Singapore Pro MMA Fighter Radeem On Being "Crazy Enough To Chase My Dream" | Dear Singapore

Key Concepts: Hard Work, Consistency, Learning from Failure, Humility, Obsession, Persistence, Self-Defense, Resilience, Community Engagement, Giving Back, Bully Proof.

The Journey of an Aspiring Champion: Dedication and Sacrifice

The speaker's journey began with an intense desire "to be the best," which he understood required him "to be different from the rest." To fund his training, he undertook various jobs, including "cleaning" and "security," emphasizing that he did "every job just to fund my training." He embraced being called "crazy" because he was "crazy enough to chase my dream."

He highlights that people often "always see your success" but "don't see that process that you go through," including moments of "crying, bleeding." He refutes the idea that success is merely "talent," asserting it's built on "hard work, consistency, and most importantly is you need to learn." A crucial aspect is "learning when you fail," as some individuals "disappear" after losing because "they don't know how to accept losing."

His background from a "poor family," growing up "from the streets," and even "sleep[ing] at the stairs" on some days, fueled his "hungry" and "obsessed" drive. His parents instilled in him the values of "humble" and that "everything is about hard work." When he first told his mom at around "16 years old" about competing in boxing, her initial reaction was concern about the "pain," questioning "Why you want to compete?" to which he replied, "I don't know. I just want to test myself."

His wife, who has been with him since they were "19 years old," even "before he was signed into one championship," attests to his unwavering dedication. She observed his intense focus on "training training training training first family secondary," which sometimes led to "normal couple argue[ments]." Despite this, she realized "he's a very determined guy. He knows what he wants," and continued to believe in him.

From Athlete to Coach: A New Calling

Initially, the speaker stated, "I don't want to be a coach." However, this changed due to the persistence of a young boy who "always will wait for me outside of the gym and always wanted me to train him." Despite the speaker's initial hesitation, thinking "I'm not ready yet. I don't even know if I'm good enough to train people," the boy's "very persistent" nature led him to start "training him a little bit here and there." This experience was a turning point, as he realized, "Since that day I realized that I'm able to coach people. Everything changed from an athlete and then become a coach." His new goal became simple: "I just want to help people." His wife further encouraged him to "open a gym," noting that "the husband always listen to the wife."

Coaching Philosophy and Impact

The coaching philosophy extends beyond just creating champions. It's about "teaching you about being respectful, being disciplined, to be humble, and be a better human being."

A specific technical example of a self-defense move was demonstrated: "when he throws the kick, catch, lock, step down, throw." The detailed instruction for a counter-move involved: "when he does this, my hand is going to thread the wrist. As I do that, my left foot stepping diagonal forward. So when you walk, I'm going to turn my back foot. Done." This illustrates the practical, detailed nature of his training.

A student, Radian, who has been training Muay Thai for "2 years," shared his motivation: "I want to defend myself" and "protect others from my bullies." Radian's dedication is evident as he trains "four times or five times a day" when not studying. He highlighted the personal benefits of training with the speaker, learning "how to control my emotion and I feel more confident in myself."

Community Engagement and Life Skills

The gym actively conducts "self-defense workshop[s]" and "bully proof" programs for "schools and even for the victims" who have experienced "traumatic times." The speaker emphasizes the importance of these as "life skill[s]," stating, "You never know when you need it." He also notes that this training helps individuals "to be resilient." The core mission of the gym is to "give back to the community," operating on the belief that "When we help each other, both will get better faster."

Concluding Message

The speaker concludes with an inspiring message to "dear Singapore," encouraging everyone, "don't be afraid to chase your dream or your goal." He reframes failure as "part of your success" and urges individuals to "Never give up and always believe in yourself."