Full Transcript for 7. Strength, Strategy, and Self-Motivation with Glen Lee

have a preference for which one they actually enjoy more. 00:02:05.499 --> 00:02:05.900 Do you? 00:02:06.450 --> 00:02:09.460 It's hard for me to say, but numerous people have asked me this question. 00:02:09.480 --> 00:02:11.510 Sometimes I gravitate towards striking. 00:02:12.265 --> 00:02:17.015 And other times, if I watch more Jiu Jitsu will gravitate more towards Jiu Jitsu. 00:02:17.015 --> 00:02:19.765 So, I don't really have a particular preference. 00:02:21.894 --> 00:02:27.314 And what's interesting to me is MMA is a completely separate sport than just 00:02:27.364 --> 00:02:29.565 either pure grappling or pure striking. 00:02:29.994 --> 00:02:33.844 How do you balance your training schedule and continue to get better 00:02:33.845 --> 00:02:34.804 at all of the different sports? 00:02:36.345 --> 00:02:39.065 I try to make sure the training is balanced. 00:02:39.095 --> 00:02:42.375 For example, if I'm preparing for a fight, right, I will make sure that 00:02:42.375 --> 00:02:46.055 I have like equal striking as well as grappling sessions throughout the week. 00:02:46.074 --> 00:02:50.025 So if I have three striking sessions, I make sure I have three grappling sessions. 00:02:51.325 --> 00:02:55.315 You can't just rely on one session being pure striking and one session being 00:02:55.315 --> 00:02:57.105 pure grappling because it's a blend. 00:02:57.755 --> 00:03:00.934 It's always the striking focus, but also bear in mind that the 00:03:00.934 --> 00:03:02.169 guy can sit you down, you know. 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:05.590 And there is a grappling focus session, but you also bear in mind 00:03:05.610 --> 00:03:07.180 that a guy can still punch and strike. 00:03:07.190 --> 00:03:10.150 And then you have to fit in strength and conditioning with that as well. 00:03:11.429 --> 00:03:11.839 Yeah. 00:03:12.029 --> 00:03:12.240 Yeah. 00:03:12.250 --> 00:03:16.509 So on top of that, in the training camp, uh, I also fit in at least two 00:03:16.509 --> 00:03:21.169 to three sessions of, uh, strength, conditioning or S& C within a week. 00:03:22.600 --> 00:03:23.859 And what does that look like for you? 00:03:23.870 --> 00:03:24.750 What kind of things do you do? 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:28.200 So for I can see, I keep it pretty basic, uh, during fight camp. 00:03:28.200 --> 00:03:33.619 So it's a lot of like compound movements to things like squat, deadlift, bench. 00:03:34.450 --> 00:03:37.700 and roll variations or pull ups or like the bend over rolls 00:03:37.700 --> 00:03:40.970 as well as some accessory work or focusing on like drawing. 00:03:40.970 --> 00:03:41.000 With 00:03:41.220 --> 00:03:45.599 all that training, how do you know if you're, uh, getting over 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:49.429 trained or if you just are feeling lazy or not in the right mindset? 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:52.389 Yeah, so I think that's a tricky question because there 00:03:52.390 --> 00:03:53.589 are two ends of the spectrum. 00:03:53.589 --> 00:03:57.670 Some people on one end, they, they, they don't push themselves hard enough and 00:03:57.670 --> 00:03:59.180 always give themselves hell excuses. 00:03:59.910 --> 00:04:02.110 And then you have the other end of the spectrum whereby people 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:05.049 like push themselves too hard and they do not know when to stop. 00:04:06.484 --> 00:04:09.605 But I think for athletes, even for myself, you tend to want to 00:04:09.964 --> 00:04:11.584 gravitate towards doing more. 00:04:12.465 --> 00:04:15.855 Because it makes you feel psychologically secure, and you know you have done 00:04:15.855 --> 00:04:18.114 the work, and you know that you have put in the effort, and it makes you 00:04:18.114 --> 00:04:21.825 feel, like, confident in going into a fight, preparing the best you can. 00:04:22.734 --> 00:04:26.894 So I guess for me, the challenge is to try to know when to hold 00:04:26.894 --> 00:04:29.965 back, and when to hold back on the training if I'm overtraining. 00:04:30.465 --> 00:04:34.625 For me, I look at cues based on how I feel when I wake up in the morning. 00:04:34.655 --> 00:04:35.965 Are my muscles aching? 00:04:35.965 --> 00:04:36.029 Mm hmm. 00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:39.809 My muscles like sore or do I have motivation to go to training? 00:04:39.909 --> 00:04:42.539 And also I just monitor my own heart rate as well in the morning. 00:04:43.650 --> 00:04:48.059 These factors help me decide if I should, you know, take a rest or do 00:04:48.059 --> 00:04:49.669 a lighter session instead of pushing. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:53.929 Have you ever gone to that when you were getting ready for a fight and over 00:04:53.929 --> 00:04:55.639 trained and your performance suffered? 00:04:56.049 --> 00:04:58.042 I take training for this fight. 00:04:58.042 --> 00:05:00.019 I ran with this guy called ZG. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:04.699 We fought in the promotion called the Live City Championship 00:05:04.710 --> 00:05:07.049 in, back in November 2021. 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:07.610 Yeah. 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:11.700 I think that fight I was a little over trained for one or two of the 00:05:11.710 --> 00:05:13.309 sessions leading up to the fight. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:19.809 My skill level for that particular grappling session was not very up to par. 00:05:19.830 --> 00:05:24.320 Even my training partners could tell me that, Oh, this was not you today. 00:05:24.320 --> 00:05:25.930 You felt very off. 00:05:26.499 --> 00:05:29.214 Like just the scrambling positions were not there. 00:05:29.674 --> 00:05:34.375 I'm just not able to win any particular exchanges on the ground at all. 00:05:34.595 --> 00:05:38.344 And that's just, uh, being very slow and slow to react. 00:05:38.354 --> 00:05:40.844 So that's how I knew at that point of time I was a bit over trained. 00:05:40.914 --> 00:05:44.395 Just the performance, the training was not what I expected. 00:05:44.654 --> 00:05:47.204 It was not what my training partners knew I was capable of. 00:05:47.235 -->

00:05:48.715 But you ended up winning that fight, right? 00:05:49.434 --> 00:05:51.564 I ended up winning by a unanimous decision. 00:05:51.574 --> 00:05:56.395 Going back to When you got started as a teenager training, how 00:05:56.395 --> 00:05:58.705 long after you started training was your first competition? 00:05:59.955 --> 00:06:01.995 Oh, just give you a brief timeline. 00:06:01.995 --> 00:06:07.435 I started at 14, uh, , 5G, and then I stopped for all levels. 00:06:07.435 --> 00:06:08.695 So about 60 I stopped. 00:06:08.755 --> 00:06:11.685 And then after levels, I started again about 17. 00:06:12.735 --> 00:06:16.775 So I continued training for two years, and I had my first 00:06:16.775 --> 00:06:18.455 amateur military fight at ETU. 00:06:19.195 --> 00:06:22.275 So about two years, two years of continuous training before I 00:06:22.275 --> 00:06:24.375 started having my first motor fight. 00:06:24.885 --> 00:06:26.625 What was that feeling like when you. 00:06:27.115 --> 00:06:28.415 Got ready for your first fight. 00:06:29.495 --> 00:06:29.855 Oh, 00:06:29.855 --> 00:06:30.214 it 00:06:30.395 --> 00:06:31.085 was nerve 00:06:31.115 --> 00:06:31.435 wracking. 00:06:31.445 --> 00:06:32.085 It was terrible. 00:06:32.825 --> 00:06:33.215 Yeah. 00:06:33.625 --> 00:06:35.815 I remember I just couldn't sleep the whole night. 