Stuck in Singapore

Meanwhile, in Singapore, I could not find a gym that offered the same type of training in Phuket. The ones I found were either too general in their coaching or too expensive! A friend of mine recommended me to join him to train in Sanshou (Chinese kickboxing) at Shunlin Wushu Kwan.

How it all started

I was working part-time as a dive master in Phuket in Dec 2004 when my Thai friend asked me to join him at his brother’s boxing gym for a workout instead of drowning myself with Singha every night! I never looked back since….

Bangmart Boxing Gym “My first taste of Muay Thai!”Dec 2004


Brenda outside Bangmart at Chalong


Thai from bangmart gym KOs Japanese

I trained at Bangmart Boxing Gym under a former Lumpini champion nicknamed Bang. (You will be reading more about him) A real no nonsense fellow who made me practice the roundhouse kick till my shins were hurting even with TWINS shin pads on! My heart nearly exploded from the pad work and I could barely lift my legs! I don’t remember having to train so hard since my days as a SAF commando. Strangely enough, I got addicted to the pain and intensity of the sport! I went to watch fights at the Patong Boxing Stadium (The equivalent of Lumpini in Phuket) and Siphan Hin Stadium. I was training there for about 2 weeks until the Tsunami struck! I escaped with only a broken toenail and had to return to Singapore as I was working as a secondary PE teacher then. I swore that I would return to train again!

My 'huat' buddy Koh Chengban, the night before the tsunami

Ah Zu with her adopted Thai boys

Tsunami pics



Chalong Pier damaged aftert the tsunami

Lost toenail!

I was suppose to leave for home on boxing day 2004 when the tsunami struck. Needless to say, i missed my flight! I was initially told by some screaming Aussies that a bomb went off. (People were still paranoid after the Bali bombings) People were pushing and shoving all over the shop. The only thing that crossed my mind was my dive equipment! I didnt want to lose my precious dive gear and ran back to the guest house to retrieve it! thats when i lost a toenail fomr pushing through the crowd! (i know i am a sucker!) Anyways, after the first two waves struck, no one knoew whether a thrid one will come. There was no where to run to and i decided to have a beer amongst the chaos...i decided that i wanna go on a high if anything were to happen to me!