Thirty-four-year-old Cheot Yao Zhong fell in love with the sport when he was 25, after being captivated by the slick movements of Thai action star Tony Jaa in the movie “Ong Bak”.
Cheot said the technique displayed in the blockbuster film inspired him to try his hand at the highly disciplined martial art.
“I was impressed by how Muay Thai is not merely a physical contest but also an art that requires skill, resilience and strategy. So I enrolled with the Gajah Putih Muay Thai Club in Kota Bharu to delve deeper into the sport,” he told Bernama recently.
Prior to this, Cheot had already made a name for himself in the self-defence arena, having represented Kelantan in the 2014 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in wushu.
“Sukma is only for those below 21, so I had to find a new direction. I chose Muay Thai as I wanted a bigger challenge,” he added.
He shared, however, that being a Peranakan Chinese in Kelantan who is active in Muay Thai isn’t always easy: there have been times he has felt isolated.
“At first, it was a little awkward because not many from my community are involved in Muay Thai. But the more I fought, the more I realised that Muay Thai bridged the cultural gap, as I was well received by my Malay friends and others,” he said.
Across the past decade, Cheot has participated in various amateur championships, and has even won some crucial bouts. But having only competed in three championships at the professional level, he admits that competition is tough.
“The younger fighters are more aggressive and have more energy, especially those in the 70kg category. But I will fight for as long as I can. With proper preparation, the risk of injury can be reduced,” he said.
Cheot is also fortunate that he has the full support of his wife and parents. “What drives me on is not the victories but how this sport has shaped me to become more disciplined and determined.
“What is also meaningful for me is when I get to mingle with others of different backgrounds, as well as share my knowledge and experiences with them,” Cheot expressed.
Describing Muay Thai as a way of life and not merely a sport, he hopes more youngsters who are curious about it will give it a go.
“It is not just about fighting – it’s about character building. If you are keen, then do it. Don’t be afraid to take the first step,” he said.