Summer is in full force when I step into the gym sometime in mid-June. Scanning the perspiring faces around me as I get ready for the evening’s training session, my eyes stop on a new kid. Unlike the others, who are dressed comfortably in sleeveless cotton tops and Muay Thai trunks, the new boy is clad in a long-sleeved sweater and too-thick pants. “That’s Han*,” Okbae whispers, coming up beside me. “Be gentle with him for now. He’s kind of ... fragile.” Throughout the training session that evening, I notice that Han keeps his head down most of the time, averts his gaze whenever he is spoken to, and makes little attempt to venture out of his little corner, where he seems comfortable … [Read more...]
About Rachel Lee
Interview With Z1 Female Muay Thai Champion Miriam Sabot
Italy’s Miriam Sabot (Miriam Muay Farang) is the current Z1 56kg Female Champion. In one of the most anticipated fights at the 8th edition of the Z1 Royal Cup, she defeated defending champion Germany’s Dilara Yildiz for the belt on December 4 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You have definitely earned yourself a great number of fans after the Z1 fight. Tell us something about yourself. I am 34 years old. I have had 32 fights in total, including my first 4 amateur fights. I have competed in both Muay Thai and K1 fights before. My record for fights with full Muay Thai rules is 9 wins (4 KOs) and 8 losses. For fights with K1 rules, my record stands … [Read more...]
Friendship and Camaraderie at the Z1 8th Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship
Having recently competed in a national tournament in Korea, and with grading sessions for our gym looming, being on the fight card for a major event in Malaysia was the last thing on Okbae’s mind. However, when Muay Thai promoter Z1 International contacted us and asked for Okbae’s participation in their Z1 8th Royal Cup Muay Thai Championship in Kuala Lumpur, we knew it was an excellent opportunity for Okbae to get some international exposure and experience before he stopped fighting altogether to focus on running his gym. This recommendation came by way of Dr Lynne Miller, owner of Sumalee Boxing Gym in Phuket, whose fighters have appeared consistently … [Read more...]
Where to Eat in Singapore – Curry Wok Review
On a recent trip to Singapore, I visited Curry Wok, one of my favourite restaurants since my high school days. Having been based in Seoul, South Korea for the past couple of years, I was intensely craving for some traditional, home-cooked Singaporean fare. Tucked in the quiet and cosy neighbourhood of Bukit Timah, Curry Wok is arguably Singapore’s best-kept culinary secret. A meal at Curry Wok felt like coming home. As soon as I pushed open the door, I was heartily welcomed by Catherine and Frederick, the family-run eatery’s owners. I was instantly transported back to a decade ago, when I was a ravenous student who constantly looked forward to … [Read more...]
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child – Discipline in a Korean Muay Thai Gym
For the third night in a row, Seok Han’s mother comes to our gym in tears. She is helpless and frustrated. Outside, the desolate darkness of the winter night seems to echo her maternal sorrow. We calm her down and listen to her grievances. A couple of months earlier, Seok Han had come to register at our gym, his anxious mother in tow. Burly and tall for his age, Seok Han is a sophomore at a high school nearby. We find out that he has little interest in his studies, but has developed a keen interest and passion for Muay Thai after watching K-1 on TV. Luckily for Seok Han, his mother is understanding enough to allow him to pursue his passions, instead of … [Read more...]
Things That Hinder – The Challenges Of Running A Muay Thai Gym In South Korea
Running a Muay Thai gym is no mean feat. Depending on where you are located in the world, you will be confronted with your own unique set of issues and challenges. Here are some of the most common difficulties faced by gym owners in South Korea. General Public’s Perception Of Muay Thai Apart from those who have come across Muay Thai-specific TV programmes like K-1, most Koreans have never heard of Muay Thai before. The sport’s entry into Korea is relatively recent, compared to Western boxing, or the national sport Taekwondo. People enquire not because they are actively searching for a gym; they are truly curious and have no idea … [Read more...]
Confessions Of A Korean Female Fighter
Female Body Image and Gender Stereotypes in South Korea "I want to fight." Those were C's first words to us as she stepped into our gym for the first time sometime last summer. Her words were uttered with an assured certainty and fierce determination. Yet, there was a touch of raw edginess about her, something which I later discovered to be a profound dissatisfaction about her predicament then. She told us that she had quit her relatively well-paying job at a software firm just so that she could train Muay Thai full-time, an eyebrow-raising move in conservative South Korea. C is urgent and desperate about fighting. "I am 27 years … [Read more...]
Muay Thai Grading in South Korea
Part 1 Muay Thai Grading in Korea Explained “They are ready for their first grading test,” my fiancé, owner and Head Trainer of K Club, Okbae Moon says in a decisive low voice, cocking his head towards the group of teenage boys trading playful punches at one another in the gym. Standing next to Okbae outside the training area, where he is observing his protégés carefully, I am temporarily befuddled. My confusion must have been written on my face, because Okbae proceeds to explain what grading entails. “It’s a test of Muay Thai ability. You demonstrate to the judges a set of prescribed moves. If you pass, you get promoted to … [Read more...]
Unraveling The Mystery Behind Sinbi Taewoong
Tracing The Little-known Korean Roots Of A Thai Fighter Even the most seasoned Muay Thai practitioners I know shoot me confused or disbelieving looks whenever I tell them that Thopadak Wanchalerm runs one of the biggest and most successful Muay Thai gyms in Phuket. However, their eyes quickly light up with recognition when I tell them that the person in question is actually Sinbi Taewoong (he prefers to be known as Sing), owner of the eponymous Sinbi Muay Thai Camp. What Is In A Name? “Sinbi Taewoong” is a Korean name formed from the Chinese characters 神祕泰雄, meaning the “Mysterious Thai Hero”, a namesake and identity thrust … [Read more...]