Although MuayThai had come
to Singapore a few times in the past, nothing had ever been done in a serious
manner to properly introduce the art as a sport or self-defence. Only a
few sporadic shows had been put on here and there, for perhaps one day or two.
After other groups had attempted to introduce Muaythai, all ending in a sad
result, it waned for a while.
Dr. Percival, a psychologist
specialising in military, police and combat psychology and a long term Martial
Artist (and a specialist trainer of Armed Forces and Police tactical combat)
eventually attempted to take up the banner of properly introducing Muaythai into
Singapore and got involved with the quest of making Muaythai a respected
fitness, sport and martial art in the Island state. After training in
MUAYTHAI himself for a period of time he had found that MuayThai was also the
ideal martial art to introduce to military and police training for an all-round
practical combat and fitness programme.
He also felt that, if he
could initiate the introduction of MuayThai through an already well founded and
dynamic company within the Lion State, it might even take off within the private
sector. This was with an overwhelming expectation and great optimism of
spreading MUAYTHAI to each corner of Singapore.
The main problem everyone
faced in their pursuit to introduce MuayThai to Singapore was lack of finance
and the fact that most public demonstrations to date were only one-man shows and
the participants of dubious background. Therefore, there was a great
difficulty in finding genuine support, without people taking advantage of these
pioneer’s erstwhile first steps, and was the main problem in the successful
introduction of MuayThai.
The pioneers needed to team
up with a successful local businessman; someone with a strong constitution, a
good heart and sufficient finance to support the introduction of MUAYTHAI.
This was eventually done and a forceful and very capable team was formed to
further promote those initial dreams. The dreams became larger and
therewith started to bear fruit in its realization.
The first serious step in
setting up a MuayThai organization here in Singapore finally came when Dr.
Percival came with a proposition to a well founded company he was consulting
with. The owner and CEO Mr. Collin Chan was an experienced and avid
martial artist himself and MUAYTHAI had always fascinated him; therefore, the
prospect of personally becoming involved in its conception within Singapore and
developing it further was overwhelming, and he opened his arms wide to receive
this new art form.
So it was that Mr. Colin
Chan and Dr. Stephen Percival first introduced MUAYTHAI into Singapore in a
structured and dynamic way.
MUAYTHAI FITNESS, and
subsequently FIRST MUAYTHAI FITNESS under the direction of Mr. Collin Chan was
incorporated in January 1999. FIRST MUAYTHAI FITNESS have been appointed
as the ONLY official representative of MUAYTHAI in Singapore by the WORLD
MUAYTHAI COUNCIL (WMC) and the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION MUAYTHAI AMATEUR (IFMA)
and is again, the only approved Muaythai Association able to teach Muaythai
legally in Singapore, by the MARTIAL ARTS CONTROL UNIT (MACU).
Mr. Collin Chan andDr. Stephen Percival (co-owners of Muaythai Fitness together with the newest action blockbuster star Tony Ja, who took the world by storm in his new film, ONG BAK. Tony and his team came to Turf City and gave a spectacular demonstration to promote the film.
With the support from General Chetha Thanajaro, the President of the WMC & President of the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT), together with General Vorayudh Mesommonata, the Secretary General of the WMC & President of IFMA together with Mr. Stephan Fox, (ex Muaythai world champion) and the world-wide International Co-ordinator for WMC and also Vice President of IFMA.
FIRST MUAYTHAI FITNESS is
also recognised by the OCT, WMC, IFMA and the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA).
We have also been commissioned as the only organisation by the WMC to organise
and co-ordinate MUAYTHAI events and activities for the Asia Pacific Region.
At that particular time as
stated earlier, MUAYTHAI had very rarely been seen in the Lion City, and then
only in small public demonstrations at local shopping malls. Therefore,
when the MUAYTHAI FITNESS team first appraised the concept of properly
introducing MUAYTHAI in regular competitions in Singapore and thus becoming
involved in the expansion into the Asian and Olympic games, all were extremely
exited.
In fact, the CEO, Mr. Collin
Chan and his organisation put their whole facilities at the disposal of properly
introducing Muaythai into Singapore.
Actually, previously, a Singapore team achieved success in Thailand during the Third king’s Cup World Amateur Muaythai Championship, participated by 47 countries. This prestigious tournament was held in Bangkok under the patronage of the Thai Royal Family. Singapore emerged champion in the 67-kg weight division, winning a Gold Medal and our fighter was unanimously voted the “Most Outstanding Boxer”- an accolade of the highest order. Great stuff for Singaporeans to hear about on the fighter’s triumphant return.
