Kingdom Muay Thai & Fitness

Introducing Kru Yai Arash and Poo Choi Kru Andy as the two were officially appointed their new status

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT

On December 14, 2025, the Muay Thai community gathered for an afternoon at the Thai National Day End of Year Banquet & Awards Ceremony. Hosted by Ajahn Suchart and Muay Thai Ontario (MTO), the annual event honoured the successes of fighters, coaches, and gyms who shaped the 2025 year, while also reinforcing the deeper values that make Muay Thai more than just a sport.

This year's banquet carried added significance, doubling as a fundraiser with a portion of proceeds dedicated to Philippines Typhoon Relief Funds; demonstrating MTO's embodiment of Muay Thai's longstanding values of compassion, solidarity, and responsibility.

Throughout the afternoon, Ajahn Suchart spoke powerfully about the importance of staying true to the core cultural practices of Muay Thai, emphasizing that tradition and community are the backbone of the art. Speeches highlighted the responsibility of the current practitioners and leaders to support the future of Muay Thai in Ontario and across Canada, with a strong focus on developing the Canadian National Team and investing in youth athletes. Central to Ajahn Suchart's message was the belief that Muay Thai training builds far more than physical strength but it also fosters discipline, resilience, and respect that people take into their daily lives.

A deeply meaningful portion of the ceremony was the formal recognition of new rankings. In a cultural ritual rooted in tradition, Ajahn blessed the mongkons and prajiouds and personally acknowledged each individual's achievement, underscoring the honour and responsibility that comes with progression in Muay Thai.

Among those recognized were Kingdom Muay Thai's own newly appointed Kru Yai Arash and Poo Choi Kru Andy in a moment of immense pride for the gym. Their recognition reflects Kingdom Muay Thai's continued dedication to teaching authentic Muay Thai, instilling cultural values, supporting long-term student & fighter development, and nurturing the next generation of practitioners.

The evening concluded with awards presented to outstanding fighters and gyms, celebrating excellence, perseverance, and contribution to the broader Muay Thai community. The event served as a reminder of what binds this community together: respect for tradition, commitment to growth, and a collective support for one another.

Kingdom Muay Thai is incredibly proud of Kru Yai Arash and Poo Choi Kru Andy, and honoured to stand alongside members of a community that continues to elevate Muay Thai in Canada on and off the mats.

Behind the Gloves: Sam Khalaj on Discipline, Fighting, and Mentorship

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT

At Kingdom Muay Thai, fighters are shaped not only by hard rounds and long hours, but by an unwavering commitment to growth. Sam Khalaj embodies that mindset. With years of consistent training, international fight experience in Thailand, and a growing role as a mentor to the next generation of athletes, Sam represents the modern Muay Thai fighter who is disciplined, honest, and deeply invested in the craft.

Tell me a bit about your Muay Thai background? What got you into it and how long have you been training?

Sam Khalaj: "Honestly, I can't really pinpoint one specific reason that got me into Muay Thai. At the time, I was pretty bored and just wanted to try something new as a hobby. Once I started training, it didn't take long for me to become hooked. What began as a way to stay busy quickly became a passion, and not long after that, I knew I wanted to fight. I've been training consistently for about three years now, and Muay Thai has become a major part of my life."

What is your favourite part about training at Kingdom Muay Thai? How has it helped you grow in the sport?

"The biggest thing for me is the quality of the coaches and the people you're surrounded by at Kingdom. There's a strong sense of community in the gym, and it really pushes you to be better. Kru Yai Arash and Coach Hamed are very invested in developing fighters and giving them real opportunities to compete. They actively help guide you toward fights and higher-level experiences. On top of that, the gym itself is top notch, which makes a big difference when you're spending so much time in the gym."

You went to Thailand recently for training and to fight, how was that experience? What were the highlights and what lessons did you learn while you were there?

"Training and fighting in Thailand was an unreal experience. The highlight was definitely competing in my second professional fight, especially doing it in the birthplace of Muay Thai. Being immersed in that environment teaches you a lot very quickly. The most valuable lesson I took away was learning to fight without being too focused on the outcome. As long as you're learning from the experience, and you're growing as a fighter, that's what truly matters."

How do you prepare for a fight? What does your training routine look like? What mental space do you have to get in?

"My preparation is pretty simple and consistent. I show up every day, train hard, and trust the process. That includes getting my bag work in, pad work with my coach, hard sparring, and making sure I'm doing my runs. I follow what my coach has planned for the day and focus on executing it properly. Mentally, I don't overthink things. I accept the reality that you could get hurt when you fight. Once you accept it, you just show up and do what needs to be done."

You're now leading the fight training for the youth students at Kingdom Muay Thai. What teaching philosophies do you use when teaching the next generation of fighters? What can they expect from working with you?

"My main philosophy is about showing up and putting in the work no matter what. Even if you don't have someone to train with, you still train. Muay Thai is a solo sport at the end of the day, and no one can make you train if you don't want to. I also put a big emphasis on mental strength. Being mentally strong will take you much further than just being physically strong. When the kids train with me, they can expect honesty, discipline, and a focus on consistency and resilience."

What are your goals you're looking to work towards in Muay Thai?

"My main goal is to stay active and keep building experience. I'm aiming to have ten or more fights this year and continue moving up. Fighting at Rajadamnern Stadium is a goal for me, and winning a Rajadamnern belt is the dream. That belt is the highest achievement in Muay Thai, and only one Iranian fighter has ever won it. Rajadamnern is also a huge part of the sport's history. It's the first and oldest stadium dedicated to Muay Thai, almost like a Mecca for fighters, and so many legends have fought there. Just being able to fight in that stadium would be a massive milestone for me. Beyond that, I'd love to eventually compete on platforms like ONE Championship or RWS and see how far I can push myself."

Kingdom Muay Thai's Blessing Ceremony Marks a Meaningful Milestone in the Gym's History

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT

On November 19, 2025, Kingdom Muay Thai marked a meaningful milestone with a traditional gym blessing ceremony. A Muay Thai gym blessing is deeply rooted in Muay Thai cultural heritage and serves as a spiritual cleansing of the space, inviting protection, prosperity, and harmony for everyone who trains within it.

In Muay Thai culture, blessings are typically conducted by respected community figures to honour lineage and ensure safety for students and fighters. These ceremonies often include offerings and blessings to bring luck and protection to the gym.

Kingdom Muay Thai's ceremony was led by Ajahn Suchart, whose presence brought a deep sense of authenticity and reverence to the evening. As the sun set, students, guests, and community members gathered inside the gym, welcomed by a small altar arranged with flowers, fruit, incense, fruit juice, and candles as a part of the offering. The atmosphere felt both sacred and intimate.

As Ajahn Suchart began leading the blessing, the room settled into a collective stillness as he delivered a speech on the importance of community and staying true to the cultural heritage of Thailand.

Before the formal blessing began, the evening opened with a traditional Wai Kru performed by Kru Yai Arash and a Ram Muay by Kru Ozwaldo. Their performances paid homage to Muay Thai's roots, honouring teachers both past and present, and showcasing the discipline, grace, and respect that form the heart of the art. PC Kru Hamed, PC Kru Nima, and PC Kru Vince were also blessed alongside Kru Yai Arash. Each recognized for their dedication and contribution to the gym community.

During the ceremony, Kru Angie delivered a thoughtful and heartfelt speech that highlighted Ajahn Suchart's unwavering dedication to the community and spoke to the strength of character and leadership embodied by Kru Yai Arash. Her words reflected the deep respect and gratitude shared within the gym; recognizing the guidance, discipline, and compassion both figures bring to Kingdom Muay Thai and the Muay Thai community as a whole. As a symbolic gesture, she gifted Kru Yai Arash a basil plant representing growth, grounding, and the flourishing path he continues to cultivate for students.

The gym also honoured Ajahn, presenting him with the "keys to the Kingdom," a meaningful token symbolizing his role as a guiding father figure, along with a selection of Persian goodies as a nod to the gym's cultural roots and shared appreciation.

The evening concluded with light refreshments and food, giving the community space to connect and celebrate the significance of the evening. Many expressed gratitude for being part of a ceremony that not only honoured Muay Thai tradition but also strengthened the sense of belonging within Kingdom Muay Thai.

The blessing marked a new chapter for the gym; one rooted in respect, intention, and the shared belief in creating a space where everyone can train, grow, and feel supported.

Gift Guide: Top Holiday Gifts Any Muay Thai Athlete Would Love

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Shopping for a Muay Thai athlete isn't always easy, but the right gift can fuel their training, recovery, and passion for the sport. Whether they're a dedicated fighter, a weekend warrior, or just getting started with their training, this guide includes thoughtful, practical, and inspiring gifts they'll actually love.

Glove Deodorizers

A must-have for every Muay Thai athlete. These inserts from Champion Wipes absorb moisture and odor to keep gloves fresh, hygienic, and long-lasting. Meaning no more smelly gloves, just clean, ready-to-go gear.

Find it on Amazon.ca - $22

Muscle Recovery Balm

This healing muscle recovery balm, designed intentionally with ghee, alleviates and soothes your everyday aches. Infused with arnica extract, turmeric extract, and the potency of ghee, this formula provides immediate sensation and soothing relief to ease pain and tension. Featuring hydrating ingredients—olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter—to leave your skin feeling moisturized and nourished from within.

Find it on Ghlee.com - $44

Hand Wraps

Give the gift of protection and style. Toronto-based KO Studio designs boxing gear made specifically for women, with hand wraps that blend comfort, support, and personality. With tons of fun prints to choose from, they're the perfect way to show off some flair while keeping your hands ready for training.

Find it on KOStudio.co - $22 - $36

Recovery Experience: Sauna & Cold Plunge

Give the gift of recovery and renewal. Alternating between sauna heat and a cold plunge helps improve circulation, speed up muscle recovery, boost mood, and sharpen focus which is perfect for anyone training hard in Muay Thai. For a truly rejuvenating experience within the GTA, we recommend a gift card for Alter Wellness , Sana , Club d'Elite Spa , or Go Place which all offer top-notch facilities to relax, reset, and recharge.

Prices vary by facility.

Muay Thai Shorts

Add flair to their training and help them show off their personal style! Comfortable, flexible, and bold, the right pair lets them move freely while expressing their personality. For a standout option, Yokkao Shorts have high-quality, durable, and featuring eye-catching prints that make every fighter's look truly unforgettable.

Find it on Yokkao.com - $81

Personal Training Lessons

Give the gift of expert guidance and next-level skills! Whether they're just starting out and want to learn the basics or looking to sharpen advanced techniques, one-on-one sessions with Kru Yai Arash provide personalized coaching, feedback, and motivation. It's the perfect way to help any athlete reach their goals and take their Muay Thai journey to the next level.

Email info@kingdommuaythai.ca to purchase a pack of private sessions.

Behind the Gloves: Lesley Yuen Wins First Fight!

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT

What started with a women's kickboxing cardio class inspired by the workout routines of the Victoria's Secret Angels later developed into Lesley Yuen winning her first Muay Thai fight five years later. "In 2020, I stumbled across a Muay Thai/Kickboxing gym hoping to just keep my fitness up, but instead learned the art of Muay Thai and was intrigued at how every move and hit you make is with purpose," tells Lesley when reflecting on her early days of training.

With martial arts, and Muay Thai specifically, growing in popularity amongst women, it demonstrates the positive impacts it can have on women's overall well-being. "Muay Thai completely changed my fitness level and how I view health and wellness. It gave me confidence in my abilities, and as I slowly became stronger, I was interested in seeing the potential in me," Lesley explains. That's what sparked her initial interest in the sport and fuelled her passion to grow into the athlete she is today.

Who or what inspires you to train and compete in Muay Thai?

Lesley Yuen: "I want to keep training hard because there is still so much to learn! Whether it be sparring or drilling with experienced fighters or beginners, I always find myself learning how to read my opponent and different ways to respond. I decided to compete because I can learn so much from the experience and to challenge my younger Victoria's Secret-loving self who would never have done it!"

What originally drew you to training at Kingdom Muay Thai and how has it helped you improve?

"The community! It is so refreshing to be at a facility that is positive, uplifting, and most importantly, safe! It is a bonus when the gym is clean too, haha. Kingdom has helped me sharpen my tools and my sparring, how to respond and defend effectively and efficiently. I also gained lifelong friendships that inspire me to be a better fighter!"

How did you prepare for your recent fight? What did your training schedule look like?

"Coach Oscar and Kru Arash emphasized simulating the pressure and intensity of an actual fight during our sessions. I would train 4 to 5 days a week. From Monday to Thursday, I would do my regular classes in the evenings. Pad work, sticking back to basics, and refining my skills is always beneficial. It is also helpful when it comes to cardio too. Each training session we would usually spar and frequently do shark tanks, which are three 3-minute rounds. This was the most strenuous part of training but definitely helped with my fight. There are three 2-minute rounds in an actual fight; therefore, the purpose of our shark tank was to get us used to the 3-minute rounds so on fight day it shouldn't come as a surprise."

How do you balance physical training with mental preparation?

"I try to focus on one goal at a time. There were many things I had to work on before my fight, for instance, my hesitation, responding vs. reacting, and many more. Instead of trying to tackle all of it at once, I tried to focus on one technique at a time and really succeed in that skill first before moving on to the next. This helped me not get too overwhelmed and try not to get too discouraged when training got really tough. Sometimes it is the small wins that really count! These goals that I set for myself don't necessarily have to be skill-related either. For example, one task I set for myself was to not get emotional and remain calm during a challenging shark tank. When I succeeded, it would give me the confidence I needed to carry on to the next goal that I set for myself."

What was a challenge during your training and how did you overcome it?

"This whole experience really tested my mental and emotional strength. It was more of a mental battle than it was physical for me. The whole month before my fight was filled with so much anxiety and self-doubt. I would get so nervous on my way to the gym, and every time I would think about my fight, I would experience knots in my stomach, sweaty hands, and anxiety. It started to show during my training as well. I would feel really defeated after more challenging training sessions, and I would get really discouraged and insecure.

I realized a trigger was the fear of disappointing myself, my coaches, my team, and everyone who took time to train me. When I experience challenges, I tend to keep it inside and brave through it, however it doesn't always end well because I would eventually break and get overwhelmed. This experience taught me how important community is.

The key for me to help overcome this challenge was to allow myself to feel these emotions and validate them. I've met so many amazing people and friends at the gym who allowed me to speak my mind and made it safe for me to be vulnerable. Instead of bottling and keeping my emotions inside, I had a space to release it and be myself with those who understood what I was going through. I had fighters at the gym who would give me pointers to feel more confident in the ring and a team that would make me laugh when I was feeling drained after training. I also had friends outside the gym and family I could go to, and when I felt unconfident, they would pick me up and cheer me on. I felt closer to all my friends and the team throughout this whole experience, and I am so grateful for that."

How did you feel stepping in the ring? Was there a moment that stood out to you?

"It was an unbelievable feeling! It's really hard to describe, but all the fear, anxiety, and the 'what ifs' all faded away, and it was just me and my opponent. I just knew what I had to do, and for once, I didn't care about the end result of the fight or what people thought of me. I had a game plan, and I just stuck to it. I trusted my training, my skills, my guard, and my strengths, and whatever the outcome was, I knew I was going to put up a good fight. Once I stepped in the ring, I became a different person. Whether I faked it till I made it or the confidence finally came through, I kept telling myself, 'Bring it on!'"

What did it feel like to win? What thoughts were going through your head?

"It was a really proud moment for me. I was so proud to represent Kingdom and my coaches, and it felt like we won it together as a team! The whole night was filled with so much gratitude. I'm grateful for my opponent, the event itself, my friends and support system, and of course, everyone at Kingdom who came to support and watch the fight in person and virtually."

What did the fight teach you about yourself or about Muay Thai as a whole?

"I learned to not be so result oriented. I was so worried about failing and disappointing people around me that at times it would affect my training and my emotions. I still had the fear of disappointment up until stepping in the ring and realized none of my fears or insecurities mattered. I learned that I had already gained and won the personal battles that I had set for myself during this whole process. There are different means of achieving success, but it is so important to enjoy the journey and trust the process!"

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into Muay Thai? How about someone who is thinking about training for their first fight?

