How do you feel to be one of the first few fighters to represent Singapore on such a grand stage?
Subhi: I am honored that I’m one of the first, but I hope I’m not the last as well. I hope there will be more fighters soon because I know there are a lot of talented ones out there just waiting for their opportunity.
Fadhli: It’s an honor. It’s every fighter’s dream to have this opportunity. For some people they can think about this for their whole life and not achieve it. I really thank God for this. Putting your heart and soul into it, being patient and having your dream come true is something nobody else can understand but you.
MMA and kickboxing are becoming bigger and bigger in Singapore. How do you feel about that as a martial artist?
S: I think it will open gates for us when the community gets to accept that martial arts is becoming one of the major sports in Singapore. Right now, it’s all about badminton, table tennis and all that stuff so we tend to be kind of jealous. We want martial arts to be on the scene as well.
F: Singaporeans are slowly getting into the scene with events like ONE FC and now with kickboxing coming in, I think it’s an eye-opener. Having this in Singapore would be a great opportunity for Asian and Singaporean martial artists.
Many of Singapore’s neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have already achieved great heights in combat sports on the world stage. Do you think there is a specific reason for why Singapore is so far behind?
S: I believe it’s the infrastructure and the society. I mean, not all of our parents will tell us “Okay, you’re six years old. Go learn kickboxing.” It’s more like, “Six years old, you go and study.” For them, I think when they are four or five years old, they’re already training. I think that’s the big difference.
F: To be honest, being a sportsman in Singapore is very tough. You have to be strong in mind and you have to sacrifice a lot. If you want to be the best, you have to give up so many things because as Singaporeans, most of us have this mentality that sports cannot take you very far. But if you look at it, that’s what will make us strong. If a Singaporean is going to go all the way, that person is going to be the best because our community’s mentality is against this and if you’re going to fight that and sacrifice everything to be at the top level, I’ll tell you, that guy is going to be the strongest.
Obviously, kickboxing can be a dangerous sport. How do your friends and family feel about you fighting?
S: My mother gets very worried. She won’t watch me fight. She has never watched me fight before because she would freak out. But my father is OK with it and is very supportive and so are my younger brothers and sisters. My friends are now quite shocked that I’m in such a big event. They usually think I’m just an amateur fighter, but here I am.
F: For me, my family is quite happy to see me move to this level. After all, they keep on saying that I always get to the amateur level and question how far I can actually go. Getting to this stage is a new level for me and an eye-opener for my family to realize that I can make it.
Do you have any role models inside and outside of the ring?
S: I really like Buakaw Por Pramuk. But outside the ring, it’s my dad. He has been brought up seven kids and all of us are doing fine.
F: In the ring, I like Masato. He’s my favorite. His punches, his in-fight. I like his style. As for outside the ring, the inspiration I get may not be a person, but the process that you’ve been through and all the hardship you’ve endured. Proving the people who don’t believe in you wrong. That’s my inspiration.
Do you see yourself making a career out of fighting?
S: I see myself as someone who likes to teach rather than a fighter. For me this is just a stepping stone. I really want to teach kids martial arts and self defence rather than be a fighter till I’m 40. I will probably continue till I’m 30 and then relax.
F: Subhi and I already have a gym at SAFRA Tampines where we teach traditional Jujutsu. For both of us, all we want to be are role models. A lot of people look up to people who play soccer and stuff, so I was thinking, why not martial arts? It can be one of the sports that can develop character in kids. People always think martial arts is just about fighting, but I believe it can also teach you about the fighting spirit, humility and how to be disciplined.
If your success in the ring continues, would you like to pursue an international or world title someday?
S: That’s huge, but if it’s not me, I hope it’s one of the kids that I train. I want us to be there someday. Singaporeans. I’ll give it 10 years. I think we’ll make it there.
F: It’s a dream and I would love to. We’ll see.
Catch Fadhli and Subhi in action at the FighterZone World Kickboxing Series at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 2 (1 Expo Dr.). Tickets are available from $65-280 at Gatecrash.
