HYPE: The ONE Fighting Championships: War of the Lions

The ONE Fighting Championships: War of the Lions (31st March 2012 @ The Singapore Indoor Stadium)

With just days away from Asia’s Largest Mixed Martial Arts event, I’m pretty stoked to say the least. Happening on the 31st of March at 7pm at Singapore Indoor Stadium, ONE FC is more than just a legalized “Fight Club”. Its a waterhole for the Mixed Martial Arts enthusiast around the the world to gather and enjoy what they love doing.

With ONE FC’s star-studded line-up of Asia’s best professional MMA fighters, you can expect awesome rounds of exhilarating fights and showmanship and possibly knockouts too! Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing my Fight Shape trainer – Eddie “The Magician” Ng compete against  Muay Thai specialist Jian Kai Chee from Muayfit.

After truly enjoying my short but nonetheless exciting stint at Evolve MMA (POMO branch), I must admit, mixed martial arts is a really fascinating sport and a great way to up your level of fitness. Be it your goal to lose weight (yes, i’ve seen my friends shed those pounds through MMA) OR to get that ripped fighter’s body OR simply to learn a new sport, Mixed Martial Arts is indeed a good way to start. (Read: Mixed Martial Arts: Choosing The Right Trainers)

And to those MMA Enthusiast or looking forward to catching the event, LIVE streaming is available for the selected countries below via their YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/ONEFCmma.

Sadly, the streaming is geo-blocked in Singapore and Japan (i.e as networks prefer to call it – restrict access to their online videos outside the territories where they hold the rights).

LIVE Streaming commences at:

8:00 PM – Kuala Lumpur

1:00 PM – London

8:00 AM – New York City

5:00 AM – San Francisco

Mixed Martial Arts: Choosing The Right Trainers

People have been asking me why I delve into the realm of martial arts and all these fighting disciplines like Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Thing about me is that i had always been fascinated and WOW-ed by a fighter’s physique. Well, just take a look at Bruce Lee or Mitch Chilson – simply ripped and is epitome of fit.

Bruce Lee and Mitch Chilson

Going for martial arts classes or picking up such sports DOES NOT make you a badass punk nor turn you into a Hulk when you’re mad. Doing martial arts is certainly very different from what many might think. The purpose and benefits of training in a martial arts discipline outweighs its unsavory image of blood, gore and more blood. Believe it or not, learning martial arts kinda sets you in a calm state of mind and a feel good endorphin rush as you complete it.

Personally, I have been training at Evolve MMA Academy, learning Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu there. I have rubbed shoulders with one of the great trainers there who’ll be taking part in the upcoming ONE FC – a mixed martial arts event staged right here in Singapore! Eddie “The Magician” Ng- this guy trained me in his FIGHT SHAPE class and it was AWESOME.

Eddie “The Magician” Ng

Coming out of his 1 hour class would often see me all perspiring and smiling to myself because i survived his High Intensity Training (HIT) Fight Shape class. Well, along with 10+ other students ranging from 13-year old kids to working women that is.

That being said, i think its important to get a solid, down to earth and great trainer when it comes to picking up martial arts as a sport. I believe there are 3 main things to look out for when choosing or training with a martial arts trainer: CHEMISTRY, EXPERIENCE & FUN.

1) CHEMISTRY

Just like in any relationship, chemistry is essential between a student-trainer too. You know, sometimes there are some of these trainers who come across as arrogant and in it for the money. You can tell (or sometimes SMELL) by the way the trainers interact with the students (or even you) as they impart their skills during the training sessions. If you ever come across such people, you know that is a sign to say Bye Bye. I’m sure you can do better with a trainer who makes you feel at home even though you know that he is probably gonna “kill you” during that session.

Find trainers who inspire you with more than just certificates, accolades or physique. Get the ones who is driven to change YOU and inspire YOU on a whole different level.

2) EXPERIENCE

Experience counts. Its important to have trainers who KNOW and UNDERSTAND their discipline VERY well. There is a clear line between an experienced martial artists and one who is not. Trainers who have never fought in their entire career can never be deemed as experienced to me, because seriously, that’s how it rolls isn’t it? Someone who has been through a fight or competition (win, lose or draw) has much more knowledge in imparting training methods to you than someone who is merely a textbook “fighter”.

3) FUN

Lastly, as i always emphasize in any sports which i pick up, it is important to enjoy your training. No point going through it, feeling bruised and battered but you don’t feel fun. Mentally, you would not want to go for it again and that would be the start of you not coming back for training. True story.

Till next time, Guten Tag and train hard! 

Choose the right trainers

New Year, New Challenge, New Me: Muay Thai @ Evolve MMA

Its 2012 and to kick start the new year, i gave myself a new challenge – to learn Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Or at least to learn and be conditioned with the basic moves. But my experience about the latter will be for another day.

So where else better than to train at Evolve MMA – Asia’s Top Martial Arts Academy. Having the most number of world champions Muay Thai fighters-instructors in the academy, the sessions were structured and most importantly, fun to be in. I’ll go on into further details the next time round.

Personally, i had always liked Muay Thai as a form of self-defense. I was inspired by Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s The Quest, a 1996 movie about martial arts particularly Muay Thai.  The “Art of Eight Limbs” as it is also known, Muay Thai uses the fists, elbows, knees and shins to strike an opponent.

But that being said, i’m a lover and not a fighter. Those who have followed this blog would know that I just love changing my fitness routine as well as experimenting with different sports because different sports would require different level of fitness. Being able to run 21km doesnt necessarily mean you would have the stamina to last a Muay Thai “fight” or even a soccer game for that matter. And my quest to be a wholesome athlete has got to encompass a variety of trainings and workouts.

I have kicked start my training over at Evolve MMA Academy last week and i must say, I’m addicted to the training. I’m so stoked to go for the next lesson! Call me crazy but I went for my 2nd Muay Thai class the day after my first! I especially love it because i CANNOT sustain a non-stop 3-min skipping portion (as part of the warm up) and i CANNOT execute a proper kick. It doesnt really help when you see younger guys, kicking the bag with a super loud “KE-PAAK! KE-PAAK!” sound. Motivates me to train harder and perform better at the next session. I cant lose to a kid can i? >.<”

With a combination of self-defense and fitness, Muay Thai is certainly one of the best ways to get lean and get a great functional physique too! #JustSaying

Stay tuned for updates on my Quest to better my fitness and YES, you should join me too in bettering yours! I dont have much pictures because obviously i cant take photos while training. But i’ll work things out soon. That being said, i’m heading for another class later today, Thursday. Can’t wait!

Man…i just love the adrenaline rush, the sweat and the feeling of satisfaction knowing you just went through 1 hour of circuit training and coming out alive.

Oh. you can also follow my updates and other fitness or sports progress/updates on Twitter: @whywerunn OR Evolve MMA’s own Twitter account @EvolveMMA.

Till next time, Kap kun khap!