Latest news with #MuayThai
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Singapore's top Muay Thai fighters target medal haul at continental showdown in Vietnam
SINGAPORE: Singapore's national Muay Thai team is eyeing a strong showing on the continental stage, as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Muay Thai Championship in Vietnam. Seven athletes will represent the country at the week-long competition, which kicks off on Friday (Jun 20). The annual championship, held in Vietnam for the first time, is expected to attract more than 300 fighters from around 30 countries and territories. They will compete for medals in 28 weight categories and eight performance classes. It also marks their last chance to qualify for December's SEA Games in Thailand. AIMING FOR GLORY Among the Singaporean Muay Thai athletes headed to Vietnam for the competition is rising star Wayne Low, who will be making his international debut. At just 20 years old, he has dedicated himself fully to the sport by training six days a week, up to seven hours a day. 'The sport, beyond its physical aspects, involves 'a lot of mental strength', said Low, who is looking forward to going against some of the best fighters in Asia 'Without any mental strength, I don't think any of us can get this far, we can just give up any time. With it, I feel (that it has made me) a much better person, more disciplined.' Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to represent Singapore, he said that he is hoping to snag at least a bronze medal at the competition. 'I'm really nervous and excited. I don't want to mess up this chance,' added Low, who is the youngest fighter in the seven-member squad headed for Vietnam. However, he noted that his age is not a disadvantage, saying the upcoming competition will give him valuable exposure and experience against high-level opponents. RAISING THE BAR National coach Amir Gani said adapting to the intensity and pace of international bouts has been a major focus in training, with former national athletes being involved as sparring partners. 'We do more training because of the pace of the fights. The bouts are different from what we have in Singapore,' he added. 'So we need to understand and make the athletes understand the pace, the power of these international games. They are not easy.' Amir said he believes his charges are capable of holding their own against Asia's best, and is aiming for at least four medals from the team at the championship — but medals are just part of the bigger picture. 'My goal for the Asian Championship is to win as many as we can as a nation, and I want as many Singapore athletes to be carded for SEA Games,' he added. 'That's what our main goal is, but for the main goal to happen, we have to have a successful event.' If their quest for December's SEA Games is successful, the athletes will have their work cut out for them. They could face fierce fights from powerhouse and host Thailand, as well as other teams such as Malaysia and the Philippines.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
He worked multiple jobs just to pay rent in the US — so he packed up and moved to Thailand to chase a new life as a fighter
Maxwell Wolfe left the US and moved to Koh Samui, Thailand, to become a Muay Thai fighter. His daily routine in Samui involves waking up at 5 a.m. and training twice a day. He prefers the simplicity of his life in Thailand over the rat race in the US. Maxwell Wolfe had never traveled outside the US — until he flew to Thailand in 2019 for a Muay Thai fight on the island of Koh Samui. He lasted two minutes in the ring, took an elbow above his right eye, which left a scar, and then lost. But instead of flying home feeling defeated, Wolfe was hooked. Wolfe grew up in northern Virginia and had started practicing martial arts in his early 20s, when he was at a crossroads in his life. As someone with ADHD, he always found it hard to conform to conventional societal expectations. "I never really fit the mold, and martial arts is one of the very few things in my life besides music and art that made sense to me," Wolfe, now 34, told Business Insider. That match in Samui lit a fire in him, and he hoped to return to Thailand sooner to continue pursuing the sport. But the pandemic threw a wrench in his plans, and he continued training in the US instead. But life wasn't easy. With the rising cost of living, he had to juggle IT jobs, work in nightclubs, and deliver Uber Eats to pay his rent. In late 2023, things came to a head when he lost both of his IT jobs. Feeling stuck both personally and professionally, Wolfe decided to return to Samui in search of a reset. Starting afresh in Samui Once he arrived in Samui, he signed up for training at Lamai Muay Thai, a local gym. The training routine he followed gave his days structure and a sense of purpose that he quickly grew to appreciate. But as a foreigner, he realized his time in Thailand was limited. "One day, I went up to Ralph and said, 'How do I live a life like this?'" Wolfe said, referring to the owner of Lamai Muay Thai, Ralph Beale. That's when Beale told him about the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV. Introduced last year, it can be used by digital nomads, remote workers, and those interested in participating in cultural or wellness activities — including Muay Thai. Beale told BI that the training center welcomes foreigners of all experience levels to its classes and currently has around 12 fighters training under the DTV. Wolfe's original plan was to stay for just one year. Enough time, he thought, to rebuild himself through Muay Thai. But with the visa valid for five years, the possibility of staying longer began to take shape. Eat, sleep, train, repeat Wolfe represents Lamai Muay Thai in local matches. "They get a small fight purse when they compete, which can start as low as a few thousand baht," Beale said. Most foreign fighters aren't in it for the money, but rather for the chance to compete in Thailand. Those who prove themselves in smaller arenas often earn opportunities on bigger stages, like those in Bangkok, he added. Wolfe's lifestyle on Samui is far from the relaxed and idyllic island dream one might expect. His day starts at 5 a.m. After washing up, he takes his supplements and has a light breakfast — typically a piece of fruit, like a banana. Then, it's time for training. "I usually reach the gym when the sun's still coming up, stretch a little bit, and then I run 8 to 10 kilometers in the morning," Wolfe said. After cooling down, he moves on to padwork or a CrossFit session. After morning training, Wolfe heads home and spends the afternoon on online IT courses. By 4 p.m., he's back at the gym — and ready to do it all over again. He lives in a house just five minutes away from his gym with several other fighters. One of the biggest challenges he faced was adapting to the strict discipline required by his new life. Getting into the habit of waking up early was tough, and staying mindful of his diet proved equally challenging. "I couldn't be eating