"Muay Thai is truly such a beautiful sport! Every strike has a purpose, and not every shot has to be a guaranteed win. Sometimes it is just a setup for something even more powerful! I encourage everyone to give Muay Thai a shot, whether it is to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle or if you are looking to try something new. It is a full-body workout, and if you stay consistent and push yourself to your potential, you will be amazed at how strong you actually are! For anyone who is thinking about stepping in the ring for the first time, always go back to your basics and stay humble. Even if you trained for many years, it is always beneficial to refine your technique and skills. I would also advise having an open mind and literally being a blank canvas for your coaches and teammates, there's always something new to learn!"

What is next for you? What goals are you currently working towards?

"I am going to keep training hard and be even more prepared for my future fights. I've rewatched my fight many times, and there were a lot of things I could've done better. My goal is to hone down on certain techniques that need to be improved and also be a more aggressive fighter. I also want to work on staying calm and being more responsive rather than reactive. I look forward to working hard in everything I do and enjoying the process while I am at it. I look forward to being in the present and in the moment to see what else I can pick up that is valuable."

Confidence, Discipline, and Power: The Hidden Benefits of Muay Thai for Kids

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Step into any kids' class at Kingdom Muay Thai & Fitness and you'll notice right away that children are developing confidence, discipline, and self-control; skills that reach far beyond the gym.

For many parents, martial arts begin as a way to keep kids active. Yet Muay Thai is much more than physical exercise. It's a practice that builds strength from the inside out, blending athletic development with mental resilience and emotional intelligence.

Confidence Through Training

Progress in Muay Thai is earned through repetition and patience. Each exercise, strike, and combination teaches focus and perseverance. As their skills improve, kids begin to carry themselves differently with their shoulders back, eyes up, and energy centered.

"Muay Thai has a way of transforming kids," says Kru Arash, Head Coach at Kingdom Muay Thai & Fitness. "They start off unsure or shy, but as they train, you see something shift. They realize they're capable of more than they thought and that confidence doesn't stay in the gym. It shows up everywhere in their lives."

That steady, earned confidence becomes a foundation they can rely on in school, friendships, and beyond.

Discipline and Respect

Students learn to listen, observe, and respect both their coaches and training partners. Discipline in Muay Thai isn't about rigidity; it's about showing up, paying attention, and giving effort even when it's hard.

Mistakes become learning moments. Kids discover that progress comes from consistency, not perfection, which is a lesson that strengthens both character and mindset.

Real Power Comes From Control

One of Muay Thai's greatest lessons is restraint. Children learn that true strength lies in control of their bodies, their emotions, and their choices. The art teaches calm under pressure and confidence without aggression, helping kids channel energy in positive, mindful ways.

Beyond the Gym

At Kingdom Muay Thai & Fitness, these lessons extend into the greater gym community. Older students mentor the younger ones, and every class celebrates progress. Over time, kids don't just become stronger, they become more self-assured, respectful, and resilient and take these characteristics into their everyday lives.

Muay Thai doesn't just build young fighters. It builds grounded, confident humans equipped with the focus, courage, and empathy to thrive in every aspect of life.

Unified MMA #63 – September 26, 2025

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT

So I followed our Simon Marcus all the way to Unified MMA #63, and I'm glad I did! What a night it was. I should start by saying that the professional fighting scene is a completely different ball game. I saw quite a few familiar faces among the spectators, but they also looked very different when they were drunk.

The scene was also very mysterious. The commissioners said they weren't allowed to talk to the media! I told them I'm only a blogger for fun and in the business of keeping people's secrets during the day, but that didn't help the situation. I wonder why the commissioners are not allowed to speak to the media, though! After the commissioners wouldn't speak to me, I approached John Ramdeen, the play-by-play commentator, with a lot of hesitation. I was worried he was going to tell me he couldn't comment. But John was happy to share! He said his favorite part about an MMA fight was the hugging afterward. He may have emphasized the fighters being in their most violent phase before the hugging, but I'm leaving that part out just to push John's buttons a little. Maybe I can get him to talk about the commissioners.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kru Jeff Harrison from Ottawa Fight Factory and had a very brief conversation with him. Kru Jeff said that "MMA is the closest thing to real combat. You can have a winning streak in Muay Thai, but when fighting in MMA, your chances are just the same as your opponent's because the combat involves everything." Kru Jeff then ended our conversation and said he had to go find his team. I'm guessing he had lost his team?

Weird things happen in MMA…

Did you know that in MMA, they lock the cage after the fighters get in? There is just no way out once you get in the cage. And there isn't an open slot for the coaches to throw in the white towel! There are also a few interesting rules in MMA, where I thought there were no rules at all. For example, you can't knee an opponent who's down. You can also grab your own shorts but not your opponent's, but why would you want to grab your opponent's shorts? The commissioners also report on each round separately and include the winner for each round in the announcements, which is very different (they don't this in UFC). Let's get to those fights:

Claudia Baril and Danielle Lentini were the only female fighters that evening. Their fight started slow, but there was an eye gouging (hopefully unintentional) by Claudia that made Danielle very angry, and from that point on it was all animal instincts. Danielle kept lifting Claudia and smashing her down as if Claudia was two weight classes lighter. Danielle won the fight, making Claudia tap in the rear naked choke.

Fawaz Olayemi fought Miraz Hopovac that night. Fawaz started training in 2020 after watching his first UFC fight at a COVID party during the pandemic. Fawaz is the reason we had that second lockdown! When it comes to two heavy fighters, who lands that first overhand is very important—as it's quite possibly the first and the last. This is why it's often harder for heavyweights to defend their titles. The heavy fighters also gas out faster, so they rested in clinch from time to time. Miraz won the fight in the second round by KO. Just before Miraz's hand was raised, I thought I'd do him a favor and give him a quick haircut, but the cutman wouldn't share his scissors.

Gino Ghalehpardaz and Jordan Tecson got in the cage that night. Gino had a particularly rough time during the pandemic, cutting weight for fights that kept falling through. But at the end of 2021, he finally got a shot on five days' notice in his hometown, and that was just the beginning of a new high. I'd like to note that Gino and Jordan were two of the most stubborn fighters I've ever watched. This was a rematch after Gino beat Jordan back in January of this year by split decision. They were back at it at Unified 63, even more stubborn. The fight was more like a chess game than MMA. With how stubborn these two were, many guillotine locks and headlocks didn't lead to submissions by either one of them. Again, Gino won by split decision. I really don't envy their wives…

Liam Macfadyen (613 Fight Factory, Ottawa) and Tylor Wilson (Hayabusa Academy) were locked in the cage that evening. Liam started Judo when he began crawling under the table, and his two Judo instructor parents had to pull at his PJs and wrestle him out. I don't know if it was the same time Liam got acquainted with Jolly Ranchers, but these days he chews on them while running to cut weight. Imagine cutting weight one spit at a time! Liam skipped amateur MMA and started in pro right from the beginning. His fight with Tylor got bloody in the first round after Liam got a bloody nose. It made Liam so angry, he lifted Tylor so high I thought he was going to throw him over the cage. In the third round, it was mostly Liam striking and Tylor trying to escape. I think Tylor even thought about trying the door! Liam won by unanimous decision.

Bobby Poulter (Para Bellum MMA) had a brief encounter with Allan Ruiz from Mexico. Allan is ranked #3 in Mexico and was brought in on five days' notice! I looked for the Mexican cartel among the spectators, but luckily they needed more advance notice, so Bobby was allowed to win by submission in a rear naked choke in the first round.

Simon Marcus (The ONE) and Ricardo Chavez from Mexico were the co-main event that evening. Simon was cornered by Kru Alin, and once Simon got in the cage, a commissioner sat by Kru Alin…to hold him down, in case??? I would buy a ticket just to watch anyone try to hold down Kru Alin…Simon was very difficult to get a hold of, as he was held in back control by his four kids until the very last day, but I finally got to speak with him. For Simon's fighting career and legendary wins, read Wikipedia. I talked with Simon about how he feels he has evolved over the years. He said "you can't fight MMA without evolving, as it's a far more strategic fight. I'm also used to fighting standing up, so I'm learning and improving all over again, training in BJJ and wrestling." I asked Simon about his teaching career. He said "teaching is the natural progression in the fight game. Some fighters wait until they stop fighting to teach. I have 30 amateur and 2 pro fighters on roster. I didn't want to wait to share my knowledge." I asked Simon if his kids are training and whether he would let them fight. Simon said, "They train from time to time, and if they love fighting, how can I tell them to stop doing what they love?" Simon won by submission due to strikes in the second round. By the way, Ricardo goes by the nickname Woody. So Simon beat Woody.

The last fight of the evening and the main event was between Bilal Nasari and Joash Walkins. Joash has 25 years of international fight experience in Sambo, boxing, and Judo. In MMA, up until that night, Joash had a record of 15 fights and only 3 losses. I didn't get to interview Bilal, but he was starting the night with a clean record of 6 wins. So in my opinion, this fight was an indication of how much experience matters in MMA. And the answer is: not much, as Bilal won in the second round by KO strikes.

The night ended with a lot of smiles. MMA fights are 3 x 5-min rounds! I highly recommend wearing a poncho before hugging the winners. Unified MMA 65 is coming up in February. I plan on going to Unified 65, if for no other reason than to find out if Kru Jeff Harrison found his team!

See you all next week at Clinch + Conquer.

Canadian Muay Thai Open 2025

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:00:00 GMT

I first heard about the Canadian Muay Thai Open (CMTO) at the Muay Thai Ontario (MTO) Championships in 2024. I wasn't fighting at the MTO Championships. I attended as a volunteer, pretending to be a very important blogger ( read previous blog )! During the Gym Owners' meeting (yes, I attended that too), there was a lot of talk about CMTO and how it was the biggest Canadian Muay Thai tournament, so athletes didn't have to travel all the way to Iowa for TBA.

I happened to be sitting beside Kru Daryl at that meeting, and he told me on the spot that I could attend CMTO as a blogger. But as we kept talking, he mentioned that there were athletes in my weight division in previous years, which really got me thinking about stepping into the ring.

I need to back up a little and talk about my Muay Thai journey, partly because nobody blogged about me and my fight, and mostly because Kru Daryl went to Mexico to escape a post-CMTO interview with me! Kind of excessive, if you ask me. He could've just said no! Rolling my eyes. But since I don't have much to share about the CMTO background and the challenges of running a tournament, this will be all about me:

A very dear Yogi friend of mine referred me to Kru Arash to learn self-defense in February of 2024… but Kru tricked me into learning Muay Thai. Shortly after I started, I remember googling whether throwing kicks releases dopamine in the body because I found them addictive! A few months into training, Kru Arash said I could get in the ring in a year or two. It actually made me very upset. After all, my first goal was to learn how to escape attacks and avoid being in a fight. So I asked Kru to stop talking about me becoming a fighter. It was actually a very serious conversation.

A few months later, when he was still bringing up the idea of me fighting, I told him, "If I ever ask to get in the ring, please be a good Kru and stop me." Listening is really not Kru Arash's strong suit… oh well.

I signed up for this tournament as soon as registration opened in March of 2025! I actually waited for it to open, and once I signed up, I started training. So it ended up being about five months of fight camp for me, which was necessary, since I was transitioning from a yogi to a Nak Muay!

Fast forward to CMTO, August 15–17, 2025:

The weekend was all highs and no lows. I think there was about an hour of panic when the officials' scales were reading 0.3 kg heavier than the test scales. But I have a feeling Kru Laura did that intentionally just to keep everyone on their toes. I also found out that some people really look horrible first thing in the morning with pillow marks all over their faces.

Originally, I was going to have four matches, but we lost a couple to injuries and weight brackets, so the three of us remained. I was really hoping to be the one getting two fights, but Kru Daryl made it clear he's not accepting blog mentions as bribes so I got only one. I also asked Kru Daryl for a media pass so I could be on deck and connect with a few fighters during my downtime (which was a whole day), but he denied it. He said that if he allowed me, then he'd have to allow everyone else. I thought Kru Daryl and I had an agreement that I was very special. I'm going to hold this against him until next year.

I must say, for those who've never competed at a tournament, the scene is very intimidating and impersonal. I've attended a lot of fight nights over the past year, and yes, fighters still have jitters walking to the ring but they walk with their team, to their ring song, and spend some time sealing the ring and maybe doing their Wai Kru dance. But at a tournament, when there are 300 athletes competing, you feel like just a number. Your friends and teammates watch from far away, behind glass, so you can't even hear them. Well, Coach Hamed yells so loud that, when I was in the ring, I couldn't hear Kru Arash in my corner, but I could hear Coach Hamed yelling "TEEEEEP!"

And yes, about the ring:

The ring is a beast. I don't know if the tournament atmosphere added to it, but the second I stepped into the ring, my legs felt like stones, and all the strength drained out of my body. Mentally, I was zoned out. I couldn't hear a thing (except Coach Hamed, apparently)! When I was in the corner between rounds, I saw Kru Arash and Coach Alireza just staring at me. I kept thinking to myself: Shouldn't they be talking?? They talk and talk all the time and now that they should be talking, they don't??

As you probably know, I lost my first fight which was at CMTO. But here's the thing: the female athlete I lost to won Best Female Athlete of the Year! So by default, that makes me the second-best female athlete of the year, right?

But honestly, when I stepped down from the ring, Kru Yai Harold had the biggest smile on his face, gave me a big hug, and said, "You did so well! I'm soooo proud of you." And that was enough for me.

And the best, best part about CMTO was seeing some of you who read my blogs. That was the best part. Don't stop!

It's my aim to register as a B-Class fighter at CMTO next year so see you all around.

RepreZent V, Deadly Venoms - July 26, 2025

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

I've been dragging my feet, and my heart was really not in writing this blog, as Ontario lost the National 75 kg title. So I wrote it with a heavy heart, while wiping my tears… with Champion Wipes. If you're expecting a funny read… Don't!

It was the night we had all been waiting for, for some time. One of the best fight cards I've seen. The organizer, Kru Rommel from M-Town (Milton Muay Thai), had been working day and night to put this event together. During the fighters' meeting, he mentioned that if anyone wanted to buy him a shot, it would be cool but rumor has it, when people offered him a shot, he asked for a Shirley Temple. I still owe him a Shirley Temple!

During the fighters' meeting, Kru Dylan once again discussed the issue of wearing flags to the ring. At the previous event, Kru Dylan said that fighters could wear the flags up to two meters away from the ring. Kru Laura argued and said only a meter and a half. So they settled on a meter and a half. At RepreZent, MTO really let loose and said, "Guys, just keep it out of the ring." Kru Laura also asked the fighters to be respectful and not throw each other over the ropes, but isn't that half the fun?

I finally had a chance to chat with Jacob Ordonez (Siga). When I mentioned in my previous blog that I was looking to interview Siga, Mr. Ordonez, Siga's father, sent me an elaborate message, responding to most of my interview questions. Thank you, Mr. Ordonez! Siga has 10 full siblings! A streak of 6 boys, followed by a streak of 5 girls! While I strive to work out the algorithm of how such an achievement is even possible, I salute Mrs. and Mr. Ordonez for their beautiful family.

Kru Rommel gave Jacob the nickname "Siga," meaning "tough guy/bully" in Filipino slang. Siga started Muay Thai after his older brother Isaiah had his first fight, and within months, Siga was competing. After the fourth Ordonez brother joined M-Town, Kru Rommel really had to rethink the sibling discount! Siga is a six-time competing athlete at IFMA. I asked Siga why he thinks Canada hasn't won gold at IFMA. He said that Canada is under-experienced compared to other countries where athletes are fighting every other weekend. "We need more experience with doing competitions."

What Siga said helped me understand why MTO and Muay Thai Canada are advocating for local tournaments and fight night promoters and organizers. I recall Kru Alin thanking Kru Daryl for organizing the biggest Canadian Muay Thai tournament, the Canadian Muay Thai Open (CMTO). It all made sense now. These events, which are meant to support our fighters, cost money for space, judges, doctors, etc. So we all need to support the community whose sole purpose is to serve our athletes. If you're not a fighter, attend these events to support them.

Siga is fundraising for his competition at IFMA 2026 in Dubai. He's available for private training and pad work at M-Town. Let's help him out as I'm sure he'd get into trouble if he tried to sell his fake gold Rolex! In pad work with Siga, you get to listen to him share his wisdom from years of competition experience all over the world. And you'll get to see that Kru Rommel is even more pleasant coming to the gym at 8 a.m. on a Saturday, before he's had his coffee. It's really worth it!