FIRST MUAYTHAI FINTENSS PTE
LTD, with the full support of CEO, Mr. Collin Chan made immediate plans to hold
an Intercontinental MUAYTHAI Challenge here in Singapore as soon as he could.
We wanted to endeavor in
promoting major venues here in Singapore for the long term. We looked
towards having regular events and bouts, with major international competitors,
and famous Thai exponents always on the cards. We wished to create
somewhat of a following, similar to the huge fans of MUAYTHAI in Thailand and/or
SUMO in Japan if possible, while interesting enough to continually attract more
new people, however young or old they may be.
This naturally requires “up-front” capital and all help in this area would of course have been truly welcome by way of sponsorship packages. Therefore, we immediately started to look for suitable sponsors. This in fact, proved harder than we initially thought, even from the Thai business sector and Embassy personnel. We persevered however, and slowly got a few local Singapore sponsors together to help support the Main Sponsor, Mr. Collin Chan, who donated both, large amounts of time and of course the much needed money of eventually half a million dollars.
We made plans for holding a main annual event on the lines of an, “Annual Championship Challenge”. This could be enhanced if successful, into bi-yearly or quarterly if really popular, without saturating or “taking away” the novelty/interest factor.
Inter-Continental
Muaythai Tournament
The
first official tournament organised in Singapore by First Muaythai Fitness Pte
Ltd was the “Inter-Continental Muaythai Tournament”, held at Suntec City in
March 1999. It was a good and successful awareness campaign whereby Singaporeans
were exposed to the art of MUAYTHAI and were excited to know more about the
sport. Channel 12 of the Singapore Television Network further expanded the
knowledge that MUAYTHAI was definitely in Singapore and here to stay.
Demonstration at
West Coast GRC of Pasir Panjang Division
Self-Defense and
Anti-Rape Seminars
Besides
organising tournaments, we have also conducted "awareness" and
“anti-rape” seminars and workshops using MUAYTHAI as a pragmatic defense
tool which was greeted with an overwhelming response. In total, over 1,700
schoolgirls and their teachers participated in these “hands-on” workshops.
Ladies groups have also actively participated in these extremely practical courses and workshops and are in popular demand.
International
Federation Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) Cup
This event was held in
Bangkok in December 1999 in which our representatives were there to celebrate
the birthday of His Majesty, the King of Thailand and also met up with the
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.
AXN Amateur
Muaythai Championship 2000
The last weeks of 1999,
extending into the new Millennium had been most hectic and challenging for all
at First Muaythai Fitness Pte Ltd. In association with AXN Cable Television, we
held a 7-week MUAYTHAI demonstration at the Singapore World Trade Centre.
Those
2-hours demonstration bouts were held on every Saturday, at 7 pm at the World
Trade Centre and admission was free. During the demonstrations, we took
the time to educate the spectators on the art of MUAYTHAI and allowed them to
experience the full thrill of the show by inviting them to participate.
This event had been the talk of the town and we received an overwhelming
response with all the shows fully packed with both Singaporeans and tourists.
Throughout the 7 weeks, we had also obtained extensive press coverage from major
local newspapers and advertisements on AXN Cable Television.
The above event was
organized to create a new and expanding awareness among the general public for
the first “AXN Amateur Muaythai Championship 2000” which was held in June
2000. This tournament has already created a huge media interest from
Thailand and in Singapore.
FIRST MUAYTHAI FITNESS have recently acquired new facilities at Turf City, along with a large social club, belonging to the AMATEUR MUAYTHAI ASSOCIATION (SINGAPORE) AMAS, which houses games machines, two pool tables, 5 MTV rooms, games rooms, reading and computer corner, together with a live band every night of the week until 1:30. The bar is fully licensed and caters to members only. Of course, the Fitness Centre, one floor below has new gym equipment and free weights, punching and kicking bags, wall units and speed bags to work out on, besides cardiovascular training and Health Massage and Reflexology services. We have placed our ring up in our Outdoors Fitness Training Pavilion, for hard training sessions in the open air for students who are intending to participate in the full MuayThai style, or extra fitness training regimes; to get used to ring craft and winning strategies in confined places.. This open air concept is especially good for anyone who is still a little nervous about SARS.
As said previously, we are
the only6 club and association in Singapore appointed as the official
representative of the WMTC (World MuayThai Council), FAMA (Federation Amateur
MuayThai Asia) and the newly formed IFMA (International Federation of MuayThai
Amateur). We are receiving full support from Thailand and the above
mentioned associations in all our endeavors in the fast growing sport of
MuayThai.