all this processed crap. I couldn't have much seasoning on it," he said. "There's also temptation — I'm not even a big drinker, but alcohol is ridiculously cheap here." Adapting to a simpler life If there's anything he misses about the US, it's the sense of familiarity. "This is straight up jungle life," he said. "You've got to make sure you have a charger. Going to this spot means that you have no communication. Going to that spot means you'll encounter wild dogs." "It's one thing to be street smart back where I'm from, but being jungle smart is a completely different thing," he added. The Muay Thai gym has become a place where Wolfe has made some real friends. He finds that people in Samui are generally more open and accepting. Wolfe says he's slowly trying to learn the Thai language to get along better with the locals, including some of his trainers. Apart from training, competing, and representing the gym, Wolfe's life in Samui gave him the breathing space to grow his IT career. The lower cost of living in Samui has relieved a lot of financial pressure, allowing him to focus on upskilling himself and running his remote cybersecurity and IT consulting business. On the side, he's also building an AI app to help martial arts athletes track progress and improve performance. "Muay Thai is my main focus right now, and I'm fully committed to it. But I know fighting isn't forever," he said. Compared to the rat race, he prefers the simplicity of his life in Samui. "Despite the pain and discipline, it's so much better. I may not be working toward a luxurious apartment, which I'll never pay off in my lifetime, but I could see myself having a little house here, and I'd be happier than most people who are making six figures as a lawyer in New York," he said. In May, Wolfe fought his first Muay Thai match since receiving the visa. He walked away with a win.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
ONE Championship: Shadow already thinking beyond headlining ONE Fight Night 33
Thai striking sensation Shadow Singha Mawynn will step into the biggest bout of his career when he headlines ONE Fight Night 33 against Younes Rabah on July 12, and is already thinking about a title shot. Advertisement The 25-year-old Muay Thai phenom has already amassed more than 90 professional fights, including winning the Rajadamnern Stadium Welterweight Muay Thai World title in 2022. Now ranked No 3 in ONE's featherweight Muay Thai division, he stands on the cusp of a world title shot. However, ahead of his career-defining bout at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium, Shadow said he is just focusing on the present. 'I just really want to get a win for each fight,' he told the Post. 'The future is up to the future. 'If I still keep going, not giving up, I believe one day I will be able to get a title shot against Tawanchai [PK Saenchaimuaythaigym].' Pressed on whether he had what it took to beat the 26-year-old, Shadow remained coy.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Young Thug's SP5DER steps in the Thai boxing ring for new collection
Young Thug's recent release to the free world creates an almost surreal backdrop to his clothing brand's latest drop. SP5DER, the American streetwear brand established in 2019 operating from Los Angeles with Atlanta roots, has always embodied freedom and controversy in both his personal narrative and fashion story arc. But today we're dissecting the fashion move that dropped just days ago. The new collection comes with a lookbook video titled 'CAMPERS THAILAND' positioned literally inside a Thai boxing ring. The visual surely hits hard: no studio gloss, no sanitised aesthetics, with Muay Thai fighters, skin inked in sacred sak yant tattoos, every line whispering stories of power and protection in sweaty gyms, battered pads, cracked tiles under bare feet – a move that inevitably can be read as either respectful contextualisation or calculated exoticism. The aesthetic punch is undeniable, though the cultural calculus is way murkier in today's climate where authenticity and appropriation exist in increasingly narrow margins. Many applause, many raised eyebrows. Beyond Thailand's fight culture, the lookbook also incorporated traditional Kayan neck coils and ceremonial elements heavily inspired by the heritage of Myanmar and the Karenni ethnic group. Given that in 2025 fashion moments demand transparency around cultural engagement, the operative questions are not aesthetic but operational. Did SP5DER establish partnerships with Thai culture and Southeast Asian community representatives? Are there revenue streams flowing back to the community whose heritage drives this campaign? These details separate cultural celebration from cultural extraction. SP5DER's approach either demonstrates how streetwear can engage respectfully with global traditions or becomes another case study in the fashion industry's cultural borrowing patterns. SP5DER's established success means the stakes are higher when they venture into cultural territory. Whether this represents genuine cultural bridge-building or another 'exotic' trend wave remains to be seen. It's not the lookbook's visuals under fire – those land incredibly fine. It's the business behind the campaign that's got people talking. The stakes go way beyond one brand's campaign. Fashion's relationship with non-Western cultures faces intensified scrutiny as heritage symbols increasingly become commercial assets. The brand inevitably forces the industry conversation: can fashion meaningfully celebrate diverse heritage within commercial frameworks, or does profit motive inevitably reduce cultural traditions to aesthetic trends?
Hans India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Kickboxing competitions held
Hyderabad: The national-level live kickboxing competitions held at LuLu Mall in the city concluded successfully. Organised by the UIC, the three-day event started on Friday and ended on Sunday. The first day featured a Face-Off event, while the second day showcased exciting kickboxing matches. A total of 16 fighters participated in 8 matches, including two female competitors. In the Welter Weight category, Vahid emerged as the champion. The final day highlighted Muay Thai competitions. Speaking at the event, Abdul Khadeer Shaik, Regional Director of LuLu Group, stated that these competitions were organised to promote sports in Hyderabad. He mentioned that such events would help increase public interest in sports. As expected, the competitions received a tremendous response from visitors. Mohammad Sharif, Regional Manager, and Ezhil Arasan, Mall Manager, thanked everyone for making the event a grand success. They also noted that it was the first time such competitions were held inside a mall in the city. On the first day, Bandi Ramesh, Vice President of TPCC and Congress Kukatpally In-Charge, attended the event. He expressed pride that Kukatpally hosted such competitions and appreciated the efforts of LuLu Mall management. He expressed hope that many more such events would be organised in the future.