Getting back to RepreZent V, here are only some of the highlights from the evening:

The younger Ordonez brother, Mateo, cornered by his older brother Siga, fought Santiago Nieva from Arshido. Mateo's footwork that evening made me think of the Energizer Bunny commercial. The belly pads took a lot of beating during that fight, but Mateo took away the gold.

Julianna McDermott from Diamond Muay Thai fought McKenna Van Allen from Black Lotus. I had previously connected with McKenna for one of her kickboxing fights (read previous blog: Prestige Fight Series III ). McKenna was a dancer until the age of 18. At 24, she's had about 25 fights in Muay Thai and kickboxing. When Julianna and McKenna got in the ring, with my first fight coming up at CMTO, Kru Arash tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I want you to fight like Julianna when you grow up."

This fight was amazing to watch and really raised the bar for all female fighters, as the implementation of technique and fight IQ was next-level. McKenna was very good at clinch and swung Julianna around as if she was 20 lbs lighter. McKenna also used a lot of feints, and the speed at which she threw the kicks made them impossible to check. McKenna won the belt that evening! Kru Arash is still speechless… which actually doesn't happen often.

Kru Osvaldo Rafael from Downsview Muay Thai broke silence after years to fight Kimani Mwaura from Gracie Barra. It was very difficult to connect with Kru Osvaldo, as he was training 6 days a week while managing two businesses, teaching at two different schools, and fathering 3 kids and 3 dogs at home. I was a harassment complaint and a referee-blogging stoppage away when Kru Genie, Kru Osvaldo's wife, stepped in and ruled in my favor.

I asked Kru Osvaldo why he decided to fight again, given all that he has going on. He said, "I've been training and moving with the fighters I train. The passion is still there. I have been cornering a lot of fights and that has reawakened my instinct to get in the ring again. Training has become a lifestyle for me now! I have all the tools and want to apply them."

Kru Osvaldo also said that the pandemic made him feel a lot older. After the pandemic, Kru Osvaldo walked into the gym and told Ajahn Suchart, "Ajahn, I feel strong. I feel good!" Ajahn then told him, "You have to work harder!" Kru Osvaldo was cornered by Kru Alec from Etobicoke Martial Arts, who also helped train him. The fight was clean and efficient. Kru Osvaldo's kicks came at corner's commands, and he made the counter strikes work for him to save energy, but unfortunately, he lost in clinch. Looking forward to seeing Kru Osvaldo in the ring again.

The co-main event was between Noah Kirby from Westside Muay Thai and Marco Sanchez from York Muay Thai. I connected with Marco prior to the fight. Marco started boxing as a kid and has been doing Muay Thai for the past 5 years. He has fought at every Provincial tournament and every year at the CMTO and has been sharing his fight experience, teaching full-time at York Muay Thai.

Marco mentioned that he and his close friend Tarik Erdogan have been sharing a lot of experience; regularly being on the same fight cards and both winning their fights too. At the previous Provincial Tournament, Marco and Tarik took their sharing experience one step further when Marco forgot to bring his cup and had to borrow from Tarik. They now call it a lucky cup, as they both won at that event!

The fight between Marco and Kirby was everything you'd expect from an A-Class fight; short and calculated combos and endless elbows as counter strikes. I'm kind of new to clinch so I could be wrong, but I think Kirby has a new clinch technique: playing dead! And by dead, I mean dropping your hands down, bending your neck to one side, and giving the ref the puppy eyes. It actually worked, as the ref stopped the clinch.

Marco won the belt that evening, and he didn't say it, but I'm sure he was wearing his friend Tarik's cup. I think he wiped it with Champion Wipes before giving it back. The lucky cup is now available for rental, for a fee. Contact Tarik directly.

The main event and the fight we had all been waiting for: the National 75 kg Title between Alireza Jadidi from Diyako Academy / Toronto Kickboxing and Muay Thai (TKMT) and Deval Garvey from Dunamis Martial Arts (Calgary). I connected with Deval prior to the event. What a nice guy. Deval started Muay Thai 10 years ago, trying to escape the stress of working two jobs, one of which is being in the military reserve.

Deval missed his early flight from Calgary, being stuck at security. The border officer took one look at Deval and said, "Sir, you can't take those weapons on the plane," but he waited on standby and got to Toronto on time.

Alireza Jadidi is a friend and a coach, and what I would want to share about him would only fit in a book! But for now, let's say he is a champion who started martial arts, like many underprivileged kids, on the streets of southern Tehran, fighting for his life. Many championship wins and many countries later, Alireza now has his own gym, Diyako Academy, in North York.

Alireza was cornered by Kru Ruben from TKMT that evening. The way Kru Ruben always walks ahead of his fighters, leading the way to the ring, makes me wonder if he's going to take the first round for them. You know, it's really not his fault that he walks as if he's carrying bags of rice under his arms? Poor thing, his lats are too big!

Alireza and Deval got in the ring dancing and laughing. I had never seen two fighters kiss and hug this much in the middle of their fight. I was waiting right by the ring holding a tub of Champion Wipes, ready to wipe blood but there wasn't a single drop…I think the two fighters should put their friendship aside and fight for real, again! Deval took home the belt that night. I admit, we couldn't have lost the title to a better guy.

Aside from Kru Rommel serving the Chinese food from a couple of nights before, it was a very memorable night. I kind of remembered it in my tummy for a few days after, running to the bathroom carrying a tub of Champion Wipes!

Community Notes:

The biggest Canadian Muay Thai tournament, CMTO took place August 15 to 17th. There was this -45 kg chic from Kingdom Muay Thai who made a lot of fuss about her first fight at CMTO. I mean, does she eat or what? Stay tuned for that blog.

So, you know how Kru Day (Ajahn Suchart's fight night) was scheduled four days in advance on the same day that SHEspars was scheduled, six months ahead? Ajahn Suchart also announced a youth seminar a week in advance on the same weekend as the biggest Canadian Muay Thai Tournament, which was scheduled and opened for registration six months in advance! Could someone please volunteer to help Ajahn with his calendar and event planning?

P.S. The Chinese food at RepreZent was fresh!

P.S.2. Champion Wipes are for wiping your gear only! For all other needs, take a shower!

Ajarn Khan Phady Fight Night II - June 21, 2025

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

I'm a few weeks late posting this blog. My apologies to the community, but I'm sure you all understand how we can have off weeks sometimes. Better late than never! Get comfortable, as this is going to be a longer read!

Held on National Indigenous Peoples Day, this was a fight night like no other. Organized by Ajarn Khan Phady and Phady's Muay Thai, fighters had been invited from Laos and Mexico to fight Canadian fighters, with A-Class fights covering more than half of the fight card. The event was televised with three commentators in three different languages. Even the fighters' meeting was different! Kru Dylan asked the fighters to be classy. He even threatened the coaches! I had never seen Kru Dylan make threats against the coaches. He threatened to kick them out if they were a minute late to the ring. Kru Ahmed told the fighters that they had to be careful claiming they got hit in the groin, as there would be replays enlarged and in slow motion. I think the fear of having their groins enlarged in slow motion really got to the fighters, as there were very few groin hits that evening. Ajarn Phady noted repeatedly that the event had to start on time and run smoothly because it was televised.

I had a quick chat with Ajarn Phady prior to the event. Ajarn mentioned that Lao fighters are very much underrepresented, with almost no opportunity to grow as there is no money in Laos. They have no choice but to go to Thailand for fights, and once they do, they change names and are represented as Thai fighters. Ajarn wanted Fight Night II to be the first Canadian event to host Muay Lao. Ajarn also talked about when Muay Thai had not been legalized and noted he was the first to start the path to legalizing Muay Thai back in 2003. On Fight Night II, Kru Alin got on the stage and said that 25 years ago, when he first came to Canada, Phady's Muay Thai (founded in 1987) was the first Muay Thai gym he stepped into. Kru Alin thanked Ajarn Phady for over 35 years of service to the community and the Muay Thai culture.

Can you all stop for a minute and imagine what it would be like if Muay Thai hadn't been legalized? Kru Laura and Kru Dylan would be Mafia. Kru Rommel would be Michael Corleone.

As I mentioned, Fight Night II was televised and had to run smoothly, and most importantly, had to start on time… so it started an hour late and that's a Muay Thai fight night for you. Here are only some of the highlights from that evening:

The U23 A-Class fight that evening was between Cole Dougan from Soi Dogs MT Hamilton and Damon Weeks Kay from Fifth Round. Damon started Muay Thai about four years ago when he had to choose between multiple bad decisions. Damon is also currently in the Muay Thai World Cup Tournament in Belleville, with three fights left this month. Dodging those bad decisions, Damon is also an authorized cannabis grower. Damon mentioned he used to get in the ring wanting to swing his opponents' heads off, but now he tries to win with his fight IQ. Cole was a very fancy fighter that evening with great technique, but the several flying knees he threw made him gas out. Damon stayed calm and carefully observed Cole's fancy play, and when the time came, he used his fight IQ and a full tank to win the belt. Damon mentioned he also had to cut a lot of weight for this fight. Well, I guess he doesn't get munchies.

Sophia Phady-Dick from Phady's MT Cambridge and Leona Murphy from Stride MT Toronto made their debut at Fight Night II (youth 9–10 years old). Kru Ahmed was a proud uncle in Sophia's corner as she won gold that evening. The two young ladies were truly impressive, and I had never seen young warriors clinch with such clean technique in belly pads.

Dominik Bronakouski from Soi Dogs went against Leo Nguyen from Return of the Dragon that evening. Leo started in Kung Fu at the age of eight and soon switched to kickboxing. Leo's parents never allowed him to compete as a kid, so his first competition was at the age of 20. Dominic started kickboxing at 15, after his 11-year-old brother came home from his first fight and, being high on gold, beat up Dominic. Dominic had his first fight a year later and now corners his little brother at his fights. As to who won the first fight between the two brothers, Mom the Judge and Dad the Jury decided it was best for the furniture if it was a tie. The fight between Dominik and Leo was so heated, Kru Laura was covered in smoke! I was amazed at how in control Leo was, waiting for opportunities to strike. Dominic seemed to be a little off-balance that evening, and his elbows were missing in action. Leo won the International Championship Belt that evening.

A very special bout on National Indigenous Peoples Day: William Jackson from Savage Muay Thai, Kingston, vs. Stevie Doxtator from London Muay Thai. Stevie wore the Native War Bonnet with the tallest feathers to the ring and showed excellent fight IQ using feints. He turned a kick catch into a Taekwondo kick, which I'm not sure scored a point for him, but his low kicks definitely turned the table for Stevie, and he won the International Title. I understand how one must earn the right to wear the Native War Bonnet, but I thought about wearing a tall feathery bonnet on my head walking to the ring at CMTO to gain a few inches in height and look intimidating. But again, if the AC is jacked up, I'd be at risk of levitating.

Katon Chiu from DCS Diaz Combat Sports, Vancouver, vs. Islam Chabane from Fight Factory, Ottawa: Islam has a strong background in boxing, winning regional championships in Algeria. It took Islam some time to get used to incorporating kicks, but once he did, he became the master of both worlds. Islam's strong boxing allowed him to keep his guard down, setting baits, and Katon fell for every single one. Islam won the International Title. During my quick chat with Islam, he told me that at one of his tournaments in Algeria, his coach missed showing up to the ring, so Islam had to pick a cornerman randomly from the audience. That evening I made myself very visible to Islam, hoping to be the Cornerman Elect, but I was disappointed.

One of the fights I was really looking forward to that evening: Simon Bonello from Etobicoke Martial Arts vs. David MacDonald from Monette MA, Ottawa. Simon has been training since he was 12. Simon's first international win was at the age 18 when Ajahn Suchart told him one day, "Let's go to Mexico." Simon travelled to Mexico all by himself and ate water and peanuts for the entire 36 hours that he was there. Not speaking any Spanish, Simon walked to the venue. Simon's coaches couldn't corner him in Mexico due to unspeakable Muay Thai politics, so Kru Rommel (Michael Corleone) stepped up and cornered Simon. After Simon won his fight, Ajahn Suchart called Simon a cab to take him to the airport. Did you know Ajahn Suchart speaks Spanish? Simon competed at IFMA last year. I asked Simon why he didn't go this year, and he said, "Fighting at IFMA is all about skills, so I need to become my own version of the BEST in Canada." Simon works at Etobicoke Martial Arts and is available for private training. As to the fight between Simon and David, it was a very quick match, which ended seconds into the first round due to David rupturing his bicep. Simon won the title that evening, but he wasn't smiling.

Yan Zhang from Team Scorpion vs. Santiago Reyes from MAS Academy Cambridge, representing Canada and Colombia: Santiago started his journey 15 years ago in Colombia. After fighting so much in high school and being bad at soccer, he was handed over to a martial arts gym, and he found his calling. Santiago is very taken by the culture in our community and at his current gym, where people of all backgrounds train together with mutual respect. Their fight was clean, with short combos. Yan quickly learned that he had to avoid clinching Santiago. Santiago was very good at parrying Yan's heavy punches, which made Yan gas out. Santiago won the International Title.

Now the most exciting fight of the evening: Jacob Ordonez from Milton Muay Thai, representing Canada and the Philippines, vs. Ricardo Sanchez from Naksu Muay Thai Gym, Mexico. So far, I had only heard of "Siga," and I'm looking to get an interview with him so I know where the nickname comes from but let's park that to the side for now. By far, the most aggressive and technical fight of the evening! Jacob split Ricardo's ear open, and the fight had to be stopped to control the bleeding. This fight broke the Guinness World Record for over-the-rope action. Ricardo went over the ropes following the swing of his own missed kick three times. The two fighters fell over the ropes in clinch four times and in pursuit of clinch three times. There were more falls, but I think I lost count. And at the end, the fighters held hands and jumped off the ring together once (kidding). Jacob won the International Title. Watching Jacob's fight live and knowing he won bronze at IFMA this year helped me understand the level of skill and precision required at the international level.

I need to note that Canada won every single fight against Mexico and Laos. It's not very hospitable if you ask me, but it is what it is. Thank you Ajarn Khan Phady and Phady's Muay Thai for an incredible Fight Night!

A note to Mr. Misuraca, the announcer at the event, whose buttocks made a strong appearance in all my recordings due to him standing in the middle of the stage with his back to the audience while announcing the winners: thank you for all your hard work, your love for the Muay Thai community, and for doubling up all our reel editing efforts. No worries about calling a winner out of the wrong corner! May I just note how perfectly your shoes always match your pants?

Notes on the community:

A few of our youth from Stride Muay Thai and York Muay Thai won gold at TBA!
Grace Richard from Redemption Muay Thai & BJJ won gold at the WBC Championship in Italy. Grace won the final against France with a unanimous decision, though she felt she lost the battle with her never wanting to come off head guard!
Krystyna Lavryk and Noah Zakss from TKMT won gold at the 2025 Copa Maya in Merida, Mexico. Kru Ruben celebrated by picking up the fighters, one on each side, and performing the Mexican Hat Dance.
Congratulations to PC Kru Howard on his Big Bang located south of Etobicoke.
Coach Hamed from Kingdom has said that if I win a belt (at CMTO) before he does, he will take his own life! We're pulling in resources to put Coach Hamed on a suicide watch for 48 hours, August 17–19. If you're available and willing to help, please DM.
Lastly, the insurance premiums attached to my blogs are increasing, so please, if you have an issue with what I write, message me directly!

See you all on July 26th at RepreZent! Alireza Jadidi and Deval Garvey are the main event on the card, fighting for the 75 kg National Title. If you do not see me at this event, I've most likely been hit by a bus! Highly recommend not waiting till the last day to get tickets.

NAKA Fight Night IV - May 31, 2025

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 GMT

It was nice to be back at the holy church in the name of NAKA! The event started slowly, with many empty seats for the first couple of hours. But by intermission, the church was packed and no one was praying! Ajahn Amnat welcomed the guests I think…and said something to the fighters… Am I the only one who's always so distracted by Ajahn Amnat's theatrics that I forget to actually listen?

Several MTO officials were still in Antalya for IFMA, so Kru Daryl had to step up and wear black! Simon Marcus (from The One Muay Thai) attended very much undercover, sporting a fishing hat and sunglasses. He cornered a fight and disappeared just as quickly. I don't know what's going on. I think Simon is dodging an interview with me!

