KUALA LUMPUR: Seven years ago, Ahmad Fadzillah was simply teaching his son muay thai on a sepak takraw court in Sungai Buloh.
Today, he is the head coach of a thriving gym where Malaysians of all races and even foreigners train side by side, united by the love for the sport.
It all began quietly when a few curious kids joined in while he was coaching his son, Danish.
From that small circle, the Taring Muay Thai Fight Club was born.
“Some parents came up and asked if I could train their kids. Week after week, more and more joined us. Most of them were from underprivileged backgrounds, but that didn’t matter,” said Ahmad.
“Suddenly, I realised that I had this responsibility to help change their lives... all without a fee.
“But parents and friends chipped in to provide transport and for joining tournaments,” he said.
Coach Add, as he is better known, was later offered to conduct classes in a Community Development Department (Kemas) kindergarten, before he opened his own muay thai gym in Petaling Jaya two years ago.
A former muay thai exponent himself, the 43-year-old said the club are all about family and discipline from the start, where racial or religious labels disappear.
“We make it clear from day one, there’s no race, no religion here, only teammates. We train together, suffer together, and lift each other.
“Skills win fights, but values win life.
“If you’re angry or bad-tempered, you burn out fast, so I show them that patience and focus last longer in the ring and life,” he said.
He said his club were proof of how sports can bridge divides, turning strangers into teammates and teammates into family. — Bernama
