Chelsey M.Cashwell
Chelsey Cashwell, better known in the fighting world as “Chelsey Machete,” is a professional MMA fighter, accomplished grappler, and educator who has made Vietnam the center of her martial arts journey. Her nickname, Machete, reflects the raw, relentless, and sometimes chaotic nature of her fighting style. Competing in both mixed martial arts and elite-level grappling events, including ADCC, Chelsey made history by becoming Vietnam’s first women’s bantamweight MMA champion. Yet her ambitions extend far beyond personal achievements inside the cage. As she gradually steps away from her full-time teaching career, Chelsey is channeling her experience and passion into Smother Nature, an initiative dedicated to empowering women and creating more opportunities for them in martial arts. What began as a personal pursuit of fighting has evolved into a broader mission: building a supportive community for women in Vietnam, with hopes of eventually extending that impact across the world.
For many years, martial arts resistance has always been an environment where women have to put more effort into just to be taken seriously.
A Moment of Focus
A glimpse into the raw, unfiltered world of MMA training, where discipline meets determination and every movement has a purpose. Through this series. I wanted to document the moments in between: the focus before a strike, the exhaustion after a round, and the quiet connection between a fighter and their coach. A visual story of strength, vulnerability, and the work that happens when no one is watching.
The Quiet Moments of Strength
Not every moment of strength is loud. Sometimes, it's simply preparing to go again. Because the real story isn't just about what happens inside the ring. It's about everything it takes to get there.
Power meets precision. A moment where technique, timing, and trust come together.
TESTIMONIAL
Dang had the challenging job of capturing moments from an action packed training session in a hot gym. It’s not the easiest environment to photograph in. I am by no means a model and I didn’t do anything extra in my training session to make the shots come out a certain way. He certainly had his work cut out for him, but he delivered some of the best action photos I’ve ever had taken of me. I feel like he really captured the spirit and rigor of training Muay Thai. I think it helps that he’s familiar with martial arts (and trains jiujitsu), so he has a better eye for what a good shot looks like for a martial artist. I highly recommend Dang to anyone, especially if you need action shots.