When people talk about Muay Thai in Singapore, the first thing that comes to mind is the urban & commercial "First Muay Thai Fitness Center" in East Coast Parkway. Well that is the obvious, the Muay Thai that is in the light. But unknown to most is that there is yet another Muay Thai, one that is hidden, in the shadows for many years out there - a rural & private class that is called "Hilltop Muay Thai" 山顶泰拳. Protected & nutured by the spirits of the Bukit Batok Hill, it is led by none other than the man shown above - the legendary Master Johnnie.

Another interesting aspect about Muay Thai that most people don't know is that there is such a thing as Northern & Southern Styles in Thailand, just like there is Northern & Southern Shaolin Kungfu in China. Unlike Kungfu, however, is that the differences between the Northern & Southern styles of Muay Thai are minor, and cannot be detected by the untrained eye. Master Johnnie is a person that has the fortune to be trained in both the Northern & Southern styles of Muay Thai. In his youth (the 70s) he constantly went to Thailand. One local he met there recommended him to train in a hellish Muay Thai camp near Chiang Mai, so hellish that its name could not be told. "A place for training killers," in Johnnie's own words. It is there he learned the Northern style as well as its fatalities. Having fought & defeated other Thai fighters with the training he received in the north, in later years (the 80s) he also went to the south where he trained with Ajahn Sanee of Sordarunee Camp.

Already 50 yrs old this year, he is still extremely fit. His speed, ferocity & conditioning is still feared by many, even by those martial artists more than half his age. Some readers may feel puzzled; isn't this a Chinese Kungfu website? But the philosophy of the author is that any fighting method that contains the "Three Essence" of martial science 拳法之本质 can be called Kungfu, regardless of its origin or nationality. What are the 3 essence? They are:

In other words - Power, Conditioning & Stamina. The Big Three. All real martial arts training must aim to achieve these 3 essence, or else the practicioner is just fooling himself & others. He who fools himself in martial arts just ends up seriously injured or worse, dead. In Master Johnnie, one can see all these 3 essence, even at his age. That is what I call true Kungfu 真功夫, nevermind whether it is Thai or Chinese.

Master Johnnie continues to train & teach 6 days a week. If the reader lives in Singapore & is interested in the Muay Thai that Johnnie teaches, he or she can always head down to Bukit Batok Nature Park. On Monday, Wednesday & Friday they are below the WW2 Memorial; on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, they will be at fitness area near the public toilets. Training start from 5.30pm onwards. There used to be training on Sundays, but now it is a rest day. But know this - the training is very tough.. only the truly hardcore can take it. If you want to join don't expect to chit-chat, walk around or relax for more than a minute. Down there, you train hard for 2 hours or more non-stop. Well having said all these, I just want to wish everyone in Hilltop Muay Thai all the best in the New Year ahead.

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