00:06:36.595 --> 00:06:39.315 After the win, I ran to the event at SMU. 00:06:39.755 --> 00:06:42.274 The Amateur Maritime Association of Singapore used to hold 00:06:42.295 --> 00:06:44.435 regular quarterly events at SMU. 00:06:44.484 --> 00:06:48.625 One of the events was at SMU, this place called The Big Steps. 00:06:49.125 --> 00:06:51.815 I was there and then I just went back home. 00:06:51.825 --> 00:06:55.095 I was feeling very heavy in my legs and my head. 00:06:55.185 --> 00:06:58.265 I'm not sure if it's ideological or I was having like a real headache or what. 00:06:58.325 --> 00:06:58.585 Yeah. 00:06:59.295 --> 00:07:04.005 So as I lie in bed and then I try to sleep at 10, by the, by the time I reach 00:07:04.005 --> 00:07:06.625 one o'clock and I was still tossing and turning on you, I wouldn't, I 00:07:06.625 --> 00:07:10.745 wouldn't be able to get any sleep before the fight the next day on Saturday. 00:07:10.935 --> 00:07:15.234 So I pretty much went there sleep deprived, not having slept in no minute. 00:07:16.675 --> 00:07:17.884 And how did it turn out? 00:07:18.454 --> 00:07:20.025 Thankfully I still won though, yeah. 00:07:20.565 --> 00:07:22.085 I won that one by a TKO. 00:07:23.484 --> 00:07:27.414 Has that process of getting ready for competitions gotten easier over the years? 00:07:27.895 --> 00:07:31.614 I think with experience and age and the number of fights I've had, every 00:07:31.614 --> 00:07:32.835 fight is like a learning experience. 00:07:32.835 --> 00:07:36.554 I get more and more comfortable with the weigh ins, with the face 00:07:36.575 --> 00:07:38.524 off, and then with the fight itself. 00:07:38.744 --> 00:07:40.504 Yeah, definitely get easier. 00:07:42.524 --> 00:07:48.585 So one thing I've noticed in my BJJ competitions, and I tell White Belts when 00:07:48.594 --> 00:07:52.515 we talk about the first time competing for them, I think you probably heard 00:07:52.515 --> 00:07:55.775 it a lot more than I have as well, that white belts will often be like, Oh, 00:07:55.775 --> 00:08:00.365 I want to wait until I'm good enough before I do my first competition. 00:08:00.735 --> 00:08:05.854 And I always tell them competing is a whole nother skill than Jiu Jitsu. 00:08:06.035 --> 00:08:07.364 It's a skill into itself. 00:08:07.485 --> 00:08:11.875 You can do good during training and in the gym, but then you might be 00:08:11.875 --> 00:08:15.515 a completely different Jiu Jitsu player during the competition. 00:08:15.515 --> 00:08:16.775 Do you think that's accurate? 00:08:18.185 --> 00:08:19.384 Yeah, I think so too. 00:08:19.405 --> 00:08:20.885 I faced that as well. 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:25.460 In terms of Jiu Jitsu competition, trying to replicate my training performance in 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:30.229 the training room to the, to what, to the competition day in itself for Jiu Jitsu. 00:08:30.230 --> 00:08:32.859 I think that's something I'm still trying to grapple with. 00:08:33.629 --> 00:08:34.929 It's definitely a different skill set. 00:08:34.959 --> 00:08:37.440 You can be the best in the training room, but that doesn't mean you'll 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.289 be best on the day of the fight. 00:08:39.380 --> 00:08:41.080 It's who performs the best on the fight. 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.940 It's not the guy's track record, the name, or the guy's skill level. 00:08:44.690 --> 00:08:48.105 Yeah, so I think definitely, There are people who are like, very good 00:08:48.105 --> 00:08:51.324 in the training room, but they don't replicate themselves in competition. 00:08:51.974 --> 00:08:54.835 But then, there's also those that are very good in competition, but 00:08:54.875 --> 00:08:56.835 they don't, they are not always the best in the training room. 00:08:56.875 --> 00:09:00.005 So they, they are just able to, to make it count and perform 00:09:00.005 --> 00:09:01.197 when it, when it matters. 00:09:01.197 --> 00:09:03.844 I think that's a skill in itself, definitely. 00:09:03.844 --> 00:09:04.506 How do 00:09:04.506 --> 00:09:06.492 you work on getting that better? 00:09:06.492 --> 00:09:10.535 Is it visualizations, therapy, or just repetitions and getting 00:09:10.535 --> 00:09:11.567 more competitions under your belt? 00:09:11.567 --> 00:09:12.206 I think it's 00:09:12.206 --> 00:09:14.335 a mix of visualization and also getting more competition experience. 00:09:14.335 --> 00:09:17.104 I think it's a mix of visualization and also getting more competition experience. 00:09:17.905 --> 00:09:21.645 So you compete more as like a muscle, you get used to the whole prep routine, the 00:09:21.645 --> 00:09:27.266 weigh

ins, like um, the preparation, the waking up, the going to the venue, hitting 00:09:27.266 --> 00:09:30.305 the referee's head, I think all this plays a part in getting you comfortable also. 00:09:31.074 --> 00:09:37.185 Learning how to find your, the optimal level of, of uh, mental state before you 00:09:37.185 --> 00:09:40.894 can perform, because some people need to be using sports psychology build ups. 00:09:41.255 --> 00:09:44.955 Some people need to be a bit more aroused, like highly aroused, 00:09:44.955 --> 00:09:46.535 before they can perform well. 00:09:46.935 --> 00:09:50.675 But whereas others, if they get super aroused, amped up, emotional, 00:09:51.005 --> 00:09:52.635 their performance tends to suffer. 00:09:52.674 --> 00:09:56.075 They need to have a more moderate or lower arousal state so they 00:09:56.075 --> 00:09:57.184 are able to perform better. 00:09:57.185 --> 00:10:00.725 So when they are calm, when they are composed, then they can perform better. 00:10:01.175 --> 00:10:04.445 So I think it's about finding that balance and where you are on that scale to 00:10:04.445 --> 00:10:07.315 achieve your best performance on the mats. 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:09.600 Yeah, and it's tough. 00:10:09.650 --> 00:10:12.800 There's only so many competitions, there's times you can fight in a year. 00:10:12.800 --> 00:10:16.430 So you just don't have the reps that you do for the actual technical 00:10:16.430 --> 00:10:18.989 skills in striking MMA or Jiu Jitsu. 00:10:19.970 --> 00:10:22.069 Because you're training, you can fix it the next session, 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.239 the next day, the next week. 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.531 I said, okay, I, I didn't perform well today, but why? 00:10:26.531 --> 00:10:29.524 He said my mental state, I was thinking about something 00:10:29.524 --> 00:10:30.721 else affecting my training. 00:10:30.721 --> 00:10:34.911 Like I need to be more present, I need to have an hour's break 00:10:34.911 --> 00:10:36.569 for the training session. 00:10:37.324 --> 00:10:40.545 The next week, but, you know, we are in competition if you, let's 00:10:40.545 --> 00:10:41.814 say, you mess it up in this comp. 00:10:42.595 --> 00:10:47.165 You might need to wait another two, three, or even longer months to rectify it. 00:10:47.255 --> 00:10:52.375 So I've read some fighters say that they pump up their ego before the fight to 00:10:52.415 --> 00:10:53.765 tell themselves, I'm better than this guy. 00:10:53.765 --> 00:10:54.615 I'm going to kill him. 00:10:54.675 --> 00:10:55.755 There's no way he can hurt me. 00:10:55.755 --> 00:10:56.324 All this kind of thing. 00:10:56.325 --> 00:11:00.694 Do you think that's common for fighters or is it a mix that depends on your 00:11:00.694 --> 00:11:02.225 personality and your psychology? 00:11:03.334 --> 00:11:06.925 Yeah, I think it really is a mix depending on the person's 00:11:06.975 --> 00:11:09.155 mental state before competition. 