Here are some highlights from the evening:

The fight between Hayagreev Veeru (Darkside Muay Thai) and Joshua Spaley (TKMT) really warmed up the crowd with plenty of heat. Both fighters have more losses under their Muay Thai shorts than wins. Hayagreev, with a background in American football, turned to Muay Thai in search of a real combat. Joshua, like many others, was inspired by UFC. Josh took the trophy with sharp crosses that landed clean and low kicks which seemed to come on automatic. The TKMT coaches in Josh's corner were, surprisingly, the least dramatic I've seen from TKMT so far.

Rahma Rogers (The One Muay Thai) fought Zoey Zhou (NAKA Muay Thai). After watching Alex Pereira's UFC knockout, Rahma thought to herself, "This is my calling." Rahma tried a few push kicks to the head but quickly realized she could win the fight with boxing. Rahma took home the trophy.

The bout between Jessica Henry (VRTU Muay Thai) and Jane Taylor (NAKA) was… interesting. Both fighters were completely gassed by the second round and I mean not a drop left. The ref draw his hand between them and said "GO" three times, but the fighters just stood there and said…nah. I was rolling my eyes so I couldn't see who won the trophy, but I think it was Jessica.

Brian Egona (TKO Fighting Arts) faced Drake Creasor (905 BJJ). Brian's a big Naruto fan, but after losing to Drake by referee stoppage, I think he'll be switching to his second favorite: Jean-Claude Van Damme TV shows. Be wary of him in his next fight.

Mathew Ivan (Black Eagle Khunkhmer) battled Ahnaf Chowdhury (Scorpion Muay Thai). Ahnaf tried a lot of flashy techniques: spinning back fists, spinning back kicks, superman punches, etc. But most of them missed or threw Anhaf himself off balance. His act reminded me of Jacky Chan in Drunken Master, but without the "Master." Mathew tried not to laugh as he took the win and the trophy.

The fight I was most looking forward to: Rob Riley (Black Eagle Khunkhmer) vs. Jason Mann (Legacy Muay Thai). Rob trained as a kid but stepped away for years, facing serious life challenges, including addiction. He's now over a year sober since the day he returned to Muay Thai. Rob wants to be an example for others battling the same demons. In the first round, Rob started strong, delivering punches you could feel from the audience. He gave Jason an eight-count seconds into the first round but gassed out later, allowing Jason to outlast him. Rob took the loss with a big smile and even celebrated with Jason's team. That's heart.

Habib Sultani (Stride Muay Thai) vs. Jack Cassera (Legacy Muay Thai) ended quickly in the first round via Jack's side elbows.

The main event featured James Baird (Black Eagle Khunkhmer) and Troy Wisdom (Scorpion Muay Thai). Honestly, this one felt like a bout of hesitation. Both fighters faked a lot, but we never saw what they were faking for because the strikes never followed. In the first round, I think they exchanged maybe five low kicks total? Kru Daryl (on ref duty) had to step in a few times and whisper "Gentlemen, pick it up a notch." In round two, things didn't change much until Troy landed a high kick that dropped James and triggered a ref stoppage. Troy was waiting for an opportunity for that one kick!

There was one unclaimed trophy due to a no-show, which ended up going to Kru Benson (VRTU) for his bubbly attitude. A great show overall, though I missed the Greek food from down the street because my teammates were also no-shows. Next time!

Over in the MMA corner that same night, a fight ended in a DQ due to a headbutt. Isn't that the one move not allowed in MMA? Assuming there are no biters? I'm rolling my eyes.

A few notes on the community:

Big congratulations to the Canadian medalists at IFMA: Grace Richard, Caelyn Batac, Fehn Foss, and Harrison King. You made Canada proud! Shoutout to the amazing coaches who selflessly traveled to Turkey to support Team Canada. We see you.

To those asking why I didn't plan to attend the Muay Thai World Cup: I consider myself a blogger in the community. And I believe that being a part of this community means recognizing and respecting its leaders. And let's be honest, our leaders are awesome.

Denis "The Bosnian Menace" Puric, founder of Soi Dogs in Hamilton, has been invited to Kingdom for a seminar on July 12th. Lately, Thai fighters have been coming to gyms for seminars: the Lightning, the Kicking Machine, the Thai Bomb, the Chili Elbow… okay, I may have made a few up. But truthfully, we have world-class fighters with world records right here in our local community. Why not support and showcase them? Our youth can connect with and relate to local stars easier and the community benefits are obvious.

See you all on June 21st at Fight Night 2!

Canadian Fight League 8

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT

The vibe and energy at this event reminded everyone of the true spirit of the Muay Thai community. The organizers, Kru Maria and Kru Alin, truly humbled everyone with their generosity. With so many first-timers, along with their families, friends, and teammates showing up in support, this event became more a celebration of courage and heart before it was another fight night.

Quite a few fighters, their Krus, and Muay Thai Ontario officials are in Turkey on an approved absence attending IFMA. I really missed Kru Laura and Kru Dylan, especially after the fighters' meeting ran for 45 minutes! Prioritizing fighter safety, there weren't just one but two doctors in the house. The referees also did a great job keeping fighters safe, which made me briefly consider faking a heart attack just to keep the doctors busy.

The evening was full of surprises, with several fights turning around by the end of the second or during the third round, by referee stoppage.

At this event, I also reached new heights as a Muay Thai blogger. I was invited to join an honorary guest and all-time World Champion Alireza Jadidi at his VIP table. That officially made me the honorary guest of an honorary guest and possibly the highest-ranking blogger official in the community.

Here are some highlights from the event:

Giuliano Saluri from North Training Academy (NTA) faced Deda Daniel from Etobicoke Martial Arts. It was a close, clinch-heavy fight. Despite Deda losing a point for attempting two sweeps, the cup went to Giuliano by split decision. Next stop for Giuliano is Thailand, where he'll train for two months. He's even stitched an Italian flag on his Muay Thai shorts hoping the Thais will serve him rigatoni parmigiana instead of Pad Thai.

Did you know Abdullah "The Butcher" is not actually a butcher? Abdullah Habibullah from House of Champions is a performing artist and practicing physiotherapist! Kru Alin gave him the nickname for his devastating kicks. Abdullah fought Cydell Thomas from Naka Muay Thai that night. The fight started slow, as if the butcher had brought a fruit knife to the fight. But after Abdullah took a groin kick, out came the machete. Abdullah's high kicks really tested Cydell's neck. Cydell might need physio. Good thing Abdullah's got a clinic! The Elegant Butcher took home the cup.

Julien Dacunha from Soi Dogs faced Obi Obikudu from Toronto No Gi. Julien was the Top Dog. He even tried flipping Obi over the ropes. Jury's out on whether that scored him points. The Soi Dogs were barking the whole fight, possibly even the coach. Julien won the cup. WOOF!

I checked out Toronto No Gi's website. Their blogger is cool but writes only about Jiu-Jitsu. Still, I'd love to connect. A Muay Thai + Jiu-Jitsu blogging collab? Hello MMA blogging!

In the +91 kg bout, Samuel Stewart from House of Champions fought Gaurav Sumal from Large Martial Arts. These heavyweights had shocking stamina. I think they'd privately agreed to make it a boxing match as the legs were too heavy to swing. It was an exciting match with a lot of emotions. Gaurav won the cup. The joy on Kru Mike's face and Gaurav's celebration were priceless.

Caitlin MacNaughtan from Roots Martial Arts battled Jahin Nawar from Evolucao. Caitlin's Wai Kru dance was as long and captivating as a full fight. I couldn't help wondering: Is she going to fight after this or take a round off? Caitlin won the cup on her first fight!

The first B-Class fight featured Martin Gjoka from NTA and Tarik Yildirim Erdogan from York Muay Thai. Martin may have broken a Guinness World Record for the number of spinning back fists and kicks. We were all dizzy, maybe even the judges as the fight ended in a unanimous draw.

The main event: Russell Vilabroza from House of Champions vs. Arsh Kalsi from TKMT. Russell trained in Karate until he was 15. As a barber, during COVID-19 lockdowns, Russel picked up teaching Karate on Zoom. But after emotionally bruising "Zoom sparring" sessions, he found House of Champions and rediscovered his passion. The fight was generating so much heat, Kru Ruben couldn't let go of the spray bottle. Both fighters displayed exceptional technique. Arsh won the cup.

I think we're all in agreement: Canadian Fight League 8 was more than just a fight night.

Huge thanks to Kru Maria and Kru Alin for putting together such an unforgettable event. And a special shoutout to the most powerful man at House of Champions, Tyson Gobbins, for helping me connect with their fighters.

To the coach who yelled "BS!" at an opponent recovering from a groin kick…come on! We're better than that.

A few notes on the community:

Team Canada is currently in Antalya competing at IFMA. Let's wish them a safe journey since they've already won in our hearts. Let's also pray they don't love Antalya too much and actually come back! Rumor has it Kru Dylan and Kru Rommel had been taking Turkish lessons. And let's just say one of the coaches has been posting a lot on Turkish Delight. We're on Day 4 of the tournament, and my heart races with every win.
Fehn Foss from Lotus Martial Arts is also competing at IFMA. "Hamilton-born artist turned fighter," made CBC News! Our Warrior Women are making noise. Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/fehn-foss-muay-thai-1.7538934
Toronto Striking Academy hosted SHEspars on May 25th. Thank you to all the coaches and fighters who attend these sessions to give back and support the community. The next SHEspars session will be on July 20th at Legacy Mississauga.

See you all at Naka!

10 Planet Etobicoke Martial Arts- May 19, 2025

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT

So, I finally made it to one of the community sparring events Kru Ramuel holds at 10th Planet Etobicoke Martial Arts during long weekends, coincidentally, always when I can't find a sitter. This time I did, and it was a fantastic session!

I truly felt the community vibe, as all the gentlemen I sparred with held perfectly still for me to execute my combos. Thank you! The ladies from Triumph Martial Arts, however… ate me for breakfast, with three eggs added on top! I'm licking my wounds and rethinking my upcoming fight at CMTO. Kru Ruben stretched for the entire 20 rounds without limits, so maybe next time we all bring our yoga mats.

This sparring session bettered me in more than just Muay Thai. Up until now, I thought that when someone was introduced as an OG, it meant they were an OBGYN and "OG" was just the discreet version! When Kru Ramuel called Kru Ruben an OG, I finally looked it up, since I know Kru Ruben is a graphic designer and not an OBGYN. Thank God for that!

Thank you, Kru Ramuel and Etobicoke Martial Arts, for your support of the community.

A few notes on the community:

Max Koroviakovskyi from Kalari Kickboxing won his fight against Omar Karaki at FTC with a severe back injury, which prevented him from doing his usual 360 kicks. Max caught my attention because he noted that he won the fight entirely on character. I don't know why the coaches at Kingdom are making such a big fuss about my upcoming fight. I have excellent character!

Dannielle Levasseur and Euraysia Duhaime are having a rematch at Naka Fight Night in two weeks. Dannielle and Euraysia went at it with open arms during the MTO Provincial Championships ( read previous blog ). I hear they really miss each other and need to go at it again.

A very noteworthy mention: AJ White (IG: @awhiteacct) ran the 10k Sporting Life Marathon carrying a canoe over his head to raise money for kids' summer camp. Well, he definitely won by getting a lot of attention. As for the marathon, I hear he's still in it.

Thank you, Diana for organizing the all female sparring session at Guelph MMA. I'm looking forward to sparring with all the amazing ladies from the surrounding cities at the next event.

Next session of SHEspars is happing on May 25th. Ladies gear up!

See you all next week at Canadian Fight League 8.

Prestige Fight Series III - April 26th, 2025

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Hello Kickboxing!

I had been to one other WAKO event before Coach vs Student blog , but at that time, I was focused on just one particular fight. In preparing for this event, I had mixed feelings. It almost felt like I was cheating on Muay Thai. I kept thinking, maybe I can get the two to understand I like them both…

I have to say, I was very impressed by the organizers, Kru Gerald Ching (known as King G) and Kru Eric Rocha. The event was very well organized and they had focused on the fighters, treating them like their VIP guests! A chef was hired specifically to feed the fighters after their weigh-ins. After glancing at the buffet table, I almost stripped down and got on the scale myself.

The organizers also published a magazine for the event under the title PFS II. But since they didn't ask Kru Ruben to be their graphic designer, and didn't ask me for a picture, nobody should look at that magazine!

I connected with Kru Eric only a week prior to the event, so I had very little time to get to know the fighters and their gyms, but here it goes:

The first fight of the evening was between Michael Barakatt from Flock MMA and Carson Dancy from Bolton House of Muay Thai. You can always count on a Bolton boy in a belly pad to put on a good show. Michael and Carson were the fanciest fighters of the evening! After Carson's axe kick and Michael's Superman punch, since there wasn't a Batman knee to throw, Carson climbed onto Michael's shoulders with both legs (not kidding) to start a cheerleading dance. The ref stopped the cheerleading routine a little prematurely. It was an amusing fight and a great start to the evening. Carson won the cup.

The fight between Daniel Yermolenko from Bazooka Kickboxing and Diego Tobar from MAFA was also very entertaining. In the first round, Diego's kicks came in rapid series and landed clean. The second round felt like clinch on replay. Daniel and Diego showed off their hip mobility with some impressively high knees in the clinch. I think they both do yoga. Diego won the cup.

That evening, I had the pleasure of interviewing a fighter from the U.S.! Christine Roule from Iron Strong Muay Thai in Massachusetts was matched against Alexis Sacchetti from MAFA. Christine caught my attention because we have something in common: we both started Muay Thai for self-defense! Christine was once told by her first gym that she would never be a fighter. That evening, Christine proved all of Massachusetts wrong! I think she threw a total of 13 push kicks to the head? We should make her pay a tariff on those! Christine won the cup. I wonder if the cup was made out of US Aluminum.

The co-main event featured Jenelle Garcia from Etobicoke Martial Arts and McKenna Van Allen from Black Lotus. McKenna was a dancer until the age of 18. During one of her dance rehearsals, she accidentally ballet-kicked her partner and it was a life-changing moment. She liked watching her opponent drop for an eight-count! Jenelle won the first round, but in the second and third rounds, McKenna turned on a second engine. If she had wings, she would have taken off! McKenna won the cup.

The main event was between Dustin Cronk from Black Lotus and Youssef El Zeir from MAFA. Youssef's powerful kicks gave him the edge in the first round, but in the second round, Dustin turned on his second engine too. Dustin won the cup by referee stoppage in the second round. I'd say Black Lotus cleaned house that evening.

It was a great night. Although I missed the sight of blood, and the elbows felt very naked and neglected, I had a lot of fun. I think I'll be going to more kickboxing events.

A few notes on the community:

It seems like the ice bucket challenge is back by popular demand? Kids, Kru Rommel and I are not playing, okay?
Kru Ironman (Harold Mah) shared a photo with us from base camp at Mount Everest. Since we never received a summit photo, we're assuming base camp was as far as he made it.
There's an all-female sparring session at Guelph MMA on May 18, from 12 PM to 2 PM. Ladies, come spar with me! If you're interested, please reach out to Diana (IG: @canadian_kickboxer).

See you all in May!

Supremacy IV – April 12, 2025

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

There's something homey about Black Tiger Gym. I don't know if it's the sight of supper cooking on the stove as you come through the door, or that Kru Mom greets you holding a mop and a bucket. It was my second time at Black Tiger, and I had mixed feelings returning. My first experience was when our Lexi got in the ring for the first time ( previous blog ).

There were nine fights on the card that evening, featuring mostly youth and surprisingly, none were from Black Tiger! When I thought about it, it actually made sense. Those Black Tiger cubs are unbeatable. It would've been inhospitable to invite kids over for a playdate and send them home without a trophy. So, the Black Tiger cubs had to stay off the card.

Soushiant Asadi (known as Sushy) from Kingdom Muay Thai was matched last minute to fight Dimitrije Roknic from House of Champions. Sushy is 15 years old, 6'2", and weighs 90 kg! It's been very difficult to find him a match and after this fight, I suspect it's going to be even harder. The fight was going really well, and it was very clear to everyone that Sushy was winning. Then, the 15-year-old thought to himself, "How can I make this a fight to remember?"