While
we are on the subject, we can also be very pleased with the fact that the
Singapore government have also fully approved AMAS (Amateur Muaythai Association
of Singapore) as a registered Association. This is an official non profit
association tasked with promoting Amateur MuayThai and assisting in the
introduction of MuayThai into the Asian and Olympic games, together with the
training up of a Singapore National Team.
Our dream very much included this noble National aspect as well as wishing to involve ourselves in the setting up and initiating a full training programme for all future National events. This would include the next Asian games and hopefully eventually the Olympic Games. Our dream and thus our motto is, to achieve excellence for Singapore by a “Quest for Gold”. This, we will achieve by using our already dedicated personnel and with unselfish execution, work together with one heart, for one goal.
MUAYTHAI FITNESS itself has been split into various separate categories here in Singapore, which will help appeal to a larger number of individuals and will also take into account the student’s level of expertise and naturally, to what level they wish to go to.
Starting at the MUAYTHAI AEROBOX, which is a full power aerobic workout and includes all the movements as found in kick-boxercise with the addition of classical MuayThai techniques, such as knees and elbow strikes incorporated into impact training, involving focus mitts, kick pads and heavy bags. This also introduces the student to actual fighting techniques and begins the groundwork for more complex drills and self defense tactics. It is the quickest, most spectacular way of getting fit I have ever seen.
Students
experience the full benefit of an advanced cardio-workout, plus they are exposed
to the basic moves of MuayThai. It is estimated the amount of calories
burnt off during a MuayThai Fitness workout easily triples that of standard step
aerobic. Due to the level of intensity, and the classes rarely exceed
sixty minutes, which also includes the warm down. All of the above
concepts follow our government’s own concept of “Healthy Lifestyles”.
We certainly agree with that and confirm that MUAYTHAI will build not only a
healthy body, but also a healthy mind too.
This
leads to the next level, where light sparring using full protection equipment
enhances the student’s skills and self-confidence. The students will
learn the fundamentals of MuayThai and begin to learn the early history, culture
and traditions while also introducing the Wai Kru (traditional dance steps prior
to the fight) and the importance of the Mongkon or headband.
This
leads ultimately to the actual sport of MUAYTHAI and the competitions and
training of budding exponents. Students here start serious training,
initially in full amateur endorsed protection gear and if desired, onto
professional non-protection contests. The student has the chance to
represent his or her country in Amateur MuayThai, or travel the world partaking
in regular professional challenge fights.
A
separate form of MuayThai exists, based on the deadly MuayThai combat form,
previously reserved for elite Thai combat troops. This second avenue we
will pursue, is based on that art in the form of Practical Self-Defence.
This has already become popular in Singapore and we was actively and
aggressively backed by Ms. Claire Chang, nominated MP in Singapore and receiver
of the, “Outstanding Woman of Singapore” award for 1999, in teaching girl
students at major schools throughout Singapore.
We
feel that this will also have an impact and expand into the training of Military
and Police personnel eventually. Dr. Percival, a Military and Police
Psychologist by definition, and long term Martial Artist, is aggressively
forming the introduction of successful combat strategies, based on Muaythai and
other specialist martial arts to the police and military here in Singapore, both
for a healthy lifestyle and also as a pragmatic form of defense and/or combat.
First
MuayThai Fitness Pte Ltd will also continue to hold Awareness and Anti Rape
Seminars for the fairer sex, which will not only encompass the physical aspects
of self defence, but also the mental / psychology. This encompasses mind
set, understanding real fighting for one’s life and an introduction of who are
the stalkers, what do they look for in their prey. These real world work
shops will teach the truth behind an ever increasing violent world, where the
innocent become the prey and how we can turn the tables on them.
We
are pleased also to announce that famous Thai instructors, many past champions,
will be flown into Singapore on a regular basis to assist in the instruction of
all students during our regular training sessions. We are also lucky
enough to have been offered the chance to introduce other world class champions
from around the world, both past and present to give weekend workshops here in
Singapore. Trips to Thai camps and major competitions will also be
available for our members.
As
we are officially tied to the World MuayThai Association, we have the luxury of
being able to introduce all our students to MuayThai Training Camps all the way
around the world. So wherever you go in this world, you will always have
the chance to train and be looked after by close friends and fellow students
across the nations.
As the training was interrupted previously, when we moved from the Big Splash, we of course wish our old members to return with gusto, with no joining fees. With only a very small monthly subscription charge of $38 a month, members get free training from the instructors and can use the Fitness Centre for self training any time they wish. We are open daily from morning until night.
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