00:11:09.485 --> 00:11:11.255 Some people need to tell themselves, I'm the best. 00:11:11.315 --> 00:11:12.225 I'm better than this guy. 00:11:12.685 --> 00:11:13.825 I'll be in everywhere. 00:11:13.835 --> 00:11:17.365 Others choose to focus on themselves and what they can control. 00:11:17.365 --> 00:11:18.855 They don't care about their opponents. 00:11:18.855 --> 00:11:22.604 They just focus on their own skill level and their own preparation. 00:11:22.624 --> 00:11:24.374 They can't just keep reminding themselves. 00:11:24.830 --> 00:11:27.949 Reminding themselves of what they have done and how they have performed and 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.080 adequately prepared for the competition. 00:11:31.890 --> 00:11:34.410 For me, I know I'll never be a good competitor because I always 00:11:34.410 --> 00:11:37.319 want to go and shake the guy's hand and give him some reason. 00:11:37.429 --> 00:11:38.840 He should not beat me up before I 00:11:40.650 --> 00:11:41.230 make a personal 00:11:41.230 --> 00:11:41.780 connection. 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:43.239 It won't go so hard. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.699 Some of my opponents have done that. 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:47.630 I do take note of some of them during the weigh ins. 00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:48.960 Try to be all friendly and all that. 00:11:48.990 --> 00:11:52.639 One big difference, I think, between Muay Thai and Taekwondo is that 00:11:52.640 --> 00:11:56.560 MMA and Jiu Jitsu competitions are often in Jiu Jitsu competitions. 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:59.690 You don't know who you're going to be matched up with until 00:11:59.690 --> 00:12:01.010 you get there on the morning. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.469 How, how is that for you? 00:12:02.570 --> 00:12:05.930 For MMA, you know, for a long time, who it is that you're going to fight. 00:12:07.339 --> 00:12:07.879 Yeah. 00:12:07.900 --> 00:12:10.860 Coming out with the whole bracket system, you might not have a lead 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.120 time of two months to prepare for this, for this particular opponent. 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:19.150 Like, um, I think to do with the bracketing system was WolfCon platform. 00:12:19.655 --> 00:12:22.334 You're able to know at least one, two days in advance. 00:12:22.475 --> 00:12:24.475 It's still not, it's still not a long time, but at least know 00:12:24.515 --> 00:12:25.925 beforehand who is your first. 00:12:26.975 --> 00:12:31.485 But it definitely makes a difference trying to prepare, uh, for one opponent 00:12:31.515 --> 00:12:36.385 in MMA for, with eight weeks of preparation, versus just, preparing 00:12:36.385 --> 00:12:41.245 in general and you only know it the opponent's team on the day off or the 00:12:41.245 --> 00:12:43.354 day before for a Jiu Jitsu competition. 00:12:44.735 --> 00:12:48.875 Do you go through and try to game plan in the last day or two after you know that? 00:12:50.034 --> 00:12:54.314 I think for me, I focus more on myself and what my A game 00:12:54.314 --> 00:12:55.294 is and what I'm going to do. 00:12:56.134

--> 00:12:58.255 Yeah, I think that applies even for MMA. 00:12:58.295 --> 00:13:01.905 I do watch tape, I do analyze his strengths and his weaknesses, but as 00:13:02.295 --> 00:13:06.765 the fight gets closer, I try to focus more on myself and my own strengths. 00:13:07.424 --> 00:13:08.724 I think Jitsu. 00:13:10.010 --> 00:13:11.570 What was the toughest loss? 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:15.630 Back in 2015, I fought the Iranian guy in MMA. 00:13:15.650 --> 00:13:17.650 So I lost that one by decision. 00:13:18.420 --> 00:13:21.589 I almost got finished multiple times in the second or third round. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.860 Because he was quite tough. 00:13:23.890 --> 00:13:29.429 Like, um, I remember this instance where I head kicked him with my 00:13:29.429 --> 00:13:30.949 shin flushed across his face. 00:13:30.970 --> 00:13:33.380 And then he just beckoned me on. 00:13:33.570 --> 00:13:33.910 I don't know. 00:13:33.910 --> 00:13:34.960 Okay, I'm in for a fight. 00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:35.350 Yeah. 00:13:36.209 --> 00:13:37.650 So this guy is an Iranian guy. 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:42.209 I think he went on to fight a professional in the Middle East. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:42.330 Yeah. 00:13:43.370 --> 00:13:47.000 So that part was tough because the thought of quitting did come to my mind. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:50.670 Because of all the body shots that I took with the knees and the punches. 00:13:51.569 --> 00:13:54.860 I just told myself that, no, I'm not going to give it to this guy. 00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:56.810 I made it to the end, yeah. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.240 But my body was really battered. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:05.799 And so were you able to psychologically feel that, Oh, he was just better than me? 00:14:05.900 --> 00:14:07.040 Or he had a better day? 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:10.469 Or did you still feel down about yourself? 00:14:10.810 --> 00:14:11.420 How you lost? 00:14:12.910 --> 00:14:14.340 Actually, after that I was. 00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:18.499 Basically I was quite damaged, but I think mentally I was proud that I stayed 00:14:18.509 --> 00:14:20.939 in there, that I didn't just quit. 00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:23.510 Even though the thought came into my head, I could have just covered 00:14:23.530 --> 00:14:24.680 up and the referee would call it. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.879 After five to six, I answered punches. 00:14:27.910 --> 00:14:31.040 I was glad I was able to overcome my self doubt and tell myself I 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:33.099 can still push him, I can still fight him, and never give up. 00:14:33.109 --> 00:14:36.780 That was really important for me and that fight brought me a lot of confidence. 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:41.440 Moving on from that fight into Future Fight gave me a lot of experience, you 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:46.219 know, with preparation, with training, and knowing that I can, I can push through 00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:47.570 when it matters at the hardest level. 00:14:47.610 --> 00:14:51.589 I remember my first match of Jiu Jitsu competition, I got stuck in a 00:14:51.589 --> 00:14:53.790 triangle in the first minute and a half. 00:14:54.330 --> 00:14:56.909 And I was stuck in a triangle for the rest of the four minutes. 00:14:57.260 --> 00:14:59.760 I never tapped, but I never escaped either. 00:14:59.790 --> 00:15:02.510 That's what my coach told me, he didn't give up, so that's 00:15:02.510 --> 00:15:03.260 something to be proud of. 00:15:04.430 --> 00:15:08.280 But for me, it's not easy, you feel bad because people were watching, your coach 00:15:08.300 --> 00:15:10.479 was watching, expecting you to do better. 00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:15.670 I think it's a big mentally tough thing to get over a loss. 00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:20.759 That being said, I still think it's, even though it's cliché, like they always say, 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.700 but the loss really makes you better. 