For what happened next, I think Mike Tyson is partly to blame, given how he made his fight with Evander Holyfield make history. While the coaches at Kingdom handled the incident with a lot of grace, I personally smacked Sushy in the head and ripped the Tyson poster off his bedroom wall. For Sushy's next fight, I think we should feed him right before we put him in the ring.

There was one demo fight (youth 8–9) on the card between Tyson Brendan Virtucio from VRTU and Miles Coady from Black Eagle. These kids were next-level in following the rules of the playground! They equally shared the ring, took turns throwing their combos, and patiently waited their turns to throw kicks. Although their faces were hidden behind headguards, I'm sure they were smiling too. Shannon Flynn, Kingdom's breathwork and Reiki coach, admired their rhythm and said, "At that pace, I could even perform Reiki while they're fighting."

The fight between Nehemiah Da Garca from Farang Martial Arts and Daniel Einollahi from MAS Thaiboxing was a heated one, which ended too quickly. Nehemiah won by referee stoppage halfway through the second round.

As usual, they saved the best for last! The B-class fight between Clay Harness from TKMT and Francis Osorto Molina from Black Eagle MA was the highlight of the evening. The way Kru Dylan kept yelling, "Measure him!" to Clay, I thought Clay was going to take out a ruler at any second. It was one of those very close fights where the judges had a different opinion from the audience. Francis took home the trophy!

A few notes on the community:

Ajahn Suchart and Kru Alin are hosting a Coaching and Cornerman Seminar on April 27th at House of Champions. I'll be observing that seminar, so stay tuned.

Kru Yai Ironman (Harold Mah) is currently climbing Kathmandu! Just before he left, he said he'll be in my weight class when he returns. I'm biting my nails…

Kru Dylan is back from Ottawa. I asked him why there were no posts from the event. He said it was very busy, but I think what he really meant was: what happens in Ottawa, stays in Ottawa!

Kru Ralph was wrong! Coach Hamed hadn't fled the country. He's back, with all eight out-of-order limbs of his, and even in worse shape than before! Coach Hamed is currently on a spree, making reels on IG (@sokdot_mafia), giving advice over coffee. His most recent advice: "If you don't spank your kids, they'll grow up to vote Liberal!"

See you all on April 19th at REPREZENT!

April Duels - April 5, 2025

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

It was my second time at Budo Canada, as we had been there just a month ago for the Provincial Tournament. April Duels was organized by the legendary Simon Marcus at Budo Canada. At this event, all the VIP tables had sold out, which wasn't good news for me, as I usually sneak into one of those seats for my blogging purposes.

I interviewed Bardh Kadriu from Sette Muay Thai. Well, I tried to interview Bardh! I asked Bardh how he felt, and he responded, "Not a single thing on my mind." Kru Ralph interrupted, "There is always a game plan! Don't take the fight opportunity for granted…" Kru Ralph hijacked Bard's interview! I stopped taking notes because I didn't want to encourage my interviews with fighters being hijacked by their Krus! Bardh fought Hugo Bueno Tavares from One Muay Thai. Hugo won that fight by referee stoppage in the second round. Bardh kept lowering his guard, and Hugo was very quick to take advantage. I should interview Kru Ralph sometime. I think he has a lot to say. He said Coach Hamed has fled the country! It might actually be true, as I haven't seen Coach Hamed around lately!

Aaron Ma from Old School Muay Thai fought Guillermo Esquivel from One Muay Thai. I had a chance to have a quick chat with Aaron while Guillermo was sitting wrapped in a heating blanket to make weight. We could see Guillermo through the glass window, so Aaron kept sipping his jug of Pedialyte and saluting Guillermo with a smirk. This fight was particularly interesting because Aaron seemed to be following and taking directions from Simon, who was actually cornering for Guillermo. I'm sure Kru James was also yelling from Aaron's corner, but all I could hear was Simon's voice: "THROW VOLUME." I think Aaron felt he had to listen and follow, or Simon was going to get in the ring himself! I stayed in a runner's lunge position, ready to jump and hold Simon back if he tried to fight Aaron. Aaron won that fight at a cost of a bloody nose!

So, up until now, I was under the impression that as the weight brackets increased, the Nak Muays got taller or gained thicker muscles. Well, not at this event. The +90 kg weight class that evening set a new record for the amount of meat jiggling around in the ring. I mean this in the most compassionate and sweetest way when I say: think JELLO! The +90 kg fighters did have one advantage, however; they didn't need to check kicks! They could just take them with no problem!

When Trevor Colley from Kingdom MT got in the ring, I realized I had missed six-packs (not referring to beer)! Trevor had been standing in front of a mirror, admiring his new shiny belt ever since his title fight back in February, but we finally decided enough was enough! We took away Trevor's belt and put it on display at Kingdom, so Trevor had to get back in the ring. Trevor was fighting Natt Charrasse from One Muay Thai that evening. If you recall from one of my previous blogs ( Provincial Championships ), Natt managed to fall out of the ring all on his own during the Provincial Championships. I had a quick chat with Natt in his cute French accent. Natt has been training in Muay Thai and MMA for less than a year. Natt put on a fantastic performance that evening. For some reason, Trevor couldn't clinch that night. Trevor is so good at clinch; I handpicked him to teach me clinch. But that night, Trevor's knees decided they weren't going to swing. This fight ended in a draw, but even Trevor said he felt he had lost.

My all-time favorite champion and a hero, Alireza Jadidi, made a surprise appearance that evening and made me all googly-eyed. From that point on, I forgot who was who, and the Wai Kru dance seemed too romantic.

The co-main event between Kevin Eguillor from One Muay Thai and Jack Picard from Large MA was the highlight of the night. These two fighters were next level when it came to technique and having volume in their attacks and counters! Kevin won the fight.

The last fight of the night between Marcus Ferguson from Southside and Marko Gjoka from NTA was the perfect finish to a Muay Thai fight night. Marcus won the fight by referee stoppage in just over 30 seconds into the first round.

I should note that Simon cornered 10 fights straight that evening, and by the end of the night, he still had a voice to thank everyone for coming. I think all Krus and PC Krus should inquire about the secret to Simon's voice!

I should also talk about the elephant in the room: There wasn't a single fighter from TKMT!! I think Kru Dylan took all of them to Ottawa with him to prevent them from throwing a party at the gym in his absence. He didn't take Sam Skinner though. He left Sam behind to come to April Duels and be officially judgmental!

A few notes on the community:

I still don't have a match at CMTO! Ladies, please start cutting weight!!
The most beautiful Muay Thai couple got engaged! My best wishes to PC Kru Francesca and Kru Yai Gianluka. I hear the wedding is going to be one hot sparring night with Thai pads thrown at them instead of rice!
Kingdom added a tradition by taking the coaches to teach a session at Chantel-Benoit Elementary School in East Gwillimbury. While the boys let out some fire, the girls lit up and found the power in their voices to go "OOOWEEEE."

See you all in May!

Happy Kru Day - March 16, 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

So both Kru Day and the SHEspars event fell on the same day! Another 364 days in the year, but March 16th was very popular this year. As to which event booked the day first, I think it's a chicken-or-egg situation! Personally, I side with the Easter Bunny.

I was put in the position of having to choose between going to Kru Day and watching a total of four fights, or going to SHEspars, as I had planned two months in advance. I picked SHEspars! Trevor, one of the Kingdom fighters, had been matched last minute to fight at Kru Day, but he also chose SHEspars and pulled out of the fight.

I registered to fight at the Canadian Muay Thai Open (CMTO) on March 15th! Kru Darryl sent Mary SD from Darkside MT the next day, on the 16th, to SHEspars to check up on me and make sure I was keeping up with my fight training. I'm not sure what Mary reported back to Kru Darryl, but the next day, I heard from Kru Darryl saying that if out of the 400 fighters who register, he doesn't find a -45kg match for me, he'll cut weight himself! Now, I'm extra excited and looking forward to a fight with a very skinny C-Class female version of Kru Darryl.

Diana from Guelph MMA is a regular attendee at SHEspars and made sure I got a taste of what I should expect once I'm inside the ring (because I asked)! Am I the only one who can't breathe for 20 seconds after a liver shot? I'm also extra sensitive in my thighs and don't like taking low kicks or inside kicks. I wonder if Kru Darryl will arrange for a hugging match for me. I'd be willing to hug someone much heavier from the B or even A Class… doesn't have to be a female either! The way the coaches at Kingdom have been delaying my fight training plan for almost a month, hugging might be all I can confidently do in the ring by the third week of August.

This session of SHEspars was hosted by Lotus Fitness and Boxing. Hyedie Hashimoto, the owner of Lotus Fitness, received us with open arms and made us feel at home. Thank you, SHEspars and Lotus Fitness, for bringing the women of the community together once again. Looking forward to the next SHEspars event on May 25th, 2025, at Toronto Striking Academy.

I also have the most exciting announcement! It's with absolute joy that I announce that the coolest Kru in our community has volunteered to write about my fight at CMTO! I certainly can't wait!

Happy Norouz to all the Iranians in the community! We're most likely going for some Persian kebab (koubideh in particular) after training on March 20th, 2025. So come join us!

See you all in April…

International Women's Day - March 8, 2025

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

On March 8th, 2025, the most powerful women in the world gathered at Kingdom to celebrate International Women's Day! Yes, I can call us, the women of Kingdom, the most powerful women on earth, because ChatGPT's selection criteria didn't include training in Muay Thai!! So, you can follow my reasoning?

We celebrated by having an all-women's seminar that included dancing, fitness, Muay Thai/Boxing, more dancing, self-defense, yoga, and breathwork. The energy the participants brought to Kingdom was phenomenal! I was very much one of the participants, only leading the yoga section of the seminar.

Forough Hashemi (NPC Bikini Gold Medalist) kicked off the event with 30 minutes of cardio and fitness. During her cardio session, I was 90% mesmerized by Forough's style, beautiful and flawless muscle tone, and her cheerful smile. My remaining 10% was bouncing off the walls to the rhythm. I think BOB Behrouz and BOB Babak were a little surprised, as they thought our hips could only swing for kicks.

The Muay Thai section was led by PC Kru Aanchal Vashistha and Coach Amira Moradi. Aanchal, one of the top 10 Indian Women Leaders in Canada, explained the basics, starting with the fight stance and when she finished explaining, even the BOBs whispered "khap." Amira is the beloved Kingdom Queen, identifying as She/Her, and is the preferred coach for many of the women at Kingdom. Amira assisted Aanchal in running the Muay Thai section of the seminar but mostly stole all the attention just by being Amira and embracing her gentle soul.

Tiana Osborne (Krav Maga Red Belt) ran the self-defense section of the seminar. Tiana is the double chocolate cookie with chili flakes. Forget that no man has ever survived Tiana's groin kick, when Tiana needs assistance to demonstrate palm strikes, Nak Muays fake injuries and look away.

The seminar ended with some breathwork by Shannon Flynn (Certified Breathwork Practitioner). In Shannon's words, "There is something incredible about the energy of a community moving as one, finding presence in each inhale and exhale." In my words, we just had to do breathwork to help calm down all the participants. It would have been irresponsible to send them home while they were still throwing knees and groin kicks.

The seminar was amazing, and more than anything, it brought some of the women in the community together. Elizabeth from LCKmedia joined us and took amazing pictures. The participants brought their best vibes and left with the biggest smiles. The seminar was the perfect way to celebrate International Women's Day!

As for BOB Behrouz and BOB Babak, I think they'll request to be put away for the next all-female event, and I think Kru Arash will honor their request.

Provincial Championships - March 2025

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

What an exciting weekend! It was actually my first time at a MT Tournament, but I'm glad I registered as a Class B/-45 kg Blogger! After this blog, I think I can negotiate moving to Class A.

The first day, when I looked at the schedules, I was a little disappointed that there were no Class A fights, but I have to admit, those Class C fighters really stepped up. I had a chance to have a quick chat with Samantha Skinner (Class A, TKMT). Sam mentioned that Class A fighters are hesitant to register for tournaments because the headgear makes their heads a bigger target and easier to hit, and that the shin guards tone down the power from their main weapon, which is low kicks.

Kingdom was going to have one fighter at the Provincials, and that was our 13-year-old/63 kg, Lucas Brandao. I think all the boys in Luca's weight class heard he was making a debut, and they went running. But Lucas was there all weekend learning, cheering, and mainly clearing out all the pizza.

Here are only some of the highlights from the Provincial Tournament:

Senior Male / C Class/-75 kg: Graham Waybrant (Old School MT) fought against Natt Charrasse (Budo Canada) first. Our legendary Simon Marcus was cornering for Natt. Natt may have been a little too excited because he managed to fall off the ring all on his own. Five seconds into the fight, I noticed Graham had the biggest grab marks on his back. I think they had happened the night before. Natt demoed the spinning kick in slow motion right in the middle of the ring, when Graham wasn't in range. That may have confused Graham since they were in a fight. Graham also fought Adam Saeed (Evolution Petawawa MT) and Christian Macphee (Fifth Round MT) and won gold at the tournament.

Senior Female / C Class/-54 kg: The fighters raised enough heat to make the A Class fights feel icy cold. Danielle Levasseur (Old School MT) fought Euraysia Duhaime (Phady's MT) first and Brittany Cabral (Renfrew MT) second. Danielle's push kicks and knees didn't miss! She was strong and fast. Her fight with Brittany was particularly interesting because Brittany seemed to have confused the rules of MT with those of playing Tag, being under the impression that Danielle was "It"! Brittany kept circling the ring with her back against the ropes, trying to stay out of range for anyone to do anything, but it was a waste of effort because Danielle kept breaking range and tagging Brittany again, and again, and again… Danielle won the gold.

So, Sabrina Campbell (C class, Legacy MT) and I kissed and made up (you'd know if you'd read the blog "Lexi's First Fight")! I have to admit, I have come to admire Sabrina. She played hockey for 18 years, hoping they would eventually fight in women's hockey too, but she finally gave up and started MT about three years ago. She has set new standards for female/Class C/-50 kg. I asked her to take a picture with me showing our iron rings, but she rolled her eyes. Sabrina won gold at the tournament.

Senior Female / C Class/-57 kg: Krystyna Lavryk (TKMT) went against Julia Nakanishi (Fighters United). I was surprised that Julia could still stand up straight to receive her silver because Krystyna's knees even bruised my ribs, sitting all the way in the audience. I should say my attention was a little divided between Krystyna and her Kru! I was waiting to see if he was going to do the shimmy dance again (read the previous blog)! But nope! I think he was determined to give himself a heart attack this time. When he yelled out to Krystyna, "SEND HER HOME," half the people in the audience reached for their phones to call Julia an Uber! To all those who just got worried about him, he is very much alive and hunting in the woods.

Senior Male / B Class/-71 kg: While Dani Olea's (TKMT) first fight with Aleksei Kiriukhin was as clean and slow as a marathon, lacking excitement, his second fight with Hamza Hashimi (5th Dimension Training Academy) was the perfect finish to the tournament. Imagine a MT tournament finishing without a single bloody nose… what would people say? Dani won the gold.

Our youth, less than 35 kg in particular, did absolutely amazing over the weekend. Little Ninjas on fire, wore elbow pads nearly as big as their heads and threw punches so fast it was difficult to follow. The kids from Black Tiger made two-leg sweeps look way too easy. After Rachel Love (-54 kg, Redemption MT & BJJ) landed her third head push kick, I felt I needed an eight-count.

Marielle Ong (Diamond MT) and Reeda Awan (Ajax MMA) had the only Senior Female/B Class fight. I'm pretty sure they had agreed upon throwing one elbow each! I get it! They are both too pretty.

The tournament had several other gold medalists who are not mentioned in my blog due to one of the following reasons: they weren't cute, didn't fall off the ring, or they simply didn't have a very interesting Kru in their corner.

TKMT had 13 fights and 13 wins! Kru Dylan hugged everyone from ringside, all the way to the front door!

Kru Daryl proved to be the only man on earth capable of multitasking. He DJed, announced, cornered fights from inside and outside the ring, managed equipment, all while searching for a Senior/C Class/Female/-45 kg match for me!

I had the pleasure of meeting Diana Belbita, a UFC fighter in the flyweight division. Diana's first MMA fight was a misunderstanding, as she was under the impression she was signed up for a kickboxing match! When Diana was handed MMA gloves instead of boxing gloves, she asked the equipment manager why the boxing gloves had cut weight! Not being given a straight answer, she fought anyway, and that's how she won her first MMA fight.

