics.utexas.edu

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