00:15:23.099 --> 00:15:26.079 You take the lessons from it and learn what could have been better objectively. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:30.870 In terms of game day preparation, in terms of preparation leading up, you 00:15:30.870 --> 00:15:34.380 know, in terms of even the execution of the game plan or the day itself. 00:15:35.185 --> 00:15:38.705 You need to reflect on these three parts to make sure a loss 00:15:38.775 --> 00:15:40.055 makes you better for the next one. 00:15:40.065 --> 00:15:44.005 So one thing I wanted to ask you about is the difference between normal 00:15:44.005 --> 00:15:47.774 people who are exercising for their health and athletes and competitors. 00:15:47.805 --> 00:15:52.180 You work with a lot of Uh, people like myself who, who are just exercising 00:15:52.210 --> 00:15:53.830 as a hobby and as a way to stay fit. 00:15:54.330 --> 00:15:57.799 How do you adjust your training to people who are not a competitor 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.930 and athlete like yourself? 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:04.769 Yeah, so I think just trying to recognize the intent and the motivation 00:16:04.770 --> 00:16:07.009 behind, uh, each person's training. 00:16:07.869 --> 00:16:10.159 I have clients who are just general people, like trying to 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.600 keep fit and do something fun. 00:16:11.750 --> 00:16:14.870 So I need to make sure the way I'm pushing them is sustainable 00:16:14.870 --> 00:16:16.310 for their lifestyle and stress. 00:16:17.065 --> 00:16:18.725 Exercise is also a stressor. 00:16:18.725 --> 00:16:23.545 So I have to make sure their lives is handled before they can exercise properly. 00:16:23.545 --> 00:16:26.135 So I have to make sure that the stressor I put on them is not too 00:16:26.174 --> 00:16:27.555 much until they can't recover. 00:16:27.585 --> 00:16:30.955 So yeah, it's just to manage it there and just to keep it, keep the 00:16:30.955 --> 00:16:34.124 communication open and then modify the training program accordingly. 00:16:34.495 --> 00:16:38.704 So that they, they are a bit more stressed outside of work

with, with family. 00:16:39.290 --> 00:16:40.920 or with some other issues outside. 00:16:40.990 --> 00:16:44.640 I have to make sure that when they come to train with me, the program is modified 00:16:44.640 --> 00:16:46.890 and tailored downwards accordingly. 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:51.459 And at that stage also, if they have a particular goal that they have to reach, 00:16:52.150 --> 00:16:54.999 I will have to tell them that they have to make the trade off, you know. 00:16:54.999 --> 00:16:59.689 So sometimes, even though the work stress might be a little bit high, family stress 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:02.469 might be a bit high, but because you have a particular goal that you want 00:17:02.469 --> 00:17:06.040 to reach, for example, you want to hit a target body weight, or you want to 00:17:06.040 --> 00:17:11.240 perform for this, uh, particular comp, Then we have to up the NP and up the 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:15.290 intensity and the volume of the exercise program, despite the stresses outside. 00:17:15.810 --> 00:17:19.630 So stress, you mean both physical stress from other activities as 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:23.199 well as the mental side of things from their family and work? 00:17:24.390 --> 00:17:27.439 Yeah, I think all these stresses, not just physical stress from 00:17:27.439 --> 00:17:31.100 exercise, but also mental stress from your job or from your family. 00:17:31.130 --> 00:17:35.970 I think it all contributes to Towards your overall stress level, which will 00:17:35.970 --> 00:17:37.760 affect how you respond to training. 00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:42.050 So we always have to make sure that the stress level that we impose on the body 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.870 is that you're able to recover from it. 00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:48.349 If your stress is too high and your body is not able to recover, then we are just 00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:50.299 pouring water into a jar with holes. 00:17:50.370 --> 00:17:54.199 Currently, you are a strength and conditioning coach at the physio 00:17:54.199 --> 00:17:56.049 circle and at field assembly. 00:17:56.849 --> 00:18:00.820 How was that transition from being an athlete and training 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:02.879 yourself to becoming a coach? 00:18:04.034 --> 00:18:06.845 I think it's still a learning process, like, like, when you're an athlete, 00:18:06.855 --> 00:18:10.135 you have to be a bit more selfish, you know, focusing on your own training, 00:18:10.165 --> 00:18:11.705 development, and what you need to work on. 00:18:12.475 --> 00:18:16.125 Whereas as a coach, you have to be selfless, you have to leave whatever 00:18:16.144 --> 00:18:20.455 that's bugging you behind, and you have to focus on the patient, on the client, 00:18:20.504 --> 00:18:24.894 making sure their session is the best, and that you maximize the time that 00:18:24.904 --> 00:18:27.865 you have with them, that for their 45 minutes or their one hour that you 00:18:27.865 --> 00:18:31.965 are, all doubting on them and focusing on making sure they are happy and 00:18:31.995 --> 00:18:33.415 achieve their goals during the session. 00:18:33.525 --> 00:18:37.504 I think having to make that transition from focusing on yourself to focusing 00:18:37.504 --> 00:18:42.035 on others and what they need to do to achieve their goals, I think is very 00:18:42.045 --> 00:18:46.105 important and something that I'm still trying to work towards in terms of 00:18:46.185 --> 00:18:48.015 getting my mindset right before a session. 00:18:48.485 --> 00:18:51.585 And then how do you go about balancing your own training on top 00:18:51.585 --> 00:18:53.005 of that, on top of all your work? 00:18:54.815 --> 00:18:59.844 Yeah, so, um, because I currently have two jobs, so It's training is 00:18:59.844 --> 00:19:04.635 definitely a struggle in terms of trying to find enough time to, to 00:19:04.635 --> 00:19:08.705 prepare and also to train adequately, especially if I have a fight coming up. 00:19:08.764 --> 00:19:15.125 So what I do is I try to make sure that I can, my own training, allow the, the, the 00:19:15.125 --> 00:19:17.375 s and c sessions that do with my clients. 00:19:17.375 --> 00:19:20.315 So let's say if I have a good day, master, make sure they're able to 00:19:20.315 --> 00:19:22.980 keep at least the morning freeze before going to see my clients. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:27.070 Or vice versa at the af if have the morning, uh, filled up. 00:19:27.129 --> 00:19:29.679 I try to make sure I release a pocket of time in the afternoon 00:19:29.739 --> 00:19:32.270 to fit in with my clients. 00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:35.169 Just making sure that the, uh, pockets of space throughout 00:19:35.169 --> 00:19:36.340 the day to get training in. 00:19:37.415 --> 00:19:38.785 and being consistent with the training. 00:19:38.795 --> 00:19:41.735 For example, like the training doesn't have to be like 3 4 hours 00:19:41.735 --> 00:19:43.235 like how people in Thailand train. 00:19:43.875 --> 00:19:47.945 Like even a 1 hour or a 5 minute session will be enough if you are present 00:19:47.995 --> 00:19:51.474 and if you have a structured plan in that training and know what you want 00:19:51.474 --> 00:19:52.945 to work towards in that training. 00:19:53.555 --> 00:19:57.545 Having limited time available throughout the day and limited training sessions 00:19:57.545 --> 00:20:01.554 helps me level down my focus to know what I need to work on during that training 00:20:01.554 --> 00:20:02.379 session to make it more efficient. 00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:06.700 more productive than just mindlessly training and doing exercises 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:09.300 that might not be beneficial for my skill development. 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:12.070 So just making sure that I'm really honed in on that. 00:20:12.469 --> 00:20:16.103 Being at 45 minutes to maximize my time training. 00:20:16.103 --> 00:20:22.239 And is it difficult to get motivated to train when you've already been in 00:20:22.239 --> 00:20:26.590

