In The Thick Of It

Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m a third year business student at Singapore Management University, but I’m currently interning in a PR consultancy.

Between work and school, how do you enjoy spending your free time?
I hike a lot, and I’ve actually been doing mixed martial arts (MMA) and Muay Thai for about four years now.

Very outdoorsy! How did you get into both hiking and MMA?
Hiking, because of my breakup ah (laughs). I had a lot of thoughts in my head and I feel like going outdoors and reconnecting with nature is one way to let things out of your mind, rather than engaging in damaging activities since I don’t smoke or club.

For MMA, I started in army. I was in the military police, and we had to take self-defence courses, then I started taking it outside and now I just do it in school.

Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these activities, starting with hiking. How do you tap into your senses when you’re out on a hike, while ensuring you aren’t too much in your head given that you’re going through a tough time?
At first I would use my phone or listen to music, but I felt like that was taking away from the experience and too distracting. So now I just take really deep breaths, go for long walks, and don’t avoid my thoughts lah. It’s a time for me to think and reflect, and I think this is healthier than being cooped up in a room, stuck with all of my negative thoughts. Rather, I go out and process these thoughts and emotions instead.

That’s true! Do you have a favourite place to hike in Singapore?
Oh yeah, behind my house, there’s a park connector all the way to Bukit Timah Hill, so that’s my go-to. When you go to the hardest route there, there are a lot of steps, so there’s lesser people and a lot more wildlife. I’ve seen multiple snakes and all sorts of weird bugs!

That sounds really peaceful! Now on to MMA and Muay Thai: since it started out as somewhat of a requirement for you in army, what is your relationship with it now?
I know a lot of people go there for workouts and self-discipline, trying to train the body and all, but I’m there for the people ah (laughs). I’m there for my friends. I’ve actually made a lot of my closer friends through MMA and Muay Thai.

How do you build community there?
Because it’s very physical, there are a lot of close interactions. But after sparring with each other and hurting each other, we hit it out because it’s all in good heartedness, and then we go out for dinner—that’s where we really bond.

Love how you leave it all on the mat! But on the other hand, have there ever been times where sparring has gotten personal, or either you or your opponent have taken offence while sparring?
For me, not really, but there’s been people that I’ve sparred with where we go too hard and it does get a bit offensive, or people start to think “Oh, you’re being a bit mean right now,” but then we just apologise and talk it out lah. Because we’re all there for the fun and love of the sport, right?