LIVING it

Being a kid, I have always got into trouble. I even joined a gang because I liked fighting. I always wanted to be a champion. Since young I have always wanted to learn muay thai and I picked up some moves from friends who are learning the art. I have never attended any gyms before due to my mum’s bad impression on muay thai. It has always appeared to be violent to her, and that the trainers will beat her kid up. After serving the country, I finally decided to join a gym. Luckily, Roy.. a friend of mine recommended that I join BXG as he was learning there. Things went smoothly as I joined the class and I soon found out almost everything I assumed was different. Punches, kicks, elbows, and knees are never perfect after watching 10 youtube videos on how to execute them. It was through practice and practice, drilling and drilling, doing it over and over again. At this point of time I was also getting a full time job, and tasting the reality of this society. Without a proper certificate, my pay will be pathetic. However, I still chose to pursue what I wanted more first which is to work full time, but train and fight for a few times before I take a break and go into part time studies. Doing muay thai in Singapore isn’t easy. I was working a full-time office job and training at night to fight. It was tiring yet challenging, but the results was always worth it. I have been through 5 fights, 4 which I won and 1 which I lost. I remember them very clearly, first fight was with Ryan from hockey village at Baan Nak Muay, won on points. You know, people don't see the effort you put in training for the fight itself. I have been thrown with very ugly comments on the fight, like “why your opponent so lousy (clearly pointing out that winning him doesn’t mean im good)“ or “I see you fight like very easy leh (pointing out that they could have done it as well). I trained harder for the second one, fighting Lee Jia Le from FWA at the old FWA location. I won on points. Yet again, I received some bad comments especially from people who have tried getting hit before wearing the gear like “pain meh? the protective gear like so thick”. Winning the first two fights affected my mood to train. I underestimated my opponent and lost my third to Hafiz Suphanahong at FWA new location. The fourth fight was with Muhammad suphanahong at FWA new location, this time at semi-pro. I won via decision and received one of the best after fight feedback ever from BXG owner Joe, he said “good fight ron, the judges said you will become a very good fighter”. At this stage, I took a short break from fighting and enrolled for my part time diploma for night study. After a few months into studying I accepted to fight under full thai rules under professional bout with Aloysius Suphanahong. I was holding a full-time office job, a part time night class diploma course and training for a professional fight. I really pushed myself and put in a lot of effort. I won the fight at SCAPE under points. That is the latest fight I participated in, continuing my studies and training regularly at the moment. Muay Thai in Singapore isn’t easy, it isn’t what everyone deem it to be, and the reality of this society had many people throwing the same question to me, “fight got money anot ah? HUH? No money you fight for what?“ “eh how much they pay you to fight? No money you fight and get injured you siao ah?“.. oh dear people, this is not about the money.. it is about the achievement in life. Do you want to work and study the whole life and realise that you have not lived, and that you have done nothing for your children to be proud of, and that all you can tell your grandchildren is about your job?” I mean, it is not just Muay Thai.. it can be anything. Marathon runner, Dragon boating, Photography, Travelling to exotic places, diving in some great sea out there. Live it people, live your dreams, do not look back at your life when you get old and find that you have done nothing but try to get yourself a promotion and to earn yourself a bigger car, there is more to it! I would like to thank everyone, my girlfriend, my family members, my friends, my trainers, my gym and my gymmates. I myself, am going to keep achieving and living life to the fullest. -Ron BXG