the gym the whole day working with clients or coaching classes and then you 00:20:26.590 --> 00:20:27.840 still need to go and do your own work? 00:20:29.675 --> 00:20:30.715 For me, I'm okay. 00:20:30.715 --> 00:20:32.185 I'm quite self motivated. 00:20:32.245 --> 00:20:35.005 I haven't really felt that lack of drive to go train. 00:20:35.005 --> 00:20:38.125 Like, oh, after a long day, I'm going to train again. 00:20:38.875 --> 00:20:42.715 Thankfully, I don't feel that lack of desire yet, which is good because if I do, 00:20:42.735 --> 00:20:44.334 that means I might need to pull it back. 00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:49.450 If I feel that lack of motivation after long days of work and that happens more 00:20:49.450 --> 00:20:53.000 regularly than usual despite having a very low training load then I think 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.890 maybe it might be time for me to retire. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.640 It hasn't happened yet. 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.670 It hasn't happened. 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:02.460 So you went to NTU for a sports science degree, right? 00:21:03.369 --> 00:21:04.199 I went to NTU. 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:09.970 Was this always the plan to continue to work in this, with these 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.120 kind of, in these kind of roles? 00:21:13.014 --> 00:21:17.095 Yeah, so definitely, because in a polytechnic, I graduated from Neon 00:21:17.095 --> 00:21:19.135 Poly, I did like a business diploma. 00:21:19.784 --> 00:21:22.384 And then when I went to NTU, I had to do sports science. 00:21:22.384 --> 00:21:25.195 A lot of people were surprised, including my parents, because I 00:21:25.224 --> 00:21:26.534 told them I just wanted to change. 00:21:26.564 --> 00:21:28.854 I was already training retired at that part. 00:21:29.154 --> 00:21:33.134 So I just wanted to learn more about the human body and anatomy, to see 00:21:33.134 --> 00:21:34.774 how I could benefit my own training. 00:21:35.385 --> 00:21:38.825 That's the reason why I went to NTU to study sports science and management. 00:21:39.915 --> 00:21:44.075 Eventually, as I studied there, I got more interested in coaching as well. 00:21:44.745 --> 00:21:47.895 So I started coaching at Field Assembly part time, and then 00:21:47.915 --> 00:21:51.925 eventually transited back to full time coaching at Field Assembly and 00:21:52.195 --> 00:21:54.295 the Physio Circle after I graduate. 00:21:55.185 --> 00:21:56.874 So I would say it's like a natural progression. 00:21:56.875 --> 00:22:00.405 Sports, learning about sports, learning about my own body, and then 00:22:00.405 --> 00:22:03.555 getting interested in coaching others to achieve their physical goals. 00:22:05.334 --> 00:22:07.495 And so you said your parents were surprised. 00:22:07.635 --> 00:22:09.065 Were they unhappy? 00:22:09.215 --> 00:22:11.284 They always knew that I was quite an active individual. 00:22:11.324 --> 00:22:15.635 Engaged in a lot of sports, since young, football, and 00:22:15.635 --> 00:22:16.994

I've just been outside a lot. 00:22:17.290 --> 00:22:19.400 They were quite supportive when they first started. 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:23.700 I think NTU's Sports Science and Management course was quite a new course. 00:22:24.330 --> 00:22:26.290 So my parents didn't hear of it at all. 00:22:27.009 --> 00:22:29.060 So they were asking, oh, so is this a new course? 00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:30.739 I said, yeah, it's a new course. 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.429 And I wanted to try it to give myself a shot. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:39.150 They didn't really say no or yes, just told me to weigh the pros and cons of it. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:42.000 There are trade offs when it comes to this kind of degree, like it's 00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:43.580 not the conventional kind of degree. 00:22:44.324 --> 00:22:47.375 That you need to be comfortable with the trade offs, like in terms of maybe 00:22:47.375 --> 00:22:51.365 the monetary rewards might not be there yet for you when you first start. 00:22:51.395 --> 00:22:54.714 Maybe the career growth and the prospect might not be there, but as long as 00:22:54.715 --> 00:22:59.315 you're doing your passion, you're sure you want to do this, then go ahead. 00:22:59.605 --> 00:23:03.294 Yeah, so they're just asking you to weigh the pros and cons of choosing 00:23:03.355 --> 00:23:05.305 such an unconventional degree. 00:23:07.304 --> 00:23:10.604 Yeah, I would say in Singapore, it's not a conventional degree. 00:23:10.604 --> 00:23:12.804 I think in the West, it's a lot more common. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:17.680 But here, I think people look at going into the corporate world, 00:23:17.750 --> 00:23:22.979 having a nine to five job, big name company is a standard path. 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:26.840 Do you ever have doubts about the decision you made for this major? 00:23:27.330 --> 00:23:32.179 When COVID hit in 2020, that was the same year I graduated from NTU. 00:23:32.969 --> 00:23:35.250 When the circuit breaker hit, everything was closed. 00:23:35.250 --> 00:23:35.950 You were shot. 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.539 And there was no way out. 00:23:38.040 --> 00:23:38.840 I had no job. 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:40.449 And then, so I had a degree. 00:23:40.449 --> 00:23:44.330 I had a student loan to repay, but I didn't have any like a 00:23:44.489 --> 00:23:45.999 confirmed job at that point of time. 00:23:45.999 --> 00:23:47.370 So I think that was quite scary. 00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:51.249 That was when I kind of second guessed myself if I had chose the correct path. 00:23:51.790 --> 00:23:54.770 Because if I had done a corporate job, I would be able to still secure a job, 00:23:54.770 --> 00:23:56.929 still work from home, still work offline. 00:23:56.929 --> 00:24:01.429 But because of the nature of the sports industry, I need to be there in person. 00:24:01.429 --> 00:24:04.899 And with the safety breaker, it was impossible to fire anyone willing to hire. 00:24:05.405 --> 00:24:09.145 As all the jukes were shot, it was definitely a scary time, 00:24:09.225 --> 00:24:10.415 questioning my own decision. 00:24:12.165 --> 00:24:12.975 Yeah, that was tough. 