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

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!