“Muay Thai isn’t about fighting it’s a form of art. It’s about movement and self-defence,” said President of Muay Thai Perak, Bernard Radin.
Perak Open Muay Thai Amateur Competition took place on Saturday, April 30 at the Muay Thai Academy, Jalan Watson, Ipoh. Five states participated, namely, Perak, Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Kedah.
This tournament was for beginners where they competed with their headgear and gloves on to avoid injuries. “We try to organise a competition every month, to encourage Muay Thai both as a sport and a form of art,” Bernard continued.
Mohammad Nor Syahmi, a 12-year-old from Taiping said he got hooked on Muay Thai through television. “I started when I was 10 and have since won two matches and lost one. I took up the sport because it looked interesting,” he said.
Besides learning, it is also about unity where people from various social and religious backgrounds come together as one.
“We’ve students from Taiping, Tapah and Gua Musang here. It brings people together,” Bernard added. “When you win, everything is beautiful but when you lose, it’s hard to even walk with your head up. Sport teaches this. It instils in us a sense of humility,” he enjoined.
Khaleeja