00:24:13.205 --> 00:24:19.705 I remember that everybody was trying to do online classes through Zoom, and even the 00:24:19.724 --> 00:24:25.324 Singapore Sports Council had a call with different gym owners, talking about how 00:24:25.324 --> 00:24:27.335 they could get back to reopening sooner. 00:24:27.844 --> 00:24:30.245 For a lot of industries, restaurants, food and beverage, 00:24:30.304 --> 00:24:31.495 it was very difficult as well. 00:24:31.534 --> 00:24:37.710 So, how's Soon after the circuit breaker and the major turning points of COVID, 00:24:37.750 --> 00:24:40.699 were you able to land a full time role? 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.559 I 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:49.270 think it was around November 2020 that my friend Shulbin decided 00:24:49.270 --> 00:24:50.350 to open up his own clinic. 00:24:50.479 --> 00:24:55.590 And that's when he approached me to join him and asked me if I wanted 00:24:55.590 --> 00:24:58.670 to work for him as a strength conditioning coach at Pisa Circle. 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:03.840 During the same year, after the country had reopened, I 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:05.610 know I managed to find a job. 00:25:05.725 --> 00:25:09.824 But while also working at Few Assembly at, at the same time, 00:25:11.774 --> 00:25:15.964 that's also not easy as being part of a team that starts a brand new business. 00:25:16.504 --> 00:25:17.554 What was that experience like? 00:25:18.895 --> 00:25:19.405 Yeah, so, 00:25:19.705 --> 00:25:26.745 um, thankful for the trust that he placed in me that, uh, he's willing to hire me as 00:25:26.745 --> 00:25:28.815 his first hired for his, uh, work company. 00:25:28.815 --> 00:25:33.925 I learned a lot from being on the job and even now also as well has learned 00:25:33.925 --> 00:25:39.094 a lot from being like team, um, truly his world and what he has done, and also 00:25:39.094 --> 00:25:40.685 seeing him grow as a business owner. 00:25:40.715 --> 00:25:41.135 I think it's. 00:25:41.575 --> 00:25:42.514 Quite interesting to see. 00:25:42.514 --> 00:25:44.395 I definitely learned a lot from him. 00:25:44.435 --> 00:25:49.804 And I think for people who are doing work like yours, whether that's teaching 00:25:50.284 --> 00:25:57.194 yoga or any other sporting activity or having any job that you have clients 00:25:57.194 --> 00:26:01.495 on an individual basis, that could even be barbers and hairdressers. 00:26:01.845 --> 00:26:05.815 There's a lot more work that people don't think about when you 00:26:05.815 --> 00:26:08.345 just go there to get your hair cut or you go there for training. 00:26:08.790 --> 00:26:11.870 You guys have to manage client relationships. 00:26:11.870 --> 00:26:14.629 You have to be marketing and self promoting for 00:26:14.629 --> 00:26:16.090 yourself or all those skills. 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:20.100 Um, something that you

consciously work on is it just come with 00:26:20.430 --> 00:26:22.289 the job as you grow into it? 00:26:23.629 --> 00:26:26.510 I think it's a small and medium sized enterprise. 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:32.290 You know, every worker, every employee has to, you know, take, take the initiative 00:26:32.290 --> 00:26:35.290 and have the self ownership to be part of the business and to feel like you 00:26:35.290 --> 00:26:38.359 own it as well, even though you might not have a stake in it, you still need 00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:39.489 to feel like you are a part of it. 00:26:40.295 --> 00:26:42.835 If you don't put away your small business, it's not going to work, it's 00:26:42.835 --> 00:26:44.145 not going to flourish in that small team. 00:26:44.145 --> 00:26:48.575 So you need to look out for each other in your team, making sure there's open 00:26:48.575 --> 00:26:53.094 channels of communication and just looking out for each other in the team and also 00:26:53.154 --> 00:26:57.535 pushing each other to grow, pushing each other to get better in terms of getting 00:26:57.575 --> 00:27:02.864 more social media presence, building your client relations, getting better in terms 00:27:02.864 --> 00:27:07.125 of the skill of strength conditioning, sure to self develop, to self improve and 00:27:07.475 --> 00:27:09.564 make sure that you're growing as a coach. 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:12.630 I think all that plays a part in a small team. 00:27:13.370 --> 00:27:17.970 And just having that synergy to help each other grow and get better, I think 00:27:17.970 --> 00:27:19.179 is very important in a small team. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:21.790 Yeah. 00:27:21.790 --> 00:27:23.440 That's one thing I noticed about you. 00:27:23.470 --> 00:27:24.920 You have such a wide range. 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:28.180 Of course, you work with other fighters and people who are at a high level, 00:27:28.190 --> 00:27:32.980 but some of the people who have the least experience with training 00:27:32.990 --> 00:27:37.590 and with Muay Thai or Jiu Jitsu also are dedicated to your classes 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:40.119 and think of you as a great coach. 00:27:40.170 --> 00:27:44.530 How do you nurture that and cater to both extremes of clients? 00:27:46.215 --> 00:27:47.445 Oh, yeah, definitely. 00:27:47.445 --> 00:27:51.597 I think the majority of the clients at 3070 doing Muay Thai, 00:27:51.597 --> 00:27:55.305 they are mainly just doing it recreationally for fun and for sport. 00:27:56.174 --> 00:27:59.974 But I still want to be able to teach them the art of Muay Thai, learning 00:27:59.985 --> 00:28:03.874 what works and what doesn't work in a real fight or a real defense situation. 00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:07.850 So I always like to explain to them, we are not just blocking for 00:28:07.850 --> 00:28:09.120 the sake of blocking your face. 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:11.490 Then we are blocking with the intention that guy is only trying 00:28:11.490 --> 00:28:14.730 to hit you, so the block needs to be as intense as the strike. 00:28:15.439 --> 00:28:20.369 So I think helping them to learn realistic skills in a safe environment, 00:28:20.369 --> 00:28:21.679 I think that's very important for me. 00:28:21.730 --> 00:28:25.515 For all my recreational students, having that realistic feel to a fight, that 00:28:25.515 --> 00:28:28.510 they can be confident that they are learning the correct things, the correct 00:28:28.530 --> 00:28:32.220 moves, that will actually work, they're not just there for a good workout. 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:35.385 Even though, yeah, A good workout might be what they're looking for. 00:28:35.925 --> 00:28:38.895 I try my best to make sure that at the same time as they're having a 00:28:38.895 --> 00:28:42.825 good workout and they're having a good spread that they are also learning like 00:28:42.855 --> 00:28:47.135 realistic moves and realistic techniques that can translate to a real fight. 00:28:48.065 --> 00:28:49.979 These are things that I will also do as well. 00:28:50.529 --> 00:28:52.649 Just making sure that they know that as well. 00:28:53.370 --> 00:28:57.509 And I think so far, students have been quite receptive and quite happy that I'm 00:28:57.509 --> 00:29:01.609 able to, you know, teach them the art of Muay Thai, the true art of, like, self 00:29:01.609 --> 00:29:04.659 defense, the true realistic moves of the martial arts, and at the same time, 00:29:04.659 --> 00:29:05.909 they're able to get a good workout in. 00:29:05.910 --> 00:29:07.599 I think they're quite happy with that. 00:29:09.739 --> 00:29:14.090 Do you have a preference, or does one give you more fulfillment than the other 00:29:14.090 --> 00:29:18.300 between strength and conditioning, weight training, versus combat sports and the 00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:19.930 more technical coaching that you do? 00:29:21.750 --> 00:29:24.229 I think both have their, uh, merits. 