Just a few notes on our community:

Kru Dylan celebrated his 22nd birthday. Happy birthday to this young and very accomplished Kru!

Kingdom is hosting an all-female seminar on International Women's Day, March 8th, 2025. The seminar is open to all identifying as she/her. Gentlemen, if you wake up on Saturday and feel particularly feminine, send me a message, and I might be able to sneak you in. Click on the link for more detail: Women's Seminar

Kingdom is also offering free drop-ins to all females for the entire month of March/Women's Month. Ladies, come take advantage!

See you all at the next event!

Family Day Long Weekend February, 2025

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

I know I said you'd hear from me in March, but too much happened over the Family Day long weekend for me to stay quiet, so here's what went on in our community over the weekend:

Bardh Kadriu from Sette Muay Thai had his first-ever demo/fight on February 15th, 2025. Bardh either took his demo fight a little too far, or he figured out that the only way to force a result out of a demo fight is to get a knock down! Either way, Kru Ralph is very proud. I hear Kru Ralph's wife is not very happy, however, as she was just getting used to the sound of the pad work being white noise to her ears all night long.

Tiana Osborne, Vipin MJ, Aanchal Vashishtha, and Kru Arash attended the Winter Shred at Varsity Stadium on February 16th. They didn't tell me Popeye was going to be there or I would have gone too! They participated in various challenges and put up a good fight! Kru Arash thought to give basketball one last shot while the whole world was watching… The whole Kingdom spoke up and said, "STICK TO MUAY THAI!"

Kru Ruben was caught doing the shimmy shimmy while watching his student fight. Given he's been seen out in the wild a lot recently, dressed in camo and carrying a gun, we'll let it go.

Ajahn Suchart and Kru Alin headed to Whitehorse, Yukon, to hold a Muay Thai seminar for our First Nation. Ajahn Suchart wore a hoodie to the seminar which wasn't even red. I hear even the huskies in Yukon are now reacting to the sound of "Jot Muay"!

The Fighting Minister attended a Shout Out Fight Podcast with Connor McGregor. For anyone planning to listen, the podcast is an hour and 30 minutes long! I'm looking for people willing to split it with me: we each listen to 10 minutes of it and exchanges notes. Anyone?

The Fighting Minister also organized another community Muay Thai training and sparring session at 10th Planet Etobicoke. The attendees were surprised to see they had to shovel snow for the warmup. Coach Hamed may have warmed up a little too much, with steam coming out of his ears, and tried to start a sparring session out in the parking lot. Our Trevor, who recently won a belt, put on his superhero outfit and told everyone "Men, let's take it inside"!

So, I'm a little annoyed that hockey players are stealing our thunder! Canada played the USA after nearly a decade, and there were three fights during the first 9 seconds of the game! Yah! Fights in an international hockey game! I don't know if any of the MTO judges were watching those fights and could tell us if Canada won. Speaking of judges, why are the hockey players allowed to fight without their gloves? They need MMA grabbling gloves if you ask me! Connor McDavid and Austin Matthews are now considering attending some pad work sessions at Kingdom Muay Thai in preparation for their next hockey game in another 9 years. Who knows, after this last game, they might even consider going to Thailand for some training.

Last but most importantly (drumroll):

Ladies, Kingdom Muay Thai is offering free drop-ins for all classes to all those who identify as "she/her" during Women's Month, from March 1 to March 31, 2025 . Please take advantage and come meet our fantastic team.

Kingdom is hosting a Women's Martial Arts & Wellness Seminar on March 8th from 1 pm to 4 pm. Please click on the link for more details: Women's Seminar

Kingdom is also offering March Break Youth Camp for kids 4 to 12. Please email info@kingdommuaythai.ca for enquiries.

See you all in March!

Royal Fight Night 5 – Montreal, Feb 8, 2025 (Kingdom wins a BELT)

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

We had been wanting a belt for our gym for some time now. To be exact, since October 1, 2024, when Kingdom MT opened doors at its permanent location. Trevor was going to fight at Royal Fight Night 5 in Montreal and win a belt for the Kingdom.

I didn't get a chance to talk with Trevor before his fight. I think he was avoiding me because every time I tried to talk to him, he was either resting or injured and couldn't talk. Once, he actually made the excuse of spending the evening at a spa with Coach Hamed, and to make his lie stick, they both had painted nails the next day!

Trevor was initially matched to fight at the Lunar New Year Bash on Jan 25, 2025, but once he was matched to fight at the K1 event in Montreal, we pulled him from the Lunar New Year Bash to protect and secure our belt, given that the K1 fight was a title fight. On Feb 7, the Kingdom packed the fight team into a van and headed to Montreal to claim our belt. It was definitely a full van. It's good I couldn't go on that trip, or they would've had to leave Trevor behind! As I didn't attend this fight, some parts of this blog are fictional, and some are contributions from Kru Harold and others. I'll let you decide which is which.

> "Part of the honor of being part of a successful fight team is getting to know your teammates while spending over 8 hours in a van with them."

Royal Fight Night follows K1 rules, which, in my opinion, are a little excessive. Catching the leg is not allowed, elbows are not allowed. It's good they allowed knees! Otherwise, after getting into a clinch, fighters could only exchange kisses. Kru Harold wore the Kru Laura Hat and became the Head Judge in Quebec. Feel free to direct all complaints to him!

Trevor set an example in the ring that night. He jumped almost 2 meters high and landed his knee between Ali Rinaldo's eyebrows. Trevor also used several spinning back fists! I would say maybe a few too many, as he was still dizzy when they were putting the belt on him. Or maybe he is ticklish, I don't know. Oh yes, Trevor won the belt. I swear this part is not fiction. Just look at the pictures!

Oscar also won another fight that night. Oscar has been very solid and consistent in his fights! I think it's a combination of discipline, the right coaching, and the affirmations he listens to for 6 hours before every fight. Oscar also juggles his hand wraps before fights which helps him get calm and stay collected during fights. I asked Coach Hamed to juggle just for fun. I have a video of that which Kru Arash won't allow me to post!

> "The success didn't come just from the fighters. It came from the group, which had never traveled together before. Mutual support in so many ways—from who has water, towel, ice, and espresso shots to encouragement and strategy. When a team is all going in the same unquestionable direction with a goal, you win BELTS!"

Sam Skinner (from TKMT) also had another amazing win that night and brought home another belt with her. If I were 10 years younger and 2 feet taller, I'd train to fight Sam! Good thing I'm neither of those things! Aramiss Garito from Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts and Edwin Petrea from House of Champions also took away belts from Quebecois that evening. "Four Ontarians went to Montreal, and they all came back with belts" (Kru Dylan, Feb 9, 2025). The thing with belts is, I hear they can change your life once you put them on. I wonder if Trevor will let me punch an extra hole in his belt to make it fit me.

Remember Sabrina Campbell from Legacy MT, who almost killed our Lexie in the ring? Sabrina won a fight on a different street in Montreal at Fight Time Championship. So, it's actually Ontario 5 and Quebec 0! What a great weekend for Ontario!

The next morning at 4 am, Kru Harold was noted stumbling on the hallways, knocking on doors and looking for our winners! He must have been wanting to congratulate them again.

A few notes on the community:

To all the ladies out there, stay tuned, as there is a lot happening at Kingdom during Women's Month: March 1 to March 31, 2025! Hope to see you all in a month.
Ajahn Suchart is holding a free Muay Thai Training Camp for our youth on multiple Sundays at different locations in the City. The first session was held on Feb 2nd at Siam No.1 Yorkdale. It takes discipline and determination to keep showing up for the training camp and those who do are "destined for greatness" (Kung Fu Panda, 2008).
Am I the only one who's annoyed by Old School Muay Thai's adoption prank? I teared up before swiping to get the full story (rolling my eyes). But they're organizing all women's sparring sessions every month so I'll let this one go! Those sessions better be free!!
Coach Lee spent two months in Thailand training, becoming a Kru and cornering and winning fights at Rajadamnern Stadium. He has come back from Thailand and is now doing Pilates!
Last but the most important, Kru Arash is on a Belt High till further notice. Please be very patient in all your communications with him.

See you all in March!

Coach vs Student - K Fighting Series 2 Feb 8, 2025 @Doggpound MMA

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Dave Reeves, the owner of Rise Combat, was matched to fight his student, Johnathan Monk! Dave turned 50 in December of 2024 and has been training and teaching taekwondo and kickboxing for 30 years. Dave had to drop over 20 lbs for this fight! Early last year (2024), Dave was actually battling cancer! Having defeated cancer, he continued coaching his students, including Johnathan, and never stopped training himself. When I spoke with Dave, he said, "Johnathan has been trying to get me to go full contact with him for a while and has been asking me what it would take to get me back into the ring. I always tell my students 'sweat till you die,' so of course, I took the fight. I would hit him with an open fist if it wasn't a foul."

I had a quick chat with Marc Beer, one of the coaches at Rise and who had trained Dave for this fight. He said, "I was surprised that Johnathan called for this fight. Johnathan walked into the gym one day after they had been matched, and I kicked him out. We know what Johnathan is good at. Dave has the ability to put together spinning attacks, and Johnathan doesn't." I asked Marc how he felt about this being Dave's last year of fighting. Marc said, "When one door closes, another opens. Dave will continue to coach and can focus on creating great athletes."

I met Kelly, Dave's wife, very briefly that evening. I didn't get a chance to chat with Kelly, but I could see from her eyes that she was both proud and worried at the same time. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for Kelly to support Dave, after beating cancer, cut weight, and train for a fight with a student ten years younger! I bow to Kelly's selflessness!

Johnathan is 40 and started training in taekwondo and kickboxing under Dave about five years ago. Johnathan recently opened up his own gym, Elite Fighting Academy, in Guelph. According to Johnathan, the story is that in December 2024, the K Fighting Series promoter called him and said they had a possible match for him, not knowing the match was Johnathan's coach! "I agreed, knowing that I was actually matched with my coach, and I had training with him coming up for a different fight in December 2024. I didn't tell Dave we had been matched up until after our training, and only then, Dave found out after the promoter called him and told him I had accepted to fight. Dave called me right away, 'You cheeky little sh##! I'm going to beat your as##.' Dave took the fight too."

I chatted with Johnathan a couple of times: "When I go into a fight, I never anticipate an outcome, and I give it everything I have. I've been training under Jaidip Kambo and Brandon Polo for the past month with a new game plan, but I might revert back to old habits in the heat of the fight. I took this fight because I want Dave to know how well I've turned out. Dave didn't just train me; he mentored me too. I learned everything from Dave, and he's the reason I've gotten this far."

I chatted with Brandon and Jaidip too. I asked them what their strategy was for training Johnathan, given that Dave, as his coach, knew all of Johnathan's strengths and weaknesses. Jaidip responded, "It actually goes both ways because through Johnathan, we also know what Dave's game plan and fight strategies are. We focused on how to counter those. Johnathan has a work ethic like no one else, and with that, he has come to be compatible with his coach!"

Rise Combat had two other fighters that evening: Brat Liamido and North Meyer, both exceptional in technique and power. They had a way with their superman punches and spinning kicks! Rise won both of those fights. I caught Dave passing by and told him, "If all of your students fight like that, you're in big trouble." He told me to wait and watch.

Dave (the Coach) and Johnathan (the Student) were the last fight of the evening. As for the result of that fight, we're all in agreement that Dave creates exceptional athletes and amazing fighters!

Quite a few of the local firefighters attended the event, so I just had to interview a few of them. I'll write that blog in my diary.

Thank you, Doggpound MMA, for an amazing night and their generosity. I look forward to their future events.

Lunar New Year Bash - January 25, 2025

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT

The very first event of 2025, and it was definitely a full house, with more than 30 people turned away at the door. The event was organized by Kru Mat (Etobicoke Martial Arts), who now owes Kru Harold $50 for delaying the first bell by 20 minutes. Kru Harold messaged me last week wanting to bet that the event would start on time, trying to cover both outcomes. I'm glad I didn't take that bet, though I was tempted. I'm on to you, Kru Harold. The event included four class A fights with no gear, a class B fight, and six class C fights, including our youth with rosy cheeks and the cutest smiles. And no, I wasn't one of them!

Our Tylo, fighting for Kingdom, lost the fight with the biggest smile and celebrated by having three matcha cookies (made by MT Cookie). Tylo lost because he gassed out. I told him to eat the cookies before the fight. He should have listened! Next time, I'll just shove them in his mouth when he's getting wrapped up.

Mohamed Elniwairi from Genesis Striking fought (A class) Simon Bonello from Etobicoke Martial Arts. There were a lot of missed high kicks thrown by both sides. There were a couple of elbows that landed, giving the audience wrinkles. I don't know if it was just me, but there were a few instances when clinches turned into very intimate hugs. I don't think they scored for the hugs, as the judges felt they had to look away. The fight ended by referee stoppage in the second round after Simon landed a high push kick to Mohamed's head.

The highlight of the night, in my opinion, was the female class A fight between Jenelle Garcia from Etobicoke Martial Arts and Sam Skinner from TKMT. Kru Dylan hung up his judge's robe and cornered the fight for Sam himself. The two warrior women really set an example with their technique and fight ethics. Jenelle took a liver shot, and I was shocked at how quickly she recovered, especially since I recently took one of those myself during Krav Maga training. Sam was phenomenal at clinching, and that won her the fight.

The fight between Deval Garvey from Dunamis Muay Thai and Dimitri Campbell from Legends MMA was an interesting one. Deval's kicks made very loud noises when they landed. It was as if Dimitri was wearing bubble-wrap, and Deval kept popping the bubbles with his kicks. Our Ako, who had been nagging me all day for not having a fight, said Dimitri's techniques, especially at clinching, held him back and were the reasons he lost the fight.

The last fight of the evening was an A class battle between Basil Tago from Triumph Muay Thai and Kaden Chrichlow from VRTU. When I talked with Basil before the fight, he said, "Fighting for me is the closest thing to going to war, coming back stronger, no matter what." I was amazed by how calm and collected Basil was during his fight. The 200 lbs of goodness cornering his fight might have had something to do with it. Kaden was taller, making his knees in the clinch extra effective. Basil's strong low kicks kept scoring for him and even caused an 8-count for Kaden, which won the fight for Basil.

Thank you, Kru Mat and Etobicoke Martial Arts! What a great event to kick off 2025 with.

A few notes on our community:

PC Krus had their official ceremony hosted by Ajahn Suchart, receiving their red traditional MT outfits. I hear red is becoming the new black in our MT community.
The 6-year-old girl from 9 Spears Muay Thai took a jab to her face at Youth Scrimmage and won the Best WTF Look of 2025. We can all appreciate CAS for that!
I attended my first sparring session with "SHESpars," held at Valhalla Mixed Martial Arts. It was very liberating to spar on mats not dominated by testosterone. I look forward to their upcoming event on March 16th at Lotus Fitness and Thai Boxing.
We suspect Kru Arash is in an abusive relationship, as he's been showing up to the gym with a lot of cuts and bruises. He had the biggest cut on his forehead, and when we asked what happened, he said he was shaving his legs! I think we're planning an intervention.
Kru Justin from Triumph Muay Thai recently celebrated his birthday, and he didn't kick his number. I think he's trying to hide his age... Word on the street is that he's very old!
Does anyone know why York Muay Thai's BJJ coach left their gym? I don't want to draw any attention to the issue…I'm just curious.
Ladies, if you've read my previous blogs and are considering messaging PC Kru Vince, hold off for a couple of months, as he's attending my yoga sessions after training, working on his flexibility.
Last but definitely not least, an important fight is coming up on February 8th at the Dog Pound. It's not every day that we see a coach fighting his students. Stay tuned for that blog!

PC KRU SEMINAR

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT

The workshop was informative and culturally enriching for the Kingdom Team. Learning the proper hows and whys of teaching the Thai art of Muay Thai.

There was no annoying tiny curly blondes anywhere on site unfortunately.

Done!

Let Me Coach!

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT

On January 4, 2025, we had a seminar for all the Kingdom coaches and some of Elite Martial Arts'. Since I'm not a coach, I was invited to be the fly on the wall!

