Mixed Martial Arts (MMA, one of the fastest growing sport in the world, and Asia. A full contact fight sports combining striking, wrestling and grappling. Fight leagues and gyms are sprouting across Asia as more fans watch and aspiring fighters put on gloves.
We speak to 23 year old Ben Ho. An entrepreneur venturing into the Food & Beverage line after 2 unsuccessful start-ups when he was younger.
WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START TRAINING TO BE A FIGHTER?
I started training Muay Thai, on and off when I was 14-15. I didn’t really put much heart into it as it started out as something cool that I’d like to try, also growing up in a neighbourhood school in Ang Mo Kio, getting into unesscary fights with gangs and things like that made me take up Muay Thai to protect myself. Eventually I got to learn about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012 after watching MMA videos on YouTube and went knocking on the doors of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Singapore. I fell in love with the sport and started training there ever since.
WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING REGIMEN LIKE?
To be honest, I’m a very lazy person. Back then when I wanted to go for competitions, I would train up to four times a week. Other than that, most days I don’t turn up for training at all.. I feel guilty towards my coach always trying to call and persuade me to turn up for classes. On a contrary, when I do train hard, I would train in the early afternoons doing techniques and weights and then roll/spar in the night.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNIQUE?
For striking my favourite technique is the lead hook, for BJJ it would be the Guillotine choke.
DO YOU HAVE A STRICT DIET YOU STICK TO AND WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF?
“McDiet” like what my friend Jonathan says. Haha just kidding. I would control my carb intake and cut out all junk foods for a weight cut weeks before my fight. Thankfully I don’t have to look good like fitness models do, so diet isn’t really an issue, we just have to make weight.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND TO YOUNG ATHLETES ON HOW TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVELS IN MMA?
Always turn up for trainings but don’t over exert and stop if you’re slightly injured, as many young athletes push themselves even when they are in pain. Both my rotator cuffs and my lumbar is damaged because of this.
WHAT SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE AT THE MOMENT AND WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO OTHER ATHLETES?
I rarely take supplements, I would recommend eating lean meats that are high in protein, not forgetting the greens for a balanced diet.
WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE?
I’m working on stabilizing my career before going back to fighting. I miss the trainings & the adrenaline from the fights.
We thank Ben for taking time off to share with us more about his fitness regime! We do hope to see him in the MMA arena soon!
Photo credits: Wilsurn
Venue: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Singapore