00:29:24.230 --> 00:29:27.249 I spend more time coaching strength and conditioning clients 00:29:27.549 --> 00:29:29.050 than my military students. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:34.149 At this part of my career, I feel more inclined towards training strength 00:29:34.149 --> 00:29:35.530 and conditioning clients as well. 00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:38.169 Yeah, at this part of my career, yeah. 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:44.440 Largely because I cover more classes and more time spent with brain conditioning 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:46.749 clients than with my Maritime students. 00:29:47.610 --> 00:29:51.669 I think the advantages are for people who come and train at somewhere 00:29:51.669 --> 00:29:56.739 like Field Assembly or PhysioCircle versus going down to Anytime Fitness 00:29:56.739 --> 00:29:58.969 or their own self service gym. 00:30:00.435 --> 00:30:05.455 Yeah, I think Field Assembly is great because it offers like classes 00:30:05.615 --> 00:30:08.805 and also personal training sessions that are to your individual needs. 00:30:08.815 --> 00:30:11.785 Whereas sometimes

anytime fitness, you're going there, doing your own 00:30:11.815 --> 00:30:14.865 thing, meandering around, you might not know what you need to work on. 00:30:14.865 --> 00:30:19.049 But at least at Field Assembly, you know, we take the burden off. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:22.870 you thinking of what to work on and you just being able to just be 00:30:22.870 --> 00:30:25.980 present and just focus on what you need to do with a structured plan 00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:29.360 and trusting that whatever the coach has planned out for you is is to your 00:30:29.370 --> 00:30:31.990 best interest and it will benefit you. 00:30:32.390 --> 00:30:37.380 I think that's the key part just having to not to worry about what to do and 00:30:38.040 --> 00:30:41.260 at the gym and just wasting time and just being able to get in for a quick 00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:43.550 effective and efficient workout. 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:47.350 That's the main selling point of the field assembly and also physio circle 00:30:47.390 --> 00:30:48.540 for the strength conditioning side. 00:30:50.485 --> 00:30:56.285 I want to go back to when you decided to go to NTU for sports science. 00:30:56.585 --> 00:30:59.005 You'd previously been studying for business. 00:30:59.035 --> 00:31:00.665 How was that decision for you? 00:31:00.735 --> 00:31:02.505 Did you have to think about it for a long time? 00:31:02.875 --> 00:31:03.885 Was it impulsive? 00:31:04.435 --> 00:31:05.815 How did you end up making that decision? 00:31:08.215 --> 00:31:08.615 Funny story. 00:31:08.635 --> 00:31:14.485 I was serving my last six months of my diploma, uh, at the internship company. 00:31:15.175 --> 00:31:15.385 Yeah. 00:31:15.385 --> 00:31:17.545 So I was working like in the office there. 00:31:17.565 --> 00:31:20.475 So I had to work six months internship before I can get my diploma. 00:31:21.265 --> 00:31:21.735 And. 00:31:22.100 --> 00:31:24.480 At the point of time, I was wearing formal wear to work. 00:31:24.510 --> 00:31:27.470 I was doing the 9 to 5 job, Monday to Friday, and it just 00:31:27.470 --> 00:31:29.940 felt like I wasn't cut out for it. 00:31:30.030 --> 00:31:33.650 I couldn't sit still in the office, working six hours, wearing office wear, 00:31:33.650 --> 00:31:37.890 going to work every day, squeezing on the MRT at night, coming back at 5. 00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:40.860 I just feel really, I thought it wasn't right for me. 00:31:41.320 --> 00:31:44.420 Like, intuitively, I wanted to try a new career path. 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.980 Something that is not common. 00:31:46.850 --> 00:31:51.610 So that was where I first explored like, um, other higher level tertiary options. 00:31:51.610 --> 00:31:55.700 And then when I saw sports, I was like, let me try that. 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:58.340 Since I like sports, though, I've been training really tight. 00:31:58.360 --> 00:32:02.680 And I'm also interested in the, In strength conditioning, 00:32:02.770 --> 00:32:05.920 did they give you good guidance about what kind of jobs you 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:08.560 should look for after you get your degree or what's available to you? 00:32:11.260 --> 00:32:12.970 Yeah, so definitely. 00:32:12.970 --> 00:32:17.570 So we always have a career fair whereby they invite external vendors 00:32:17.570 --> 00:32:21.890 to look for spective students to secure internships, part-time plans 00:32:21.890 --> 00:32:23.930 or employment contracts with them. 00:32:23.930 --> 00:32:25.880 So they organize that regular career fair. 00:32:26.330 --> 00:32:29.740 Final years as a what size and management student at NU. 00:32:31.095 --> 00:32:35.815 And also they have, they put you on a career path track whereby you have like 00:32:35.825 --> 00:32:39.975 workshops throughout your final year, learning more about things like how 00:32:39.975 --> 00:32:43.945 to design your resume, how to answer interview questions, how to network 00:32:43.945 --> 00:32:45.725 with employers, stuff like that. 00:32:45.725 --> 00:32:49.675 So I had career preparation events happening throughout the final year 00:32:49.675 --> 00:32:56.225 of SMU as a, as an NTU student, which allows me to be prepared for work and 00:32:56.225 --> 00:32:57.965 eventual transition to the workforce. 00:32:58.475 --> 00:32:59.445 I think that helps. 00:32:59.935 --> 00:33:01.965 If I'm not wrong, they're still doing that now. 00:33:03.655 --> 00:33:04.585 Yeah, that's very helpful. 00:33:04.735 --> 00:33:08.145 What I do currently for work is nothing to do with my major when 00:33:08.145 --> 00:33:12.175 I was in university, but it took quite a while to figure that out. 00:33:12.225 --> 00:33:15.765 So I'm always interested in people who have a very direct correlation 00:33:16.095 --> 00:33:19.025 with what they studied in school and what they end up doing for work. 00:33:19.565 --> 00:33:22.795 One other thing you mentioned earlier was that you're very 00:33:22.795 --> 00:33:24.535 self motivated and self driven. 00:33:24.575 --> 00:33:27.055 And I I'm curious more about that. 00:33:27.095 --> 00:33:28.135 Is that the. 00:33:28.625 --> 00:33:31.615 skill that you've developed over time, or does it come naturally to you? 00:33:34.565 --> 00:33:36.545 It's a hard question to answer for myself. 00:33:36.575 --> 00:33:40.195 I think you have to ask other people as well. 00:33:40.215 --> 00:33:45.525 So I'm, I would, I would say, I would like to think that it's an innate trait in me, 00:33:45.555 --> 00:33:47.575 like being self motivated and self driven. 00:33:47.715 --> 00:33:50.305 But obviously we all have days where we feel like, oh, I just want to 00:33:50.305 --> 00:33:52.255 like, chill and not do anything. 00:33:52.255 --> 00:33:57.255 But majority of my time, I, I'm actually quite self motivated 00:33:57.315 --> 00:33:59.415 in terms of my athletic goals. 00:33:59.415 --> 00:34:02.405 And also those are my, my career goals in training clients. 00:34:03.360 --> 00:34:06.750 I think I'm lucky I