The coaches were expected to demonstrate their discipline by showing up on time and in uniform. Most of the coaches showed up on time and dressed in their club gear, except for a couple. PC Kru Vince showed up as the Ugly Duckling, and PC Kru Nima was an hour late, joining the circle dressed as Elmer Fudd!

During the opening, coaches shared a brief history of their Muay Thai journey. I found out that PC Kru Hamèd spent six months in Thailand looking for himself. He found himself, but it was too heavy for him to bring back, so he sent via ground shipping. Now that the Canada Post strike is over, we expect him any day now.

I had the pleasure of meeting Aanchal Vashishtha at the seminar, as she's one of the coaches at Elite Martial Arts. Aanchal has been named one of the top 10 Indian women leaders in Canada, is a five-time best-selling author, and is an honor to our Muay Thai community! You could tell how influential Aanchal is because when she came to the front of the room to demonstrate teaching, all the coaches forgot their dominant leg and became southpaws. When Aanchal said, "LET'S GO, legs-to-the-heaven pushups," PC Kru Nima packed his bag and waited by the door! Aanchal teaches the all-female classes at Elite. That's something I hope to do one day at Kingdom. I look forward to getting to know Aanchal.

The seminar was immensely informative and run by Kru Harold. I was told the seminar was meant for Muay Thai coaches only, but in my opinion, any kind of coach could have benefited from the first half of the seminar, which covered general rules and common sense for coaches.

Kru Harold explained the importance of consistency in coaches' teaching styles and terminology. He also emphasized that the safety of both students and coaches is the most important objective in any and every class.

Kru Harold said that when you want to touch students to correct their form, always ask for permission first and try to touch the bony parts as opposed to the flesh. To demonstrate inappropriate touching, Kru Harold groped Kru Arash's left quad. Kru Arash's freshly shaved and moisturized quad made the demonstration quite effective.

As I really hope to be invited to the next coaching seminar, I'll have to stop my thoughts here. I suggest coaches from other Muay Thai gyms reach out and join future seminars for some unofficial networking, if for no other reason. I promise not to pick on you (though don't count on it).

A couple of announcements on our community: Coach Mauricio from Evolucao Thai got engaged over the holidays. Congratulations to him and his lovely fiancée. Watch out in your mail for save the date cards. Kru Art from Legacy Muay Thai opened up Roots Muay Thai gym in Barrie. I hear Coach Francesca is very happy and supportive of Kru Art's new endeavors.

Looking forward to the January 25th fight event. Come talk to me. As this will be my 6th fight to blog about, I'm now considered a class "B" blogger so watch out for my elbows!

Reflecting on 2024

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT

2024 was a great year at Kingdom. A lot went on. The fancy mats, which were ordered from overseas, finally showed up. All 250 pieces of them. We have some extras that we might be willing to exchange for a good collapsible ring.

We participated in several challenges: We finished the 15 km Tough Mudder 2024. We had a blue shorts test, which I swear I passed, although I was never given the blue shorts. We also had an arm-wrestling challenge, which Coach Hamed won after taking his little blue pill. I asked Coach Hamed what the blue pill does for him, and he said, "Think Smurfs." Shannon Flynn won the Kingdom Certificate of Excellence for her selfless contributions and for fighting for the Kingdom on the sidelines. Hamed and Nima were awarded Best Students of the Year. Hamed and Nima also received their PC Kru status and Shannon and I started our Yoga Teacher's Training.

We also somehow managed to irritate Legacy MT into asking for a rematch of a Class C amateur fight (I'm rolling my eyes). I think Kru Art at Legacy MT was behind that idea!

On December 30th, we had our last training session of 2024, with Kru Yai Ironman Harold Mah running the session. Kru Ironman also gifted us with the Kingdom Knight! The Kingdom Knight, so tall and so strong, made me forget all about Behrouz. Kru Ironman also made me cry that day by calling my push kick insulting, because it was too straightforward?

We're stepping into 2025 with new coaches joining the Kingdom, launching new programs, and a new schedule at a brand new gym. At the center of the Kingdom floor, we're reminded by Kru Harold Mah (KHM) that "training camp is every day."

In 2024, PC Kru Vince (he asked me not to call him coach) wasn't successful at finding a new girlfriend/potential wife. Ladies, if you're looking, PC Kru Vince is 5' 10" tall, a great French teacher, an amazing father, has abs that just returned from a Thailand training camp, and speaks with a killer French accent. Let's make 2025 a success for PC Kru Vince, shall we?

Today was the Capricorn Kru's birthday. Since he already has the love and support of the Kingdom family, let's all wish him more stamina in 2025! Lastly, since this is not a gossip column, I won't speculate on why Kru Dylan refuses to share his 2025 New Year's resolution.

Happy 2025, everyone!

Muaythai Ontario Youth Camp 2024

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:00:00 GMT

I'm a little late blogging about the Muay Thai Ontario Youth Camp in 2024 for a couple of reasons. At the time, I was very new to the community, and I couldn't really write about the people I barely knew. I also hadn't been appointed as the Kingdom Blogger back then. But better late than never, so here it goes (get comfortable in your seats as this a longer read):

I had started group training at the Kingdom only about a month or so when Kru Arash told the Kingdom about the Muay Thai Ontario Youth Camp. The camp was free and funded by the Thailand Embassy. As I was hoping to get my 6 year old daughter started in training as well, I thought the youth camp was a great opportunity to get to know the community I had become a part of. I live in Richmond Hill, so driving to Stoney Creek every day for the camp all weekend, with two kids, wasn't easy. I was feeling good about myself and the effort I was making until I spoke with moms who had come from Scarborough, Ajax, and King City, all for the same purpose. I was humbled!

Kru Alin hosted the MTO Youth Camp at his gym, House of Champions, and Ajahn Suchart ran three-hour training sessions for three days straight, from August 31 to September 2, 2024. I know Ajahn Suchart looks young, but …the hours felt long and tiring, even for those of us who were just sitting around. I had a chance to talk with Ajahn during breaks. I asked him what the MTO Youth Camp was trying to achieve. He said, "Muay Thai is a religion, and religion brings people together and gives them direction. Our Muay Thai community is developing with great leaders who are creating more leaders. What we need is support and awareness of the Muay Thai culture and practice. This is what the youth camp is for."

When I spoke with Kru Dylan, he said that our fighters are greatly at a disadvantage on the international scene because there is no funding to support their training and travel. He mentioned that he has to pay out of pocket to accompany his students/fighters to international events. And that's the case for the fighters too, as they have to fund their own trips. And, "because everyone's resources are limited, we're being restricted on how much we can grow."

I met Tyson and his mom very briefly at the House of Champions during the MTO Youth Camp, and when I decided to write this blog, I asked Tyson's mom if I could interview Tyson.

For those who don't know Tyson:

Tyson stepped into the House of Champions at the age of 4 and never really left the place! He trains in Muay Thai 3 days a week, BJJ 2 days a week, and wrestling 1 day a week. For him, "a good training session is about 3 hours." At the age of 11, Tyson has had 7 fights, won a belt, and earned 5 gold medals.

I asked Tyson how he was first introduced to Muay Thai. He said, "I saw a ring one day and just thought I wanted to fight inside a ring. So I asked my parents, and they took me to House of Champions. I loved it. Kru Alin mentored me and coached me! I want to become an MMA fighter." I asked Tyson who drives him to training 6 times a week. Tyson said, "Mainly my mom, sometimes my dad. My parents do a lot for me. When I'm sick or can't go to the gym for some reason, like during the pandemic, my parents hold pads for me at home." I asked Tyson if he gets into a lot of fights at school. He said, "I've never gotten into a fight, but I break up a lot of fights. Everyone knows I'm a fighter, so they don't bother me." I asked Tyson to talk about his first fight. He said, "I was 8 when I had my first fight at the 2022 MTO Provincial. Kru Alin is my coach and my mentor. He told me I was ready to fight. I was very nervous because it was my first fight, but also because I was in front of a lot of people. I thought to myself, 'This is the time for me to shine.' When I won, I felt like I was the king of the world."

Tyson continued, "I won another fight in 2023, and in 2024, I won the belt at TBA in Iowa!" I asked Tyson to tell me about his fight in Thailand. He said, "I was so honored. Kru Alin is my coach and my mentor. He told me, 'Tyson, I think you're ready to fight for Team Canada. Let's see what you've got.' I went to Thailand to fight at the 2024 IFMA Youth Tournament. My parents and Kru Benny took me. It was a close fight with an Australian. It was all body shots and no head shots. I wasn't as good at clinching. I also made a mistake and kept moving backward during the fight… Judges saw that as I was losing the fight. I lost, but when I returned, Kru Alin, Coach Diana, Coach Derek and all my friends, at House of Champions received me as if I had won. I wasn't sad."

I asked Tyson how he does in school, training for almost 3 hours, 6 days a week. He said, "I do okay. I get Bs. I don't mind school, but I like training more." I asked Tyson if he wished he had done anything differently or joined another type of sport. He said, "No, I'm very happy. I tried basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball…" I said, "What about hockey? You know they fight in hockey!" Tyson said, "They're not supposed to! I tried hockey too. I like fighting more."

If you're still reading this blog, you're likely a parent and agree with me that putting your kids in a sport is the best thing you can possibly do for them. It's very unfortunate that those who need it the most are often the ones who can't afford it. It's a fact that doing sports and physical activity is a preventive measure for depression. So, why organizations like Muay Thai Ontario and Muay Thai Canada are not funded by our government to support and invest in our kids remains a mystery.

I've never had a chance to talk with Kru Laura as much as I would like, as she is always way too busy before the fights. During our very brief conversation, Kru Laura mentioned that she came out of retirement at the age of (classified) in 2005, fought, and won silver for Canada. So, I think the future is not that difficult to predict for kids like Tyson.

I asked Tyson one last question: "Who did you say your mentor was?" Tyson smiled and said, "Kru Alin is my coach and my mentor."

The last day of the camp was held at Etobicoke Martial Arts, and the youth participants received Certificates of Completion from the Thai Ambassador, Mr. Vipattipumiprates, and the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Mr. Tibollo. We, the parents, received big smiles from our kids as they proudly held their certificates.

Another Muay Thai Youth camp is coming up in September 2025. Parents, fasten your seatbelts!

Blue Shorts Test, Winter 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:00:00 GMT

We held another blue shorts test in the Kingdom on December 7, 2024. It was a joint event between Bolton House of Muay Thai and the Kingdom. We all showed up looking very good! Well, most of us did. Danny showed up wearing the tightest white legging under his puffy black shorts. He looked like a bearded ballerina who was lost on his way to Swan Lake rehearsal. I think it was laundry day at his house and he had to borrow from his wife?

Kru Yai Gianluca from Bolton HMT ran the cardio section of the test. I think Kru Yai Gianluca and Kru Arash were somehow under the impression that this was a blue shorts test held in Thailand! The cardio section included 150 reps of everything and I really mean everything! I think I sneezed at some point and Coach Hamed said "that's one". Half an hour into the test I ran to Kru Arash and told him I think my favorite color is yellow! I kind of know someone on the inside at Bolton HMT who's in a position of power and I thought that was going to work to my advantage and make the test go easier for me, but it didn't!

Abdi's Audrey, Aria, Armin, the owners of Luna Lounge and many of Bolton HMT parents and families had just come to support. JP from Bolton HMT provided some pre blue shorts test therapy and convinced me that if I consider all the pain and suffering that goes on in the world, the blue shorts test wasn't going to hurt that bad. While Danny was right there with me complaining for all of the 2 hours, the rest of the Kingdom Nak Muay's were outstanding. Shannon with an injured knee was having so much fun, she said she wants to do the test twice. The Bolton warriors seemed to be in their element or that they were just too afraid of Coach Francesca's dirty looks. I wasn't going to tell on Vinny but he counted some of my burpees towards his own.

After the cardio section of the test we did 3 min rounds of pad works. Again, most of us did. A few were summoned by Kru Yai Gianluca to do 6 min rounds. I actually tried to avoid eye contact with him so I couldn't be summoned but he caught me!

At the end of the test we all felt like we had earned our blue shorts. The ceremony with white candles, incense and white flowers was a very spiritual experience. Although most of us limped to Kru Yai Gianluca and Kru Arash to receive our certificates, it was all worth it. The pains, we'll forget, I'm sure.

One thing I definitely won't forget is Kru Yai Gianluca's voice bouncing off the walls: "One Muay Thai! One style! One world!"

NAKA Fight Night December 7, 2024

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:00:00 GMT

We had all been looking forward to the NAKA Fight Night. NAKA fight series is particularly important to Coach Hamed and he had told the Kingdom that he expects full participation. I think it's because there is very good souvlaki just down the street from the location, and Coach Hamed really likes his Greek fries. Oscar Renderes and Andy Laicha were fighting for the Kingdom at NAKA Fight Night III.

Oscar's fight was #6 on the card, against Dylan Keimel from Legacy Muay Thai, and it was going to be Oscar's third fight. Oscar meditated (I'm sure he was napping) to Spanish affirmations for a good couple of hours before his fight. When I chatted with him, he was very calm and said he was going to win the fight by focusing on the basics. Kru Arash said Oscar was much faster than his opponent and had better cardio. Oscar's fight with Dylan was clean. Oscar won by unanimous decision with his very basic, yet fast, teeps and high kicks.

Since Andy's fight was #18, I had a chance to meet and talk with a few fighters before their fights. I met Euraysia Duhaime from Phady Muay Thai. When I first saw Euraysia, I thought she was definitely an A-class fighter, but when I talked with her, I found out she had a strong karate and kickboxing background and had had only one prior Muay Thai fight. Euraysia's first fight was with Shaunna Johnston, and Euraysia won by TKO in the first 37 seconds, during which Kru Dylan was using the facilities. Euraysia broke Shaunna's nose in that fight, and somehow, the two warrior women bonded over that and became very good friends. Euraysia's second fight was with Amanda Ding from NAKA Muay Thai. Kru Dylan had told Euraysia he was limiting his fluid intake and wasn't going to miss her fight this time. I spoke with Amanda before the fight. She said she was very nervous, as she was aware of Euraysia's strong background, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from fighting Euraysia. Euraysia won the fight by referee stoppage. Amanda had nothing broken, so I don't think Euraysia and Amanda became friends.

Andy's fight was coming up. Andy is one of the Kingdom's most disciplined fighters. He has a very chill yet serious personality. At times, I've caught him with "tiger eyes". When Andy gifted the Kingdom with the cutest Mufasa, incapable of a decent roar, I thought "What? Andy's sweet?" For now, let's say the young warrior remains a mystery. Andy's fight was with Matthew Tsui from NAKA Muay Thai. For this fight to happen, Andy had to give Matthew 16 pounds of his fat! Poor Matthew, it all went to his belly. Andy on the other hand, had never looked better. I asked Andy if he had met his opponent, and he said, "Matthew looks weak, and I've been watching NAKA fighters. They do a lot of 1-2, 1-2-kicks, so I'm going to use fakes to throw him off".

Matthew was anything but weak. I think we were all surprised by how fast and strong Matthew was! The first round was tough. Andy was swept and thrown off balance a couple of times, and many of Matthew's punches landed. Andy lost the first round. After the first round, Kru Arash did what he does best and brought Andy back to his A game. As if he reminded Andy that he can use his arms to defend and through punches. The second round was a close tie, but in the third round, Andy made some serious impact with his strong hooks and killer kicks. It seemed Andy was getting stronger with each round! Vince said Matthew got lucky there wasn't a fourth round. Andy won the fight by split decision, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who aged 10 years during Andy's fight. Kru Arash lost his voice and had to wave everyone goodbye.

The event had several other highlights. Eric Phan Tran from Farang's Martial Art, who had come to kill, settled with a stoppage by Judge Paul. I met my Persian little sister from another mother, Roya Zadeh from Evolucao Thai MMA. Coach Hamed lost his pants just before Oscar's fight, and last but never the least, Kru Howie raised the wrong hand as the winner, just to see if anyone was paying attention.

PRIMO FIGHT Dynasty V- November 16, 2024

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMT

Unlike our other fight events, we all started the day very comfortably! Of course our Ako was going to win and Yusuf had been training very hard consistently so we all had a lot of confidence in him.

Unfortunately, Yusuf's opponent, Arsh Pathan from The One Muay Thai was stuck behind an accident on 401 for close to 7 hours. I think next time Arsh should just walk from wherever he is. We actually offered to pack it up and bring the fight to the Highway of Heros where Arsh was but he wouldn't share his location. So we let it go. No judgement! I asked Yusuf if he was disappointed. He said "nah… it wasn't meant to be!".

