• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • What’s On: Things to do, what’s new and more
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – October 2023!
        • White Room photography studio in SingaporePortrait photography in Singapore: here’s some top studios!
        • stamp duty investing in property5 Reasons to Invest in Property in Sunny Spain!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – October 2023!
        • VIP Glamourous Giving Sep 2023What’s on this week and beyond
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
        • solo exhibition in singaporeAmazing 3D-style artwork by Zhuang Hong Yi
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • White Room photography studio in SingaporePortrait photography in Singapore: here’s some top studios!
        • Nexus International School Singapore digital learning and managementCoding languages starts early at this school
        • early learning centre on holland roadSJI International opens a new preschool on Holland Road
        • Centre Stage performing arts and drama classes in SingaporeTop ballet, dance and drama classes in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • Home News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • solo exhibition in singaporeAmazing 3D-style artwork by Zhuang Hong Yi
        • Looking for the best outdoor furniture in Singapore?
        • Where to buy antiques or vintage furniture – Reviews
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • The Latest Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
        • stamp duty investing in property5 Reasons to Invest in Property in Sunny Spain!
        • Indonesia travel - where to stay in BaliIndonesia travel – Where to stay in Bali & island resorts
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Oktoberfest 2023 singapore - the places for food and beerHow to celebrate Oktoberfest 2023 in Singapore
        • Deviate wine bar in Dempsey Hill - we chat to owner Joe Keats of Petersons WinesThis Dempsey bar is a best-kept secret!
        • Crossroads cafe at Orchard - where to eat in Orchard Road - alfresco dining SingaporeTry alfresco dining & happy hour at this café at Orchard Road
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • hairdressers in singaporeBest Hair Salons in Singapore for Haircut, Colour & De-frizz!
        • anti-frizz hair treatmentFrizzy hair treatments – from keratin to hair botox!
        • Fashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • sensitive skin moisturiser skincare steps productsTried & Tested: Sensitive skin moisturisers, serums & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Health News: What’s up!
        • Plantar Fasciitis and knee injuries from runningHow to avoid these 6 common running injuries
        • allergic rhinitis, allergy medication and insuranceFast facts about allergies, their symptoms and insurance
        • art therapy depression treatmentNavigating depression with Experiential Therapy
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

“I won a Muay Thai fight”

29th October 2019 by Anthia Chng 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/muay-thai-competition-singapore-sports/

I can’t believe I did it. I won my first Muay Thai competition.

The lead-up

Rewind back to a couple of months before the day. I’d been doing Muay Thai for about two years, previously at a few gyms across the island before planting my roots in Hilltop Academy on Serangoon Road.

One day during training, my coach came to me and asked if I’d like to compete. Now, if you know anything about Muay Thai (or martial arts, at least), competitions are never risk-free. I mean, the goal is to win, but everyone wants an impressive win by knockout. We decided that I’d first go through the fighter programme, leading up to the next competition in slightly over a month.

amateur muay thai singapore competition
A rare smiling shot taken post-training

I had to drop three kilos to meet my fight weight (53kg), but that wasn’t even the hardest bit. Two weeks into training, I’d already lost two kilos. I ate as per normal, only limiting my junk food and sugar intake. Oh, and I was also on an alcohol ban – now that was tough! Another challenge was making sure I didn’t lose too much strength in the process, as this would affect my performance during the fight. To help with that, I loaded up on my rest at night and ate healthier snacks before each training.

Let’s talk about the training, or “fight camp” as it’s known. It’s called training for a reason; the aim is for you to be pushed to your limits, so each session only gets tougher. Have you ever done a workout where all you want to do is shout and cuss, then collapse in exhaustion? Imagine repeating that regime four times a week. The warm-up starts with a 5km run, followed by 20 minutes of non-stop skipping. After a series of drills including shadow-boxing, three rounds of pad-work and 200 sit-ups, the three-hour training finishes with sparring – the thing I dread most. Getting hit is no fun, but I had to face my fear if I wanted to survive in the ring.

Fight day

My teammates had warned me about it. It’s very common for first-time fighters to panic, they told me; so, your opponent will most likely charge at you and you’ll forget everything the coach has said. Gee, thanks guys. Turns out they were right!

amateur muay thai singapore competition

Round one is scary. Flailing hands come at me and, as predicted, I forget practically everything my coach has told me. My opponent throws her fist from all angles imaginable – across, over, under. I am taken aback and eat plenty of punches without a firm defence. Not a great start.

The bell rings and I’m awoken from my state of shock. I return to my corner where my coach takes out my mouthguard, splashes water on me and gives me a pep talk. Rest time is a tight one minute before the bell rings again to signal the start of the second round.

Round two picks up with me landing more kicks, but my opponent dials up on her aggression, too. These become the longest two minutes of my life. I actually consider turning back to my coach and calling it a day, but the thought of disappointing everyone makes me shrug it off.

amateur muay thai singapore competition
I landed more kicks in the second round

When you’re in the ring, everything around you comes to a standstill. It’s as if time has frozen and your opponent is all you can see. Every sound is drowned out and all I can hear is my heavy breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Deep breaths, then repeat. For a brief moment, I look into my opponent’s eyes and feel her fear. Yes, sis, me too.

Round three: it’s all or nothing. We’re both exhausted by this point, but we’re giving it our last shot, no less. Somehow, my mind clears up and I manage to discern a faint yet familiar voice of my coach amidst the hoo-ha. “Use your knees!” And so I do. I go in at every opportunity and aim my knee into my opponent’s body, while suffering the brunt of her fists. Adrenaline kicks in and I press on.

“I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing…”

I’ve never truly understood the first line from hit song “Breakeven” by The Script, until the very moment I hear the final bell. It’s finally over. After three rounds of scuffling, I’m breathless and beaten but awake and alive in every sense. We gather to the middle and the judge announces the winner. “From the blue corner…” My hand is raised and my team erupts in cheers! The referee presents the medal to me and I walk down from the ring feeling like everything that has just happened is a dream. It’s surreal. Later on, I remember asking my coach if it was over, and repeatedly saying that I was done with fighting because of how tough it was.

amateur muay thai singapore competition

Is this it?

I’d sworn that this would be my first and last fight. My parents let out a sigh of relief too audible to ignore when they heard that. Mum wasn’t very happy about me getting punched in the face. Understandably so, but kudos to her for watching the whole thing on my Instagram (recorded live by my fiancé) without passing out!

My friends are sceptical, and rightly so. Who am I kidding? The training might be hellish but the adrenaline is addictive. However, I do have to think about my husband-to-be. I’m getting hitched in four months and nobody (especially him) would want to see a bride with a broken nose. So for now, I’m going to allow myself to be a sloth and eat cake all day.

At least until my coach looks me up again.

amateur muay thai singapore competition

 

Categories: Fitness Health & Fitness Living in Singapore Tags: Fitness gyms Gyms in Singapore Hilltop Academy muay thai Sports Sports And Fitness

Anthia Chng

Born and bred on this little red dot, Anthia is obsessed with all things beauty and food. When she's not trawling the web for the latest makeup launches and best hair salons, she's busy sussing out the hottest restaurants and bars to visit. Occasionally, she writes about her Muay Thai and baking adventures, too.

You May Also Like

Plantar Fasciitis and knee injuries from running

How to avoid these 6 common running injuries

stamp duty investing in property

5 Reasons to Invest in Property in Sunny Spain!

Costa Rhu: Jyoti’s spacious & central Tanjong Rhu condo

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.