had that drive. 00:34:07.490 --> 00:34:10.040 But I'm not sure also whether or not it's like what I was born 00:34:10.040 --> 00:34:11.420 with or it's just like a muscle. 00:34:11.610 --> 00:34:14.190 The more you push it, the more you work it, the more you feel 00:34:14.190 --> 00:34:16.690 like you are getting better at it. 00:34:16.870 --> 00:34:18.390 It's a really hard tough question to answer. 00:34:18.390 --> 00:34:18.880 I'm not sure. 00:34:20.550 --> 00:34:26.130 Do you have a guilty food you eat or something that's unhealthy that you 00:34:26.170 --> 00:34:27.390 let yourself have once in a while? 00:34:28.310 --> 00:34:30.870 Yeah, so after every fight, I usually do that. 00:34:30.870 --> 00:34:34.130 But I haven't been doing that for the past two fights to keep myself in check. 00:34:35.065 --> 00:34:38.295 I usually have a big McDonald's meal after a fight. 00:34:38.875 --> 00:34:44.595 I usually order a double cheeseburger, upsize, with a four piece duck wings meal. 00:34:45.655 --> 00:34:49.425 That's my go to cheat meal after every fight, regardless, win or lose. 00:34:49.825 --> 00:34:53.665 Most people say once a week or after a tough training session, but for 00:34:53.665 --> 00:34:55.365 you, it's only after an actual fight. 00:34:55.505 --> 00:34:57.435 That's, that's only a few times a year. 00:34:58.285 --> 00:35:01.655 Cutting weight, I start thinking about all the food choices, I can feed them. 00:35:02.275 --> 00:35:05.625 If I'm not cutting, cutting weight for a fight, like I don't crave the McDonald's. 00:35:06.195 --> 00:35:08.925 It's just that when I cut weight for a fight, then suddenly, like 00:35:08.965 --> 00:35:12.315 mentally, I feel like I want to, I want something healthy, like 00:35:12.345 --> 00:35:14.775 fast food, McDonald's or KFC. 00:35:14.825 --> 00:35:18.465 From day to day, if I'm not cutting weight, I don't have that craving at all. 00:35:21.115 --> 00:35:21.815 No, that's good. 00:35:21.975 --> 00:35:24.625 I'm lucky in that I don't particularly like sweet things, 00:35:24.775 --> 00:35:30.145 but, uh, there's lots of other unhealthy eating choices that I make. 00:35:30.835 --> 00:35:33.695 Um, So let's talk about the future. 00:35:33.695 --> 00:35:34.755 What are your goals? 00:35:34.835 --> 00:35:39.915 First of all, for your combat sports career in MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai? 00:35:41.635 --> 00:35:46.075 I would definitely like to continue training with my workload, you 00:35:46.085 --> 00:35:48.605 know, with my, um, career coming up. 00:35:48.975 --> 00:35:51.655 And the strength conditioning, the clients I'm seeing, as well as the 00:35:51.705 --> 00:35:53.205 rehab students that I'm coaching. 00:35:53.835 --> 00:35:57.275 You know, time is definitely a limiting factor in terms of my training. 00:35:57.725 --> 00:36:00.585 I just want to be able to still do it when I'm young and not wait 00:36:00.585 --> 00:36:03.404 until I'm 10 years down the road and then not able to physically 00:36:03.405 --> 00:36:05.935 compete and have any kind of regrets. 00:36:05.945 --> 00:36:11.125 That's why I still want to push, push for my MMA career as well. 00:36:11.205 --> 00:36:13.935 At this point of time, because I want to do it before it's too late, you know. 00:36:14.715 --> 00:36:19.815 So I would say over the next 2 3 years, I would still like to compete 00:36:19.815 --> 00:36:22.635 more often and focus more on MMA. 00:36:23.685 --> 00:36:26.335 And then longer term down the road, I think I want to focus 00:36:26.335 --> 00:36:27.505 more on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 00:36:27.535 --> 00:36:30.605 So for the immediate goal, while I'm still young, I want to focus more on 00:36:31.405 --> 00:36:36.205 competing in MMA because I feel I'm mentally and physically at my peak now. 00:36:36.235 --> 00:36:40.495 I feel that now is the opportune time that I need to grab before I regret if I 00:36:40.545 --> 00:36:42.605 wait too late, or if I don't do it now. 00:36:44.715 --> 00:36:47.365 And what's the challenges for doing that more? 00:36:47.365 --> 00:36:48.455 Is it your personal time? 00:36:48.455 --> 00:36:50.805 Is it finding fights to participate in? 00:36:52.315 --> 00:36:56.155 I think if you want to work, train, and compete, I know just having 00:36:56.185 --> 00:36:58.275 time outside of that is a challenge. 00:36:58.925 --> 00:37:02.465 But like with all things in line, there's always trade offs that you need to make. 00:37:03.265 --> 00:37:04.215 And you have to be okay with it. 00:37:04.215 --> 00:37:07.495 I think for now and for this season in my life, I'm okay with the trade offs 00:37:07.505 --> 00:37:11.185 of having less time outside of work, outside of training and competition. 00:37:11.615 --> 00:37:16.265 Because I know that this part of my life is not going to last forever, that I'll 00:37:16.295 --> 00:37:18.645 move on to another journey of my life. 00:37:18.685 --> 00:37:22.105 I need to make it count now that I can compete at the highest level. 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:25.720 And how about for your personal life and career? 00:37:25.730 --> 00:37:29.460 What is success going to look like for you in 10 years down the road? 00:37:30.430 --> 00:37:31.100 Success. 00:37:31.100 --> 00:37:31.419 I 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:33.230 think over the years it changed. 00:37:33.230 --> 00:37:37.350 I used to be like everyone, I want to want to earn big bucks. 00:37:37.350 --> 00:37:39.850 I want to climb the corporate ladder and stuff like that. 00:37:39.850 --> 00:37:44.740 But after working, since I started at NTU to now, I think I realized I just 00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:46.820 want to make an impact on people's lives. 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:50.610 At the same time, we're earning a, well, we're earning a good income to be 00:37:50.610 --> 00:37:52.500 able to sustain myself and my family. 00:37:52.540 --> 00:37:53.490 I still want to. 00:37:54.415 --> 00:37:58.705 impact others day to day in their lives, through the interactions, when they see 00:37:58.705 --> 00:38:03.115 me for trainings or outside of trainings or when we, even when we are training 00:38:03.115 --> 00:38:07.425 together in the same training room, I just want to leave a positive impact on people. 00:38:07.925 --> 00:38:10.515 I just leave them better than, than where they are now. 00:38:10.935 --> 00:38:11.545 Come and see me. 00:38:11.575 --> 00:38:12.005 That's great. 00:38:12.155 --> 00:38:13.815 Well, thank you very much, Glenn, for being here. 00:38:13.825 --> 00:38:16.595 Where can people find you on social media? 00:38:17.695 --> 00:38:20.805 You can follow me on Instagram, Glenn underscore rockstar. 00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:25.290 If you want to connect with me or talk to me about anything, feel 00:38:25.290 --> 00:38:27.500 free to DM me on Instagram below. 00:38:29.110 --> 00:38:29.480 All right. 00:38:29.520 --> 00:38:30.400 Thank you very much, Gren. 00:38:38.290 --> 00:38:43.290 Thank you for listening to Before We Get There with your host, Nicholas Braman. 00:38:44.080 --> 00:38:48.380 Please like and subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:50.640 like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 00:38:51.630 --> 00:38:56.250 You can also find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:58.700 at Before We Get There Podcast. 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:01.880 New episodes are released every Thursday morning. 00:39:02.510 --> 00:39:03.440 See you next time.