Ako lost his fight to Aghosa Igbinenikaro from Siam No. 1. Ako took a punch to his jaw half way through the first round and dropped. The ref stopped the fight. Before the fight I asked Ako what he knew about Aghosa. Ako said "I've heard he has heavy hands so I'm going to hold my guards tighter". I went to meet Aghosa. What a nice guy! I asked him how he felt about fighting Ako and he said "I'm worried. Nervous! I've heard he is very strong. I've been working hard on my biceps ever since we were matched. I've also seen some of his fights and training videos on IG. I'm going to try my best tonight. Please tell Ako I'm honored to be fighting with him". Ako had had 5 prior fights with 4 wins and Aghosa had had 2 prior fights with 1 win. I should note that Ako has been suffering from a shoulder injury for some time now and Kru Arash had actually advised Ako to cancel this fight. But Ako is not the one to back out of fight and the fight game is no place for a weak heart so Ako did some physiotherapy and went on with the fight. I also think Ako underestimated his opponent! After the fight, Ako said Aghosa was stronger than Firas. If you don't know who Firas is and want to know more about Ako, you should read two of our previous blogs There Will be Blood and Vince's Fight . Ako said Aghosa also had great technique. "It wasn't a heavy punch! It just hit me exactly where it should in the jaw to make me drop". I think we were all in agreement that Aghosa is a great fighter and I think he makes up for his lack of fight experience with fight intelligence! I look forward to watching more of Aghosa's fights in the future.

The night had another unpleasant surprise which was Martin Rejman from Etobicoke Martial Arts losing to Ahad Abdi from Old School Muay Thai. Martin walked to the ring to Smooth Operator by Sade but the fight was anything but smooth due to a few accidental groin hits. I was looking forward to Martin's fight as I had talked with Martin a few times and he had shared some trade secrets so I couldn't wait to watch him in action…Next fight, Martin!

The best part of the event was watching Bolton boys fight. All under 16! I'm sure the belly pads had never felt so out of place or protected against such advanced techniques. Daniel Sabino's fight from Bolton House of Muay Thai was the best fight of the event! When Daniel threw his third spinning back fist I looked over at his young Kru for signs of heart attack. And right before the last bell Daniel threw a jumping roundhouse kick just for the fun of it.

Despite our Ako losing his fight we all, including Ako and Yusuf, ended the night in high spirit. Mikey Ward said "when you win, you win with everyone but when you lose, you lose alone". I think Mikey couldn't be more wrong because at Kingdom Muay Thai we all feel and share the losses too and we hold on a little tighter. The Kingdom had two losses in November. Stay tuned as we have wins coming up in December! Andy, Oscar, no pressure!

Lexi's First Fight

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMT

Alexandra Lee (Lexi) is 19 years old and weighs 105 lbs. Lexi is the reason I'm too scared to fight in my weight class. Well, Lexi and Kru Dylan's daughter, Kennedy. The list is actually growing.

On November 9, 2024 at Supremacy 3, Lexi had her first ever fight and she lost the fight halfway through the second round to Sabrina Campbell from Legacy MT. Lexi listened to her coaches and followed all of their pre fight advices. All with the exception of one. Coach Hamed told Lexi to keep a reserve of chives in her teeth so her breath could help her get out of clinches. Lexi didn't take assistance from chives but she kept breathing per Kru Harold's advice and remembered the combos Kru Arash practiced with her during warmup. Lexi stood strong against Sabrina who was taller and seemed to have been training for much longer and gave the fight her best. She lost simply because Sabrina was better. After the fight Lexi told Kru Harold that Sabrina's speed took her by surprise. Lexi took the loss like a champion.

I on the other hand didn't take Lexi losing her first fight very well. Not that anyone's wondering but it hit me very hard actually! After the first blow Sabrina landed on Lexi's head, I wanted to step into the ring and yell at Sabrina: IS THIS HOW YOUR MOTHER RAISED YOU??! After Lexi took the third and the forth punch I really had to stop myself from stepping in and throwing a few punches to Lexi's defense but then I remembered I was actually in their weight class and that could make the fight too complicated to judge. So I didn't. I stayed put till Andy gave me a hug to console me.

We are all very proud of how Lexi handled her first fight and her first loss. It would have been very easy for her to say she wasn't ready to do the fight as it was matched only a few days before the event but she decided to take it. I recall what Sushy (16 years old) said once after losing a fight. He said "don't let the fear of losing stop you from getting in the ring". How are these kids so inspiring at this young age?!

Kru Harold asked Lexi if she will fight again and Lexi said "yes". Kru Arash then told Lexi "you'll win your next fight!".

Spooky season at Kingdom

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:00:00 GMT

October 2024 at Kingdom

October 2024 was a busy month in our Kingdom! More equipment found its way into the gym. A mountain of pads was purchased so that I wouldn't have to race Amira for the red ones. Although the cool and fancy mats are making us wait, the more modest mats kept showing up from all over, keeping our training sessions versatile and intimate. All in all, in October, we tried to find our rhythm, making a home at the new location. We even made friends with our neighbor and enjoyed the love-made dolma Kaan brought to rigorous training.

On October 26th, we had our grand opening costume party, and to my biggest surprise, no one showed up as a Muay Thai fighter. It was an epic night with a smoke machine and mystical lights, put together by a joint effort. Elegant Officer threatened handcuffs and decorated the heck out of the gym. The Kingdom pillar took the night off and became the Kingdom Half-Naked Bunny with a mutated foxtail. Beloved Eisenhower cooked meth and made tunes, losing the battle with Persians and their dance moves though he smiled through it.

Southern Boys, with their heart-melting accents, took a break from working the farm and came to show off their muscle tones. Overacting Baphomet sacrificed every single soul at the party—and a few, more than once. There was a kebab-bearing Scary Clown whom I'm actually hoping I can order on UberEats. Handsome Elvis, with evolved and subtle hip movements, was too shy to sing. A determined Pirate eyed food and snacks, dreading the 10 lbs he has to lose in six weeks. The iron rings coincidentally matched costumes as Viking and Wifey.

All together, it was an amazing night that ended with Zeta-Jones showing up late to sweep Zorro and the rest of us off to a shisha lounge. I almost forgot!! I really dislike gossip, but I'm pretty sure I saw Gru touch one of the Minions inappropriately.

Written by Tahmineh

@Muaythai.Chronicles

VINCE'S FIGHT - Ajarn Khan's Fight Series

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:00 GMT

October 5th, Ajarn Khan's Fight Series 4.

The first bell was at 5 p.m., and Vince's fight was #13, so Vince had some time to really let the fight-day jitters work their way into his head. Kru Arash's fight however started at 10 am when he had to get Vince's outdated bloodwork accepted so Vince could actually have a fight and then stop Vince's fight-day jitters from working their way in, all day.

I joined Vince for a walk outside as he didn't want to be near the fights. I asked how he was feeling and why he preferred to be away from the action. He said "I've been training hard for a few weeks, but the challenge really starts and ends in 11 minutes. I've been preparing physically, but today is all mental, trying to stay present during the fight. It's hard to think when you're in the ring and nearly impossible to think fast". I asked what he was worried about. He said "I got a concussion once during training. It was at a different gym. My sparring partner and I had one leg inside a tire, locked in to spar in close range. I took a hook to my chin. I can take hits to my body, but my face, it's different. And my opponent, Alex Ayala, he is 10 years younger, you know. I'm 44". I started feeling very worried. Kru Arash had mentioned Vince is overthinking the fight. I reminded him that Alex had no prior fights. "I have had one fight, and I lost. I was dealing with a crisis…My house was on fire a week before the fight. My mind wasn't in the ring, so I lost. And that was over a year ago! I don't think I have anything over Alex. When you're in the ring, you forget your technique too". In an attempt to cheer him up, I asked him if he had picked a song, and he said "There is no point! My ears stop hearing when I'm up and when I get in the ring". I started to think this doesn't sound good, and I should go get Kru Arash, but then Vince continued "I want my next fight to be soon. In a few months. And the fights after that, too! I don't want the fights to be a year apart". When Vince started planning his next fights, I realized he was okay and fighting was still in his system. He was ready. As Kru Arash said, Vince was just overthinking it.

We came back inside. Ako had arrived, too. He wasn't very happy that he didn't have a fight. He kept wanting to jump in the ring and knock people out, and kept yelling and asking for bloodshed. I thought the next fight event, we should get Babak to come to keep Ako in line. This is the greatest idea! Ako was anxious to watch Firas Darwish's fight. Firas was whom Ako allegedly lost to a while back because the fight was called off by the referee prematurely. To this day, Ako thinks the fight was unjust, and the referee took his chance to fight away. Ako is in a different weight class now, so he can never get his rematch. We watched Firas's fight with Jeffery Cooke, a few fights before Vince's. Firas was strong. I would say it was a fight of elbows. Firas didn't skip a beat all the way to the end of the third round with the same level of energy he had started with, and he won the fight. I felt Ako got some closure watching Firas's fight.

Finally, it was Vince's time. He started strong but took a few hard knees. It was the first round, and Vince seemed as if he was already gassing out. The referee had to stop the fight a few times. Vince was losing the first round. His body language and posture were of someone who had given up. I looked over at Kru Arash. He had a smile on and was calm. Kru Arash was still fighting for Vince. I don't know what he said to Vince or what he promised him after the first round, but it brought Vince back. If anyone can tell me, there is a $100 reward! The second round was close to a tie in my opinion, and I couldn't tell who won, but Vince was definitely back in the fight. And came the third round…Vince was strong and in control. He swept Alex with a kick while Alex was balanced on both feet!! It was as if Vince had risen from the dead. Alex might have had some physical fitness over Vince for being much younger, but Vince was definitely fitter mentally, and that won him the fight!

✏️ Tahmineh

THERE WILL BE BLOOD - AKO'S FIGHT

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:00 GMT

It was a very long day at Canadian Muay Thai League 5. Nima and I arrived there at 3 pm. Kru Arash, Coach Hamed and Ako had been there since the weigh ins in the morning. Andy, Jonah and their crew had been there since 2 pm.

Ako's fight was number 17 on the chart which meant pretty much at the end of the day. I thought Ako must be anxious, nervous and restless. I asked Ako how he felt. He said "I'm here to fight and I'm here to win. That's what I do going into every fight so that's what I'll do today. I'm going to win". I asked if he had met his opponent. "I shook his hand. His hand was cold. He is scared". He then pointed to his opponent, Ritik Karnwal, standing in the red area across the net. I found Ritik with my eyes.

I felt anxious, nervous and restless.

4:00 pm: Ehsan had arrived too. Ako had started to strategize. "I'm going to finish him in 30 seconds. He won't see it coming. Make sure you're recording every second from the beginning because if you don't, you'll miss the ending. You'll miss how he falls.

5:00 pm: Noah arrived too. Coach Hamed was going around throwing knees and keeping everyone on their toes. We were all watching the fights, some exciting and some not. Ako was still strategizing. "I'm going to throw him over the ropes face down on the judges' table, that's what I'm going to do. Make sure you're recording every second or you will miss it". You could tell he was getting tired of the wait and looking for some excitement. Kru Arash was keeping him engaged, reminding him how to get out of a clinch and rubbing his shoulders.

6:00 pm: Ako is still strategizing. "I'm going to finish it in 30 seconds. Throw him over the ring so high, he hits the wall. No! I'm going to sever his head and throw his head through the basketball hoop. We all looked up at the basketball hoop almost hanging over our heads. Kru Arash took Ako to put him down for a nap. As he was leaving, Ako said "there will be blood".

7:00 pm Kru Arash and Ako returned. Ako was cold and oily. Ehsan had started discussing his diet and why he had lost 1 lb over the past month training very hard every night. Ako mentioned it might be because he eats enough for 20 people. Ako's fight was coming up soon so Kru Arash took him to get wrapped up and warm up. We all followed them. Ako was in the zone.

8:00 pm: Ako was kneeling at the start of Tomaj Salehi's song BATTLEFIELD, Kru Arash and Coach Hamèd on either side of him and the scene was epic. As Tomaj started singing Ako rose and started walking towards the ring and we all followed him.

8:15 pm: the bell rang. It felt as if Ako was safe in our home ring when I saw Kru Raj was refereeing the fight. Ako started throwing his heavy punches. The ones which hurt even through the pads. There were a couple of reverse kicks which landed giving Ritik a few shakes. But the punches were slowing Ritik down. Kru Raj stopped the fight a few times counting for Ritik. There was a jab that landed on his nose and the fight was stopped to cleanup the blood. Ritik pushed through the three rounds knowing he had lost. Solid fighter.

8:30 pm: Ako came down the ring hugging his gold cup. He lifted Kru Arash first and then gave each of us a hug. He turned to me and said "I told you there will be blood".

Written by Tahmineh ✍️

First Training Session - Kingdom Muay Thai New Home

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:00:00 GMT

It's been several weeks of team work getting our new permanent location ready at 475 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill. The banner showing the Kingdom Lion was the first to hang from the ceiling. The floors and windows were scraped and cleaned and the walls were painted black. Everyone has been assisting with the transformation and not just because PC Kru Hamed has been threatening with knees and elbows. Even the ghosts we inherited from previous tenants have been spotted sweeping. Ehsan has incorporated mopping the floors into his daily workout plan. PC Kru Nima has been blessing every window with his breath works and sleeves. Armin's OCD has been in full force with him spot priming the walls restlessly. PC Kru Hamed has been running around on one good shoulder doing everything else. Kru Arash has been running the show looking calm and content and with roars louder than ever.

On October 1st, 2024 we had our first official training session at the new location. The session started with lighting an incense and Kru Arash leading the warmup and training himself. Kru Yai Harold and the rest of us were there to commemorate the first training session. I met one of our new members, Babak. He didn't say hello and refused to shake my hand. I hear he's a quiet man. For some reason my heart skipped a beat when i laid eyes on him.

Kru Arash indulged the roots of Muay Thai instructing us to do jab-cross on the beat and then called for a moment of silence for all of us to listen to the rain. I had never seen everyone so zen and in harmony, as if we were breathing the same energy. It is official! The center of the universe has shifted to where we practice Muay Thai and we have a home.

Tough Mudder 2024

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 09:00:00 GMT

September 14, 2024: We started the day very strong with a lot of determination. Ako sprinted through the 15K and left all of us behind. He might have been under the impression that the 15k was a warmup for muay thai fights at the finish line. Danny was strong pushing way too hard! To the point that he called on people's aunties in vain a few times, he got rope burn on his calves and electrical burn on his ��. He was so overwhelmed that when he found himself alone in the pipe-crawl, he thought he could let it all out and he did!! They had to close that pipe down for the rest of the day! Shannon and Chantel finished strong actually completing every single challenge leading the front line. Amir and Shannon overcame their fear of height (AMAZING)!!! Kru Arash was kruing the heck out of the Kingdom Warriors pushing everyone to the finish line and at some point all of the other 300 contestants. To the point that he had to be reminded by Danny that he didn't work there at Tough Mudder! To his defense it was a very hot day. Burak and his beautiful soul smelled the beautiful flowers all the way through the 15K. He actually found a red carnation on the trail and carried it in his hair through all the mud-crawls with so much dedication. He then passed the red carnation to Sara who had a sprained ankle to lift her spirit and get her to push through and she did!!! Big Nick was the wind beneath my wings whenever I couldn't reach, so pretty much for every single challenge. Sushy attempted every single challenge with so much pride we were all in awe. We were so impressed that he actually finished every water challenge twice but we found out he did it because he had to pee so then we weren't impressed. ATLAS DJed 4 hours of tunes during the car ride, won the Persian Rambo title at the challenge and the King of Music title in my heart. Josie ran a steady course overall with the exception of a few hiccups when she questioned her life choices: why she doesn't live in Richmond Hill and isn't a member at Kingdom. Vince pretty much showed off his recent training in Thailand for the entire 15K and explained to me how he ran uphill both ways to and from the gym while he was in Thailand, which I'm still trying to understand (seriously, how?). Andy and his girl were the power couple setting an example! And last but not least Kaan pushed through holding a shisha and at the end of the day invited all the starving warriors to the kebab restaurant that had ran out of kebabs.