Inside an all-female fight camp: ‘I thought there was no way I could do it – not at my age’

Participants of an all female Muay Thai camp. Located in Ocean Grove, a seaside town in Victoria. As JS Muay Thai, they aim to make the male-dominated sport much more inclusive to women of all backgrounds and cultures, via intensive events like this. Jo and Som demonstrating drills. Photograph: Nicole Cleary/The Guardian

A curious audience has gathered at the top of the steps of the beach in Victoria’s Bellarine peninsula, gawking at the 24 women having at each other on the sand.

“LEAN BACK!” comes the instruction on the wind. That’s if you value your head.