HERE COMES A FIGHTER

Don't be fooled by his lean frame and soft-spoken manner. A fierce and agile fighter, 2nd Sergeant (2SG) (NS) Ronald Low boasts an impressive record in muay thai and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions.

Despite being fascinated by martial arts since young, 2SG (NS) Low only began learning muay thai, commonly known as Thai kickboxing, at the age of sixteen, after watching Thai action film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior.

In fact, he was so amazed by martial arts star Tony Jaa's slick acrobatic moves that he immediately signed up to learn muay thai at Fight G's MMA Academy.

Under the tutelage of his instructor Darren de Silva, 2SG (NS) Low began participating in amateur tournaments one year later. He went on to chalk a 7-0 and 1-1 record in professional muay thai and MMA matches respectively.

Packing a punch

Attributing his good performance so far to his passion for the sport and the guidance he has received from his instructors, 2SG (NS) Low said. "My coaches push me really hard; we have to be in top shape and condition. But I really love the sport, and that keeps me going through every training session, no matter how tough it is."

The 25-year-old added: "My peers in the fight team have also helped me a lot throughout my journey During training, we will punch and kick each other, but at the end of it all, we come up laughing and smiling.

"We've also fought a couple of times in tournaments, where we go all-out against each other, but then we'll have a beer afterwards. It's friendly rivalry and it's all in good fun."

A positive NS experience

During his Full-Time National Service (NS) from 2008 to 2010, 2SG (NS) Low served as Section Commander in 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards.

Describing his NS stint as unforgettable, 2SG (NS) Low recalled: "The most memorable experiences I had were leading the section for exercises. You get to see who people truly are and vice-versa, because it s pretty hard to camouflage the real you during tough circumstances."

He also noted how being a Guardsman has helped him in his fighting endeavours: "To complete your missions, it s important to have determination. Likewise, perseverance and the will to succeed are extremely crucial when you step into the ring."

Stepping up to the big stage

Primarily a muay thai fighter, 2SG (NS) Low has now entered the MMA fraternity, an area where he also hopes to excel.

Although defeated in a match at the recently-concluded MMA event - OneFC: Kings & Champions - he remains unfazed: "It was a good learning opportunity and (the loss) will definitely motivate me to train even harder."

Currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in gemology at the Gemological Institute of America - Hong Kong, he will be graduating at the end of this year.

After graduation, 2SG (NS) Low intends to continue participating in professional tournaments, be it muay thai or MMA: "I will work hard and come back stronger for sure and give my best shot in every fight."

"To complete your missions, it's important to have determination. Likewise, perseverance and the will to succeed are crucial when you step into the ring."
- 2SG (NS) Low on how being a Guardsman has helped him as a fighter